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Original poster

Name a film that's better than the book

221 replies

pamplemoussemousse · 08/08/2023 20:01

Off the back of a discussion with DH where we can't think of any, is there a film adaptation (or tv adaptation) that's better than the original book?

I can think of some that are on par (Wolf of Wall Street, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, for example) but none where the screenplay was better!

I'm happy to read/watch any suggestions!

OP posts:
Morewineplease10 · 08/08/2023 23:16

The Beach.
The ending is horrible in the book!

Pieceofpurplesky · 08/08/2023 23:16

clare8allthepies · 08/08/2023 22:58

Not a film but a tv series, the handmaids tale. I do love the book and I don’t think the series is perfect but I love the way that the format allows for so much fleshing out of the characters by showing all of the back stories.

I agree. And I love the way the links are developing towards The Testaments

NutellaNut · 08/08/2023 23:46

New Moon and Breaking Dawn from the Twilight saga.

Hurrydash · 09/08/2023 00:05

SwordToFlamethrower · 08/08/2023 20:14

Never Ending Story

Maybe. But the ending was a disappointment.

Tezza1 · 09/08/2023 00:15

I'd forgotten "A Man in Full". I read Wolfe's books when they first came out, so more decades than I care to admit. When I started to think about it, was that the book where one of the character's catch phrase was "Crash and burn"? It was the first time I'd ever heard it.

I loved the main character in "B of the V" flexing his neck muscles, thinking he was a master of the universe.

ConnieTucker · 09/08/2023 00:18

Breakfast at Tiffany's

CapEBarra · 09/08/2023 00:23

Room With a View - Julian Sands and Helena Bingham-Carter were mesmerising. It was so beautiful to watch.

Strongly disagree about Bridget Jones. In the book Bridget was funny and feisty. She had a bit of sass about her. In the movies she was a limp lettuce - a female Mr Bean. I’d like to have seen Kate Winslett as Bridget - she would have been perfect.

DinoRoar14 · 09/08/2023 00:25

The boy in the striped pyjamas.

I thought the book was awful. Hollow and flat.

The film was gut wrenching.

Zorya · 09/08/2023 00:28

Fight Club

Love The Princess Bride film, never read the book. First saw it as an adult, so can verify it’s still great. 😁

WednesdayLounge · 09/08/2023 00:33

Pugdogmom · 08/08/2023 21:36

Stephen Kings The Stand in the mini series with Gary Sinise was better than the book . There is a remade version, but I haven't seen it yet.

I'd say do yourself a favour and don't try the newer version, so disappointing!

Also agree with Jaws and wish I'd read this thread three weeks ago before I read that book! 😂

WouldYouLikeYourMuffinButtered · 09/08/2023 04:27

Jungle Book.

nettie434 · 09/08/2023 06:45

A classic so not something recent but the film of Double Indemnity is far better than the novel by James M Cain. Generally, the more I like the book, the less likely I am to like the film.

Catsmere · 09/08/2023 06:54

Another vote for The Princess Bride, I saw it before reading it and liked the film much better.

Also Cold Comfort Farm. Love the film but couldn't get through the book.

powershowerforanhour · 09/08/2023 07:10

The Devil Wears Prada

True Grit (both versions)

autienotnaughti · 09/08/2023 07:17

Elizadoloads · 08/08/2023 22:05

Can't think of any. I think the worst has to be Flowers in the Attic, Brilliant books bloody awful films.

I was just thinking the same

stayathomer · 09/08/2023 07:22

TheSummerITurnedChubby
Definitely agree with Bridget Jones!

stayathomer · 09/08/2023 07:23

Just saw someone went the opposite way and said about films being worse and I have to say LVED Gone girl but the film was the worst thing I ever saw!!

Latenightreader · 09/08/2023 07:34

Greengrassohla · 08/08/2023 23:11

The African Queen. The ending in the book is terrible!

Yes! It is one of my favourite films but I hated the book.

HoneycombBauble · 09/08/2023 08:00

What about Dangerous Liaisons? The book is good. It's clever. Written solely in letters between the various characters. But the film is sensational- sumptuous, exciting, well-paced.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 09/08/2023 08:03

Agree with Atonement, Game of Thrones and The Princess Bride. I love the LotR films, but I wouldn't say they are better than the books.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 09/08/2023 08:07

Shouldigoforarunorhavepancakes · 08/08/2023 22:28

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The book is amazing but the movie is a masterpiece! Gary Oldman gives so much depth to agent Smiley!

No no no no. The best version of Tinker Tailor by far is the BBC version from the late 1970s with Alec Guinness as Smiley. I enjoyed the film, but it wasn't nearly as good. The book is very good indeed.

While we're on the subject of Le Carre, his books take very well to filming/televising. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is a brilliant film. Richard Burton is marvellous. But the book is also excellent.

MsInterpret · 09/08/2023 08:17

The Virgin Suicides

FatOaf · 09/08/2023 08:18

Great Gatsby

Which film of The Great Gatsby are you referring to? Because the Baz Luhrmann one was abominable.

FatOaf · 09/08/2023 08:22

Name of the rose. Fun film, but a dreadful book. Saying that I hate it so much I read it about every 5 years or so to remind me how smug (and I am competent at Latin) it is.It'suilty pleasure. But the film is just great.

I love the book. The film is great, too. Erudite and smug are not the same thing.

golddustwomen · 09/08/2023 08:23

@Soubriquet came on to say the same. The book is disgusting, I found it hard to read. The film, I have watched countless times, one of my favourites.

On the other hand a film adaption that really disappointed me was The Woman In The Window. I adore the book and Amy Adams so was really excited for the film, found it totally shit!

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