Any films you wouldn't watch because you love the book?

[PadDad]

I think I've only avoided one film because I loved the book too much.

That was John Irving's 'A Prayer for Owen Meaney', which shows up on a lot of peoples favs ever. It was made into the film 'Simon Birch', and you could tell from the reviews that it didn't really 'get' the book, so I avoided.

I really love Alan Moore's 'Watchmen'. Even though the trailer looks excellent, and obviously adapted by someone who appreciates the book, I'm still not sure it can be compressed into 2 hours.

Any films you wouldn't watch because of your love for the book? Time Traveller's Wife, for example?

The challenge would be to convey his musings. I don't know if it could be done.

In The World of Wonders one of the characters actually discusses how he would realise the story in visual terms, along with the role subtext plays in telling a story. It COULD make a brilliant film, although I do think it would be difficult to do. His books are all extremely beautifully visualised (is that a word?). Just think of how well he conveys the spirit of the drawings in The Cunning Man.

I can't agree that His Dark Materials is only meant for twelve year olds! I found it compelling and challenging. I still think of parts of that book even though I have not read them for some years.

Oh HC, I'll open my mind and give them another go.

I still don't think you could make a film of anything of RD's. Hey, you could go on a film course and make them yourself! I'd go if someone who loved the books made them (I think.)

Watchman... half the fun comes from watching how little details (the sign outside Hollis's garage, the perfect rendition of the 'Owlcave')... if you haven't read the book, you won't enjoy it as much.

Complicity is the adaptation I wish didn't exist. I'm still trying to erase it from my mind. Iain Banks, FFS.

I think all Sky's renditions of Pratchett have failed for similar reasons. How do you put a footnote into a film?

You can't!

The Discworld computer game managed it (action paused, with a brief, David Attenborough-style voiceover) but not in live action.

And Rincewind must alsways be played by someone who could be acceptably cast as Shaggy from Scooby Doo. If they can't do both, they shouldn't try either. End of.

hideous kinky - i have waaaay too much experience of bitter disappointment at kate winslett films to risk it (although tbh wouldn't have watched it whoever was in it, kw just seals it).

knew i shouldn't have watched the beach but did anyway, even though i knew the film got panned (let alone destroyed an entire ecosystem) and i thoroughly enjoyed the book. although for all i know everyone thinks the book sucks too

Book should have starred Ewan McGregor. Idiot director wanted to make hollywood film, & pissed away his budget on DiCaprio. C'est la vie.

I generally try to avoid films of books I have read, and similarly try to avoid books of films I have seen. Particularly any John Grisham stuff. I have read half of them and seen half of the films.

Exceptions:
Angela's Ashes - not my choice, I was dragged along by a friend but surprised at how well the scenery matched my internal imagery of the book

LOTR - hadn't read them for years and wanted to see how they had done it - but was still disappointed in the 3rd one because they didn't make enough of the Faramir/Eowyn story for my liking

Harry Potters - just to see the special effects and got pretty peed off with the missed out bits, especially as some were integral to the plot - I definitely got the feeling that you had to have read the books to be fully up to speed with what was going on in the films.

Bridget Jones - light chick fluff so it really didn't matter.

Jane Austen films - generally done quite well if you exclude Gwynneth Paltrow. And actually, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet - WHEN will that girl learn to stand up straight??? No Regency girl would have been allowed to wander around with that dreadful posture!