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Original poster

Films that were better than the book

78 replies

SlightlyJaded · 09/03/2015 18:05

Not many spring to mind. The book is ALWAYS better - that's the rules.

The few exceptions that I can think of are:

Brokeback Mountain (book was fucking tedious to be fair)
The Ice Storm (brilliant book but even better film)
The Shawshank Redemption ( I actually really enjoyed the short story that was 'Rita Haywarth and the Shawshank Redemption but I think the book took it to the next level).

Apparently 'Fight Club' was also a book first. Never read it but I assume the film is better mainly as Brad wasn't in the book.

But I can't really think of any others? Any more for any more?

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 09/03/2015 18:53

Knew I should have put this in 'chat' Grin

OP posts:
Davros · 09/03/2015 21:41

Much as I love the book, there are lots of great things that have been added in The Talented Mr Ripley

momb · 09/03/2015 21:45

I loved reading 'The Life of Pi' and don't think that the film added anything better to the plot, but the visual spectacle of the film was better than anything my feeble imagination could have conjured up. Truly stunning.

mineallmine · 09/03/2015 21:50

'Gone Girl' - the end of the book just annoyed me but was much more believable on film.

RedCrayons · 09/03/2015 21:51

That John Grisham one that Tom Cruise was in. Think they changed the way he caught the baddies in the film. So much easier to follow.

Jaded - Brokeback Mountain is one of the dullest films I've ever seen. That must have been one boring book.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/03/2015 21:52

Hated the film of Brokeback Mountain - haven't read the book though.

Love Shawshank, and the book too - I think they are both v good and couldn't put one over the other.

I far prefer the film of, 'The Help' to the book.

HeyheyheyGoodbye · 09/03/2015 21:52

Teen films but: The Maze Runner and Divergent are perfectly entertaining films, but terrible books.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/03/2015 21:53

Oh and, 'The Hunger Games' first film was better than the book. Not seen any of the other films, but loathed the other two books.

Paintedpinksapphires · 09/03/2015 21:56

Interview with a Vampire was quite watchable. The less said about the book the better.

As far as TV series go, Morse was great but the books were dire.

zippey · 09/03/2015 21:58

The Godfather
Jaws
50 Shades

RedCrayons · 09/03/2015 22:00

Yy to The Help. I confused all the maids amd who they worked for in the book. The stories seemed a bit disjointed. Film was much clearer.

MuseumOfHam · 09/03/2015 22:01

Last of the Mohicans.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 09/03/2015 22:02

I tried the English patient but it was too difficult for me. Blush

Loved the film.

MuseumOfHam · 09/03/2015 22:04

Atonement. The film was yawnsville, but at least it sorted out the fucking ridiculous ending of the book, that I am still raging about years after reading it.

glenthebattleostrich · 09/03/2015 22:06

Notes on a scandal, Dame Judy at her terrifying best, and the only time I've not wanted to slap Bill in every fucking British film Nighy

Takver · 09/03/2015 22:06

I liked the latest Hunger Games movie more than the book - haven't seen the other films, though.

Don't agree on Divergent - I kept thinking in the film 'why the bloody hell would anyone have signed up to Dauntless' whereas in the book it was obvious that they also got to have a lot more fun than the other factions (and cake).

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 09/03/2015 22:06

What momb said about Life of Pi.

anothernumberone · 09/03/2015 22:09

The Lord of the Rings. My god Tolkien likes to go into detail, bored me to tears and drove me mad. A bit like the awful hobbit movies.

Takver · 09/03/2015 22:12

Going back a while - Dangerous Liaisons, and maybe thinking about it Blade Runner (at the time I was really into Philip K Dick, but really couldn't get into Do Androids . . . when I tried to re-read it recently).

Mercedes519 · 09/03/2015 22:12

another I came on to say LOTR. I've never managed to get through the books but love the film...

I really enjoyed the adaptation of Parades End with Benedict C in it. Then I read the book. It does go on a bit....so that one qualifies too.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 09/03/2015 22:16

The Princess Bride. Book is OK, film is much better.

squidgyapple · 09/03/2015 22:20

not a popular opinion, but One Day the film was better than the book

ihatemyphone99 · 09/03/2015 22:23

Completely agree on Gone Girl - wish I hadn't read the book. Film was great but I really like the director, composer etc

Disagree on One Day! Film was dire.

MadameJulienBaptiste · 09/03/2015 22:24

Les MiserablesGrin
parts of that book were sheer torture but I stuck with it as the story is quite good and most of the (reams and reams) social commentary quite interesting.
but the film version of the musical is just a joy to watch every night for weeks on dcd

Mercedes519 · 09/03/2015 22:25

Has anyone read the book of Stardust? Apparently it makes no sense but I love the film.

And let's face it Oliver Twist was much improved with the addition of some tunes Grin