Any film adaptations that are better than the books?

[Walkthroughthefire]

I know it's a very rare case but have you ever thought a film as better than the book it was based on. Controversial, I know.

I've always thought Breakfast at Tiffany's was better and more recently, the Hunger Games.

I feel like I had another but I'm drawing a blank just now.

[Margoonyawill]

No way. Peter Pan was originally a play, but most people now know it as some form of adaptation -- book, film, cartoon. I still think that the original version, the play, tops all other versions.

[Moln]

Game of Thrones - agree totally. I've read the first two, and at times it was as if I was punishing myself so much waffle for so little story progression. Just get ON with it George!!!

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

God, 100% agree with Game of Thrones. I hate books where I have to keep a finger in the index to remind myself who people are - it was just so turgid!

I used to read books till the end even if they were dire - I just don't bother now.

[LomboDePorco]

What about Harry Potter? I loved the books (read them first) and thought the films were also brilliant. But I suspect that the films can't stand alone, especially the later films, where I spent much of them whispering to DH explaining character motivations, plot points/holes, magic rules etc that just weren't included. Can they be watched and enjoyed without reading the books?

[YouBastardSockBalls]

The Harry Potter films are utter garbage, they tainted the books for me.

[MotherBluestocking]

Absolutely agree with other posters on Game of Thrones - books so much less sharp and witty than the TV series.
Also: Sense and Sensibility, anyone? Not only stars the late great Alan Rickman but also manages to make some of the characters and motivations more convincing than the book.

[doublechocchip]

Agree about LOTR all those lengthy songs in the books so boring, much better as a film.

Went to see Room yesterday at the cinema that was a bloody brilliant adaptation of the book.

[kateandme]

deff not as good but I did still love the harry potter films

[Canyouforgiveher]

Bridges of Madison County. Book was a piece of horrible crap. Film made me cry (I was jetlagged and watching it on a plane with a glass of wine but still)

[honeysucklejasmine]

Agree with The Devil Wears Prada. Andrea is such a bitch in the book, and thoroughly deserves everything Miranda throws at her. Her boyfriend is also too holier than thou.

LOTR books annoy me sooooo much. I love the films, but feel like Tolkien based Ents on himself. His philosophy seems to be "why say 'a tree' when I can spend 3 pages describing it?" which bores me silly.

Dbro got me the GOT books for Christmas. If pp are right, not sure I have the patience to read them!

[maggz1967]

Waiting to watch girl on the train Paula Hawkins and room Emma donahue books where best I've read in a long time

[burnishedsilver]

I thought that the ending of Gone Girl worked better in the movie.

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

Hannibal Rising. Mind you, that's hardly an achievement, because the book was fucking DIRE. There was a real air of 'Right, we've got an idea for a film, Mr. Harris. Here's your cheque, now knock out a book for it ASAP so people can get excited and think it came before the film. Off you pop now, there's a dear'.

Game Of Thrones, absolutely. DH has read all the books, and going by what he said, he might as well have just read the first one and left it there, they're so bloody repetitive. George R. R. Martin is a dreadful writer, really cringeworthy.

[Walkthroughthefire]

I do love LotR & Got but have to say the adaptations have been fantastic also.

Harry Potter is a tough one, I don't think you can understand the films without reading the books but some people obviously have. They're my comfort films but there are elements that they changed that I hate (ie the Burrow scene - you know the one!)

I love Stardust as a book and a film, I think it was adapted really well despite the changes.

I haven't read some of these and don't think I'll bother now!

[ThunderInMyHeart]

'American Psycho', 'Bonfire of the Vanities' (although Melanie Griffiths is DIRE) and 'Apocalypse Now' (not saying much though as I nearly killed myself reading 'Heart of fucking Darkness'

Book version of 'Memoirs of a Geisha' far better though

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Any film of a Henry James novel

The English Patient

Jaws

[SandyMumsnet]

Hi everyone,

With the OP's kind permission we're going to sweep this great thread into films

[notenoughlicorice]

P.S. I Love You
Cry every time i see that film. Still. Love it.
Book was excruciating to sift through in places. Very glad whole sections were removed.
Did like the original setting of the coast in the book.
Think the film did an amazing job of keeping the best bits of the book yet transferring it to the USA.

Agree Devil Wears Prada was a horrid book.
James Bond books - dreadful. Bought them for my dad. Very dissapointed.