Films BETTER than the book?

[FurrySlipperBoots]

I know it's extremely rare! Can you think of any? I just watched Esio Trot on Netflix and it's 1000% times better than the book, which bores the pants off me. I found it really sweet and well done - watched it right to the end, which is rare for me.

Cloud Atlas found the book really heavy going but the film strangely watchable.
The Lovely Bones, loathed the book, the film was marginally better.

Surprised nobody has said The Shawshank Redemption!

I also agree with Bridget Jones, but utterly disagree with Austen. Her books are so subtle and funny, and whole I love the adaptations, they aren’t better.

50 shades of grey
Just kidding. Both very bad.

I've tried to read The Hobbit and LOTR and given up, but I love the films.

I love the LotR films as well as being a big fan of the books, but imo the Hobbit films are preposterous and a travesty of what was a lovely, reasonably short, simple children's story. Massive self-indulgent OTT vanity project by Peter Jackson, making one shortish book into 3 silly, wildly over-embellished films!

Those saying Girl on the Train, there's 2 films. The one with Emily Blunt was good (though not as good as the book imo).

@DrRamsesEmerson anything by Hardy is better as a film - my favourite being Far From the Madding Crowd (Carrie Mulligan version)!

@Blakes77 was coming in to say the same. Book is so boring!

@LadyRachetine

Surprised nobody has said The Shawshank Redemption!

I also agree with Bridget Jones, but utterly disagree with Austen. Her books are so subtle and funny, and whole I love the adaptations, they aren’t better.

They did. Page 1 Billybagpuss wrote it.

Girl on the Train was a much better book.
The Talented Mr Ripley is such a beautiful film. Love the actors and stunning scenery.

Philomena

The Jungle Book

Kind Hearts And Coronets

The Other Boleyn Girl, tv version with Jodhi May.

@lazylinguist

I've tried to read The Hobbit and LOTR and given up, but I love the films.

I love the LotR films as well as being a big fan of the books, but imo the Hobbit films are preposterous and a travesty of what was a lovely, reasonably short, simple children's story. Massive self-indulgent OTT vanity project by Peter Jackson, making one shortish book into 3 silly, wildly over-embellished films!

Totally agree 276 perfectly written pages do not require 3 films.

@StopCryingYourHeartOut

Who the hell said Gone With The Wind? The book is an epic masterpiece.

Probably someone who doesn't like reading! I prefer the book too.

The Hours. Loved the film, didn’t realise it was from a book. Once I’d read it, wished I’d never realised it was from a book...

@TimeToLose8

Girl on the Train. Much better

Yes I completely agree! I hated the book, I could not understand why people raved about it. Then I watched the film and I thought "wow this is much better than that dreadful book" but everyone else I spoke to about it hated the film!

Oliver! Dickens is definitely better with some classic show tunes.

@Redcrayons

Oliver! Dickens is definitely better with some classic show tunes.

well in that vein, clearly The Muppets' Christmas Carol is superior to all other versions of A Christmas Carol - book or film.

@Icantreachthepretzels that absolutely goes without saying 😂

"Girl on the Train. Much better"

Christ. The book must've been terrible then.

Atonement

‘well in that vein, clearly The Muppets' Christmas Carol is superior to all other versions of A Christmas Carol - book or film.‘

Dd is doing Christmas Carol for GCSE English and her considered view is that not only is the Muppets version better but also Blackadder’s.

The Time Traveller’s Wife- I didn’t understand the book at all but the film was brilliant.
And agree with Bridget Jones

The Shining is so much better as a book. Just doesn’t compare.
I’ve forgotten the character’s name, but the man that gets horribly executed in Green Mile? His back story is detailed in the book and you really don’t feel too sorry for him.

well in that vein, clearly The Muppets' Christmas Carol is superior to all other versions of A Christmas Carol - book or film

I can’t argue with that.
When DS did it for GCSE the teacher gave revision notes which reminded them that there is only one Marley in the book