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Disappointed book inspired films

54 replies

Moyerette · 07/10/2013 18:38

What book inspired films would you say really let the literature down?

One that really sticks in my mind is Cecelia Ahern's PS: I Love You. I adore the book. It has moments of laughter and sadness. I actually cried reading it.

The film was a huge disappointment. I just couldn't gel with it. It didn't flow right and quite a substantial amount of the book was left out.

OP posts:
EachAndEveryHighway · 07/10/2013 18:39

Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Book beyond brilliant. Film dire.

mummytime · 07/10/2013 18:43

But don't forget what Hitchcock did with most Daphne DuMaurier. There are probably others, where the film is better than the book.

JollyScaryGiant · 07/10/2013 18:45

The Golden compass. I nearly walked out. I was seething.

HaveToWearHeels · 07/10/2013 18:47

I agree with PS I Love You, also The Davinci Code, couldn't put the book down, missed huge pieces out of the film. Biggest disappointment was Marley and Me, the book was the most touching book I have ever read (as a dog owner/lover), I went through a whole box of tissues at the end, DH sat aghast and watched me sob, film was a waste of time.
I believe if you have read the book don't bother with the film.

HaveToWearHeels · 07/10/2013 18:50

EachandEvery I must make a note to read Captain Corelli's Mandolin. I thought the film was OK which goes back to my post about seeing the film first. I am sure once I read the book I will change my mind about the film

Katekate77 · 07/10/2013 18:50

Omg the golden compass! I'm livid! My favourite books of all time. If I win the lottery I'll buy the rights from new line cinema and remake them I promise! I'll get Ben affleck to direct, just because he's cute Smile

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 07/10/2013 18:51

world war Z

Sob.

Katekate77 · 07/10/2013 18:52

I'm just about to start reading the girl with the dragon tattoo. Watched the film first which is unlike me, I like it- are the books good?

Earthworms · 07/10/2013 18:52

Dark is rising

Gutted. My all time favourite book. Wrecked.

ElleMorte · 07/10/2013 18:56

World War Z. Someone said: it has everything you loved ... about the title. Yup. Such an absolute waste of source material.

sisterofmercy · 07/10/2013 19:05

I'm with you there Earthworms. Not my favourite book but one which terrified me as a youngster. The film would have fine (if rather average) if I'd not known the source material. I am glad that Alan Garner's books seem to have avoided film adaptation, it must be time to redo the Owl Service on telly....

I think the best book adaptations are where the book was disappointing but the film is ace. I suspect Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would be much better on the screen.

BigW · 07/10/2013 19:11

I am legend
Never let me go
Golden compass

I hear they are filming 'the book thief'. I loved that book too...

HaveToWearHeels · 07/10/2013 19:31

BigW the Book Thief is a brilliant book, would be interested to see the film adaptation.

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 07/10/2013 20:01

Agree with you BigW on I am legend.

That was a great book and a poor film. The saving grace about that cinema trip was the fact that when the dog died a women behind us howled and howled until she was dragged out by her friend. I think she must have recently lost a dog but it was so surreal!

Takver · 07/10/2013 20:02

Tales from Earthsea - I couldn't actually figure out how it related to the Earthsea books at all . . .

tumbletumble · 07/10/2013 20:06

Katekate77 - I read the book first, enjoyed it and thought they did a reasonable job with the film (I saw the Swedish version as opposed to the American one). They had to leave out a lot though - the book is much more complicated.

TheNunsOfGavarone · 11/10/2013 14:11

Another vote for Captain Corelli's Mandolin - urgghhhh.

valiumredhead · 11/10/2013 14:22

The Woman in Black
The Lovely Bones
We need to talk about Kevin

Atonement is the only example of a film being better than the book imo.

valiumredhead · 11/10/2013 14:24

Oh thought of another, all the Girl with Dragon Tattoo books are dull as ditch water but films are ok.

jeee · 11/10/2013 14:25

The Dark is Rising. Painfully bad.

If we can give examples of films being better than the book, I put forward Mary Poppins, Dick Van Dyke's dodgy cockney accent and all.

MirandaWest · 11/10/2013 14:29

PS I love you nothing like the book.

I don't know how she does it - loved the book. Film was set in America (was meant to be in England) and missed out most of the point.

Have tried to read the English patient and failed at least twice but loved the film.

Habbibu · 11/10/2013 14:29

YY to the Dark Is Rising. Would make a wonderful TV series.

Chopsypie · 11/10/2013 14:31

The book thief is released later this year I think.

Mine is the hunger games. And pride and prejudice. And the other Boleyn girl.

Actually I can't think of a good adaptation ?

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 11/10/2013 14:43

Cold Mountain - woefully miscast.

Agree it's hard to think of a film that's better than the book, best I can usually say is if it's pretty true to the story.

Chopsypie · 11/10/2013 15:03

I think my problem is often not the storyline but how they look. They just don't match the image that was in my head, so feel wrong.

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