Books turned into films... which one does it for you, and which one makes you wanna throw the book into the cinema screen?

[ELF1981]

I have always had an issue with books that are then created into a film / tv show.

Brigit Jones Diary - bloody loathed the film, whereas the book is one of my faves. Now they're making a third based on the newspaper series.

Watermelon was made into a tv show, so far off the book it was untrue.

My mum is always disappointed with the Potter films.

I just wondered if anybody has seen any really good remakes of books, or are they all rubbish?

Oh, and in case you think I never watch adult films at all, I think that both the book and the film of Clockwork Orange are fantastic, despite the differences.

I thought the Hitchhiker's Guide was a good film and I was worried really because I loved the book and I mean loved
the Harry Potter books are shit books made into shit films and dear god so very very long
Sense and Sensibility was a great film I thought, and ditto the new Pride and Prejudice

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For me captain Corelli's Mandolin has to be the worst adaptation ever. I so enjoyed the book and the film was dire.

I loved the book The Horse whisperer and for many years refused to see the film in case it was disappionting, but when i did eventually see it thought that it was well done.

Yes bloss the new Pride and prejudice was not good,but i am a huge fan of the bbc series and don't think anything could ever do better than that -of course it was about 6 hours long so able to go into much more detail.

the davinci code - bad book made into bad movie!

The film " A Time To Kill" is really good. The book by John Grisham is as good, but I love the author.

The Green Mile is also good.

The film version of the 3rd Harry Potter books was done all wrong, missed things out and put things in the wrong order.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy - yes, but only once I'd watched the extended versions. Was annoyed though that they cut out the scourging of the Shire, but I could see why, it already had about five "endings"!

I love Gone With the Wind (book and film). Am with the OP on Bridget Jones - Renee Zellweger is just not Bridget.

Howard's End is a good film version of a good novel. The worst one I can think of is the film version of Bonfire of the Vanities which is a fantastic novel but shite film!

Another vote for the Green Mile. Spot on with the book (for a change). I'm a huge Stephen King fan and am always disappointed with the films of his books because they are never right, and often change the ending (ie the Shining).

I try not to see films I've enjoyed in book form, or else read the book after the film.

Another Sense and Sensibility film fan here. I thought Emma Thompson's screenplay showed huge sensitivity, and successfully humanised one of Jane Austen's chillier heroines.

I'm really not looking forward to Mansfield Park.

I think the Harry Potter films are appalling.

I thought the Green Mile was spot on, exactly as I had it in my head whilst reading.

Harry Potter I think is enjoyable as a seperate entity - I watch it and enjoy it, but can't help thinking about the bits they left out. and I tend to obsess over the mistakes.

I'm horrified by oh I can't remember the name now
Nick Hornby, the one where he runs a music store? They americanised the movie, and it's a british book.

That was atrocious, I couldn't imagine Americans getting het up about the same music as passionately.

The book is High Fidelity. Did the film have the same name? Never seen it - but About a Boy (another Nick Hornby one) - great book, great film.

Agree re Bridget Jones.

The Bone Collector was also a dreadful film version of the book - changed some of the characters and missed out/changed half the plot!

Kiera Knightley-s "P & P" - v v good
Gwynnie's "Emma" - utter dross

Emma Thompson's "S & S" v good but Thompson far too old
American version of "Mansfield Park" from a couple of years ago - vile, vile, vile

Lord Of The Rings - books much better than the films although I loved Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas.

Harry Potter - I loved all of the films except the werewolf in the 3rd; I like the books but am frustrated by how badly (or insufficiently) edited they are.

Other brilliant films - not a film as such but the televised Jane Eyre lasy year was superb, whereas (imho) the BBC Pride And Prejudice was hideous beyond belief.

But P&P with Colin Firth - yummmmmmmmmmm

BUT compared to the 1970's BBC version and the Laurence Olivier/Greer Garson version the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice was superb.