OK we all agree that most film versions of books are crap but . . .

[BalloonSlayer]

which ones are good?

(sorry, expect this has been done before)

I am watching Jurassic Park on telly - posting in commercial break - and it dawned on me that it's the only example I have of: Loved the book, Loved the film.

Any others?

I liked Revolutionary road, though the book is much much better.

And Dangerous Liaisons, I loved the movie and the book

Remains of The Day

High Fidelity, I think it's better than the book.

liked about a boy book and film

Ooh yes, Remains of the Day is another for me. Thanks Foosa. Will check out others.

Back later. TRex due to attack.

A Very Long Engagement, both book and film complimented each other.

Agree with Bran.

one flew over the cuckoos nest. In fact, I prefer it - you know from the start that the Chief can really talk in the book whereas in the film, when he says those first words to MacMurphy, you are genuinely shocked. Tis one of my favourite films, can you tell?!

and Schindler's List/Ark

The thing is that film and literature are totally different media. A book based on a film is always going to be flimsy, and a film based on a good book is always going to have to cut huge chunks of the plot (or entire secondary plot lines) so as to make it workable as a film. So to say films based on books are simply 'crap' shows a total lack of understanding of the medium.

That said, the Terminator novel was brilliant, especially the gruelling death scene on p118!

Interview With A Vampire - great book and good film too.

Red Dragon

Schindlers List (from what I remember)

Nightbreed - Cabal by Clive Barker

do you think so browntrout?

i think one flew over the cuckoo's nest is a terrible, terrible film.
it misses out so much from the book

I agree MrsMerryHenry, I was [ahem] summarising for a succinct thread title [ahem again].

'Tis why I think Jurassic park worked well, as Michael Crichton was a screenwriter and wrote novels with the movie version in mind.

D'you know I have never seen the film of "Of Mice and Men" or any other Steinbeck adaptations but they are so cinematically written you'd think they'd take literally 15 mins to adapt as a movie.

Sorry Slayer, I got a bit carried away!

Fight Club is a great film. And a short book

I am reading 'Remains of the Day' at the moment, so will check out the film.

I enjoyed the most recent 'Brideshead' film almost as much as the Antony Andrews TV version.

ooh don't apologise, I love a bit of debate!

I get so frustrated when people don't bother to read a book but sort of think they have because they have seen the film. It's not the sodding same, for the love of God!!

I get upset when people rave about Gone with the Wind. I think it's a pretty good attempt given the length of the book but I also feel it was so important that Scarlett had a child in each of her marriages, and to cut that out was a mistake. Even as a teenager, over a decade before I had children myself, her poor parenting of little Wade Hampton touched my heart and I felt very tender about the wee chap - only to find he didn't even feature in the film .

The Constant Gardener was good.

Far From the Madding Crowd was good. Hardy seems to do well in films.

ooh this is yesterday, do you not like the film at all? Funnily enough, this is one of the few occasions where I saw the film before the book and so maybe it was skewed for me. I do love the film though, think JN is perfect for the part and billy makes me cry every time. I know the book is utterly iconic and it is brilliantly written. I think I just connect more on an emotional level with the film version of the story.

What?? She had children??? And she called her son 'Wade'????? I think you'll find that that's why they cut him out, Slayer.

Constant Gardner is excellent.

Was Dirty Dancing ever a book?

If you're not taking the pee, MrsMH , Scarlett called her son what she did because that was the name of her husband's commanding officer, as was the fashion at the time. (You see it in the film, on the letter of condolence).

And her second child she calls "Ella Lorena," "the most fashionable name at the time."

"Hardy seems to do well in films."

• might that be because his books are chapter after chapter page after page of interminable description and what little action there is can fill up 90 minutes nicely?

I loved both the book and the film of The Time Traveler's Wife.