Check It Out: Readers' Choice
Who needs an expert? You guys did a great job of flushing out the best and the worst film adaptations out there, so here's this week's list, courtesy of the Read Street gang:
The Good
Oh, Harry Potter, how I love you. And I guess Jenn does, too. Throughout the fliming process, J.K. Rowling has kept a close eye on her wizarding children, and it shows. The movies are just as magical as the books, and even as the source material grew, causing more plot cuts than many fans would like, I haven't seen a true character assassination yet.
It takes a brave soul to admit they cried during The Notebook, on screen or on the page. But I agree with Raymund: They did right by that book. And the actors were just so pretty!
Two words: Die Hard. I've never read the book Pat says it was based on, Nothing Lasts Forever, but it's on my list now.
Jenn, when you're right, you're right. Jurassic Park was an amazing movie, thanks in large part to Mr. Goldblum, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Raptor, and -- oh yes -- Mr. Crichton. And who didn't grin a little to see Newman become dino food?
The Bad
Poor, poor Dune. It's not bad enough that they've made an industry of bad sequels and made-for-TV specials out of this sci-fi classic; then they had to bring Sting in to suck all the magic out of the story. Even Capt. Picard couldn't save this one. I won't repeat all of the complaints, but just type the word "sucks" in the Read Street search field, and you'll see for yourself.
Jenn points out that Where the Heart Is got a bizarre makeover: "The main character has an issue with the number 7 being unlucky for her in the book. So why in the movie did they change it to the number 5? It didn't make sense, and in turn pissed me off." Yeah, that sounds like they were just meddling to meddle. And so this film makes it on the wrong side of this list.
Read Street reader Michelle (aka my mom) voted for The Horse Whisperer:
I hate watching a good book get slaughtered on screen, "The Horse Whisperer" is the worst to come to mind. They got the horses mixed up. Robert Redford was way too old for his role and the special lighting effects only called attention to that fact. They left out a whole story line involving the trucker that hit the girls & horses. Loved the book, hated the movie.
Aaron and I both found The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy unbearable. It's possible that Douglas Adam's self-referential brand of humor, with its random twists and turns, is impossible to recreate on the big screen. Let's hope they never try again.
And here's one that I didn't realize was first a book: A Beautiful Mind. Commenter Rage notes that "while raking in all kinds of awards [the movie] literally gutted the original story, which was much, much, more compelling and not made up." Word.
And reader Andrae mentioned The Prestige.
I own the movie. Christian Bale is the hottness. Michael Caine should be in every movie ever. The book? AWFUL. I didn't even recognize the movie that I love so much while reading it. Maybe my expectations colored the reading experience too heavily, but I gave that book away as soon as I finished it.
Comments
Andrae couldn't be more right. The Prestige is a terrible book, told in a clunky style that distracts from plot points and renders the story unbearable. I read it in preparation for the movie, and couldn't bring myself to watch until months had passed and the film was out on DVD.
Posted by: Thomas Bechtold | June 25, 2008 11:31 AM
I'm throwing another bad out there: "The Other Boleyn Girl". Great book. The characters were well-developed and the story was very intriguing. The movie felt like I was watching the summary on the back of the book. The plot was so rushed, and the characters undeveloped. Natalie Portman made the movie bearable, and Eric Bana wasn't too bad to look at, but I wasn't buying him as Henry VIII.
Ok I really need to stop. haha
Oh and I didn't make the comment on Jeff Goldblum, but I wholeheartedly agree. His character was my favorite in the film.
Posted by: Jenn | June 25, 2008 2:55 PM