Our local TV columnist, Denise Neil (who also doubles as our food critic), had an interesting column today: the movies that readers think are better than the books. You can read the column here, but the jist of it was that she was complaining about how her enjoyment of a movie is usually diminished by having read the book. She writes:
“In almost every case (except “Atonement,” a great book whose movie adaptation was great in a separate but equal way), I can never appreciate the film version. I’m too concerned with what the movie is missing, what it’s skipping and what other various crimes against literature it’s committing.”
Okay, I’m generally on the same page as her here. While I think I have much looser standards than most people (I like the 1994 version of Little Women, which I know true devotes of the book hate), for the most part, I’m not necessarily always happy with movie versions of books (take the recent Dark is Rising catastrophe).
So, readers wrote in with suggestions of movies they thought were better than the books. Their choices: “The Bridges of Madison County”, “The Horse Whisperer”, “The Natural”, “Forrest Gump”, “Mystic River”,”The Last of the Mohicans”, “Cold Mountain”, “Fried Green Tomatoes”, “The Princess Diaries”
so far so good…
and the “Harry Potter” movies.
Um, really? The movies are so choppy, so over-acted. Sure, I love them and I own them, but that’s because I live in a house with Harry Potter fans. If I didn’t, I don’t think I’d like the movies at all. Rowling packs so much in her books, it’s hard to get it into a coherent and cohesive movie. With the exception of Order of the Phoenix. That, I will contend, is better (or at least as good as) the book. (I’m sure I’m not the only one who has ever made this point.)
So, it got me to thinking: what movies would you recommend over the book? And conversely, what movies are so horrible compared to the books, that you would tell people to stay away?
My (short but sweet) list:
“Age of Innocence”: maybe it was my mood, but I much preferred Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer to Edith Wharton’s stuffy novel.
“Enchanted April”: I don’t think I even made it through the book. Yawn. But the movie is a very cute movie about finding oneself. And the Italian scenery is just lovely.
“Joy Luck Club”: I like Amy Tan’s novel, but I think the movie tells the story better. Ditto for “Whale Rider”; the novel is nice, but the movie is fabulous.
Hubby would add “The Wizard of Oz” (I’m not sure if it’s better than the movie; I like them both).
Bother. I can’t think of any more off the top of my head, though I’m sure there are piles. What would you add, good and bad?
The Book Nut 
Fantastic: To Die For, with Nicole Kidman and Matt Damon. Better than the book, which was also good.
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I love Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, but I love, love, love the movie version of it. (I’m really looking forward to Prince Caspian.) I personally prefer the Mary Poppins movie to the book. But my mom would definitely disagree with me there. The newest version of Northanger Abbey (2007) was WAY WAY better than the book. I’d have to give it some more thought. But I’m sure there are others. Usually though I tend to prefer the books.
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I read this article as well, and agreed with much of it (except for the Harry Potter statement.) The movie I would add to this list is Rabbit Proof Fence. I loved, loved, loved this film and was so excited to read the book- and was quite disappointed.
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Back in 1998, a movie version of Les Miserables was made. I LOVE that book, I’ve read it twice (which is no small feat!), and I even had realistic expectations for the movie, knowing that they wouldn’t be able to ‘do it all.’ But, man oh man, the movie was awful. Stunk! They changed the essence of Marius’ character– in the book, he’s timid and afraid to pursue Cosette, in the movie, he’s the leader of the student revolution!! (They just absorbed Enjolras’ character into his!)Okay, too long a comment- sorry, I tend to get all worked about these things! 🙂
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I really liked the Masterpiece Theatre production of Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White.
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Hmmm, the one that comes to mind for me is Shopgirl by Steve Martin. The movie with Claire Danes (and Steve Martin) was far more enchanting than the novella.
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Susan — I’ve seen the movie (I think), but I haven’t read the book… I think that’s the deal with a lot of the movies on the original list. (Though I’ve avoided Forrest Gump fairly successfully…)Becky — I liked the movie version of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, too. But I’m not sure I think it’s *better* than the book. A different-good, though. I think the Lord of the Rings trilogy fits in to that category, too. It’s great in it’s own way, different and separate from the books.I’d forgotten about Mary Poppins. And I’m still waiting to get my hands on Northanger Abbey…Sarah — I’ve never even heard of the movie, let alone the book! (I’m not as well read as I think I am?)Dawn — ah, I avoided the movie. But I have to admit that I love the Broadway play better than the book.Lee — I’ve got the book on my TBR pile; I’ll have to find the movie once I’ve read the book.And Andi — I agree: Shopgirl the movie is much more enchanting than the novella.
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Add to the list the old TV version of Hunchback of Notre Dame with Sean Connery. The book is wretched. They took the book and made it into a wonderful movie. I think there are a lot of Disney movies that improved upon the books as well–Peter Pan for one.Mom
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Peter Pan! I forgot that one. Though I have to admit I like the live action (2003?) one much much better than the Disney version.
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Ooo, I LOVED the live action Peter Pan. The movie version of Emma was SO good.
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I agree, Melissa. A different kind of good. And again with the LOTR movies. The books and movies are two different things and sometimes they both can be really really good but in different ways.
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The first one that comes to mind is the movie The Devil Wears Prada – I thought this was much better than the book.
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I disagree about Cold Mountain. I thought the book was much better than the movie.
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Cold Comfort Farm. The movie is every bit as great as the book. Also, Big Fish is a MUCH MUCH MUCH better movie than book. The book was way lame. But I love the movie. I’m sure there are more. I’m tired now.
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DOn’t forget the Princess Dairy’s the movie is SOOO better.
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I disagree with most of the posts here, but being a book snob I rarely think movies measure up to the greatness of the imagination. With that said, there are three which should be added to the few movies which are better than the books (and not just for “simplification”).Contact – Carl Sagan himself rewrote a good chunk of the book himself for a screenplay which he felt did more than the book did. The introduction of the faith vs. science debate at the core of the movie is completely lost in the book. A good adjustment.The Princess Bride – I’m surprised no one has commented on this movie. Do people really like the book? The humor isn’t there, the catchy one liners aren’t in the book, and I just didn’t care for the tale in print.
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Wayne: I liked both the book and the movie. The movie was funny and witty, but the book was profound. But then I have to admit I don’t measure up to the level of book snobbery that my children do.MOM
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Melissa, I’ve tagged you for the 6 word memoir meme:http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/6-word-memoir-meme.html
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My Medieval British Lit prof at BYU declared in no uncertain terms that the Lord of the Rings movies improve upon the books, and I’d have to agree with her. For one thing, it’s so much more effective to do sweeping landscapes on film in New Zealand than in long long paragraphs, and for another thing the movies play up the romance bit beautifully (in a way Tolkien might not approve, but in a way that makes it much more accessible and pertinent to a lot of people. Say I).
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Oooh, I love this topic! One that comes to mind for me is The Shipping News. Not only did I like the movie much more than the book, but when I went back and reread the book I liked it better for having seen the movie.Mary Poppins and The Wizard of Oz are probably the two movies I hate the most, since IMO both of them *completely* missed the point of the books. 😛
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