Fantastic Books that were made into Fantastic Films

[Noobsalad]

Just thought of this from the "Films that are better than books thread." [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.158219?page=1] With all the threads about bad movie adaptations of books and good books made into bad movies, a post this question to the members of The Escapist: What excellent books were adapted into incredible films?

I posted most of these before, but here's mine:

Lord of the Rings
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Maltese Falcon
Gone with the Wind
A Clockwork Orange

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Well you took Lord of the Rings so that...leaves nothing for me to say.

Everything else was crap.

 

[Raven's Nest]

The lord of the Flies definately... Both versions of the film were pretty damn good too. We don't need one but a remake would probably turn out good too.

 

[RathWolf]

The Godfather.

 

[IrishBerserker]

The Dogs of War. Good book, Great film.

 

[Dragonearl]

The Lord of the Flies. Great book and great movie.

Sneaky ninja ninja'd me!.

 

[ninja_thae]

Stardust

 

[A Weary Exile]

Well you took Lord of the Rings so that...leaves nothing for me to say.

Everything else was crap.

Uhhh...Watchmen? I say that counts as book, only wit lotsa pichers!

The Maltese Falcon

I've always wanted to see that. Is it really that good?

OP: I don't read a whole lot, and the books I've read have never been made into films (If they were I'd just watch the movie ).

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Well you took Lord of the Rings so that...leaves nothing for me to say.

Everything else was crap.

Uhhh...Watchmen? I say that counts as book, only wit lotsa pichers!

Damn!.

Well in my defense I excluded comics..but yeah, Watchmen was pretty good.

Everything else apart from those two are crap!.

 

[Iconoclasm]

I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Prestige' in both formats. With the exception of Scarlett Johansson, who plays the same god-damned part in every film (Oh, she's having an affair - what a shocker there...). 'Memento' was also delightful, as was its source 'Momento Mori.'

Though, this may be my Nolan fanboy-ism coming through.

I'm surprised no one, in either threads, has mentions 'Dune' or 'Starship Troopers' in any depth.

 

[SiliconKnight]

Well you took Lord of the Rings so that...leaves nothing for me to say.

Everything else was crap.

Uhhh...Watchmen? I say that counts as book, only wit lotsa pichers!

The Maltese Falcon

I've always wanted to see that. Is it really that good?

OP: I don't read a whole lot, and the books I've read have never been made into films (If they were I'd just watch the movie ).

The Maltese Falcon was an incredible book and movie and I would highly recommend it.

OT: I actually enjoyed both versions of "The Exorcist" very much

 

[Iconoclasm]

I completely forgot about Hammett's novel - good call.

 

[lodo_bear]

Slightly off-topic: "A Series of Unfortunate Events" was not such a great series of books, but the movie was excellent.

On topic: I loved the first Narnia movie. I haven't seen the second; did it measure up?

 

[Keepitclean]

Twili.... oh wait
Harry Pott.. uh no no good book or movie there either

Lord of the Rings forsure

 

[Cowabungaa]

Well you took Lord of the Rings so that...leaves nothing for me to say.

Everything else was crap.

Uhhh...Watchmen? I say that counts as book, only wit lotsa pichers!

Damn!.

Well in my defense I excluded comics..but yeah, Watchmen was pretty good.

Everything else apart from those two are crap!.

Graphic novels are still novels! That'd include Sin City as well.

 

[JemJar]

I'm disappointed in all of you.
Jurassic Park.

Oddly yes. I don't think the adaptation was brilliant but they're both great in their own ways.

And seriously people:

FIGHT CLUB

Don't make me use bold & caps together ever again.

 

[WolfThomas]

I was going complain that we now have 3 very similar threads (book good/film bad, book bad/film good, book good/film good) and that all we now need is a "Books that suck and have made sucky films" (actually with the levels of pessimism I see on the escapist, I don't know why this wasn't the first thread), but then I noticed you referenced my thread so what the hell welcome to the escapist and happy first thread.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Well you took Lord of the Rings so that...leaves nothing for me to say.

Everything else was crap.

Uhhh...Watchmen? I say that counts as book, only wit lotsa pichers!

Damn!.

Well in my defense I excluded comics..but yeah, Watchmen was pretty good.

Everything else apart from those two are crap!.

Graphic novels are still novels! That'd include Sin City as well.

Yes..well, I *forgot*.

Apologies to all...