Movies That Were Better Than The Book

[monstersquad]

Blade Runner. I know it's not a direct book-to-film but the movie just illustrated the scenery and the feel so much better and the characters were better (at least I thought so)

Yeah, the only problem with this is that except for a few names, and a general setting, the movie and the short novella " Do androids dream of electric sheep" are two completely seperate entities, they don't really even explore the same themes. For that matter, every post that throws out a movie based on a PKD short story, shouldn't technically count, with the sole exception of A Scanner Darkly, that movie is just as good as the book, possibly better. You don't necessarily need to experience them both because the movie is practically word-for-word with the book, and it doesnt lose any of the messages or themes from the novella.

OT: Every single Michael Chrichton novel that was ever made into a movie. I mean seriously, it's almost as if they're purposely written to be turned into movies.

 

[wulfy42]

Many have mentioned Steven King movies/books already. It's weird how some books are WAY better (Firestarter and IT for instance) and some movies are way better (The Running Man for instance written as Bachman...massive adaptation though). His movie adaptations are very hit or miss and sometimes both are just plain amazing.

That Stand for instance is a freaking great book.......but I also absolutely LOVE the mini-series. Both bring different things to the table so it's hard to say which is better. Some of the sound tracks to his movie adaptations alone make it so it's at least equal to the book if not better.

Then there are times when an actor just well......fits a role so well that it brings a story to new heights. The shining is a great book....but honestly Jack Nickelson MADE that movie and so I think the movie is probably better then the book....just because he nails the role sooo well....and it's just plain more spooky to see redrum then to read about it.

Finally I agree with the whole LOTRO movies comments. Honestly the writing by tolkien was always too flowery for me and his long descriptions made it almost a chore for me to read the books at some points. I'm not a huge fan of poetry and the movies, well, they got down to the serious action so I was able to enjoy them more.

Usually though I enjoy books more then the movies based on them. It takes either a great cast, a large amount of action and special effects or something else (like a great sound track (don't fear the reaper dude)) to win me over.

 

[AtheistConservative]

*raises flame shield*
Harry Potter, the entire series. Now, don't get me wrong I enjoyed some of the earlier books when I was younger, but the series didn't grow with me, I guess. The logical gaps in the story line started to bother me to the point that I finished the series simply to complete it rather than because I was enjoying it.
I don't fault the movies for the story line, and I feel that the set design and special effects were outstanding, where as JK Rowling's writing is actually kind of sub par.