What film adaptation of a book has annoyed you the most?

[TheTaco007]

Golden. Fucking. Compass.

This was one of my favorite books of all time! It was fucking amazing! It was deep, compelling, had a ridiculously good plot, was incredibly original, and insanely dramatic. The movie was so ridiculously bad, it rivals "Journey to the center of the earth".

 

[Sleipnir]

I don't think I've ever seen a film derived from a book that turned out good... I mean... films like I am Legend are okay as films go, but then you look to the books and think "what the frick?" It doesn't help that the movie I am Legend is the third attempt at making the book into a movie and is just as catastrophic as the other two.

I just like how the film is so hard hitting that when you bring it up in conversation the main point will be "it's so sad that he killed his dog"

 

[Woodsey]

Lord of the Rings.

Why? I feel like a lot of things weren't done right and despite understanding certain limitations and shall we call them "requirements" in film making it still pisses the hell out of me...

First of all, NO WIGHTS and generic adventures the 4 hobbits had between Shire and Brill. That was an extremely awesome part of the book...

Second of all, and I'm sure a few people will agree with me... No Tom Bombadil or his wife.

Tom Bombadil is awesome, fools! He's got yellow shoes and blue jacket, and he sings the shit out of the wights!

Yeah...

Tom Bombadil isn't a part of the main plot, and Tolkien placed him in the book as a sort of social commentary (although I can barely remember the books I haven't read them in so long).

And it's a film, you can't just leave every bloody sub-plot in. They were 3 very long films, and masterfully created by Peter Jackson.

That's still not how I'd do it.

Alas, this is the exact reason for the creation of this thread.

 

[randomrob]

i can think of only two good film adaptions of books. the lord of the rings trilogy(although they missed out Tom Bombadill which was sad) and willy wonka and the chocolate factory (the old one not the new shit one)

 

[Lordmarkus]

The Da vinci code hands down. Sure it is hard to meet my expectations when the book is my absolute favourite but they fucking ruined the ending.

 

[Fire Daemon]

A Clockwork Orange.

Nah, not really, but the 21st chapter would have been good to complete the story rather than leaving it open. It was a good enough ending but somewhat lacking in my opinion.

I agree with the Golden Compass hate. That movie was terrible, absolutely fucking terrible and I'm glad that they aren't making a sequel as the Subtle Knife is my favourite in the series.

And pretty much every comic book ever made. Watchmen wasn't bad although most of that is because the book is really, really good and a pretty decent musical score. V for Vendetta wasn't too bad either, although compared to the book woeful. The Dark Knight was good but also had some big flaws and the first two Spider man movies were quite good. All other comic book adaptations have generally been bad movies, I haven't seen every single one of them, but many that I have seen tend to suck pretty hard.

EDIT: Dune, holy shit Dune! The book was great but the movie... well it wasn't bad exactly but that's because it's based on a really good book. It managed to capture the attitude, atmosphere and all that but the acting was wooden and the story was as rushed as all hell. Better actors, get rid of that yellow-grey tinge the movie had and spread it over three movies and you might have had something good going on.

 

[DuplicateValue]

The second is the film adaptation of Northern Lights (although the film is called the Golden Compass since that is what the American version of the book is called due to the fact that they changed "Alethiometer" to "Golden Compass" for some obscure reason). What can I say about it other than if you've read the book and watched the film you'll know what I'm talking about, if not then you'll have to read the book first to truely appreciate how crap the film is.

I enjoyed both the book and the film.

The book was brilliant, and the movie was solid as long as, and this is important, you don't rate it in comparison to the book.

 

[Inverse Skies]

Actually, you should see The Mist, it's easily one of the best adaptaions of King's work.

Whilst that might be true I still don't feel comfortable with the idea of watching it. I love that book and am very happy to just have the book version of it, I don't feel the movie would enhance the experience in any way, just detract from it.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

Twilight.

It annoys me in my own home, and I dont even have to watch it. ARGH!

 

[JIst00]

The Stand - Book was awesome,the film, not so much.

LotR - Not cuz it was done especially bad, though messing about with the bit where he has to find the flower to cure doodahh of the Nazgull Kings touch thingy pissed me off if i net pick. Mainly cuz the portrayal of Sam and Frodo's relationship was so homoerotic it was untrue. Like I said, not a bad film or set thereof, they just annoy me.

Slightly off topic - The Green Mile - Not actually got round to reading it yet, tho its sat on the shelf, but the mrs has and she says its awesome. The film is one of my favourites and she recomends the book to those who havent read it yet seen the film.

 

[Tdc2182]

The adaptation of The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan.
The movie was alright but it just bugged me they turned it into a kiddy movie when the book was something with substance.

Edit: OH GOD WAIT!

The Golden Compass anyone? They turned a dark, meaningful story into a Disney Style, child friendly, sunshine and lollipops abortion.

Crap, I completely forgot to see that. I finished each book in a day.

Eragon anyone?

 

[Da Joz]

Wanted. The movie only took some of the plot and the names of the main characters from the comic book series/ graphic novel. If they made the movie just like the book it would have been one of the coolest movies ever. Seriously go read Wanted and then watch the movie if you haven't and compare.

 

[sdafdfhrye3245]

twilight mind you it wasnt a good book to begin with but meh

 

[cathou]

I Am Legend and I, Robot

(...)
I wouldn't have such a problem with this if the movie wasn't based on Asimov's work, but if you're going to use so many things from his stories and then pretty much do a 180 on the whole point of every robot story he's ever written by having an evil AI as the main antagonist, you're just doing it wrong.

Asimov himself stretches the laws to have a robot that could do what the AI does in I robot. In Sally, the bus killed a man, in "That Thou art Mindful of Him" the robots at the end see themself as human and decide that getting rid of men would be necessary. In robot dream he put the possibility that robot could act outside the laws (even if they dont in that novel), and in "Christmas Without Rodney", he also put that possibility. So it's not that wrong to put a AI antagonist, even if they should have think of something else.

bicentenal man movie adaptation was worst i think...

 

[Dopey Trout]

Eragon was shit, I Am Legend was plain wrong and Hitchhiker's wasn't great.

My all time worst is the Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice. An absolutely genius (pair of) books which do a lot to rationalise the human condition and the wages of immortality. The film was an hour and a half crapfest with only the bare bones of the plot and none of the deeper meaning left, all of the symbolism and characterisation drained out to leave a horrendous action adventure abomination

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

The Beach.

I absolutely love the book. It's my joint favorite book ever written (along with The Perfect Storm, The Life of Pi and The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid), but the film was just bad.

I hate Leonardo Di Caprio... so miscast.

EDIT: Cirque Du Freak has substance? Compared to what, Twilight?

 

[akilae]

I, robot and Minority Report, both were shite and whored out to product placement. Not to mention they totally ignored the plot of both

I am legend missed the whole point of the book. In the same vein Starship Troopers overturned the whole point of the book brilliantly by adding a critical viewpoint to the fascistic utopia it really was.

Also, if I recall correctly, Jurassic Park (the film) kinda stops halfway through the plot compared to the book, but I can't be arsed to check.

Lord of the rings was fairly brilliant, If that's your idea of a poor adaptation, it's just that you haven't read a lot of books and just spat out the first that came to your mind.

In all fairness, twilight doesn't count, it's on par with the books.

 

[Carbonic Penguin]

The adaptation of The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan.
The movie was alright but it just bugged me they turned it into a kiddy movie when the book was something with substance.

The moment I saw the title of the thread, I was going to say this...and it's the first reply! Wowsers...

 

[Disaster Button]

The adaptation of The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan.
The movie was alright but it just bugged me they turned it into a kiddy movie when the book was something with substance.

The moment I saw the title of the thread, I was going to say this...and it's the first reply! Wowsers...

I work fast.
i know, i know, that's what she said

 

[AlchemistMayCry]

No, I was just expecting something better from Gambon.