Best/worst movie based on a book???

[hodog78]

Lots of movies could be listed here. I'm sure most will say 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Very true, but that's an easy cop out. Try going beyond that one. I'd have to say my personal favorite was 'Silence of the Lambs'. Almost exactly follows the book, great cast, great acting.

Worst by far that I have seen was a made for TV only version of Stephen King's 'The Tommyknockers'. Jimmy Smits and underage porn queen Traci Lords??? Great combination there! Your thoughts?

[JuliaAguilar]

I thought The Color Purple was very well done. Very good casting, and pretty true to the book. It's been a while since I've seen it, though.

The Crucible, although based on a play, was pretty good, too.

One that sucked: Dreamcatcher. (Yes, another Stephen King one) The book was a million times better, and it just didn't make any sense as a movie. If you read the book, you will know that some of that just can't be shown in a theatrical way.

[hodog78]

One that sucked: Dreamcatcher. (Yes, another Stephen King one) The book was a million times better, and it just didn't make any sense as a movie. If you read the book, you will know that some of that just can't be shown in a theatrical way.

Damn, that was actually on my list of movies to catch. Never read the book. Stephen King movies are hit or miss really. 'IT' was spectacular, so was 'The Shining' (Jack Nicholson version), and 'Stand By Me', but there's also countless bombs (still can't forget 'The Stand') World class book, HORRIBLE tv movie.

[Red300ZX]

"The Sum of All Fears" what a great book, but a big piece of crap as a movie.

[jimbo]

Best Movie based on a book would probably be A Clockwork Orange
Worst Movie based on a book would probably be..christ any movie adapted from a Stephen King novel (minus The Shining)

[hodog78]

Worst Movie based on a book would probably be..christ any movie adapted from a Stephen King novel (minus The Shining)

Oh man!!! Come on, there's at least a few good ones. If anything, at least 'The Shawshank Redemption' is a worthy one.

[Boostedpimp]

you people ever hear of a movie by the name of Gummo?... it's a real life filmed movie of a inbread hick family.. it's just all kinds of fucked up.

Some stoner that we knew in highschool used to watch it when lit up or poping some acid so that's how I was blessed with seeing it... sober It disturbing but wiht some tabs on the tongue it was a block buster hit to us :D

[Rabid_chiapet]

Gummo is one twisted movie, it was awful. BLAH.

Yeah Steven King movies just don't do the books justice, especially
Christine. The movie It wasn't too bad, just because I thought Tim Curry was one evil mother fucker in it. ;)

[SickGirl]

Gummo was based on a book? :confused:

Since I never get to watch movies and don't know which ones are based on books cause I'm a big dope:

I'd have to say I loved Bridges of Madison County. I saw the movie and read the book. Both made me cry. I also like all of Anne Rice's books and the movies for those . . . although the movies are a lot different from the books.

[jimbo]

Oh man!!! Come on, there's at least a few good ones. If anything, at least 'The Shawshank Redemption' is a worthy one.
Maybe i'm wrong but wasn't The Shawshank Redemption based on a short story by King. but i suppose it still could and that was a very good movie so, minus The Shining and The Shawshank Redemption

[Mr. Ram]

1984 what a piece of garbage.

[Bluedragon317]

Lord of the Rings was a really good translation from book to movie

[WhatTheFluck295]

The book-to-movie adaptation of "Valentine" was positively wretched...

[JuliaAguilar]

Damn, that was actually on my list of movies to catch. Never read the book. Stephen King movies are hit or miss really. 'IT' was spectacular, so was 'The Shining' (Jack Nicholson version), and 'Stand By Me', but there's also countless bombs (still can't forget 'The Stand') World class book, HORRIBLE tv movie.

You should read Dreamcatcher first, at least that way you will understand the movie. I watched it with people who didn't read the book and they just didn't get it, and one thing I hate is having to explain what a movie means the whole time I'm watching it with someone rather than just enjoying it.

[Tequila Rose]

The Green Mile is also a good stephen King to screen adaptation-

but the Apt Pupil blew

I do agree with the Silence of the Lambs but have to add Red Dragon to that as well-similar circumstance- followed the book well and great cast-especially making Anthony Hopkins who is older than when he played in Silence of the Lambs look young enough to be convincable in Red Dragon

[Sketcher]

The Count of Monte Cristo was a great book but the movie sucked.

[Wire17]

i thought The Passion kinda sucked, the bible was WWAAYYY better.

[Rabid_chiapet]

The Green Mile is also a good stephen King to screen adaptation-

but the Apt Pupil blew

I do agree with the Silence of the Lambs but have to add Red Dragon to that as well-similar circumstance- followed the book well and great cast-especially making Anthony Hopkins who is older than when he played in Silence of the Lambs look young enough to be convincable in Red Dragon


I agree Apt Pupil sucked.

Oh and I just have to mention Tequila Rose is one of my favorite alcoholic beverages, mmmmm now I want one. :p

[Deltron]

i thought The Passion kinda sucked, the bible was WWAAYYY better.
Hah hah I found that fuckin hilarious.

I think Jurassic Park was a decent book to movie adaptation, the other 2 movies sucked some serious ass, aren't they coming out with a 4th one now? God help us all.

Also I believe Fight Club was based off a book, although I haven't read the book, I've been told its a great book-movie adaptation.

[InNirvana]

Best movie Based on a book: The Dune Series
The Worst:Stuart Little

[playoffpucks]

The Borne Identity by Robert Ludlum was pretty good. He even made a few sequals. You guys should check out some of his books, especially The Cassandra Compact.

[Dual]

i thought The Passion kinda sucked, the bible was WWAAYYY better.

Dude that's going into my signature.


I think the "Lord of the Flies" movie sucked major ass

[Crazy Carl]

Fight Club was a great movie, but so much more is explained through the book. Check it out sometime, it's written by Chuck Palahniuk.

Worst movie based on a book, I would have to say American Psycho. Sure, the movie was sweet, but so much more happens in the book that leaves the movie kinda by itself.

[JuliaAguilar]

I think Jurassic Park was a decent book to movie adaptation, the other 2 movies sucked some serious ass, aren't they coming out with a 4th one now? God help us all.

Yeah, the first one was the only one I could really sit through. The other ones just blew monkey dong. I wonder why movie producers just don't quit while they're ahead, sequels are usually just not as good. Especially in this case.

[AstheniA]

My Views.
Ok, I know, this has nothing to do with what you're all talking about, well, it does, but I haven't put in which films are good, and which aren't. I think the reason we all bitch so much about how the books are better than the movies, is because in the book, you're reading, you're taking in every piece of detail they give, which usually is the surroundings aswell.. But with films, your eyes are on the characters, and you're taking in what they're saying and all of that, but with books, its this part-then this part-then these words-then this part. Its much more descriptive than a film can be. Maybe you'll agree, maybe you won't, but thats what I think.

Ast.

[hodog78]

My Views.
Ok, I know, this has nothing ....what I think.

Ast.

Good points. What does it for me is the fact that when I read a book, I form my own character in my mind. You imagine what a character in the book is like, and it becomes familiar to you. Then, the movie comes out starring Ben Affleck, Matt Daman or Colin Farrell. Ruins the whole thing. Some of the time. THere's still some good ones.

Anyway, surprised Oopyman hasn't jumped in with this one, just remembered 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. Johnny Depp seriously fucking nailed the role of Hunter S. Thompson. I guess he actually spent a couple months living with the guy, picking up his 'ways'. Great book-to-movie adaptation.

[Dual]

Yeah, the first one was the only one I could really sit through. The other ones just blew monkey dong. I wonder why movie producers just don't quit while they're ahead, sequels are usually just not as good. Especially in this case.

Yeah sequels usually blow. They just want to milk everything they have and try to cash in

[Anaesthesia]

LOTR, definitely. It was brilliant, very close to the book, Peter Jackson did well. At least he didn't ruin it like alot of directors do. :)

[Zak8333]

I think American Psycho should come near the top of everyone's list... along, of course, with the Godfather.. Found this site with Blinkx.com, by the way - very funky new search engine, worth checking out

[vamp]

queen of the dammed was a good movie but that was two books cramed into one film.it missed loads,and i mean loads out of the film.so the books are better really. :)

[Eegoog]

The Godfather, Great movie, great book....Don Corleone: I'm a superstitious man , and if some unlucky accident should befall Michael, if he is to be shot in the head by a police officer, or be found hung dead in a jail cell... or to be struck by a bolt of lightning, then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room, and then I do not forgive. But with said, I pledge, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace that we have made today.

Silence of the lambs, One of the best movies ever made, from the screenplay to the music all around great movie, and the book was even better...Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb: It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.

Jaws, I always loved this movie and the book was great too...Mayor Vaughn: Fellows, let's be reasonable, huh? This is not the time or the place to perform some kind of a half-assed autopsy on a fish... And I'm not going to stand here and see that thing cut open and see that little Kintner boy spill out all over the dock.

As for Stephen King? I liked The Shining. Shawshank wasn't a book, The green mile was a series I believe. Carrie was ok but I will have to go with The Dead Zone. Christopher Walkin is just a great actor and he was awsome in this.....Johnny Smith: "Bless me"? Do you know what God did for me? He threw an 18-wheeled truck at me and bounced me into nowhere for five years! When I woke up, my girl was gone, my job was gone, my legs are just about useless... Blessed me? God's been a real sport to me!

[Bergs]

Not that the movie was bad, I love it, but Starship Troopers missed the book so much. It wasnt even close. I mean for Christ sake, Dizzy was a guy and he dies in the first chapter!

Robert Heinlein's book is far superior. The soldiers are in power suits, not just infantry on the ground, and the bugs are an intelligent race with weapons and spaceships. It also gets alot into polictical theory and not that fascist militaristic stuff they did in the movie, the book's society is nowhere near facist. The book is awesome.

[Anaesthesia]

I think American Psycho should come near the top of everyone's list... along, of course, with the Godfather.. Found this site with Blinkx.com, by the way - very funky new search engine, worth checking out

Omg! I watched American Psycho last night. Very random. :(

[hokeypokeyordie]

the answer is definetly logans run

[EnjoiSkater]

The Exorcist was a good movie and book.

[wtfsaidthat]

Dream catcher by stephen king, really sucked when it hit the screen.

[hodog78]

On a semi-related note, Ron Howard is making 'The Davinci Code'. That scares me, because the book is incredible, I'd hate to see it blemished with a so-so movie. Hopefully Howard can deliver.