Film Forum and Reviews

What do you think of movies that were made from popular books? Generally I think that the books far surpass the movie. Every popular Stephen King book that was made into a movie fell on its face. They have to take so much out of the book in order to make the film that a lot of the movie doesn't make sense.

I know that movies can only run a certain amount of time and because of that complicated, long books shouldn't be made into a film. I've yet to see a good movie made from a good book.

Maybe I'm missing something. Have you like movies from books especially if you read the book?

It really depends on whether I liked the book or not. In the case of Everything Is Illuminated you'll see from my review that I much preferred the movie. But if it's a book I love then sure, no matter how good the movie then I'm always going to prefer the book.

As a general rule the books are better--but then, it's also wrong to judge two different art forms against each other. For example, I have die-hard LOTR friends who detest the movies because of what they left out--Tom Bombadil, the cleansing of the Shire and the elven songs, for example. But judged on their own merits, those were some great films, that managed to tell a humongous sweeping complex story extremely well. You can't judge films by what they aren't, just by what they are. If they come from a book, I think the only thing you can judge is whether they remained true to the major points and the spirit of the book.

Having said that, I think there are some movies that are better than the books. Muz, you just mentioned Everything is Illuminated as an example. Another one I would give is The Wizard of Oz.

The book almost always exceeds the film in quality. I can think of a few films, though, that I enjoyed as much, or more, on film. The LOTR films stand alone as being just as good as the books. Also, BRIDE ON THE RIVER KWAI was a good book, but also a fine film. Finally, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was almost better on film.

skatss wrote:What do you think of movies that were made from popular books? Generally I think that the books far surpass the movie. Every popular Stephen King book that was made into a movie fell on its face. They have to take so much out of the book in order to make the film that a lot of the movie doesn't make sense.

I know that movies can only run a certain amount of time and because of that complicated, long books shouldn't be made into a film. I've yet to see a good movie made from a good book.

Maybe I'm missing something. Have you like movies from books especially if you read the book?

I thought they made a decent miniseries out of The Stand but for the most part, I agree. There is always way too much detail to add into the movies. I feel the same about the Harry Potter movies. The books are SO much better because there is more detail.

I would enjoy movies made from books more if they would stick to the books!

I don't know why directors and writers feel it necessary to make changes when the books were so popular!

I thought Lord of the Rings was much better on the books. I generally like to visualize all the action, so they movie brought it all to life.

You simply cannot make a movie correspond exacty to the book it is based on. It's really unrealistic and unfair for people to criticize a movie for details that are different from the book. For example, someone mentioned Harry Potter. In Goblet of Fire (the 4th Movie), Neville gives Harry the gillyweed instead of Dobby. HP fans were outraged, but really, who cares? WHY get upset about that?

If the general plot elements, general character elements, and general theme elements are there, that's all you can ask for.

I understand that some changes are inevitable, but I can't stand it when they change the story too much. The Count of Monte Christo is one example of a book never done right: I have seen several versions of it, and they keep bringing Edmon and Mercedes together in the end.

Ya know, I think that the reason most books are better is that while we read, we have the chance to make the characters look the way we see them and play out the story in our own mind's eye so we have our own perception of how it should be. Then when we go see a movie of the book we have read, of course it will be different as it's the director's perception and not our own. It's mostly in point of view...see what I'm saying? Of course...that's my own point of view and opinion too!