Films that are better than the book

[Brains]

Most of the James Bond films are better (and very different) from the books

 

[Spinney]

Last of the Mohicans

 

[Venod]

Fahrenheit 9/11

 

[Fnaar]

[QUOTE 2639664, member: 259"]Mildred Pierce. The original novel is very good, but the film is fantastic.[/quote]
Makes mental not to google later for Mildred's Piercings

 

[beastie]

Last of the Mohicans

Now you mention it yes. Great choice. Loved the film, bored to tears by the book.

 

[Spinney]

Now you mention it yes. Great choice. Loved the film, bored to tears by the book.

They did make sweeping changes to the plot - different people died in the book and in the film. Probably one reason why I liked the film better.

 

[Rapples]

As for LoTR, I briefly felt like killing myself in the final film, it was so bum-numbingly dull with that complete lack of any variation in emotional intensity that characterizes Peter Jackson's direction. It's like someone shouting in your face for three hours. But then a lot of contemporary Hollywood cinema is like that...

I've got all three films on the hard drive, but haven't summoned up the courage to watch them yet.

Your observation makes me less likely to, and is one of the reasons I rarely have any desire to watch anything Hollywood made after about 1990.

Re: the OP, I think Dr Zhivago would be my prime candidate. Far From the Madding Crowd is one that mirrors To Kill A Mockingbird, in their faithfulness to the book IMHO, and I'm a big fan of both books.

If you've never watched Marathon Man with Dustin Hofmann, and Laurence Olivier, DON'T. Read the book first!!!!

 

[User482]

Jaws.

I

 

[ASC1951]

...As for LoTR, I briefly felt like killing myself in the final film, it was so bum-numbingly dull with that complete lack of any variation in emotional intensity that characterizes Peter Jackson's direction. It's like someone shouting in your face for three hours. ...

I think you could say the same of the books. They are ok as fantasy yarns for teenagers, but don't deserve any greater weight than that.

 

[MontyVeda]

Even Cowgirls Get The Blues... the film was pants, but at least I watched it all, the book bored me senseless and remains 2/3rds unread.

 

[asterix]

One of the very few, movie far better than the book, examples - imho.

They got too carried away with CGI IMO. Am going to watch the Hobbit pt 2 tho' and expect it to be much better than pt1.

 

[VamP]

They got too carried away with CGI IMO. Am going to watch the Hobbit pt 2 tho' and expect it to be much better than pt1.

That might be a good example of a triumph of hope over experience.

 

[cosmicbike]

Shawshank Redemption, a great adaptation of the original short story, 'Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption' and one of few Stephen King books to survive the transfer to film well.
The Green Mile, another series by S. King and one that works so well on the screen too.

 

[AndyRM]

Jurassic Park

 

[TheDoctor]

Les Miserables.
Loved the film, gave up on the book before I jumped off a bridge.