Book vs Film
31 March 2013 
Okay, a very short article to quickly pick your brains – and, no, I’m not trying to say this is a short article because you have a small brain! I just mean my article is short (obviously your brain is appropriately sized). Anyway, on the back of this thought provoking article over at Little Red Reviewer which I really enjoyed (and is spot on because there are so many films out there which I enjoyed and hadn’t even realised there was a book!), and because I’m nosey and it piqued my interest I thought I’d try and think of the following:
- Films that I enjoyed better than the book (is that possible??? )
- Books that I liked better than the film
- Books that I can’t decide between because the film did a pretty damned good job of bringing the book to the screen.
So, I’m going to keep this to 5 for each category (more difficult in some categories than others) – let me know what your’s are:
No.1 – Films I enjoyed more than the book (this is a toughie)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (although this is my least favourite of all the films)
- Wuthering Heights (old B&W version)
- Jaws
- Warriors
- The Ring (although I didn’t dislike the book at all- just thought the film was more creepy – especially the original)
No.2 -Books I liked better than the film
- The Hobbit
- I am Legend
- Jane Eyre
- the Woman in Black
- Lovely Bones
No.3 – Books I can’t decide between: (or like equally or for different reasons)
- Lord of the Rings (both brilliant – and who am I kidding Aragorn *sigh*)
- Gone with the wind
- High Fidelity
- Rebecca – (thinking of the older version)
- The Princess Bride
Book vs film: your views please.
Books and travelling with Lynn 
When it comes to how good a movie is compared to the book it’s not just a question of how skilled the adaptation but what the filmmaker intends to say with his version. Ringu is a perfect example. The original book is a mystery but Hideo Nakata chose to focus on making the perfect horror film and that brought it to life in a whole other way.
Films that I enjoyed better than the book (it’s definitely possible if the director has a particular focussed direction!)
Ringu – I preferred the straight horror film route but I still enjoyed the book and its sequels.
Blade Runner – Directing, acting, set design all create the atmospherics of the book and convey the themes and messages much more efficiently than the book.
Books that I liked better than the film (where a straight adaptation is harder than imagined)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – I read the book before the film and felt that once I knew the story nothing the film could do would make it as interesting as the book no matter how good the production values were. Also the relationships between certain characters and the twists that occurred were much more profound out in the book.
Norwegian Wood – This is probably one of the best books from anywhere in the last 50 years. I read it while at university and it captured everything I felt as well as transporting me back to Japan in the 1960’s. Despite the gorgeous visuals, actors and soundtrack the film just couldn’t capture the magic because, despite the lengthy running time, it excised a lot of the details that caught my heart and my head.
Books that I can’t decide between because the film did a pretty damned good job of bringing the book to the screen.
I am Legend – both the book and the film left me underwhelmed. Neither was particularly good or bad but the original meaning of the book was lost in the film.
Jane Eyre – The film managed to bring to life the atmospherics of the book and it reinforced certain character traits which made it slightly different from my view of the book. That written, there are still many elements of the book I enjoyed more.
Sorry for the lengthy reply. I’ve reviewed Norwegian Wood and Tinker, Tailor which will explain what I felt in greater depth. I have yet to review Ringu because I want to do a Hidea Nakata season and then a Ringu season with the various versions – Japanese/US/Korean – way too ambitious but I like to think big 😉
Wow, that’s a great reply. I think most people seem to like Blade Runner the film better than the book it comes from. I’ve not seen the film for a very long time but as I’ve recently read the book I think I’ll watch it again to see how they compare.
Norwegian Wood – I’ll have to look into that with such high praise. I’ve not seen the film either but I think I’d prefer to read the book first as that seems to be your favourite.
Ringu I did prefer the film to the book but I think that may be because I’d seen the film first and so was already predisposed to think of it as horror and the book doesn’t really come across in that way.
I am Legend – Again I did actually see the film first, I suppose it’s okay but having read the book – even though I admit it’s not brilliantly written – I prefer the ending in the book and think the film version has completely missed the whole point.
Jane Eyre – I think the most recent film version is beautifully shot and very well cast, in fact I enjoyed it but I still prefer the book. I think the film missed some of the gothic feel, I didn’t quite get the feeling of real love between the two and the whole horror aspect of the mad woman in the attic was completely overlooked.
I look forward to this huge project you’re taking on – I’d like to read what you think of Ringu.
Lynn 😀
Books that I enjoy more than the movie:
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Brave New World
A Scanner Darkly
Dune
Films that I enjoyed more than the books:
Stardust
Jurassic Park
2010
Definitely with you on Dune. And, Stardust, I struggled over that one – I can’t make my mind up which I like the best so I left it out. I haven’t read the Jurassic Park story but the film was done so well that I can well imagine it would be better than the book.
Lynn 😀
Stardust is one of my favorite books, and the movie is just done so well, capturing all the magical essence of the book. I went back and forth on it too, but the little kid in me won out – I love the movie just a smidge more than the book.
I know what you mean. I’m actually quite a visual person as well and I do love watching movies! The way Stardust is portrayed in the film is really good – I liked that the ending wasn’t quite as sad as the book as well and I think the way the brothers were all greyed out was really a very good idea.
Lynn 😀
Hmm interesting subject.. I think with LOTR I could make a decision though.. I had seen the movies before I had read the books – I think I saw them before I was even able to read English. Maybe if it had been the other way around, I would’ve like the books better, but watching the movies firstly works kind of restrictive on the books, I think. Certain images have already taken over your mind, limitating your own fantasy. Besides, the movies were so incredibly brilliant, as well the cast (Aragorn very much indeed!!) as the scenery and the battles, really just everything and I can’t get enough of them.
I can decide easily over the Hunger Games. I loved the books and read all three of them within two days if I remember correctly, but the movie was quite disappointing to me. Important aspects, characters and moments were ignored or displayed differently and the entire idea of the books was softened.
Of Harry Potter I liked all the books better than the films, of course the movies were awesome I won’t deny that, but the books were .. more awesome. 🙂 I’m just wondering why you dislike the first HP book, the philosopher’s stone? (Or rather; why you like it the least)
Anyway, I have seen so many movies of which I haven’t read the books yet, but they make me want to read the books too. While, at the same time, I postpone reading those books, because I have already seen the movies.. If you know what I mean:P
A huge problem for me is the ability to get to English books. The local book store only has Dutch books and the library has got just a small selection of English books – it’s INCREDIBLY frustrating! I’m not rather fond of Dutch literature, with some acceptions, to read English is just much more fun. My reading pace is a bit slower when reading English, but that’s okay. If only it was easier to get to books – besides having to order everything from the internet haha..
LoTR is a tricky one. I mean the films are so well done that, seriously, you could’t fault them! I read the book many years ago and I think I have an undeniable romantic spot for them. I had a reading crush on Aragorn anyway so when the film came along I was totally blown away.
I do watch a lot of movies and unbelievably with most it never occurs to me that they’re coming from a book – how silly am I! I know what you mean about reading the book afterwards though. It’s just that there are so many books out there that I’m longing to read that once I’ve gone and seen the film already it kind of makes me not want to pick them up. I’m going to try a few of these books though – like Fight Club (although I suspect on that occasion the film will be better – we’ll see).
The first HP book – I wouldn’t say I dislike it but conversely it just didn’t grab me. Neither did the film. It’s a bit of a surprise that I continued with the series but I’m glad I did. I think HP is definitely one of these reading and viewing experiences that improved with each film. Although, and I’m sorry if this is considered purist – I didn’t like the fact that the last book was split into two and in fact I think it spoiled the story – on that occasion the book was definitely superior!
Lynn 😀
Yeah about that, it almost seems to be some kind of hype. Harry Potter, Twilight and the Hunger Games, with all three of them the last book gets split up and I’m sure there are more. And of course The Hobbit split in three.. holy crappies!
With HP though, I’m not sure if it could have been put into one movie only, since there’s so much going on. But then again, things as the quest, the main storyline at that point kind of gets ripped apart. I wouldn’t call it spoiled but I think I can understand your reasoning
I’d very much like to read Fight Club too, I liked the film quite a lot although everyone I know just thought it was a strange and weird movie. I’m very curious of the book and of what you’ll think of it
Haha I can imagine.. Aragorn is a combination of a perfect character, perfect casting and perfect acting:) Although I do feel like the book and film Aragons kind of differ- I feel like he’s more mysterious, more like an outcast in the books, and in the movies he is more open, he has a more accessible, romanticised character I think, don’t know if I sound nuts right now.
Talking and thinking about lotr makes me really want to see the movies again, like, right now!
I know what you mean about Aragorn. In the books he’s made out to be, well, ugly, dark and definitely brooding. He’s more attractive in the film and like you say a bit more open. Like I said though, I already liked Aragorn as a character – I mean he’s the archetypal hero really isn’t he?
With the last Harry Potter book – I felt that the first film was overly drawn out and almost a bit cringingly embarrassing in parts and then the second film was just all action from the get go. I don’t mind a film being a bit action packed but the two films just felt like two halves that didn’t fit together well. I liked certain aspects of Part II – such as the insight into Snape but I didn’t like the way the ending was changed. Plus, the LoTR films are over three and a half hours each (in fact the films with extras are four hours) I would have preferred to sit through a longer film that felt like a more rounded story.
Ah well, I could go on and on all night!
Lynn 😀
The LOTR films (the extended editions) are ones I like every bit as much as the books because I saw the films before ever reading the books. Now I believe the books are ultimately “better” but I get the same great experience from spending time with either version of the story and they feed one another for me and create this whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
I enjoy Jane Austen’s writing, but I have to say that I generally love the film versions better. The scenery and soundtrack combined with her great stories elevate the ones I love (latest Persuasion, BBC and Knightley versions of P&P, Emma with Paltrow, Emma Thompson’s Sense and Sensibility) to something special.
I liked the film version of Blood and Chocolate so much better than Krause’s novel (but loved her novel Freaks). I saw the film first which is no doubt the reason why. The novel felt too much like it was advocating prejudice in a thinly veiled “stick with your own kind” message that I didn’t like.
Those are three that leaped immediately to mind when I read your post.
I love LoTR book and film. But, having said that it’s a lot easy to repetitively watch the films than the books and I confess I’ve seen them many times. What I really love about the films is Jackson’s interpretation which is amazing not to mention lifting dialogue straight out of the book – amazing!
Jane Austen’s works have been turned into some genuinely brilliant films and series. The BBC series of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth was really brilliant. I also really enjoyed Paltrow as Emma and Emma Thompson’s Sense and Sensibility.
I haven’t seen or read Blood and Chocolate so I must make a note of that, or more to the point her other novel Freaks. I’m getting a few good recommendations from this I must admit.
I used to be a lot more strict with myself with the book/film thing – I used to think that I had to read the book first so some times would wait for years to see a film. I’ve got over that now because frankly there’s only so many books you can read and I enjoy watching movies. Not to mention, as Andrea said in her post, sometimes I’m not even aware that there was a book!
Lynn 😀
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of movies I liked better than the book would be Atonement. I saw the movie first, and then read the book maybe a year later, and was disappointed.
And I must online-hug you for having Jane Eyre on the book-better-than-movie list – I assume you mean the 2011 movie? – because the movie was just flat and everyone was way too pretty and just no. I need to write a review of it one of these days…
I didn’t mind Atonement the book and I also liked the film so it’s a close call for me that one. Although I do like James McAvoy and I thought he played the role well.
The most recent Jane Eyre movie – as you say, I suppose ‘flat’ is the right word Part of me is torn into thinking that Fassbender is in the movie and frankly he has a smile that is.. well, never mind. But, I thought the movie just didn’t bring any gothic horror, beautiful scenes, yes, and also a lack of how the two even came to feel about or for each other. Not to mention there was no creep factor involved. I didn’t hate it but that’s because I love the book and so was filling in the blanks but what I couldn’t help wondering is how I would have felt about the film if I saw it as a total newbie with no prior knowledge. I just don’t think it would have cut the mustard.
I liked the old black and white version with Orson Welles. I’m sure that being shot in black and white added a lot of moodiness to the film that is probably lacking now simply because films are in colour but I liked Joan Fontaine and Orson in the roles. I know it’s an oldie now but I have a bit of a thing for old B&W films.
Lynn 😀
And see I LOVE that new film version of Jane Eyre and while I was already vaguely familiar with the story because of The Eyre Affair I find myself having no desire to read the book. I’d much rather re-watch that film every so often.
I think that’s really interesting because for me I wondered how somebody who hadn’t read the book would feel about it. For me, there are definite holes in the story, but, I think it would have been very difficult to fit everything in. Because I was so familiar with the plot the holes didn’t matter too much because I think I was filling things in as a I went along. It’s good to know from the perspective of someone who hasn’t read the book that the film works though – I did wonder if the whole idea of the two being in love wasn’t a bit of a leap and the other thing that intrigued me with the film was the whole horror thing SPOILER of the wife in the attic – would you say that it felt gothic in that respect. I don’t think I can make an unbiased judgement. I certainly didn’t hate it or even dislike it. I just prefer the book – but that’s my old romanticism based on the age I first read this (a bit like a first boyfriend type of thing). I think the film was beautifully shot and anyway, who am I trying to kid I was, looking at Fassbender whenever he was on screen! (I know that’s really fickle but..)
Lynn 😀
I can definitely see fans of the book not liking the film version as I gathered that it was not doing full justice to the book as a whole, but it worked beautifully for me. I’m sure some familiarity with this “type” of story helps fill in some of those gaps. I’m not sure that the wife in the attic thing felt as gothic as it would have had I read it in the book but it is hard to know because I was already aware of that aspect of the book. I do think the way they shot it felt very gothic. It is a very moody film and plays into an aesthetic that I like.
I must say that I haven’t heard lots of criticism for this particular film and I can see why. It is a beautiful film.
I meant to mention to you that I watched John Carter a week ago – I haven’t read the book – and I found it very entertaining. I’m sure there was a lot of criticism for that film but I enjoyed it and I remember reading your review at the time and think you also enjoyed it. I must say that sometimes I find it much easier to enjoy a film if I haven’t read the book already and therefore I’m not sitting picking holes in the differences. Obviously there has to be some changes after all just to translate to screen.
Lynn 😀
I think I read criticism of the Jane Eyre film when folks were comparing it to some of the other film versions. I’m almost certain there was a Jane Eyre challenge sometime over the last year or so where I picked up some of that.
Cool about John Carter. There was a lot of criticism about the film but largely from those who weren’t aware of the kind of pulp stories this came from. It actually was very faithful to vast parts of the first three novels and where it wasn’t entirely faithful it was faithful in spirit. I love it. One of my favorite films of the last decade. Not because it is some amazing piece of cinema that will change your life but because it is a passionate adaptation of a work that Burroughs fans are nostalgic over.
I hate to think of how critical I may have been of the LOTR films had I previously read and fallen in love with the books. I am hyper critical of the Stardust film because of the love I had for the book and the many times I read or listened to it over the years before the film was released. I’m looking forward to watching it again after the Stardust read to see if I can be more open minded about it.
Stardust – I saw the film first which is probably why I’m more relaxed about it. It seems to me that if you see the film first you like the film and you don’t have the same criticisms and if you then read the book you will probably still like the film. I dread to think what we’ll both be like if The Graveyard Book gets made into a film! Even so, I would love it to be made.
Lynn 😀
I thought the movie was better balance than the book, but that’s probably just me since no one I’ve ever discussed about this with has noticed anything like that. Also it was required reading for a class, so that may have had an effect on the reading… But yes, McAvoy is brilliant in it – although he tends to be brilliant in general. 😀
My favourite Jane Eyre is definitely the 2006 BBC mini, with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens! Fassy, good as he is, is too pretty, just as is Wasikowska. If I’d seen the 2011 movie without any prior knowledge of the story, I would probably have been a bit confused…
I haven’t seen the Welles one! I must hunt it down! (I love old B&W films, too! Sunset Boulvard FTW!) I’ve got an 90s version of JE, too (with Charlotte Gainsborough and William Hurt), that one was very nice.
Oh, you should definitely check out the B&W Welles version – he makes an excellent Rochester and I think you will love it – it’s so dark and atmospheric. You can probably check out a clip of it on You Tube and see if you think you’ll like it.
Lynn 😀
What a fun meme. I may have to give this a go myself on my blog soon. I totally agree about Rebecca it is an excellent novel and Hitchcock’s film adaptation is excellent too.
I’ll look out for that so I can check out all the responses. I like doing things like this – they’re interesting and fun.
Lynn 😀
Excellent discussion:
Films I enjoyed more than the books:
Like Water for Chocolate
Brokeback Mountain
The Green Mile
Books I enjoyed more than the movies are legion:
The Harry Potter books (The movies were wonderful, the books were better)
LOTR (Jackson did an amazing job with the films, I love, love the director’s cut… the books were still better!)
The Hobbit (the book was much better)
Dune (the book is better than all film versions even the 1984 version which I LOVE)
Books and Films I can’t make up my mind about:
Blade Runner vs. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Two very different versions (interpretations) of the same story, but both brilliantly executed.
And following your discussion above, I prefer to read Jane Austen books to film versions of her stories. BUT, I love the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. I think it’s the only one I can watch over and over.
Green Mile is an excellent film in fact it’s probably not even worth me picking that book up because I don’t know how it could possibly improve.
I agree ‘ books I enjoyed more than the movie are legion’ – that’s why I restricted myself to 5.
I do love LoTR – both versions, but I think the casting of Aragorn may have swayed me a tad. I definitely prefer the Hobbit book. Too many changes in the film for me. Dune as well.
Blade Runners is a tough one – mainly because I only just read the book but watched the film so long ago I can barely remember it! I feel a rewatch is in order.
I’ve watched the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice a good few times. It’s just excellent.
Lynn 😀
Great lists. I would have to give this some thought and I just returned from a vacation so my brain is not functionally yet. I should note, that I do think I have a small brain. For the simple reason that I have a really tiny head. Seriously. People don’t believe me until they try on one of my baseball hats. I can wear the kid size–I don’t, but I can.
But nice things come in small packages and your head may be small (I’ll just take your word for that) but it’s obviously packed to the gills with grey matter (I know because I read your stories)! Better than having a large almost empty head with a tiny brain rattling around.
Lynn 😀
sorry I’m commenting after the party is over, i’m just getting to this now, even though I had this bookmarked since you put it up Lynn!
i think everything I mention has already been mentioned in the comments:
movies i liked better than the book:
Stardust
Coraline
Blade Runner
Howl’s Moving Castle
books I liked better than the movie
Harry Potter
Dune
Game of Thrones
ones I’m not sure which I liked better
Jurassic Park
Princess of Mars/John Carter
2001 and 2010 – I actually really like these books, and the movies too. Which I’d thought of both of these when i’d written my original post!
I think Coraline is such a good call. I liked the book but the film is just so visually stunning. Blade Runner I can barely remember the film, I’ve only ever watched it once and it was a while ago – what little I do remember of it doesn’t fit in with the book for sure but I don’t suppose it’s a cult movie for nothing!
Harry Potter definitely – I liked the films in the middle best. Such a shame about the last one.
Jurassic Park I haven’t read the book so can’t really call it but I’m sure that’s the first time that I saw dinosaurs brought to the screen in such a fantastic and lifelike way. It would be difficult to top that.
Lynn 😀
[…] spotted this fun little meme over at Lynn’s Book Blog and being a big fan of adaptations as well as books I thought it would be great for me to try out […]
[…] saw this meme at The Bookworm Chronicles and Lynn’s Book Blog and thought it would be fun to do this meme on my blog as well…because books vs movies, we […]
I participated in this meme on my blog as well 🙂
Will stop on over to check out your thoughts.
Lynn 😀