Do you watch and like book adaptations?

[jackm8]

I've a very weird attitude to them. I'll often read a book, then even If I really liked it, I'll rarely watch a film adaptation of it. It's possible that I don't watch the move, because I liked the story, as I'm often annoyed by things depicted differently compared to how they appeared in my mind. But it's not just the fear of disappointment, or errors. I really enjoy watching bad movies from time to time. I guess that there's something about knowing the story, and getting nothing new out of it.

[issybird]

There's only one ironclad rule: Read the book first. So long as that's observed, I can like book adaptations, recognizing that cuts have to be made. That said, I think creative interpretations can be a lot more rewarding than straight-up retellings. Clueless, for example.

[Deskisamess]

I watch them, but don't always like them, but sometimes enjoy them. A favorite is The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. I love both the book and the movie adaptation. Macon Leary is one of my favorite characters. I think the casting of the movie was inspired.

I don't remember if I saw the movie before I read the book. I did just reread the book last week.

I've seen every movie adaptation there is of Jane Eyre, as well as Pride & Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility. I'm sure there are others.

I'd like to see The Good Earth movie be remade, as a mini series so it could cover the book well. With Asian actors.

[Karellen]

I like book to screen adaptions.

In a lot of cases, I am completely unaware of the books until they become moves/tv shows. I end up watching the movie, read a credit it is based on a book, then go and read the book.

As for liking/not liking adaptions, well there is no blanket answer to that, it is case-by-case and a lot of cases I like the movie/tv show a whole lot better than the book.

Examples of movies being better than the books...

• Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant - liked the movies, did not like the books at all. Allegiant was a DNF.
• World War Z - loved the movie, thought the book was terrible as it was just a mash of individual stories stuck into the same cover. Another DNF.
• Childhoods End - book was so-so, but the mini-series was fantastic
• The Children of Men - Movie was great, book was not enjoyable. In fact the only similarity between book and movie is global infertility and a pregnant woman

Then you have movies that are faithful to the books, and they are as good each other.

• John Grisham and JK Rowling are perfect examples of having great control of screen adaptions.
• The 5th Wave, The Martian, Hunger Games, THGTTG, The Expanse and many more.

And then there are movies that should never have been made, thankfully none come to mind at this moment. I've purged them from memory

[rkomar]

I read Anthony Horowitz's "Magpie Murders" after watching the TV series, and that was one of the few cases where I thought the program was much better than the book. The screenplay was also written by Horowitz, who is an old hand at that sort of thing (he wrote scripts for "Foyle's War" among many other programs). I think he was able to revisit the story and improve it on the second go. Rather than the cliche of the book author fighting every change tooth and nail, Horowitz embraced the chance to do modifications when translating to the different medium.

[Sirtel]

I often watch them, but not always. Sometimes I've read the book first, sometimes not. Sometimes I like the movie/tv adaptation, sometimes not. There have even been cases I've liked the adaptation better than the book. And there have been cases I've DNFed the adaptation.

In short, for me there's no One True Rule as far as adaptations are concerned.

[Scoob]

Most if not all the stuff I read wont get a movie or tv show but of what does, I'm generally happy with. I accept that screen adaptations will be different but they better not be too different ie Paramount + Halo I'm eyeballing you

If the screen adaptation is based on a single book I'm probably more lenient in what the screen adaptation has done with source material.

If its using a book series that's when I get real picky. I expect more from the screen adaptation because of all that is available.

[JSWolf]

My wife likes the movie The Green Mile better then the book.

The current Dune Part One and Dune Part Two are good. The previous adaptations of Dune have been rubbish. I remember watching the Dune mini-series with a now ex-GF and we found a lot of things changed or that was not supposed to be there.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Karellen

I like book to screen adaptions.

In a lot of cases, I am completely unaware of the books until they become moves/tv shows. I end up watching the movie, read a credit it is based on a book, then go and read the book.

As for liking/not liking adaptions, well there is no blanket answer to that, it is case-by-case and a lot of cases I like the movie/tv show a whole lot better than the book.

Examples of movies being better than the books...

• Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant - liked the movies, did not like the books at all. Allegiant was a DNF.
• World War Z - loved the movie, thought the book was terrible as it was just a mash of individual stories stuck into the same cover. Another DNF.
• Childhoods End - book was so-so, but the mini-series was fantastic
• The Children of Men - Movie was great, book was not enjoyable. In fact the only similarity between book and movie is global infertility and a pregnant woman

Then you have movies that are faithful to the books, and they are as good each other.

• John Grisham and JK Rowling are perfect examples of having great control of screen adaptions.
• The 5th Wave, The Martian, Hunger Games, THGTTG, The Expanse and many more.

And then there are movies that should never have been made, thankfully none come to mind at this moment. I've purged them from memory

I remember watching the First Harry Potter movie and noticing that a lot was left out. I hope the new Harry Potter TV series is more faithful to the book.

The HHGTTG movie was rubbish. The best versions are the radio versions.

Jane Austen books are unreadable but the movies are watchable.

Reading Dracula was a snoozefest. But Dracuala is OK on screen.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rkomar

I read Anthony Horowitz's "Magpie Murders" after watching the TV series, and that was one of the few cases where I thought the program was much better than the book. The screenplay was also written by Horowitz, who is an old hand at that sort of thing (he wrote scripts for "Foyle's War" among many other programs). I think he was able to revisit the story and improve it on the second go. Rather than the cliche of the book author fighting every change tooth and nail, Horowitz embraced the chance to do modifications when translating to the different medium.

I'm watching The second series. I have 2 episodes left. I've not read the book, but I do like the TV series.

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The HHGTTG movie was rubbish.

Ooh, forgot about the movie, but totally agree. I meant the old tv series.

[drofgnal]

Sometimes I've read the book first, other times the movie was first. I like the 1960 adaptation of The Time Machine, then I figured I'd read the book. I liked the movie better. 2001, I watched the movie first, but then really enjoyed the book. LOTRs, I enjoyed both books and movies. I'm enjoying Silo series on apple TV+ and also enjoyed the books. If it's a good story although maybe edited from the book, both can be good. Although it could never capture the breadth of the book one adaptation of Les Miserable that I liked a lot was one done with Anthony Perkins playing Javert. What a great job he did in that. I saw that one night on a hallmark hall of fame presentation many years ago. I had to have a copy of the movie and finally found one unedited from the UK. It was a bit grainy and maybe a tape transfer to DVD, but I bought it.

Some things on my TBR list are The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, a wonderful film with Alan Arkin, The Day of the Jackal (a few adaptations of that are available and I'm currently enjoying the modern rendition on Peacock) and Breakfast at Tiffanys come to mind.

[Uncle Robin]

My wife and I both loved 2024's Le Comte de Monte Cristo, we thought it did a great job of capturing the essence of that huge book.

Some other favourites:

Malgudi Days - the TV series and the stories seem in perfect synch, the atmosphere in both the most important thing, and both feel the same.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy the TV series only. Emphatically NOT the movie, regarding which I am firmly in the majority camp of HHGTTG fans who think that overall the movie was less appealing than a date with a Vogon.

The Princess Bride Read the book first, then saw the movie - again and again, more times than I could count. When I re-read the book, I came to the conclusion that Goldman was a better screenwriter than novelist.

Fever Pitch - the original movie. As a longtime Gooner, Hornby's book really resonated, and the Colin Firth film did it justice.

Hogfather the casting was PERFECT. I have never seen any Downton Abbey, and have no interest in ever doing so, but Michelle Dockery forevre has a place in my heart as Susan Sto Helit.


In a category all on its own is Persuasion

The howls of outrage over the recent-ish Netflix(?) adaptation actually prompted me to read the book for the first time. I have not seen and will not see said adaptation of what is now my FIRM favourite Austen.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Karellen

Ooh, forgot about the movie, but totally agree. I meant the old tv series.

Yeah, that was pretty good. But the radio dramas are the best. The HHGTTG TV series felt like they took Doctor Who's budget and slashed it in half.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Karellen

Ooh, forgot about the movie, but totally agree. I meant the old tv series.

Nice save! I am so pleased I don't have to blacklist you here and invoke a thousand year curse on your descendants.