Films that were better than the Books

Speaking of Stephen King, as I understand it, HE thought that Frank Darabont's ending to the film "The Mist" was better than the ending that he (King) wrote for the novelette. Personally, Darabont's ending made me want to drink myself to death. Not because it was bad. It was a very effective ending, but way, way too nihilistic for me.

Spoiler

At the end of King's story, the outcome is uncertain, but there's hope. At the end of Darabont's version, overall there's hope, but on a personal level, it's Scorched Earth.

 

I laughed at that film. It was hilarious.

They are very very different. Different time-era, different character (Bourne is complex and unsure in the book), *Spoiler* Marie doesn't die, Conklin actually helps Bourne and DOESN'T die.

Which reminds me, Train Spotting and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

And in your next post complain about Life of Brian being too preachy



A lot of people calling out LOTR series too. I can't agree. They are on par for me. If you say the extended editions then I'd say the films *might* be better. You have to remember though that the films are so detailed only because of the amount of depth that Tolkien put into Middle Earth.

 

Best ones have already been said. Godfather one and 2 made great art from trash, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy also. The book is several hundred pages longer than it needs to be and gets to be a bit of a slog.

 

Oh, I wouldn't call it trash; I actually quite enjoyed it when I read it but the movie's miles better.

 

Jason and the argonauts(1963,animation by Ray Harryhausen)brought to life what were
some fairly dry Greek classics.

 

Get outta here!

 

I'm reading The Wanderers at the moment. I might give the DVD a spin after and see which I prefer. I believe Warriors is biased on a book too, might do the same with that.

A film that is clearly better than the book...Deliverance.

 

Twilight.

 

lol. i take issue with "dry", as a greek and a reader. i love greek mythology. what's "dry" about it usually is how the material is presented in school.

have you ever read the iliad or the odyssey? that stuff is da bomb.

 

Oh, that reminds me. 'Troy' was better than the Iliad.

 

Off you go!

 

I don't think myth is dry, but I loves me some Harryhausen

 

I'm really struggling to think of any film adaptations which were better than the book they were based on. I agree that it does apply to The Godfather, but in fairness the film is VERY different from the book.

I think that the film of Marathon Man is equally as good as the book. It's a very faithful vesion overall - except for the twist at the end. But I'm not certain which ending I actually prefer.

 

This would probably get me strung up by the literary world but Oliver!(1968)starring
amongst others Ron Moody,Oliver Reed,Harry Secombe,Mark Lester ,Leonard Rossiter with music by Lionel Bart is at least as dark and brutal as the book,certainly the best of the screen adaptions.

 

It's not hard to make a Dickens book better, his stuff is so bloody painful to read!!

 

Do comic books, magazines count? i love all the latest Marvel movies.