Books made into films

Gayle · 02-09-2007, 15:45

I was reading the review of the film Atonement yesterday and it basically said that it was a brilliant book that should never have been made into a film because of the lousy job they've done of it.

For me, Captain Corelli's Mandolin was exactly the same - amazing book and lousy film. Yet, the Harry Potter films have all done quite well and have kept fairly true to the books. What does everyone else think?

BERNADETTE · 02-09-2007, 15:50

I am an avid reader, I find that books made into films are a let down. Maybe that is because when reading we set the scene in our imagination and the picture a film potrays doesn't match what we imagined!!

Margaret Pilkington · 02-09-2007, 15:52

I was just about to say the exact same thing!

BERNADETTE · 02-09-2007, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I was just about to say the exact same thing!

Great minds think alike!!

claytonender · 02-09-2007, 16:01

I think one of the worst let downs in a film from a book for me was 'The Firm', I couldn't put the book down but he film left out such a lot. I am glad I had read the book first, otherwise I probably would never have read the book.

I also agree with Bernadette and Margaret that whilst I am reading a book I am setting the scene in my head.

MargaretR · 02-09-2007, 16:07

I read the James Bond books before they made the films - was so disappointed with the first few films that have I have not seen the rest

West Ender · 02-09-2007, 16:10

I saw the film of Captain Correlli's Mandolin before I read the book, Gayle. I quite enjoyed the film, particularly John Hurt's performance. Then I read the book and realized the story was almost, but not quite, completely different from Hollywood's version and much, much better. It's rare to find a film that matches up to any book.

garinda · 02-09-2007, 17:52

I do think it makes a difference which way round you see or read the film or book.

For most films to be true to the book they'd have to be about ten hours long.

I can't say I've ever been to disappointed at filmed book adaptations, other than I could have probably cast it better myself.

beechy · 02-09-2007, 18:00

i am an avid reader of stephen king
and have yet to appreciate a film convert
it has already been said reading creates
vivid pictures in our own minds that are hard to dispell

MargaretR · 02-09-2007, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by beechy

i am an avid reader of stephen king
and have yet to appreciate a film convert
it has already been said reading creates
vivid pictures in our own minds that are hard to dispell

I love reading horror too - but sometimes struggle to watch film depiction of it and have to switch off - seems I can cope with my own imagination of it but not theirs

lettie · 02-09-2007, 18:29

I've never seen Captain Corelli's Mandolin but was in Kefalonia when they were filming it. I assumed that it would be nowhere near as good as the book so never bothered with it. I have to agree that they also did a lousy job with the Firm, which is a great book but terrible film..

grego · 02-09-2007, 18:35

I'm also an avid reader and often prefer the books the only film that didn't let the book down in my opinion was Silence of the Lambs, loved the book and film.

steeljack · 02-09-2007, 18:58

I enjoy crime/detective fiction, I think the BBC did a fair job with the Dalziel/Pascoe series , but the books by Reginald Hill are much better .

WillowTheWhisp · 02-09-2007, 19:34

I can understand when a film adaptation of a book has to leave things out or they'd run out of time but what I cannot accept is the need to add bits which are not in the book or to totally change parts of the storyline. There's a whole invented major character in the film '633 Squadron' who has absolutely nothing to do with the book at all.

shillelagh · 02-09-2007, 19:39

Depends sometimes the book is better than the film and sometimes the film is better than the book. A book though tells you the background as well a film doesnt. I liked the book Silence of the Lambs but prefer the film - Anthony Hopkins was brill in that talk about creepy. I watched the film Hunt for the Red October and liked that - so i read the book and liked that and started reading the rest of Tom Clancy's books but when they made the rest of them into films didnt like the films preferred the books.