Bad books, good movies

Welcome to Films and Books Forum, the place to chat about movies, post movie reviews, compare a book to its film adaptation, discuss what makes a good book-to-film adaptation, and suggest books which you think would make a great movie adaption.
User avatar
monserrat_21
Posts: 190
Joined: 07 Jun 2020, 12:59
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 20
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-monserrat-21.html
Latest Review: Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren

Re: Bad books, good movies

Post by monserrat_21 »

For me The Chronicles of Narnia movies are better than the books. Don't get me wrong I love them too, but I enjoyed the movies more. They managed to capture the magic of the books while making them more interesting and entertaining. The books could be a bit boring at times, meanwhile I've watched the movies several times and I'm still not tired of them.
“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”

Jhumpa Lahiri
User avatar
rik17
Posts: 144
Joined: 25 Jul 2017, 00:49
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 31
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rik17.html
Latest Review: The Mountain and The Goat by Siamak Taghaddos

Post by rik17 »

StoneGolem wrote: 11 Sep 2011, 12:39 I know I'm going to get mauled with this one... but I'm going say the last two harry potter movies were a lot better than the book. Let the blood bath begin.
Lol!... I don't think you are the only one who thinks like this, so your viewpoint is not that risky for you. Personally I think the last film most definitely was better than the book, rendered mostly by the strong visual storytelling.
a_r_egerton
Posts: 104
Joined: 19 Jan 2017, 15:41
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 14
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-a-r-egerton.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz

Post by a_r_egerton »

The film versions of both Jaws and The Godfather are much better than the books.

Harry Potter and the Orderof the Phoenix had the happy advantage of cutting out about 95 percent of Harry's rants. Yes, I can understand why he was upset and angry. It was still still annoying to have the protagonist spend the entire book in a constant snit.
Sjtoy
Posts: 104
Joined: 05 Jul 2020, 13:01
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 26
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sjtoy.html
Latest Review: Marriage Maximized by William Hutcheson

Post by Sjtoy »

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I heard "The Devil Wears Prada" was a really good movie. The book was just "Ok" but from hearing others talk, I need to watch the movie.
User avatar
Timothy Rucinski
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 1567
Joined: 22 Apr 2018, 07:20
Favorite Book: Dead Bob
Currently Reading: The Complete Stories
Bookshelf Size: 677
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-timothy-rucinski.html
Latest Review: No Truce With The Vampires by Martyn Rhys Vaughan
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
2025 Reading Goal: 75
2025 Goal Completion: 13%

Post by Timothy Rucinski »

Going back a few years, a movie version of Hemingway's To Have and Have Not was made with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Now, the book itself stinks. Even Hemingway admitted that it wasn't very good. The director, Howard Hawks, told Hemingway he'd make a good movie from the author's worst book. And sure enough, he did!
User avatar
AJ_Williams011
Posts: 77
Joined: 18 Jun 2020, 05:16
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 17
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-aj-williams011.html
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

Post by AJ_Williams011 »

I normally would've preferred books to movies but The Princess Bride was definitely better as a movie rather than a book. There were a lot of details that wasn't entirely expounded in the book but were paid attention in the movie.
All those paper people living in their paper houses, burning the future to stay warm.
– Margo Roth Spiegelman in Paper Towns
User avatar
Iconicsmt
Posts: 75
Joined: 03 Sep 2020, 03:40
Favorite Book: Wuthering Heights
Currently Reading: The Unborn
Bookshelf Size: 21
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-iconicsmt.html
Latest Review: Yesterday by Samyann

Post by Iconicsmt »

I watched the classic film version of Pride and Prejudice starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson, and absolutely loved it. Jane Austen’s works have always seemed a bit too “light” and traditionally romantic for me, so I didn’t bother reading the story until the film impressed me. The book is okay, but everyone in it seems so one-dimensional. The film is much wittier and thought-provoking to me. Olivier and Garson had fantastic chemistry played off of each other beautifully and hilariously. They really humanized their characters so that you can see the origins of both points-of-view and how they gradually open their minds to meet on even ground. Elizabeth seemed like she just flipped a switch and had a sudden personality transplant in the book. The film also gets bonus points because the overbearing mother and ridiculous youngest sister are toned down to the point where they’re more comical than nerve-grating. There’s also a fantastic twist in the film that redeems one of the story’s biggest antagonists, a part I was really looking forward to in the book, but it never came, leaving the character just a flat, pompous wench. Not that I’m bitter or anything... :roll:

I guess Ms. Austen’s works just aren’t my cup of tea at any rate, because I also far enjoyed Emma Thompson’s movie version of Sense and Sensibility to the novel. Ms. Thompson kept a majority of the main plot points intact, so I guess I just got more out of the (necessary) faster pacing of the film. Plus, Alan Rickman as Col. Brandon.... yes, please! :D
Latest Review: Yesterday by Samyann
User avatar
Preye I
Posts: 278
Joined: 18 Apr 2021, 12:57
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 13
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-preye-i.html
Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel

Post by Preye I »

I personally have never experienced this. It is usually the other way around for me. But I guess this could happen in if a book was based off a movie but then again highly unlikely.
Janelydia Mwangi
Posts: 332
Joined: 12 Jan 2022, 05:58
Currently Reading: Bugs, Weeds, and Water
Bookshelf Size: 68
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-janelydia-mwangi.html
Latest Review: Surviving Life As An Actor by Jerry a. Greenberg
Reading Device: Android

Post by Janelydia Mwangi »

When the sight and hearing senses are aroused it's more satisfying...hence Harry Potter movies compared to the books
Folashade O
Posts: 5
Joined: 04 Sep 2021, 10:47
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 3
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-folashade-o.html
Latest Review: Days of the Giants by RJ Petrella

Post by Folashade O »

Chronicles of Narnia, 'the lion, the witch and the wardrobe' by C.S Lewis. The movie was so much better for me.
User avatar
james123786
Posts: 3
Joined: 27 Jan 2022, 09:35
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by james123786 »

i think every book has his own meaning,value and some people likes to read books and some like to watch movies instead of books it depends person to person and their likes and dislikes
Folashade O
Posts: 5
Joined: 04 Sep 2021, 10:47
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 3
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-folashade-o.html
Latest Review: Days of the Giants by RJ Petrella

Post by Folashade O »

Well then, I guess to each his own. :D
laughandread7
Posts: 31
Joined: 06 Aug 2020, 19:59
Currently Reading: The Maestro Monologue
Bookshelf Size: 12
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-laughandread7.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by laughandread7 »

Harry Potter. I know most people disagree, but I couldn't stand the books. I found them too long and boring. The movies, however, were great.
User avatar
Its_umsy1
Posts: 3
Joined: 05 Feb 2022, 11:29
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 4

Post by Its_umsy1 »

I have to say Bridgerton season 1. The book is called "The Duke and I". I'm not sure if it was because I watched the movie first that I thought the book was total trash. The movie had lots of scenes that were absent from the book.
Fifty shades Freed; the third book/movie in the fifty shades series. The first two books were way better than the book but I had to give it to the last movie. It was so so good. I loved loved their vows. The whole wedding was so fun and everything great. It wasn't this good in the book
Post Reply

Return to “Films and Books”