I've seen [film] first. Would you reccomend the book? (boxed spoilers)

[Lobsang]

I've seen The Green Mile, but haven't read the book.

It occurs to me that the book might be an enjoyable read because there is likely to be a lot more in it that couldn't fit into the film. For instance there might have been a larger time span for...the Prison Guards to get to know John Coffe and grow attached to him such that they are upset when he dies... And simply a lot more going on.

Would you reccomend I read the book?


And for the main purpose of this thread: In what other book/film combinations is it ok to have seen the film first to still enjoy the book?

[pinkfreud]

Although having seen the movie will spoil some of the book's surprises for you, I think you'll probably enjoy reading The Green Mile. I read it when it was first published, in serial form. I think reading it in one volume would be more satisfying.

A book that many people read after having seen the movie is William Goldman's The Princess Bride. If you loved the movie, you are sure to love the book. Lots of great stuff had to be left out of the movie (including Humperdinck's "Zoo of Death"). And Goldman's writing style is just delicious.

[vivalostwages]

I recommend the Green Mile book(s) without hesitation.

Also recommended: Girl with a Pearl Earring; Into the Wild.

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

Gone With the Wind.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Although it's based on the 10th book in a wonderful series, and you should start with an earlier book.

[Darryl Lict]

These are combos that I thought both the book and the movie were great. Unfortunately, I can't remember which I experienced first, but generally, I don't think it matters.

To Kill a Mockingbird.
The Virgin Suicides.
The Orchid Thief/Adaptation.
The Cider House Rules.
Sometimes a Great Notion.
The Grapes of Wrath.
Catch-22.
Slaughterhouse 5.

[Raguleader]

The Horatio Hornblower books I can greatly recommend after seeing the movies. It's interesting to see how they took elements from so many different short stories in "Mr. Midshipman Hornblower" to make the first four TV movies. Also, as far as Mutiny/Retribution goes, I far prefer the book, Lieutenant Hornblower, having read the book after seeing the movies.

The two-parter movie, Mutiny/Retribution, pretty heavily implies that Hornblower pushed the insane Captain Sawyer down the hatchway, leaving him badly injured and unable to command. In the original book, told from Lieutenant Bush's POV, it's not clear whether the Captain tripped, or if Wellard or Hornblower pushed him, only that Hornblower leads the investigation, is very skilled at manipulating his superiors, and leaves the whole thing a nicely un-illuminated affair.

[CalMeacham]

Books I recommend even if you've seen the movie first:


The Day of the Jackal. Other Frederick Forsyth books, too (The Odessa File, The Dogs of War, but TDotJ is the best adaptation, and overall the best book. The book has a LOT more detail, which would have just slowed down the movie.


The Lord of the Rings -- infinitely more detail and backgrouns, of course.



Other C.S. Forester novels, besides the great Horation Hornblower series. Read The African Queen, which differs significantly from the film. It's an old film, but Sink the Bismarck! (based on Forester's "The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck") is definitely worth reading. Also his book The Gun is a better read than The Pride and the Passion is a movie, although in the book virtually everyone who comes into contact with the gun comes to a bad end, and Hollywood likes a happy ending.

[Siege]

The Abyss. The movie's a good, John Cameron action-adventure movie, but the book was written by Orson Scott Card, who worked with Cameron and the stars of the movie while they were making it. It fleshes out the main characters so you can understand more about who they are and why they act the way they do.
He does a particularly good job of explaining why Coffee, the SEAL commander, does what he does and endangers the mission

[Annie-Xmas]

The World According to Garp.
Rosemary's Baby, though the movie adaptation is extremely faithful to the book.

[Lust4Life]

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Although it's based on the 10th book in a wonderful series, and you should start with an earlier book.

I read the books first and enjoyed them more but saying that,I did enjoy the film.

Preferred the Harry Potter books to the films but am not a great fan of the books.

Very much enjoyed the Horatio Hornblower T.V. films but books have more content.

Have read the L.O.R. trilogy and found them to be very much overrated(Though they were excellent for the time in which they were written)and enjoyed the films a lot more.

Enjoyed the Sharpe T.V. movies but again the books have the edge.

Point Blank,a truly superb movie based on a good book but the movie wins.

Rambo,First Blood,very good movie,the book not so good,and I have to say that the sequels were a crock.

[don't ask]

There are several movies about a guy called Jesus Christ. Apparently they are all roughly based on a book about his exploits. I am not certain but I think it's by Mark Twain.

[Annie-Xmas]

There are several movies about a guy called Jesus Christ. Apparently they are all roughly based on a book about his exploits. I am not certain but I think it's by Mark Twain.

Tom Paxton "Jesus Christ SRO"

Jesus, you're really the toast of Broadway.
And what a proper superstar you look.
A golden oldie, a blast from the past.
It's great to see you've come back at last.
And someday I just have to read the book.

(SRO=Standing Room Only)

[MagicBlueEyes]

Most of the King movies are close to the book and could be watched/read in either order. Interview with a Vampire is very faithful to the book and if you enjoyed the movie, will like the book. But Queen of the Damned is two books in one movie. I like both but for very different reasons. Harry Potter is a must IMHO. DO NOT watch the old Shining(with Nichelson) and then read the book, you'll be pissed. But then again IMHO don't watch that version of the Shining ever, for any reason, other than torture. Eragon is ok but missing alot, Secret of NIMH is another good one. Sorry about any bad spelling.

[Annie-Xmas]

I would definitely recommend reading "Rita Haywood and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Body," from which were filmed "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Stand By Me." They are in the "Different Seasons" collection of novellas by Stephen King.

[Sitnam]

The Princes Bride was pretty good, I loved the movie and still maintain the dialog is wittier in the film, however they cut out a few scenes that make reading the book worthwhile.

[twickster]

These are combos that I thought both the book and the movie were great. Unfortunately, I can't remember which I experienced first, but generally, I don't think it matters.


The Orchid Thief/Adaptation.

I freaking hated Adaptation. Of course, I thought The Orchid Thief wasn't a very good book -- so MMDV.

[Lobsang]

Gone With the Wind.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Although it's based on the 10th book in a wonderful series, and you should start with an earlier book.

I've ordered the first one off Amazon.

[Krokodil]

The Story of O by Anonymous. The book is way dirtier, but it's one of the most faithful book-to-film adaptations I've ever seen. Seriously.

[SiXSwordS]

I came in to mention, the Princess Bride.

I hadn't thought of it for a long time, but the World According to Garp fits this category nicely too.

In the category of good books to read despite the atrocious movies made from them, I would suggest East of Eden.

[Loach]

Enjoyed the Sharpe T.V. movies but again the books have the edge.

Good cast, no budget. They did the best they could with what they had but it's hard to show huge battles with a couple dozen extras. Still enjoyed the movies but I wish they would do a big budget version. I couldn't see anyone doing a better job than Sean Bean.

[Annie-Xmas]

Dr. Zhivago
Mr. Bridge & Mrs. Bridge are two separate novels that are better than the movie of Mr. & Mrs. Bridge starring Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward.

[Miss Mapp]

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Although it's based on the 10th book in a wonderful series, and you should start with an earlier book.

I recommend the Capt. Aubrey novels highly, but when I was reading them for the first time last year and got to The Far Side of the World, I was surprised at how little of what was in the movie is actually in that book. The visit to the Galapagos Island, basically. The rest is bits and pieces from other books in the series.

[Zebra]

Sense and Sensibility


I loved the movie and I'll admit that I had never read any Jane Austin. After watching the film with the two different commentary tracks I decided to read the novel and I really liked it a lot.


Here is one though, Field of Dreams. If you liked that movie, you may not want to read Shoeless Joe Jackson Comes t Iowa. Although, ultimately it is a good lesson in how to be unfaithful to the events of the book but faithful to the spirit of it.

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

I recommend the Capt. Aubrey novels highly, but when I was reading them for the first time last year and got to The Far Side of the World, I was surprised at how little of what was in the movie is actually in that book. The visit to the Galapagos Island, basically. The rest is bits and pieces from other books in the series.In the DVD extras the director displays some of the books that have a bunch of little post-it notes sticking out, where someone went through and tagged interesting bits of Aubrey-Maturin interaction for the movie.

[pprgrl]

Sleepers is by far and away the most faithful adaptation of a book to film that I have ever encountered. So much so that I would say that if you've already seen the movie there's not really any reason to read the book, since there's virtually nothing in it that isn't in the film.

[Antinor01]

In the category of good books to read despite the atrocious movies made from them, I would suggest East of Eden.

Memoirs of an Invisible Man fits that as well. Turning it into a Chevy Chase/Darryl Hannah movie was just all kinds of wrong.

[Annie-Xmas]

Memoirs of an Invisible Man fits that as well. Turning it into a Chevy Chase/Darryl Hannah movie was just all kinds of wrong.

Agreed. That is one book that would make one fine movie if they shot what the author wrote.

A Kiss Before Dying & The Stepford Wives are two books by Ira Levin that should also be filmed as written.

[Raguleader]

Oh, Stephen Coonts' novel Flight of the Intruder is also well worth reading after seeing the movie. Bare bones of the story are pretty much the same, but the book incorporates much more based-on-real-life-experience details of air combat over Vietnam, and really makes you love flying as much as the main character does (much of the book concerns the contrast between Cool Hand's love of flying, and his increasing frustration and depression regarding the missions he flies over Vietnam).

[descamisado]

The Grapes of Wrath.Also The Color Purple, the work well in either order.

Also, Clockers worked about the same in movie or book form -- not great, not bad.

Mr. Bridge & Mrs. Bridge are two separate novels that are better than the movie of Mr. & Mrs. Bridge starring Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward.I actually first encountered an Mrs. Bridge, in a sociology textbox, of all places, of short stories collected under themes, then went on to read Mr. Bridge.

[Krokodil]

Thank You for Smoking. The book was so much better. In fact, I strongly suspect the film's director only read the first half of the book. I do like how the movie used Nick's son as a narrative device, though.

[AuntiePam]

I actually first encountered an Mrs. Bridge, in a sociology textbox, of all places, of short stories collected under themes, then went on to read Mr. Bridge.

I was on a middle-aged reading binge a few years back and read this one. Loved it. Is Mr. Bridge as good as Mrs. Bridge?

I saw the Lord of the Rings movies before reading the books. I'm not sure I'd have liked the movies so much if I'd read the books first.

[Ponderoid]

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
"I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov, collected in a bunch of different volumes
I, Robot, the Illustrated Screenplay by Harlan Ellison (the movie they should have made instead)
Jumper by Steven Gould (and don't bother seeing the movie at all if you haven't yet)
Shōgun by James Clavell
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

*** Ponder

[Annie-Xmas]

I was on a middle-aged reading binge a few years back and read this one. Loved it. Is Mr. Bridge as good as Mrs. Bridge?



Definitely.

Bob Randall's The Fan is an excellent first novel. The movie they made from it is trash. If you can find the out-of-print book, READ IT!!!!

[Elenfair]

"I am Legend", the Novella.

By far better than the movie as far as sticking to the whole point of the story...

[Illuminatiprimus]

Interview with a Vampire is very faithful to the book and if you enjoyed the movie, will like the book.
Double takes so hard he wrenches his neck

I'm sorry, what??? Are you sure we were watching the same movie? Not only does the film miss large sections of the book out entirely it also changes what happens several times.

The most significant example of this being that in the film Louis rejects Armand's offer to team up with him after the destruction of the Paris coven, in the book he agrees and they become pseudo-lovers.

[Trunk]

If you've seen American Psycho, don't read the book. Much better movie.

Also, I Am Legend +1.

Also, No Country For Old men.

[wouldn't you like to know]

As i sit here watching the Paul Newman classic Cool Hand Luke , i wondered if there was a book the movie was based off. Turns out the book was written by the same guy (Donn Pearce) who adapted the novel to the screen play. So unless someone chimes in here to tell me I'll be wasting my time, I'll be heading to the library this weekend to check out. (already checked online - it's in stock)

My only issue with reading a book after watching the movie is trying to ignore (or visualize) the characters as someone other than the actor who played them. For instance, if the book says Luke is a large black man, i'm still going to be 'seeing' Paul Newman saying 'I can eat 50 eggs' (assuming that line is even in the book).

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Both my sister and a former roommate of mine have said the Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is a fantastic book that is better than the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. I never read it myself so can't corroborate, but I remember my roomie laughing out loud a lot while reading it.

She said some crucial plot details are different from the movie, but that the movie kept very much in spirit with the book so the changes the movie made were okay. I'm not sure if it makes a difference that my roommate was also female. I enjoyed the movie, but not enough to motivate me to read the book.

ETA: In any case, they both raved about it enough that it always stuck with me as a worthwhile story to read.

[UncaStuart]

Speaking of John Irving, the movie Simon Birch is OK, but A Prayer for Owen Meany, the book that "suggested" it, is terrific.

[BwanaBob]

"A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess

[descamisado]

If you've seen American Psycho, don't read the book. Much better movie.It would have to be; it is one of the few books I could not finish reading.

And I'll finish almost anything once I got started.

[Garfield226]

The Prestige was a great movie, and a great book. It has a resolution that you might think would make it less watchable/readable, but it was just as good the second time through (both reading and watching) for me.

[NAF1138]

The Unbearable Lightness of Being is a very good movie that almost totally misses the point of one of the most fantastic and beautiful books ever written.

[Moriarty]

I would definitely recommend reading "Rita Haywood and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Body," from which were filmed "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Stand By Me." They are in the "Different Seasons" collection of novellas by Stephen King.

Apt Pupil is also in "Different Seasons", and that was also made into a moive. All, IMHO, are better as movies. "Stand By Me" is one of my favorite movies of all time, and it (along with "Shawshank Redemption") represent some of the only times I can recall when a movie added background or plot to a story in a book.

(Admittedly, I can't recall details, but that was my present sense impression at the time I read "Different Seasons")

[powerjacob]

Sleepers was a good movie and book.
East of Eden
Forrest Gump, the movie was better than the book or I should say more believable than the book
The Beach
Flowers for Algernon, I think the movie was made for TV and called Charlie
A River Runs Through It
Bringing Down the House (not the one with Queen Latifa, but the one that is supposed to be out in theaters under the name 21, from what I can tell from the previews the movie doesn't look anything like the book)
Bridge to Terebithia
Empire Falls
Mother Night
The Virgin Suicides

[eenerms]

The Kite Runner The movie followed the book to a certain extent but reading the book would give a bit more detail.

[rjk]

<snip>
Flowers for Algernon, I think the movie was made for TV and called Charlie
<snip>
That would be Charly (http://imdb.com/title/tt0062794/), starring Cliff Robertson. I haven't seen it, but the original novelette (not the full novel) is one of the best things I've ever read.

For another, see my previous rants about Johnny Mnemonic (http://imdb.com/title/tt0113481/). Again, the original story has a lot more depth and texture than the movie - the "technical boy" speech, the unfinished dome over New York, the Lo-tecs' Killing Floor, and more.

[pprgrl]

Both my sister and a former roommate of mine have said the Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is a fantastic book that is better than the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. I never read it myself so can't corroborate, but I remember my roomie laughing out loud a lot while reading it.

She said some crucial plot details are different from the movie, but that the movie kept very much in spirit with the book so the changes the movie made were okay. I'm not sure if it makes a difference that my roommate was also female. I enjoyed the movie, but not enough to motivate me to read the book.

ETA: In any case, they both raved about it enough that it always stuck with me as a worthwhile story to read.

The movie was good, and I'd totally watch it again. But the book was waaaay better. The book filled in a lot more of the back story with the main characters, and had a lot of interesting side stories. It was also much less ambiguous about Ruth & Idgie's relationship. But I am happy that I saw the movie first, because it let me picture Mary-Louise Parker as Ruth and Mary Stuart Masterson as Idgie while I was reading.

[descamisado]

I was on a middle-aged reading binge a few years back and read this one. Loved it. Is Mr. Bridge as good as Mrs. Bridge?

I saw the Lord of the Rings movies before reading the books. I'm not sure I'd have liked the movies so much if I'd read the books first.Sorry, I totally forgot to answer you. As Annie X-mas said, Mr. Bridge is just as good as Mrs. Bridge. With Newman and Woodward, the movie was good, but should have been better.

I would also recommend Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley. Even though the movie totally missed the point of the book by misunderstanding Ripley and giving his "gayness" a modern interpretation, the movie wasn't too bad. The book has some excellent insights into striving, psychological yearning and personal incompleteness that were missing from the movie but could have been captured had someone really tried.

[Elendil's Heir]

Another vote for reading the Orson Scott Card novelization of The Abyss, which gave a lot of very useful and interesting backstory (Cameron showed it to the actors during filming, IIRC, to help them get into character). Ditto the Alan Dean Foster novelizations of Alien and Star Wars (the latter released under George Lucas's name), and Arthur C. Clark's 2001: A Space Odyssey, written more or less concurrently with the filming of the movie. It answers a lot of questions left by the movie, and is a pretty good scifi novel in its own right.

The movies based on Tom Clancy's Patriot Games and Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings are, by large, quite a bit better than the source material, IMHO (with some quibbles aside). But reading the original Tolkien, of course, is highly recommended.

I once was reading Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain and slowly ground to a halt. Then I saw the movie, which I liked, decided to take another stab at the book, and it just flew by. Made a big difference, and they really compliment each other.

[Krokodil]

Not a movie yet, but...

I just saw Wicked on Broadway. I haven't read Maguire's book. I wonder if my only real peeve about the story--that Elphaba (I don't think I'm spoiling anything here) came into her power and infamy mere days before Dorothy arrived, not the decades that common sense would dictate--is also the case in the book? I could definitely see that being a conceit of "stage time," like Jack McCoy and Det. Green having the same partners for the entire duration of every case they ever worked, but is it the case in the book as well?