# Movies superior to the books they are based on **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524 "2003-02-07T18:36:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/21 "2003-02-07T20:01:39Z")
Peter Weir’s film of _Fearless_ is far better than the book, which is odd, because Rafael Yglesias wrote both the book and the screenplay. It seems to me that just the structure Weir applied worked better, and the story just was better told in the visual medium. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/22 "2003-02-07T20:02:30Z")
**The African Queen** **The Natural** I wish I’d never read either book. Both movies were much more satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/23 "2003-02-07T20:04:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*Then, there was _2001: A Space Oddysey_. > > An odd case here. The film said it was based on the book by Clarke. The book acknowledges Kubrik and the movie. IIRC, they were released at the same time (or near), and Kubrik and Clarke collaborated on the story. Interesting differences in the two, though… > \*\* The movie was based on the Clarke story, “The Sentinel.” Clarke worked on the screenplay, and the book version is a novelization of that, with Clarke making changes. People also think that **Fantastic Voyage** was made from an Isaac Asimov novel. What actually happened was the Asimov was asked to write a novelization of the script (and he corrected some of the grosser scientific errors as he did so). However, this was in the early days of novelizations, so there was no coordination between the movie and the book publisher. Thus, Asimov’s book came out several months before the movie was released. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/24 "2003-02-07T20:07:47Z")
Just by coincidence, this thread happens to be positioned directly under the Dr. Strangelove appreciation thread. It’s noted that Dr. Strangelove was based on the now-forgotten novel Red Alert. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/25 "2003-02-07T20:09:02Z")
Now, in my opinion, _Battlefield Earth_ the movie was quite a bit superior to the book, insofar as it only attempted to depict half the story. Sometimes less is definitely more, especially when you’re dealing with one of the most eye-bitingly wretched science-fiction stories ever to sell a zillion copies. They never even got to my favorite part of the novel, where we find out exactly why the Psychlos are so evil: turns out they’re made of viruses! Classic stuff. Maybe they were saving the second half of the book for the sequel. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/26 "2003-02-07T20:16:46Z")
_Diggstown_, with James Woods & Louis Gossett Jr, is one of my all-time favorite movies. I recently read the book, and am left wondering how on earth such a great, fun story onscreen could even have been adapted from such a dismal book. The book has the same basic plot, but it’s not even close to the level of storytelling skill shown in the film. ---
**Author:** ![CastleAnthrax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@CastleAnthrax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastleAnthrax)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/27 "2003-02-07T20:16:54Z")
Orlando was a far better book than movie, save for the last five minutes. I disagree with The Princess Bride, though. I liked both of them for different reasons. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/28 "2003-02-07T20:24:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*The movie was based on the Clarke story, “The Sentinel.” \*\* Seems to me that _inspired by_ would be a better phrase. I wish I could remember the name of the book about the making of the 2001 story… I seem to recall it had some details of the movie/book creation. Plus, many alternate plot points. Either way, your points about screen play and novelization are well taken. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/29 "2003-02-07T20:28:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shy guy \* > \*\*Having just read _Fellowship of the Ring_, I have to heartily agree. The movie did a much better job of telling the story. I expect to find the same is true of the second book once I read it. \*\* I can understand feeling that the first movie is better than the first book(though I disagree), I don’t think you can really compare the next one. You are going to find an awful lot changed between the movie Two Towers and the book. The good thing is that this should keep you on your toes. Don’t assume anything is going to go the same way or that the high points of the movie are going to be the high points of the book. It’s shockingly different(but still a great movie). Fortunately, the third movie will be quite like the third book, which is great because both should be the best parts of their series. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/30 "2003-02-07T20:49:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by InTransit \* > \*\*_Stand By Me_ > > Originally a short story from Stephen King that wasn’t much to write home about. I was surprised when they announced a movie based on it. \*\* On a similar note, the movie _The Shawshank Redemption_ is based on another Stephen King novella from the same collection (Different Seasons) that includes the story _Stand By Me_ is based on. The novella titles were _Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption_ and _The Body_. The _Shawshank_ story is a good read, but the movie version is better. ---
**Author:** ![kefka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@kefka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kefka)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/31 "2003-02-07T20:59:47Z")
i’m gonna have to nominate two curtis hanson films: l.a. confidential: the movie is one of the best of the last decade, and while the book is ok, it’s almost too detailed. i mean, i love detail, but it’s just too too much, and it drags the story down. curtis hanson and brian helgaland(sp?) turned alot of this detail into visual imagery and streamlined the story for what i think is the better. wonderboys: one of my all time favorite movies, the book is much sadder and more meandering, which works in the context that it’s being told by grady, who is meandering through his own novel, etc., but i just think the film is much better… ---
**Author:** ![jeanster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jeanster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeanster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/32 "2003-02-07T21:33:20Z")
It’s A Wonderful Life (the movie) is based on a short story by Philip Von Doren Stern. I read it many years ago, and I remember thinking that I liked the movie much better than the short story. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/33 "2003-02-07T21:39:03Z")
The Maltese Falcon. To my mind this novel was just a weak sister variation on the hardboiled Continental Op stories – and not nearly as horrifying as the best of them, such as Red Harvest. It took Bogart to really bring to life the character of Sam Spade, master manipulator – the scene where he explodes in rage at Guttman, storms out of the room, and then immediately regains his composure was a revelation. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/34 "2003-02-07T21:40:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tangent \* > \*\*On a similar note, the movie _The Shawshank Redemption_ is based on another Stephen King novella from the same collection (Different Seasons) that includes the story _Stand By Me_ is based on. The novella titles were _Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption_ and _The Body_. The _Shawshank_ story is a good read, but the movie version is better. \*\* I disagree - but then, there’s no point in posting to slavishly AOL, is there? 😃 Incidentally, nobody’s mentioned the third movie adaptation from Different Seasons - Apt Pupil, with Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro. I haven’t seen it myself, but does anyone know how it compared to the novella? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/35 "2003-02-07T22:03:24Z")
There are plenty of examples in all four categories: You have good movies made from bad books (the examples in this thread), bad movies from good books (discussed in many other threads), good movies from good books (_The Princess Bride_, _Lord of the Rings_, _Jurassic Park_), and bad movies from bad books (_Battlefield Earth_, _Jurassic Park II_). I think that the reason that the second category (bad movie from good book) gets so much attention is that everyone hears about all movies, but most people only hear about good books. I mean, most of Hitchcock’s movies are based on books, but how many of those have you seen in your library? The point is, they’re different art forms, and the things which make for a good movie are not necessarily related to the things which make for a good book. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/36 "2003-02-07T22:17:17Z")
Gotta agree on _Jaws_ and would add **The Dead Zone**. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/37 "2003-02-07T22:19:15Z")
I liked the movie version of _The Guns of Navarone_ better than the book. ---
**Author:** ![Caesar\_s\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@Caesar\_s\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caesar_s_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/38 "2003-02-07T22:27:10Z")
The ending of the movie version of _About A Boy_ was more interesting than the book version, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/39 "2003-02-07T23:27:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evil Death \* > \*\*I disagree - but then, there’s no point in posting to slavishly AOL, is there? 😃 > > Incidentally, nobody’s mentioned the third movie adaptation from Different Seasons - Apt Pupil, with Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro. I haven’t seen it myself, but does anyone know how it compared to the novella? \*\* Apt pupil was very good. I have always wondered how “The Long Walk” would play out in a movie, or how “Dolan’s Cadillac” would look as a Twilight Zone episode… ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524/40 "2003-02-07T23:37:59Z")
I thought the movie [ITALICS]Dr. Zhivago[/ITALICS] was much better than the novel of the same name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-superior-to-the-books-they-are-based-on/153524.md?page=3)