Worst movie adaptation of a book (probable spoilers)

While I’m sure this has been done before, I did a search of ‘worst movie’ and didn’t come up with anythign recent. So with no further ado.

Generally I have low expectations when going to see a movie adapted from a book/graphic novel, and with few pleasant exceptions I am not disappointed.

This thread is about the unpleasant exceptions, where there is no possible way you would have paid if you had known how bad it was going to be. Nay, you would have turned down reasonable amounts of money to sit all the way through them.

Tieing for last place in my lineup. Running Man and Battlefield Earth.

Granted, I did read both of them when I was younger and less critical. But I have trouble believing that Running Man shared much in common with the book other than the name.

Fortunately I have repressed most of Battlefield Earth other than the urge to kick small furry animals when I think about having watched it.

Starship fucking Troopers.

I think The Grapes of Wrath is the greatest American novel, and loathed the movie the instant I saw it. Yes, there were all kinds of limits on what could be done back then — prudishness, technology, and storytelling were all limiting or limited. Still, I hate it.

The Dark is Rising. One of my favourite YA fantasy books completely eviscerated. Yuk. At least I saw it on an airplane and didn’t shell out money for it.

The goddawful live action version of “How the Ginch Stole Christmas” wins for me. Wonderful classic picture book. Apparently it was too simple for the makers of this wretched movie who totally missed its point.

(If I cared about the book “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult, I’d nominate the movie version which totally changed up the book’s ending!)

Generally, I like whichever format I see first better. However, while Running Man is perfectly fine as a summer/popcorn/Arnold movie, it has nothing to do with the book, beyond a shared title and the concept of a TV show.

And, as written, I think it could make a pretty compelling film.

Neither of the major movie versions of “I am Legend” (Heston in Omega Man, Smith in I am Legend) had much to do with the story. I vaguely remember watching Vincent Price in “The Last Man on Earth”, but not well enough to comment on how well it held to the story.

I hope I’m wrong, but I can’t shake the feeling that World War Z is going to fall into this category.

This.

And here I logged into say “Congo.”

The Lawnmower Man

The book (story) is about a satyr cutting a guy’s yard.

The movie is basically a high tech cyber version of “Flowers for Algernon”, and it broke my heart to see it, although in all fairness, the original story would not have made two hours worth of material.

The Golden Compass. It was a series of set pieces, highlights, special effects showcases, totally missing the story and lacking any background development.

Something Wicked This Way Comes captured none of the flavor and atmosphere of the book.

See also Narnia.

The John Badham/Frank Langella version of “Dracula.” They freakin’ mixed up Lucy and Mina, fercrissakes!!

“Bonfire of the Vanities” with Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis - :confused:

Cheaper by the Dozen.

Speaking of Bruce Willis: Breakfast of Champions There another Vonnegut novel that Hollywood messed up starring Jerry Lewis of all people. I don’t have the stomach to look up which one it was.

I assume you mean the recent, Steve Martin version. The original was quite true to the book.

Yeah, the Steve Martin abomination.

Pick any version of “Tarzan”. Not that the book was wonderful but it had it’s own pulpy charm.

Oh, that’s a good one. So is the live action Cat in the Hat.

I hear that people who have read I, Robot generally cannot stand the Will Smith movie, but if you haven’t read the book, or have no expectation they have anything in common, it’s a great action movie.

Thank you. “Congo” was the first thing came to my mind (never read “Starship Troopers”).

One of the more disappointing is “The Bourne Identity”. I really enjoyed the movie and it is because I thought they did such a good job with the movie, that I was really disappointed that they didn’t actually follow the original story line. They started out perfectly (updated with newer technology, but basically the same). And the whole “has he gone rogue ?” part was also in the book. But then, they just veered too far off track. Maybe they already had the sequels in mind, or something.