# Worst movie adaptation of a book (probable spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 8, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730 "2013-02-08T19:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/1 "2013-02-08T19:59:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/2 "2013-02-08T20:19:54Z")
Starship fucking Troopers. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/3 "2013-02-08T20:37:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/4 "2013-02-08T20:41:10Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/5 "2013-02-08T20:43:30Z")
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!) ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/6 "2013-02-08T20:45:20Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/7 "2013-02-08T20:48:51Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Starship fucking Troopers. I hope I’m wrong, but I can’t shake the feeling that **World War Z** is going to fall into this category. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/8 "2013-02-08T20:49:34Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Starship fucking Troopers. This. And here I logged into say “Congo.” ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/9 "2013-02-08T20:53:31Z")
**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. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/10 "2013-02-08T20:57:25Z")
_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. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/11 "2013-02-08T21:36:25Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > _The Golden Compass_. It was a series of set pieces, highlights, special effects showcases, totally missing the story and lacking any background development. See also Narnia. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/12 "2013-02-08T21:49:42Z")
The John Badham/Frank Langella version of “Dracula.” They freakin’ mixed up Lucy and Mina, fercrissakes!! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/13 "2013-02-08T21:53:35Z")
“Bonfire of the Vanities” with Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis - 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/14 "2013-02-08T21:53:45Z")
_Cheaper by the Dozen._ ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/15 "2013-02-08T21:57:31Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > “Bonfire of the Vanities” with Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis - 😕 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. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/16 "2013-02-08T21:59:57Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > _Cheaper by the Dozen._ I assume you mean the recent, Steve Martin version. The original was quite true to the book. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/17 "2013-02-08T22:03:32Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I assume you mean the recent, Steve Martin version. The original was quite true to the book. Yeah, the Steve Martin abomination. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/18 "2013-02-08T22:10:52Z")
Pick any version of “Tarzan”. Not that the book was wonderful but it had it’s own pulpy charm. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/19 "2013-02-08T22:16:33Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730/20 "2013-02-08T22:18:13Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > This. > > And here I logged into say “Congo.” 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movie-adaptation-of-a-book-probable-spoilers/649730.md?page=2)