I don't usually participate in the various Top Ten Tuesdays postings because, frankly, it's a lot more work than answering the single questions on the Book Blogger Hop or the Literary Blog Hop on Fridays. But then as I was browsing book blogs today (2/15/11), I saw that somebody very cleverly posted an advance list of TTT. So now I have time to compose this at my leisure, well ahead of Tuesday Next next. Sponsored by The Broke & the Bookish, this week's topic is top ten book-to-movie adaptations. I suspect that this list will be more controversial than most. It's no secret that books have certain advantages over their film versions: namely, the luxury of time to tell the tale properly and the unlimited imagination of the reader. I used to be one of those folks who condemned books-into-movies, ipso facto. Now I don't care as much if the director & screenplay writer aren't true to the letter of the book as long as they are true to the spirit of the book. It's a tremendous bonus if the movies actually give me a new insight into the books. So here's my list of books-into-movies where I read the book and LOVED the movie. In no particular order:
1) The Princess Bride by William Goldman. One of the most eminently quotable movies EVER. Anybody want a peanut?
2) Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison. Best. Novella. Ever. As far as I'm concerned, anyway. Didn't like the film until after I had read the book. Then, boy howdy, I loved it! And no, that love is not actually related to Brad Pitt, though I admit I think it's his best role.
3) The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. Yes, I do distinguish the first part of the film trilogy as being significantly better than the subsequent two. I emphatically did not like the pointless addition of a battle scene and the mucking around with essence of Faramir's and Boromir's characters from the other two movies.
4) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling. In my opinion, the pinnacle of Rowling's plotting and writing--and Cuaron was the only director who brought something more (read "better") to the film version. Back when we thought Jo would allow for some Slytherin redemption by the end of the series. But don't get me started down that road...
5) The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Because it's an expected answer. I didn't actually make it all the way through the book, but I read enough for it to qualify in this part of the list instead of in the Honorable Mentions below.
6) The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. If there's a more chillingly charismatic on-screen villain than Sir Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lector, I've not seen the likes of it. Talk about a great cast, raising a book from pulp fiction to something memorable.
7) The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. God bless him for his sense of romance and his ability to publish a book every year while reading 5-6 books per week (yes, I interviewed him once and this is what he said), but a great stylist he ain't. I think this book makes a pretty fine romantic drama, however.
8) Q & A by Vikras Swarup (known to the English speaking world as the film Slumdog Millionaire). One of those cases where the plot points didn't overlap all that much, but where the spirit of the book was translated well into film.
9) The Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper. Yes, they're almost unrecognizable as springing from the same source. But it's a fine, fine movie with an excellent soundtrack.
10) The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. I wanted to work another children's or YA book onto the list, but the movie really does stand on its own merits. Beautifully filmed!
Ooh, but that leaves out Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen, which was wonderful! I had to eliminate all Jane Austen adaptations or else there'd be very little room for other movies. Or The Da Vinci Code? (Just kidding--wanted to see if you were paying attention!) I thought this would be a difficult list to compile, but there are actually far more good film versions of books than I can name here.
Honorable mentions for movies I've seen and thought were excellent, but whose antecedents I have not read: The Reader, Casino Royale, The Shawshank Redemption, The Children of Men, Chocolat, Forrest Gump, and The Name of the Rose. There are lots of others, but I think I'll leave it there for now.
What did I leave out? What would you have on your list?
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| I am not left handed! |
2) Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison. Best. Novella. Ever. As far as I'm concerned, anyway. Didn't like the film until after I had read the book. Then, boy howdy, I loved it! And no, that love is not actually related to Brad Pitt, though I admit I think it's his best role.
3) The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. Yes, I do distinguish the first part of the film trilogy as being significantly better than the subsequent two. I emphatically did not like the pointless addition of a battle scene and the mucking around with essence of Faramir's and Boromir's characters from the other two movies.
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| Yeah, I'm a Snape fan. |
5) The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Because it's an expected answer. I didn't actually make it all the way through the book, but I read enough for it to qualify in this part of the list instead of in the Honorable Mentions below.
6) The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. If there's a more chillingly charismatic on-screen villain than Sir Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lector, I've not seen the likes of it. Talk about a great cast, raising a book from pulp fiction to something memorable.
7) The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. God bless him for his sense of romance and his ability to publish a book every year while reading 5-6 books per week (yes, I interviewed him once and this is what he said), but a great stylist he ain't. I think this book makes a pretty fine romantic drama, however.
9) The Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper. Yes, they're almost unrecognizable as springing from the same source. But it's a fine, fine movie with an excellent soundtrack.
Ooh, but that leaves out Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen, which was wonderful! I had to eliminate all Jane Austen adaptations or else there'd be very little room for other movies. Or The Da Vinci Code? (Just kidding--wanted to see if you were paying attention!) I thought this would be a difficult list to compile, but there are actually far more good film versions of books than I can name here.
Honorable mentions for movies I've seen and thought were excellent, but whose antecedents I have not read: The Reader, Casino Royale, The Shawshank Redemption, The Children of Men, Chocolat, Forrest Gump, and The Name of the Rose. There are lots of others, but I think I'll leave it there for now.
What did I leave out? What would you have on your list?
Oh I loved "The Black Stallion" and completely forgot about it--Nice picks. Kaye—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeletelegends of the Fall!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhh! I can't believe I forgot that one.
ReplyDeleteI am crazy about that movie. Crazy. And it never fails that I cry like a baby at the end.
Julia Ormond was exceptional in that role. Perfect for it and I wondered what had happened to her. There were a few yrs that she just dropped off the face of the earth. I also liked her in Sabrina. I know a lot of people didn't think it lived up to the original, but since I'm not a big Hepburn fan, I didn't mind and really ended up liking it.
Great list. I still haven't seen The Princess Bride and everyone tells me how great it is. I'll have to make time soon...
I can't believe I forgot Legends of the Fall as well! Excellent choice. I also agree with you regarding HP and LofR. They were both very good. I adored The Last of the Mohicans movie, but haven't read the book. I need to add that to my overflowing TBR list. Thanks for following my blog. I am now a new follower of yours as well--love that you are a fellow beach bum. Regarding your question about the Caribbean, I love Negril and Montego Bay. I also love the Bahamas! I recently fell in love with Key West, too. I look forward to reading your posts!
ReplyDeleteJenniferO, I actually just saw Julia Ormond in a movie last night--she played Clair Danes' mother in the biopic called Temple Grandin, which Danes received all kinds of accolades for. I definitely recommend it.
ReplyDeleteChristina, Last of the Mohicans book was VASTLY different from the movie. I actually like the movie better in this case, even though I don't usually like philosophical differences between books & movie adapations.
Kaye, loved the hobbit art on your blog!
The Godfather! Wow, Puzo's novels slipped my mind entirely. I read "The Godfather", "Fortunate Pilgrim", and a couple of others after seeing the Brando movie. That scene at the toll-booth is....intense.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Bride is such a great movie. I feel like I've seen it con almost every list for this week's topic. I want to read the Godfather because the movie is so amazing. I'm almost afraid the book won't live up to the movie...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! How did I NOT do LOTR? What an idiot! And the whole time I was thinking - I know there is another fantasy book to movie. I blame an inadequate amount of coffee this morning.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Bride does seem to be the universal favorite. And we are Snape fans, too. Just before the last book came out, we had t-shirts that read "Trust Snape!", made up by our brilliant children's clerk. The only problem was, we couldn't wear them for ages afterward, because the fact that we were still wearing them would have been an automatic spoiler for anyone who hadn't finished...ah, well, we knew we had been right all along, and that's what mattered.:)
ReplyDeleteI loved this posting. Stirred up lots of memories, including Green Mansions (an oldie I can barely remember, but I loved the book AND the movie).
ReplyDeleteCan you believe that I haven't seen or read Princess Bride? Am I really missing it?
Happy week to you,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
I haven't seen The Black Stallion in ages, but it's one of those movies whose scenes are just emblazened across my brain. I should read Q & A, I think.
ReplyDeleteThe Virgin Suicides is probably my favorite adapted movie ever. I can't even remember if it captured every aspect of the book, but DAMN did it get the FEEL perfectly!
ReplyDeleteBoth versions of True Grit did justice to the novel.
ReplyDelete