Better than the book!

*Voltron* · 06-30-2010, 01:33 PM

I was thinking about how people always claim that, when films are made from novels, the book was better.

It's a rarer case, apparently, when one finds the movie superior to the book.

The question is: Do you find any movies to be better than films that inspired them?

For example: I've always felt that Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula was a really great imagining of the story. In fact, the characters are much deeper and the story a bit more engrossing with its romantic twist and the back story for Drac.

Thoughts?

*ToTheNines* · 06-30-2010, 01:39 PM

My pick is also a Coppola movie: The Godfather.

The film does everything right that the book does and provides a perfect soundtrack. What makes the movie better is the fact that it cuts out all the pointless chapters that involve Sonny's mistress (who moves away to Vegas and literally has nothing to do with the main plot once Sonny dies... it really felt like some corny romance novel got shoe-horned in between random chapters).

Also, Goodfellas is better than Wiseguy. This is mainly because they combined the characters of Lenny and Tommy D for Joe Pesci's classic performance as Tommy DeVito.

愛 · 06-30-2010, 02:07 PM

Lord of the Rings pops in my head. Half of the second book was like a poorly written yaoi fanfiction. Kinda disgusting. Not that the movie was any better at hiding it, but oh well.

*plastroncafe* · 06-30-2010, 02:44 PM

Off the top of my head Fight Club is the only one that comes to mind.
I'm sure others will come to me later.

*Brodie* · 06-30-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

Off the top of my head Fight Club is the only one that comes to mind.

I think that book gets better after seeing the film, where you just see these words, and imagine them being the thoughts of Ed Norton.

But the downside of that (or upside, in my case) is that every other Palahniuk book has this mental image of Ed Norton spouting off the content.

*Master Splinter* · 06-30-2010, 05:07 PM

Shawshank Redemption
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Both are way better than the books...

Just to name a few...

-ms

06-30-2010, 01:33 PM	#1
Voltron Handsomest Boy in School Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Realm of SJW Posts: 4,642	Better than the book! I was thinking about how people always claim that, when films are made from novels, the book was better. It's a rarer case, apparently, when one finds the movie superior to the book. The question is: Do you find any movies to be better than films that inspired them? For example: I've always felt that Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula was a really great imagining of the story. In fact, the characters are much deeper and the story a bit more engrossing with its romantic twist and the back story for Drac. Thoughts? __________________ I AM FOR ACTUAL! . . . and the White Savior. . . and the Right Hand of God. . .

06-30-2010, 05:07 PM	#6
Master Splinter 幸 - 愛 - 思う Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,824	Shawshank Redemption Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Both are way better than the books... Just to name a few... -ms __________________

06-30-2010, 01:39 PM	#2
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,366	My pick is also a Coppola movie: The Godfather. The film does everything right that the book does and provides a perfect soundtrack. What makes the movie better is the fact that it cuts out all the pointless chapters that involve Sonny's mistress (who moves away to Vegas and literally has nothing to do with the main plot once Sonny dies... it really felt like some corny romance novel got shoe-horned in between random chapters). Also, Goodfellas is better than Wiseguy. This is mainly because they combined the characters of Lenny and Tommy D for Joe Pesci's classic performance as Tommy DeVito.

06-30-2010, 02:07 PM	#3
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	Lord of the Rings pops in my head. Half of the second book was like a poorly written yaoi fanfiction. Kinda disgusting. Not that the movie was any better at hiding it, but oh well.