It's a given that when you read a book before you see the movie based upon it, you'll tend to like the book more. But of course, that ain't always the case - especially when you read the book AFTER the movie.

What are some of your favorite movies that you liked BETTER than the books they were based on?

Here are a few for me...

• The Thirteenth Warrior (I couldn't stand the fact that the book was fiction...but also, the movie had a much more "fun" feel to it)
  
• Stir of Echoes (while the book is that much more atmospheric, the movie has such an edge to it that somehow was missing for me when I read it)
  
• Stardust (funnier, more charming, and altogether "brighter" than the book for me)
  
• Fight Club (only marginally)
  
• The Mothman Prophecies (although I had a lot of things I wanted to see included in the film, it was far, FAR less boring)
  
• L. A. Confidential (okay, so I didn't finish the book, but in the wake of Mr. Ellroy's discovery that he is, without a doubt, the best crime writer currently at work, I kiiiiind of don't have that same sort of want-to-hurt-someone feeling when I watch the excellent movie)
  
• And for the ultimate clincher... 300. I was SCREAMING for movement when I was reading the graphic novel, and the movie not only provided movement, voice, and better atmosphere, but added in whole scenes that, based on the previews alone, I was sorely missing during the read. Not that it was a terribly great movie, however...

I just wonder if 30 Days of Night will be like this, also. I liked the first graphic novel the one time I read it, but like 300, it seems too "frozen" (no pun intended) for the kind of scenes it portrays. It needs the movement, the voices, the atmosphere that a movie could provide.

Your turn!

Dang, Barry, that is a HARD question!

The only two that come to mind for me are both based on Stephen King stories.

The Shawshank Redemption
The Green Mile

Both of these were directed by Frank Darabont, who I would be absolutely THRILLED to have direct the Repairman Jack movie.

Another Stephen King work that translated better on screen for me...THE DEAD ZONE directed by David Cronenberg and starring Christopher Walken.

It's a given that when you read a book before you see the movie based upon it, you'll tend to like the book more. But of course, that ain't always the case - especially when you read the book AFTER the movie.

Not with me. On those few occasions where I read the book after seeing the movie, I still liked the book better.

What are some of your favorite movies that you liked BETTER than the books they were based on?

None . . . not one! :p

Ken V.

Jaws and Jurassic Park were both better as movies, imo. (Both JPs mind you.)

It's a given that when you read a book before you see the movie based upon it, you'll tend to like the book more. But of course, that ain't always the case - especially when you read the book AFTER the movie.

What are some of your favorite movies that you liked BETTER than the books they were based on?

Here are a few for me...

• The Thirteenth Warrior (I couldn't stand the fact that the book was fiction...but also, the movie had a much more "fun" feel to it)
  
• Stir of Echoes (while the book is that much more atmospheric, the movie has such an edge to it that somehow was missing for me when I read it)
  
• Stardust (funnier, more charming, and altogether "brighter" than the book for me)
  
• Fight Club (only marginally)
  
• The Mothman Prophecies (although I had a lot of things I wanted to see included in the film, it was far, FAR less boring)
  
• L. A. Confidential (okay, so I didn't finish the book, but in the wake of Mr. Ellroy's discovery that he is, without a doubt, the best crime writer currently at work, I kiiiiind of don't have that same sort of want-to-hurt-someone feeling when I watch the excellent movie)
  
• And for the ultimate clincher... 300. I was SCREAMING for movement when I was reading the graphic novel, and the movie not only provided movement, voice, and better atmosphere, but added in whole scenes that, based on the previews alone, I was sorely missing during the read. Not that it was a terribly great movie, however...

I just wonder if 30 Days of Night will be like this, also. I liked the first graphic novel the one time I read it, but like 300, it seems too "frozen" (no pun intended) for the kind of scenes it portrays. It needs the movement, the voices, the atmosphere that a movie could provide.

Your turn!

Most books where the book was written after the movie (like, say, Star Wars) suffer. The book is too limited, I guess.

That said,

I agree that 300 was a better movie than GN, but there were parts of the GN that I liked better than the movie.

Very much agree with the LA Confidential vote. Ellroy needs to get over himself.

I also agree with the 13th Warrior pick, although I must point out that the first three chapters of Eater's of the Dead are indeed the real writings of Ahmad ibn Fadlan, who was a real person.

Never read the other books, although I have seen most of the movies, so I can't compare.

My additions -
Black Hawk Down.
I know it's kind of unfair as the book is more a historical recreation, but nothing the book said really illustrated what it was like there. It also helps that I know two of the individuals presented in the book and film and have been fortunate enough to train with them. I have seen real video that directly contradicts both book and movie and have been given some different perspectives on what went down, but at the end of the day the movie just captured that day in a way a book just cannot.

Band of Brothers.
See above, minus knowing any of the principals.

We Were Soldiers.
As above.

The Crow.
LOVED the GR, but man, that movie is something else. I can't even classify it.

Last of the Mochicans.
This is a no-brainer. Has anyone ever tried to read this book? OMG. And the movie was art.

Shawshank Redemption.
This was a tough one. It was freaking close here, because I adore both mediums. But the chemistry between Robbins and Freeman was amazing.

And finally,

Blade Runner.
This is a seminal work. And again, it's tough because I am a huge fan of Phillip K. Dick's body of work (well, most of it), but I don't think Androids quite hangs with Blade Runner.

Dang, Barry, that is a HARD question!

The only two that come to mind for me are both based on Stephen King stories.

The Shawshank Redemption
The Green Mile

Both of these were directed by Frank Darabont, who I would be absolutely THRILLED to have direct the Repairman Jack movie.

GREAT choice for director. I hadn't thought of him.

I'm not sure I have ever experienced this phenomona...

...But if you ever want a real book-to-film disappointment read Stephen King's "Dream Catcher" then see the movie...awful. I also thought the Bourne movies ruined the amazing plots of the books...but they would have been nearly impossible to translate to the big screen accurately.

I'm not sure I have ever experienced this phenomona...

...But if you ever want a real book-to-film disappointment read Stephen King's "Dream Catcher" then see the movie...awful. I also thought the Bourne movies ruined the amazing plots of the books...but they would have been nearly impossible to translate to the big screen accurately.

Oh god did you nail this one. I loved the book. It was also unfortunate because the main actor in the film, Damian Lewis, is one of my faves. Too bad.

Last of the Mochicans.
This is a no-brainer. Has anyone ever tried to read this book? OMG. And the movie was art.

I've read it -- a couple of times. That's one of those almost nonexistent times when I liked both the book and the movie. The others are A Town Like Alice, (which was actually a TV mini-series) and Pride And Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (another mini-series.)

Ken V.