Books Adapted for Films in which Changes were made to story and characters that you actually liked

[CupofJoe]

I've always wondered how different Nothing Lasts Forever [Roderick Thorp] was from the film Die Hard.
Not enough to buy it, but just enough to wonder.
For me it is fairly common that books make bad films unless changes are made to suit the medium.

 

[CupofJoe]

Entirely agree - Sean Bean was brilliant in LOTR. His death scenes always make me cry.
Recently I finished my annual listen to the BBC 1981 adaption, which I still rate as the greatest adaption of all. Michael Graham Cox in that was terrific as Boromir. One of the other standouts in it is Peter Vaughn. I'm not so keen on the guy playing Denethor in the film, but in the radio adaption Vaughn is absolutely compelling.

I read that Peter Jackson bought several hundred copies of the BBC version to give to crew and actors to get them in the right frame of mind.
One thing I didn't like about the PJ's LotR was that Gimli was played too much for laughs [especially in TT]. That isn't the case in the BBC version.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I read that Peter Jackson bought several hundred copies of the BBC version to give to crew and actors to get them in the right frame of mind.
One thing I didn't like about the PJ's LotR was that Gimli was played too much for laughs [especially in TT]. That isn't the case in the BBC version.

Yes... true enough. I think I half agree with you. There are some funny scenes (e.g. the mail shirt) but they also got laughs out of Legolas, like his drinking. I didn't like the Gimli/Aragorn scenes at Helm's Deep because they just seemed so absurd.

 

[Narkalui]

I don't think they really knew what to do with Gimli

 

[hitmouse]

I only like film adaptations when they offer a departure from the original material (novels or otherwise). It's a complete waste of my time when filmmakers just take the book and film it without adding a new layer to it - even when that ends up being for the worse.

- Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)
- The Prestige
- American Psycho
- The Shining
- Under the Skin
- Stalker (Roadside picnic)

all come to mind.

Blade Runner adds a significant something to the book, not least because it is a supremely stylish film, in terms of visuals, atmosphere, music, and pacing. The book just isnt any of those. Also, the book does not have the "I've seen things..." speech. I like both, but I like the film better than the book.

 

[BAYLOR]

Blade Runner adds a significant something to the book, not least because it is a supremely stylish film, in terms of visuals, atmosphere, music, and pacing. The book just isnt any of those. Also, the book does not have the "I've seen things..." speech. I like both, but I like the film better than the book.

I like the films better then I did the book

 

[Elckerlyc]

Not mentioned yet is The Name of the Rose. I found the movie more interesting as I did the book, it had an extra dimension.

 

[Vince W]

Not mentioned yet is The Name of the Rose. I found the movie more interesting as I did the book, it had an extra dimension.

I'm in agreement here. I tried to read the book but it bored the pants off me. Gave up after about 40 pages.

 

[Toby Frost]

Strangely, I found the book fascinating, but I might have read it at just the right time and age.

 

[Star-child]

The 1980 animated Return of the King.

Blade Runner.

Annihilation. Succeeds in being weirder than the book.

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

The Passage by Justin Cronin has been in my top 3 reads from the last few decades. They made it into a TV series that had a great deal of differences but was still entertaining and watchable. Then as it was about to get interesting and the first season ended they cancelled it!!

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

The 1980 animated Return of the King.

At first I thought you were referring to the 1978 animated version of The Lord of the Rings directed by Ralph Bakshi. I always wish they'd followed this movie with the sequel but alas it never came to be. I loved the animation mixed in with the live action (rotoscoping), never seen anything like it.

 

[Star-child]

At first I thought you were referring to the 1978 animated version of The Lord of the Rings directed by Ralph Bakshi. I always wish they'd followed this movie with the sequel but alas it never came to be. I loved the animation mixed in with the live action (rotoscoping), never seen anything like it.

I think the Bakshi movie is a hot mess. The film I mentioned was animated by the same studio as Nausica.

 

[BAYLOR]

I think the Bakshi movie is a hot mess. The film I mentioned was animated by the same studio as Nausica.

Bakshi wanted to do the whole trilogy but wasn't; able to, so he compressed three books into one movie .

 

[Star-child]

Bakshi wanted to do the whole trilogy but wasn't; able to, so he compressed three books into one movie .

HIs film is of the first two books, and the problems with it are the animation and characterizations.

 

[BAYLOR]

HIs film is of the first two books, and the problems with it are the animation and characterizations.

Actually your quite correct , it was the first two books. I had not seen this film in 30 years memory was a bit faulty here. As the animation , some of it was good, The characterizations not that all great. The animation of the Orcs and Goblins which was not really animation at all, was most unimpressive and cheap looking Rotoscope of actors in bad costumes . The Balrogg though animated, did not impress nor did Gandalf's battle with it. I recall that this film was not in the theaters very long.

 

[Narkalui]

The balrog was awful. It had butterfly wings

 

[tobl]

does anyone saw the trailer for the new version of A christmas carol by dickens? the man must be rolling in his grave

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

The recent adaptation of The War of The Worlds by the BBC was a let down in my opinion which is a shame as I had high hopes for it. The actors were fabulous and all did a great job but the jumps in timeline were unnecessary and sometimes confusing. The aliens once out of their tripods were unconvincing - how on earth would they be able to create the tripods never mind space travel!?!?

Let's hope their adaptation of Dracula which airs on New Years Day fares much better.........

 

[ryubysss]

does anyone saw the trailer for the new version of A christmas carol by dickens? the man must be rolling in his grave

which one, though? it has a new adaptation just about every Christmas. even Doctor Who did it, once.