All this free time I've suddenly come into this summer has resulted in the increased amount of time spent in front of, expectedly, the written word. However, these hotter months also signal an influx in movie theater attendance, as some of the biggest production houses put out their blockbusting big names, and, more often than not, book adaptations!
In the honor of those new films, here is a list of some of my best - and worst - book-to-movie adaptations of all time!
BEST
1. Pride and Prejudice (any adaptation)
Any adaptation, honestly. Everyone has their own favorite - mine is 2005's Keira Knightley version - of this Regency era classic, but each are popular for their own reasons.
2. Perks of Being a Wallflower
I actually liked this book more AFTER I watched the movie, despite the fact that I had read it beforehand. Maybe it's because of the all-star cast and flawless translation to screen.
3. Harry Potter Franchise
It's pretty touch and go with story adherence in this series, as any good fan knows - WHERE THE HELL IS PEEVES? - but just the fact that the fan's dreamworld is rendered so successfully is what ensures their continued success.
4. The Maltese Falcon
I discussed this movie in a comparison to the novel here, and I truly enjoyed both. Besides, Entertainment Weekly just listed it in the "Top 100 Movies of All Time," so you know it's good!
5. Matilda
Let's face it, this movie is adorable. (Also, now, the musical!)
6. Jane Eyre
Even though there was the most recent adaptation in 2011 with Michael Fassbender, I am a huge fan of the BBC series from 2006 with Ruth Wilson, whose adherence to the beloved book is incredibly commendable.
7. The Princess Bride
Have you ever read this book? It reads EXACTLY like the movie, and I'm not joking.
8. Coraline
Terrifying for kids. Don't believe me? I saw this with my three younger siblings and father, and the youngest of us - my lil bro - actually had to leave the theater. The icky illustrations that meshed so perfectly in the book, are replaced with mystical and enthralling visuals in this kid-oriented creep-fest.
9. Holes
Damn, Shia LeBouf. (Back in the Even Stevens era, of course, but he was still pretty cute!)
10. The Secret Garden
Every little girl I know grew up with this movie in the '90s, and for good reason. This book and this movie continue bring out the green thumb in me, even when I manage to kill plastic plants.
WORST
1. Beastly
Agh, this sucked. And it made me SO SAD, because Alex Flinn is SO COOL!
2. Wrinkle in Time
No comment. Just tears.
3. Eat Pray Love
Lacked the emotional intensity and straightforward honesty of the memoir.
4. Ella Enchanted
Anne Hathaway, apparently, can do something wrong. And that makes me upset, because this book was so great.
5. Alice in Wonderland (any adaptation)
Unfortunately, it seems that every adaptation of this classic children's tale, is too off the mark in either content (as in, not accurate to the story) or in characters (thanks for trying, Johnny Depp).
LIMBO
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
OH MY GOD if this series wasn't swapped like some kind of cafeteria contraband when I was in middle school. These characters fit in to my circle of friends like we had all grown up together, and honestly, we kind of had. But Annabeth was blonde in the movie, and the age difference was unforgivable, too; therefore, I was displeased. But it still did well (because it was still pretty good!) and the next movie in the franchise is coming out this summer. Will Percy and Co. be redeemed to me? We shall see... :)
What are YOUR Top Ten?
Good list, I loved Perks of Being a Wallflower, Holes and Harry Potter as well.
ReplyDeleteI love the Top Ten Tuesday lists. Rather than replicate in the comments section, I will post on my own blog, but thought I would suggest a few from a sub genre of the topic. Best and worst Stephen King movie adaptations.
ReplyDeleteBest: The Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me, Carrie, Misery and Christine
Worst: It, Maximum Overdrive (based on Trucks), Children of the Corn and The Mist
Special Mention: Great movie but King hated the interpretation The Shining.
I don't know if A Wrinkle in Time could be successfully adapted to film. I loved the book.
ReplyDeleteLOVE Holes. I need to read and see Coraline, but I've heard it gets the creepiness right. :)
ReplyDeleteYay for Perks. That totally needs to be on my list. What the heck was I thinking? Sheesh, it's like my favorite book ever and I LOVED the movie.
Haha Even Stevens! Blast from the past ;) I've not actually read Holes yet and I still need to read and watch Perks of Being a Wallflower - I really need to get round to them! Great list Savannah and thanks for stopping by mine! :)
ReplyDeleteI love Matilda and HP!! I didn't like the movie adaptation of Eat, pray, love either. It doesn't do justice to the book. Great list! :)
ReplyDeleteMatilda is great, as is The Secret Garden. My favourite Pride and Prejudice adaptation is still the Colin Firth one, as I sort of grew up with that, although the Kiera Knightley film version is closer to the book.
ReplyDeleteI love Coraline the book, but am too scared to see the film!
Sarah
Ha, I can't believe I forgot about Matilda. One of the greatest movies of my childhood! Oooh and Coraline! LOVED the story and the movie wasn't bad either. There are just so many book adaptations that it's hard to remember them all! O.o
ReplyDelete