Much of the time, I’m not really a fan of the way Hollywood butchers my favorite books for the big screen. I’m one of those annoying people who can’t enjoy a movie or TV show because they’re lamenting all of the missing dialogue, changed scenes, and actors who look nothing like the character inside my head.
That said, three of my favorite books did manage to get a decent adaptation treatment, and those are…
1. ‘The Lord of the Rings’. I’ve read the books a couple of times, in between watching the movies about a gazillion times, and I have to bow down to Peter Jackson for not only making an amazing series of films but actually improving on the books. If you’ve read them then you know that J.R.R. Tolkien, for all his imagination and language wizardry, was not exactly the master of the gripping narrative. I could go on and on in true obsessed geeky style about how much I love these movies but I’ll spare you all the slobber.
2. ‘The Hunger Games’. When I found out they were turning this into a movie I realized I would probably wind up going to see it with friends who had read the books, so I decided I needed to sit down and read the entire trilogy as well. I’m really picky about reading the book before I see the movie! Anyway, I fell in love with the books from page one and by the time the movie finally opened I couldn’t imagine it would be nearly as good as the books. Wrong. It’s not 100% at the end and I still love the books better (what can I say, I’m a bookaholic), but it’s pretty darn near close to perfection. I can’t wait for the sequels.
3. ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Technically this isn’t a movie, because I’m talking about the five-hour BBC miniseries version. It. Is. Perfection. I love Jane Austen’s novel to death and I’ve reread it over and over since high school, so obviously I have really high standards for the characters of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I don’t think you can really get much better than Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, do you? Or do you have a better candidate for a remake?
16 Comments
Katrin
I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan! I don’t know how many times I watched the movies! Just can’t get enough of them! The books is brilliant for sure.
Martha Woods
Last summer our local theatre screened the director’s extended editions and we were lucky enough to go see all three!!! I’ve seen them dozens of times at home of course but it was really great to see them on the big screen.
Mademoiselle Lala
I always love books more than movies. I loved LOTR and Hunger Games. As for Pride and Prejudice I only love the movie with Keira. :)
Mademoiselle-Lala.com
Martha Woods
I haven’t watched Keira’s version, but since you mention it I shall have to pick it up! She’s lovely.
Lin
The only one that these that I’ve read and seen is The Hunger Games and I loved both. Well, technically I wasnt much of a fan of the second book…dragged on too much for my liking but overall they were good. Great picks!
Thanks so much for linking up with us :)
Martha Woods
I didn’t like the end of the third book, myself–it felt too abrupt! I wonder how it will be with the movie.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Susannah
I completely agree with you on all three counts. :-)
Martha Woods
Thanks :) So glad you could stop by!
Deanna @The Peony Princess
I’m the exact same way about books that turn into movies. I’m always sitting there whispering to my boyfriend “that’s not how it happened in the book”
Haha love your picks though!
Martha Woods
LOL thanks :)
Organized Island
Those are all such great books and good movies, which I agree is rare! Nice round up!
Martha Woods
Thanks :)
Yun, The Polish Hideout
I usually love the books more than the movies, as is the case with the Hunger Games and Pride and Prejudice, but I thought the LOTR trilogy was just a fantastic set of movies! So amazing! :D
~ Yun
Martha Woods
The LOTR trilogy definitely ranks among my top ten movies ever, ever, ever! Thank goodness they put a real geek in charge to do them properly. :D
Z
hey there, great choice!
Martha Woods
Thanks!