A Month of Books :: Books into Movies

Last updated on 6 June 2018

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I’ve talked about this before, but I thought I’d revisit it, as I’ve thought of additions to that list I posted last year.

Being a lover of movies and TV series, it’s always immensely exciting when they announce they are going to make a movie of one of my favourite books (you know, ‘they’…the movie people…). Sometimes it can be very disappointing when they make books into movies. Sometimes the characters aren’t what you imagined when you read their descriptions, or the scenery isn’t quite right. But sometimes there are adaptations of novels that are brilliant, sometimes even better than the book, dare I say it. Today I thought I’d go through some of the books that have been turned into movies that I have not enjoyed, and some that I loved. Please remember that these are just my opinions and you’re totally free to think whatever you’d like.

Bad Adaptations

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini
Now, as I’ve said before, I loved this book and it’s sequels, but when it came to movie, oh.my.word. What a disaster. My friend and I went to see it, and it was ridiculous. I thought Ed S did an okay job, and he was quite like I imagined, and of course Jeremy Irons was great…but it was just the rest of it that didn’t do it for me. The dragon had feathers in the movie! What!? She doesn’t have feathers in the book. It had the potential to be so amazing, and it just fell short.

The Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer
I’m one of those people who read the first book before they were popular. And yes, I actually really enjoyed the books…and the movies, well, they were terrible. Okay, no I lie. I didn’t mind the first one, but then it kinda went downhill from there, I think.

Great Adaptations

The Harry Potter series, by J.K.Rowling
Yes, yes, I’m mentioning it again. I will always love the books over the movies for HP, but I really do love the movies a lot. Even with the change of directors over the years, I think they did a great overall job at the movies. They mostly kept to the books (except a few infuriating things, but we’ll let that slide) which is always good, and I think the majority of the characters were really well cast.

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
With special effects these days it’s truly incredible what movies are like, and I think that the Hunger Games, had they been made even 10 years go, wouldn’t have been that great. But both movies were really great, and being a fan of the books, that was really great to see.

The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
I read this book a few years ago, after I had seen the movie, and I have to say I enjoyed both equally. I think they did a great job in the movie adaptation, and mostly stuck to the book. I think the actors were perfect for the characters they were portraying, and it’s one I have bought on DVD.

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerlad
I really enjoyed this book, and while I’ve only read it once, that was only a few years ago, I would love to read it again. It’s a great short book that you can pick up one afternoon and be done in the same time it takes to watch the movie. I loved the movie adaptation. I think they did an incredible job, and it truly brings the book to life. Once again Leonardo does an awesome acting job, and while her character annoys the flip out of me, Carrie Mulligan is super cute in nearly every character she plays.

Movies that are better than the book

The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R.Tolkien
Did not enjoy these books. To be fair, I didn’t actually read them myself, but Dad read them to me when I was young, and while the story overall is great, the books are just so long and boring and there are too many Elvin songs in it. But the movies! My goodness! They are some of my favourite movies ever. I just love all million hours of it.

Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
This is probably one of my favourite movies, and when you compare it to the book, it’s comes out on top by far. Perhaps I didn’t like the book because I read it after I watched the movie, and the movie was just so good that the book had no chance to begin with. I’m not sure, but I just did not like the book at all. Movie all the way.

Movies I’m looking forward to

There have been several book adaptations that have come out in the past year or so that I still haven’t seen, but that I really want to see, and there are a couple coming out this coming year. Super excited to those ones too!

Divergent, by Veronica Roth
Oh my goodness! So excited about this movie! I just recently suggested this book to my friend Roz, and she’s loved it, so we’re going to go and see it together.

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green
Eep! Loved this book, and I’m really excited for the movie this year. I don’t think it comes out till later in the year, but the trailer has been up for a while.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Really enjoyed this book, and I haven’t seen the movie yet. I’ve heard great things, so I’m looking forward to eventually seeing it.

City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare
I know this movie has been out for a while now, but I haven’t managed to see it. I’m a bit scared that they might have butchered it, but I need to see it anyhow.

Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
I really enjoyed this book, and while I’ve heard mixed reviews of the movie which came out 2012 (?) I still would love to see it.