Film Vs Book.
Can movie adaptations really do a book justice?
Summit Entertainment, Mr.Mudd, Entertainment One.
I am a fan of both film and novel. However, i am always a little sceptical when I see films that have been adapted from novels especially if it’s a novel I have read and loved.
Many films have been adapted from novels, The Silver Linings Playbook and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower are just two examples from last year.
I love reading but I find that if I see a movie before reading the book then I find it difficult to read the book on which the film is based (The Time Travellers Wife.) I also find that if I read the book and then see the film, if it’s not been adapted well, I sit there the entire time comparing the film to the book.
That being said, this isn’t always the case. Bridget Jones Diary was as good for me on the screen as it was on the page but it’s one of the few exceptions to my rule. Books are definitely what I favour.
Curmudgeon Films, Gran Via Productions, Mark Johnson Productions
My Sister’s Keeper is a prime example. I found the book so thought-provoking but was disappointed by the film and what I felt were unnecessary changes to the plot.
What do you think? Can a film really be as good as the book it’s based on?
by 
I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.
5 Responses to Film Vs Book.
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Book Club
Absolutely agree with you Laura, if the film can find a much better way to build in narrative, that will probably help – but even then, there will be other limits like the length of the film, the directors take on the book, the set etc. I will always love both film and book, but given the choice, will almost always choose to read book first. To risk sounding like a grumpy old lady, why have someone else’s take on it, when you can have your own first.
I don’t envy them either. The Hunger Games was also an OK adaptation but there were still things they left out – little details that enrich the plot.
I tend to agree with this statement, I am yet to absolutely love a film I have watched after reading a book. I think there’s something about building your imagination around a novel, which is difficult to shift when you then watch a film. Some examples have come close…Harry Potter, maybe even Atonement, or the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (if that counts as a film), but not close enough. I don’t envy any film director on having to create a film adaptation of a well loved novel.
I think it really depends on the book. If the book is quite short or has a relativly simple plot then it can work quite well. The best book-to-film conversion I have ever seen is the Shawshank Redemption and you can read that book in a couple of hours.
Shawshank was a great adaptation. I once heard that the Green Mile was Stephen King’s favourite adaptation of his books.