Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gone with the Wind

The Godfather

Not only was The Godfather poorly written but it is one of the most misogynistic tomes I've ever slogged through. Puzo describes women like they are different creatures from outer space. The movie uplifted the book. That's saying a lot.

You were being sarcastic with tome, right? Good Lord - Puzo as Shakespeare!


agree - totally misogynistic! But to be honest, that IS the role of a mafia wife. You live the good life if you play the secondary role.

not shitting anyone here - ate dinner with a mafia dude when I was a kid visiting relatives in Italy. . . scary

A Room With a View

Anonymous wrote:Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me. Oddly enough, both movies from Stephen King novellas contained in the same volume: Different Seasons.

Agreed.

Curious case of Benjamin button.

Anonymous wrote:Atonement. I hated the book, but actually quite enjoyed the movie.

Interesting. I thought this movie looked good but didn't bother seeing it because I, too, hated the book. And I figured the movie is never as good as the book.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis.

ITA agree with PP who cited The Godfather as an example of a movie that is better than the book and those who cited Gatsby for the reverse. What makes the film version of The Godfather work is the gorgeous cinematography and design, the editing and the superb acting, all of which elevate a rather plodding text (let's just get to the next plot point) to a very high level of popular entertainment. Conversely, the film versions of Gatsby emphasize imagery over character development and theme, distilling a profoundly true story of a young person's disillusionment and search for meaning into a 2-hour fashion show. The fashion show might be fun to watch -- although you can look at Ralph Lauren and Tiffany advertisements while you flip through Vogue at the hair salon -- but it's forgettable; Gatsby is not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great Gatsby.

Please tell me you are speaking of the Robert Redford version...

Neither movie version even remotely captures the power of the novel.

Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me. Oddly enough, both movies from Stephen King novellas contained in the same volume: Different Seasons.

Anonymous wrote:I personally enjoyed the Lord of the Rings movies more than the books. Although I feel the other way around for The Hobbit.

+1

Twilight

Anonymous wrote:The Color Purple. Alice Walker captured something special in her book but the movie had amazing images...Nettie in Africa, Celie running through the field of flowers...the church gospel scenes. One of my favorite movies of all time.

Agreed!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forrest Gump. You can't believe how bad the book is compared to the movie.

Agreed. You really have to admire the vision of the people that made the movie to get such a good movie from that book.

I'm torn on this one. The book had some great moments.

Jurassic Park

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great Gatsby.

Please tell me you are speaking of the Robert Redford version...

No, Im talking about the Baz Lurhman one

Oy.

What? I didn't think the movie was that bad. In fact I think it was as good as (maybe better) than the book. It's called an opinion.

That's true - this is America. You're entitled to be wrong.

Why the hostility? Isn't the point of this thread opinion. I could say that X is better than Y. You can say that Y is better. It's an opinion.