Movies that are better than the book?!?!?!
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- Опубліковано 27 лип 2024
- The stereotype is that the book is always better than its adaptation, I mean my channel name is even Why the Book Wins! And yet, we all know there are times when the movie is the superior version. Hear which movies I and my subscribers think are better than the book!
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00:00 intro
01:11 movies that are better
11:51 subscriber picks
Due to the recent death of Donald Sutherland, I am switching the release of The Time Traveler's Wife with the release of my Ordinary People book vs movie. I filmed it literally the day before he died! So Time Traveler's Wife will now be up the second Monday in July.
I think that’s a perfect honor. Never read the book of “Ordinary People”, but the film is so good; Mary Tyler Moore as the cold matriarch was such a shock for audiences due to her image from her titular show & she is excellent. Course so was Sutherland, but he often gets ignored a lot due to Mary (her only Oscar nod) & Timothy Hutton’s Oscar winning work but he deserves credit for playing a caring father but is so lost in the loss of their son and doesn’t know how to help his surviving son. Can’t wait to watch the vid
One that I thought barely beat out the book, but both are incredible, Women Talking by Miriam Towes is incredible. The book is a quick but deep read and the movie just expands on it with the characters . It’s very true to the book but I love the cinematography so much I love it just a tiny bit more than the book. But I highly recommend both
I still need to read/watch that one!
Now I have to watch her Godfather book video!
basically the book kind of triggered me with how bad all of the women are treated! and Puzo seems to condone it almost by not taking the time to write a well rounded female and instead the only female centered story is all about a woman getting surgery on her V.
I would like to see you do the Devil Wears Prada! I preferred the movie honestly but interested in your thoughts
The Age of Innocence and The Witches of Eastwick.
Oh wow, I have heard great things about this movie but I hadn't realized it was a book!
Great review! One thing that makes me like a movie more than a book is that the screenwriter(s) usually take a more streamlined approach (I tink of Jaws, Gone Girl, and The Girl on the Train). It's as if they're following Elmore Leonard's rule for writing #10: "Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip." I'm a writer, and I like to follow that rule, along with what another writer at a science-fiction conference told me. He said to cut out your "little darlings." A "little darling" is a piece of your writing you love that adds nothing to your story. Keep up the great work!
Yes so true!
I read Jurassic Park so long ago I don't remember it...I need to reread that one. This is a great video for reminding me of books I want to read!!!! The only one I am of a different opinion on is 'Little Women', but I totally get your perspective on it! Lovely video! All your videos are so well thought out. Very much enjoyed!
Thank you! 😊
I'm a big James Michener fan. Some of his sprawling narratives made into movies or TV miniseries: Hawaii, South Pacific, Centennial, Texas, and Space. I particularly like Hawaii.
Another book that is also a movie that I liked was Michael Westheimer's 'Von Ryan's Express'
All the Rivers Run by Nancy Cato and Gone with the Wind. That book was so hard to read it is amazing that they were able to make such an amazing movie.
I agree with you about Jurassic Park, liked the movie but loved the book. I thought the book spent more time with the science which was amazing.
I loved the movie “Something Borrowed” so much I read the book. The book was good, but the characters are so much more likable in the movie. It’s a great non traditional love story. The movie is funny and has a wonderful sense of humor where the book has a more serious tone. It’s just a much more enjoyable watch than it is a read. One of my favorite rom-coms.
The Children of Men movie is better than the book.
🗣breathtakingly beautiful analysis/dissection🤌🏿
Thanks!
@@WhytheBookWins Truly my pleasure, 🙏🏿Pls keep doin wat ur doin🤝
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a VERY weird novel. I picked it up as a teenager after seeing the movie, and I had no idea about the dream sections. In a way I'd be up for the challenge of a filmmaker taking on those themes, but I think the movie is much more cohesive on its own
EDIT: my personal pick would be Starship Troopers. The movie is a sardonic treat, while the book comes off as a pro-fascism fever dream
I've been wanting to cover Starship Troopers! I've seen the movie and loved it but never read the book.
@@WhytheBookWins well, it's kinda weird. Heinlein was an odd writer who had a lot of ideas on how to "improve" society
Ah Practical Magic, the movie so good the author added elements from there for her other books in the series.
Yeah I've heard that! I need to read her other books.
I think you’re the first person I have seen to say the Time Traveler’s wife movie is better than the book since the book is loved and people hated the movie
I never read the book, but I thought the movie was a fine love story with an interesting fantasy/sf twist.
@@naiderl i read the book in high school a long time ago and loved the movie of course it had its differences like any other source material but saw some comments saying it’s not like book and then the show came out I only saw the first episode I don’t know if it was successful I can’t have an opinion on that show I don’t know if it was better than the book
Yeah I might give the show a try, but as of right now I haven't seen it.
Yeah there are so many 5 star reviews for the book! But I did not feel that way about it lol.
@@Menstral oh wow, that makes a lot of sense to know the backstory. I still don't like the book overall, but having that context helps me understand what she was going for.
Unrelated to better/worse, I would love to hear your opinion (based on some of the other reviews within this video) on the Witches of Eastwick.
And I would LOVE to hear the devil wears Prada review.
Yeah I have been meaning to cover Eastwick! I have seen the movie and recall liking it a lot.
You may have covered these - Rich Man, Poor Man (Irwin Shaw) book vs the 1976 TV miniseries by the same name and The Winds of War & War and Remembrance (Herman Wouk) books vs 2 mini series by the same name. 1983 and 1988 respectively.
I've never heard of these! thanks for sharing
Larry McMurtry’s “Lonesome Dove” is one that does not actually belong on this list because both the book and the miniseries are fantastic imo. Maybe a “vs” episode? Not sure if you’ve covered this one
I have heard great things but so far the only McMurty book I have coverd is Horseman Pass By which I really liked.
Great video! Although I respectfully disagree about The Princess Bride, I liked the book better! 😅 (I'm definitely in the minority though)
Interesting! It has been like 15 years since I read the book so I need to give it a re-read!
@@WhytheBookWins Admittedly the two were close when we reviewed them! But I'm a sucker for the metatextual stuff Goldman pulls off so well that I think it adds another layer that I missed in the movie.
In my opinion, there are at least three examples of this instance:
Ice storm: brilliant film in contrast to a book where I never connected to the characters.
Big fish: to me the film's spirit is more engaging.
The virgin suicides: I found the book very interesting don't get me wrong, but the film is just so beautiful and powerful.
I have covered both Big Fish and The Virgin Suicides and I agree, both movies are really good. I think with Virgins I said I preferred the book, but the movie is an excellent adaptation.
@@WhytheBookWins I must see the video about The Virgin Suicides then. The two details from the book that aren't present in the film and I remember whishing to be referenced in it are: he decribes the girls' clothes getting rusty and their bodies and skins getting somehow emaciated after so long being prisoners in the house and the time when the boys steal one of the girls' lipstick and they use it on themselves and then kiss to "experience' kissing one of the Lisbons.
Thank you for answering, I'm a new subscriber and I dearly enjoy your videos.
Disagree about Silence of the Lambs. I read the book twice. Once before the movie was made when Gene Hackman was still attached to play Hannibal Lecter, and ten years after the movie swept the Oscars. The book is like William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist ... perfect in the witten form.
The Excorsit is another one I see people say is better than the book so it is interesting to hear you say otherwise on both! I have never read either one and The Exorsict is another I have no interest in covering 😬
A movie that's better than the book - the Jane Austen Book Club. I loved the movie then read the book and it kind of felt the way I felt about practical magic - the movie is just better!!
I don't know if it would be weird to cover this one despite me never having read Jane Austen, but it looks like the kind of movie I would enjoy!
You could try listening to the audiobook of Lord of the Rings!
Also, the movie I always say is better than the book is The Grifters. The book is a trashy 50s pulp novel, but the movie is an academy award winning neonoir classic.
That's a good idea to try the audiobook for LotR. And I'll have to look into The Grifters!
13:08 Wait the Devil wears Prada? lol I thought that was a Christian death metal band? Not even kidding the band got their name from the book and movie.
Yeah I remember kids wearing their shirts in high school 😆
Agree with most of your list, but as far as Phantom of the Opera? I have to respectfully, but highly disagree with you. I first read the book (novella) when I was thirteen. It was in an anthology book of horror given to my by my father. Yes, I was a huge horror reader. I had read all the other stories in the book but had put off Phantom, because it took up most of the book but I had to read it to finish the book. It absolutely grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. One of the few books I lost time over because I couldn't put it down. To me, it is another book that needs a faithful movie adaptation. Nothing comes close to the heart of the book. The end, where Erik becomes accepted and loved by the public? And all mourn at the news of his death? You don't get that in any of the movie versions I have seen.
And don't get me started on the soundtrack of the musical! My mom loved the soundtrack, so I heard it and kind of liked it, but felt I had heard the theme before. It bothered me so much...until I played one of my favorite songs from my favorite band of all time and realized - he took it from Pink Floyd's song Echoes! I was aghast! You just have to listen to both. You'll get it.
For The Silence of the Lambs? In my opinion probably the most faithful adaptation of any book I've read. So, since imagination is better than any visual I highly recommend Thomas Harris's book. The only reason to hold the movie over the book is Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hannibal Lecter. But I encourage anyone who loves the movie to read the book. As well as the 'prequel', Red Dragon. The 2002 movie sucked, but the Michael Mann version entitled Manhunter from 1986 was so compelling, it comes close to being better than the book, since Mann always creates such a great atmosphere...but, it was another book I couldn't put down. So far ahead of its time, preceding and responsible for all the serial killer books that have flooded the market, since.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You make a good point about the ending of The Phantom of the Opera.
@@WhytheBookWins Thank you. It was a sudden end in the book. I remember wishing there was more, I was disappointed it ended.
Thank you for the video, books now I need to read, and I now need to re-read Phantom.
This will probably be controversial, but movies I prefer to the book that weren't mentioned are:
1. The Shining
2. Under the Skin
3. Stalker (Roadside Picnic)
Ooo I have covered both The Shining and Under the Skin and both I prefer the book. But I can see why you would like the movies because they do make significant changes! And I love The Shining as its own thing, but when I think about it compared to the book I don't like how they made Jack such a horrible person!
@@WhytheBookWins See that's why I loved the film version of the Shining. There was no hope like in the book, plus the book removed so much of the mystery by doing what King often does: giving us too much information.
The film version to me was a much cleaner version of a tragic story.
Under the Skin I enjoyed more because it was a better character study about someone trying to fit in where it's impossible. The book had too much on the nose commentary for me. I prefer commentary to be subtle.
@JasonFuhrman Oh interesting! And yeah the movie Under the Skin was definitely subtle and vague.
Rare instances imo but they definitely happen
Stand by me was better than “The Body”
I completely agree on Forest Gump. I’m not sure how they got such a good movie out of this book.
yeah so strange lol.
I absolutely love the 2000,s version of phantom of the opera same for the clint Eastwood film the beguiled and like you i struggled with the lord of the rings books i ended up dnfing the first book
yes do a video on the devil wears Prada
Yeah fantasy just isn't my thing lol.
Brokeback Mountain is better than annie proulx's shirt story imo. The movie gives you a deeper look at the two main characters as well as theur environment, while the short story is just too brief.
Good to know, I saw the movie some years ago and loved it and have had it on my list of future videos. Thanks for sharing!
I completely disagree with the person who said the movie adaptation of "Breakfast At Tiffany's" is better than the book. No amount of Audrey Hepburn and Blake Edwards magic can compensate the hetero-normative bullshit injected by George Axelrod's script. I found George Peppard's ending sermon truly revolting. And on top of that, there's Mickey Rooney.
One movie that I do think is better than the book, is "Let The Right One In". The book offers a really unique take on vampire lore, but the movie (scripted by the writer himself) does a fantastic job in choosing what to keep and what to omit from the original story, distilling its essence while opening it up for different interpretations. Excellent movie. The American remake, not so much.
Yeah I have great things about the original Let the Right One In! And yeah, well said when it comes to Breakfast at Tiffany's.
how dare!! jk, great recommendations here
😆
The film version of "The Martian" was monumentally better than the book. I say that because the first series of pages was math to get food on Mars. And the narrative feature of making the journal into a video diary was just genius; the journal fell flat with the jokes and one-liners in the book.
Oh interesting. I have seen the movie but haven't read it!
'The Last of the Mohicans' (1992) definitely beats anything Fenimore Cooper ever wrote. Mark Twain's 'Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses' explains just why Cooper (and this book) was such an awful writer.
Ha Mark Twain was such a troll. He would have been hilarious in the internet age if he could stand it.
I remember liking the movie but it has been so long since I watched it! Thanks for commenting!
@@WhytheBookWins Welcome. :)
Why not where the book and movie are equally good. say the Treasure of the Sierra madre, Strangers on a Train and Leaving Las Vegas for a start or maybe The Conformist and the Woman in the Dunes so we are not too US centric.
Yeah there are so many were they are both equally good!
I don't know if I can confidently state this since I never finished the book, but I think the Trainspotting film is far better than the book. Maybe it's not fair since the film has Ewan McGregor and one of the best soundtracks of all time... 😅
Oh yeah, I have heard the movie is better for sure with that one!
"I GOTTA FIND BUBBA!" "Run Forrest RUN" and "Mama says Life's like a box of chocalates. U never know what u're going to get" are my favs lines from the movie. Unfortunately most likely due to allergy concerns the latter is tech no longer true.
Yeah, these days if _only_ life really were like a box of chocolates and we could pick and choose what we want lol
The Town, Gone Girl and every Dennis Lehane adaptation aside from Live By Night. The Affleck theme is unintentional.
Gone Girl is close, but I prefer the book, and Dennis Lehane adaptations are always so good! I love his books and the directors always seem to nail the movie!