The best movies taken from books - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 09-04-2002, 07:37 PM

What are the best movies based on books? Here are some of them.

2001: A Space Odyssey (It's a slow movie but it is great. I just love the music)

Stand by Me (This film came from a Stephen King short story. Has a lot of four-letter words, which was probably unheard of in the 1950's. This is one of the few cases in which a SK story/book and the movie on which it is based on are both great)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (An excellent film, by all means. It isn't shown from Chief Bromden's perspective, like the book, but the film became the second movie to sweep the five major Oscar categories. Jack Nicholson was perfect for the role)

The Time Machine (I'm referring to the 1960 version of the H.G. Wells book. Not as good as the ones on this list but it is still prominent)

The Sum of All Fears (Great movie and book. I recommend both to all Tom Clancy fans)

Jurassic Park (I don't know which is better but they were both good in their own respective ways. One of Michael Crichton's best books.)

Stephen King's It (Like "Stand by Me", this movie was one of the few SK stories to be as good as the movie based on it. It's long, but it is worth every minute of it. The book and movie are a lot different though but that is the only thing that limits its greatness)

If you are wondering why I haven't included Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the reason is simple: I never saw the movie or read the book.

What other movies besides the ones listed were the best ones taken from books? Give me some feedback.

dawsongirl · 09-04-2002, 09:08 PM

The Running Man was taken from the book of the same name by Stephen King's alter ego, Richard Bachman. Never read the book but I love the movie.

TJL · 09-04-2002, 09:22 PM

Hmmm. Off the top of my head...

The Godfather by Mario Puzo.

I think Stanley Kubrick's version of "The Shining" captured some of the spookiness of the book, although the Miniseries version (which I didn't see) was supposedly more faithful to the plot.

Kubrick's version still scares the crap out of me though...

Titania · 09-04-2002, 09:29 PM

ok guys...do I even have to say it....just look over at my avatar, location, profile, etc......

ALSO....

Showboat, A Walk to Remember, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, National Velvet, and Rebecca were all great movies that were from books.

TJL · 09-05-2002, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Titania
ok guys...do I even have to say it....just look over at my avatar, location, profile, etc......

Gone With The Wind was a book?

Georgia's on my Mind · 09-05-2002, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Titania
ok guys...do I even have to say it....just look over at my avatar, location, profile, etc......

ALSO....

Showboat, A Walk to Remember, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, National Velvet, and Rebecca were all great movies that were from books.

I def have to aggree with you on that one!!! lol Ahhh Look it's fiddle dee dee haha

umm...The Great Gatsby newer version was pretty good....And I liked the crucible too....I am a huge Arthur Miller fan, He is my 2nd favorite writer.

Brian Damage · 09-05-2002, 04:04 PM

***Misery*** Both the book and movie were fantastic.

Brian · 09-05-2002, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL

Gone With The Wind was a book?

Yes, the story was based on a book written by some woman author, I don't remember her name. It is a really long book (I think around 900 or more pages). I have never seen the movie and I don't think I will because it's 3 hours and 44 minutes long(!)

For Superman fans: GWTW was George Reeve's first film

DarleneIllyria · 09-05-2002, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BJL

Yes, the story was based on a book written by some woman author, I don't remember her name. It is a really long book (I think around 900 or more pages). I have never seen the movie and I don't think I will because it's 3 hours and 44 minutes long(!)

For Superman fans: GWTW was George Reeve's first film

Margarett Mitchell wrote GWTW. I love the book and the movie. They both may be very long, but are def. worth a watch and read. The book starts off kind of slow, but it does pick up along the way. The movie is excellent all the way through.

Brian · 09-05-2002, 08:17 PM

Thanks for the info, Jenny.

BTW, I came up with another good movie based on a book. Does anybody like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? I heard it's much different from the book.

Notorious · 09-05-2002, 10:05 PM

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone
Nothing is better then that.

Notorious · 09-05-2002, 10:31 PM

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
The Haunting
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Face on the Milk Carton
A Ring of Endless Light
Shiloh
Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season
Little Man Tate
Interview With the Vampire
Queen of the Damned
Little Women
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Tom & Tuck
The Virgin Suicides
The Westing Game

Notorious · 09-05-2002, 10:35 PM

Pet Sematary
Misery
Carrie
The Shining
It
Stand By Me
Rose Red
Christine
Salem's Lot
The Shawshank Redemption
Storm of the Century
Needful Things
Cujo

-*Forever*- · 09-05-2002, 10:54 PM

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
The Exorcist (though I'm waiting for my gramma to give me the book)
Harry Potter

Georgia's on my Mind · 09-05-2002, 11:33 PM

Hi Everyone

I am a hugeeee GWTW fan, and try to find any way possible to use my useless knowledge... LOL The film is exactly 3 hours and 53 minutes, I own 6 copies of the DVD....Im a litttle Obsessed. lol The book that I have, the paperback one is 1024 pages, first edition was 1037. Also, I just wanted to mention that GWTW was actually George Reeves 6th film.

09-04-2002, 07:37 PM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	The best movies taken from books What are the best movies based on books? Here are some of them. 2001: A Space Odyssey (It's a slow movie but it is great. I just love the music) Stand by Me (This film came from a Stephen King short story. Has a lot of four-letter words, which was probably unheard of in the 1950's. This is one of the few cases in which a SK story/book and the movie on which it is based on are both great) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (An excellent film, by all means. It isn't shown from Chief Bromden's perspective, like the book, but the film became the second movie to sweep the five major Oscar categories. Jack Nicholson was perfect for the role) The Time Machine (I'm referring to the 1960 version of the H.G. Wells book. Not as good as the ones on this list but it is still prominent) The Sum of All Fears (Great movie and book. I recommend both to all Tom Clancy fans) Jurassic Park (I don't know which is better but they were both good in their own respective ways. One of Michael Crichton's best books.) Stephen King's It (Like "Stand by Me", this movie was one of the few SK stories to be as good as the movie based on it. It's long, but it is worth every minute of it. The book and movie are a lot different though but that is the only thing that limits its greatness) If you are wondering why I haven't included Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the reason is simple: I never saw the movie or read the book. What other movies besides the ones listed were the best ones taken from books? Give me some feedback.

09-04-2002, 09:22 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Hmmm. Off the top of my head... The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I think Stanley Kubrick's version of "The Shining" captured some of the spookiness of the book, although the Miniseries version (which I didn't see) was supposedly more faithful to the plot. Kubrick's version still scares the crap out of me though...
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09-04-2002, 09:29 PM	#4
Titania a part of that Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 04, 2000 Posts: 3,694	ok guys...do I even have to say it....just look over at my avatar, location, profile, etc...... ALSO.... Showboat, A Walk to Remember, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, National Velvet, and Rebecca were all great movies that were from books.
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09-05-2002, 04:04 PM	#7
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	*Misery* Both the book and movie were fantastic.
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09-05-2002, 10:05 PM	#11
Notorious Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 13, 2001 Location: Sunnydale, CA --- and I actually registered at sitcomsonline July 25th, 2001 Posts: 1,494	Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone Nothing is better then that.
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09-04-2002, 09:08 PM	#2
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,134	The Running Man was taken from the book of the same name by Stephen King's alter ego, Richard Bachman. Never read the book but I love the movie.

09-05-2002, 08:17 PM	#10
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Thanks for the info, Jenny. BTW, I came up with another good movie based on a book. Does anybody like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? I heard it's much different from the book.

09-05-2002, 10:31 PM	#12
Notorious Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 13, 2001 Location: Sunnydale, CA --- and I actually registered at sitcomsonline July 25th, 2001 Posts: 1,494	Now, the rest {good, but not as good as Harry Potter} Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory The Haunting Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring The Face on the Milk Carton A Ring of Endless Light Shiloh Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season Little Man Tate Interview With the Vampire Queen of the Damned Little Women The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Tom & Tuck The Virgin Suicides The Westing Game

09-05-2002, 10:35 PM	#13
Notorious Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 13, 2001 Location: Sunnydale, CA --- and I actually registered at sitcomsonline July 25th, 2001 Posts: 1,494	How did I forget all the Stephen King movies?? Pet Sematary Misery Carrie The Shining It Stand By Me Rose Red Christine Salem's Lot The Shawshank Redemption Storm of the Century Needful Things Cujo
	Last edited by Notorious; 09-05-2002 at 10:41 PM.

09-05-2002, 10:54 PM	#14
-Forever- <3333333333333333333 Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 22, 2001 Location: Manlius, NY in reality. Deerfield Beach, FL in my heart. Posts: 28,001	Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood The Exorcist (though I'm waiting for my gramma to give me the book) Harry Potter
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09-05-2002, 11:33 PM	#15
Georgia's on my Mind Senior Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Aug 19, 2001 Posts: 25,054	Hi Everyone I am a hugeeee GWTW fan, and try to find any way possible to use my useless knowledge... LOL The film is exactly 3 hours and 53 minutes, I own 6 copies of the DVD....Im a litttle Obsessed. lol The book that I have, the paperback one is 1024 pages, first edition was 1037. Also, I just wanted to mention that GWTW was actually George Reeves 6th film.