Better than the book

[Heather]

So in my experience, I feel that the book version of a story is better than the cheesy Hollywood version 95% of the time. There are a few notable exceptions though; for example, I loved Everything is Illuminated, and found it to be better than the book. Could be because I saw the movie first, but usually that doesn't sway me one way or the other. Anyone else have any movies that they feel are way better than the literary version?

[Headcheese]

I agree about Jaws and now dare I throw this one out? I think the movie The Exorcist was better than the book. The book is downright excellent and creepy but it didn't quite scare me as much as the movie. Something about the visuals in the movie that were not really portrayed to me mentally in the book, I guess.

[Inustar]

I don't know about the movie. I get that its a horror classic, but for me I just can't find it scary. It's probably due to the fact that I didn't see the movie until I was like 20, and by then I had heard that the vomit was split pea soup, and had seen that Leslie Nielson spoof of it... after that you just can't be that scared.

[Headcheese]

This might be a case where the book might work better for you! You might try to pick that up and read it.

[Cat G]

Jaws and The Exorcist were the two scariest movies I ever saw and I have to agree that the movies were pretty close to each, but the visual effects were necessary in both.

[moviemom]

Bridges of Madison county.

[joeoftexas]

007

Goldfinger &
Thunderball

[Whatchawatchin]

Oh man, you've hit one that is totally different. I hate bond movies, but love the books. They lose the entire "Bond is a psychotic killer" point that makes the books so brilliant.

[joeoftexas]

I read all of the Bond books and short stories (in proper sequence) back in college.

While I found the books interesting and informative, Sean Connery and the movies' special effects had already done their damage.

[Tom Shea]

One of my favorite films, Being There, was based on a really good book. It's one of the best adaptations I've seen because they did the right thing: they brought the author of the book on board to write the screenplay, which build upon the book. If you are a fan of the film, it's a fun book to read if you can still find it (I found mine used in a thrift store), but the film nailed it--of course, Peter Sellers in his career performance helped too.