Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
This week’s topic is “Page to Screen Freebie (Books that became movies/TV shows, movies that became books, great adaptations, bad ones, books you need to read before watching their movie/TV show, movies you loved based on books you hated or vice versa, books you want to read because you saw the movie or vice versa, etc.)
This is both amazingly easy and super hard. I mean, I was flooded with ideas of what to include, but the hard part is narrowing it down. So I decided to pick a few I think were well done, and a few I thought were horribly done.
I’m going to horrify all the Potterheads by saying this, but I honestly think the Harry Potter movies were quite well done (within the time constraints of a movie). Yes, a lot of things were left out, but the “heart” and “meat” of the story was still there. They didn’t overly mess with the bones of the story, and ultimately I honestly believe that what really mattered in the story the books told was included in the movies.
I also think the Hunger Games Trilogy was well done. Some things were clearly off (what Haymitch looked like, or eliminating Madge from the story completely or not having Peeta lose his leg) but again, as above, the meat and bones of the central story were well maintained. I actually saw the Hunger Games movie before I read the book, and I could tell I was missing things, so I read the entire trilogy after that first movie. Yes, the books were better (they typically are), but I’m still not unhappy with the movies.
I’m sure I’ll annoy true Lord of the Rings fans as well when I say that I believe the Lord of the Rings movies were quite well done (The Hobbit movies, though … not so much and that’s being kind). Again, there was SO MUCH in the books that the screenwriters and Peter Jackson would have had to make dozens of movies to include it all. I really feel as if he did a good job distilling the heart of the story down and putting that on the big screen. I do prefer the director’s cut that I have on DVD, but even the shorter versions are pretty darn good.
I also mostly liked the 80s mini-series The Stand. I wasn’t thrilled with the casting of Molly Ringwald…she was a horrible choice as the heroine, but the rest of the cast was pretty dang spot on. And, yes, they left out some of the things that made the book so rich (and so freaking long), but ultimately–and I know I sound like a broken record here–the heart of the story was there. I think they were able to do as much as they did because it WAS a mini-series and not “just” a movie. Back then, making books into trilogies wasn’t a thing, so really the choice was either TV Mini-series, or 90 minute movie. I’m glad they chose what they did.
I also very much enjoyed the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Narnia books were a staple on my keeper shelf as a kid. I completely enjoyed the stories (and truthfully wished I could go visit Narnia myself). So when the most recent movie released, I was thrilled to see they kept to the storyline almost perfectly. I realize the next two movies made some changes (Prince Caspian was WAY too old in the movie, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader was just kind of boring, and had a few changes like Lucy’s emotional crisis), but I’m really hoping to see the rest made into (good!) movies, since the rights were sold again.
It.
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Wow. just wow. I actually liked the old version of this, but the new one was pretty incredible. The casting and acting and storyline were just right, and I can NOT wait for the next movie that’s coming. As always, changes from the book to the movie were made, but ultimately I almost think they made the story stronger. This is one of those that I can almost say the movie is better than the book, largely due, I think, to the quality of acting from all the folks in the movie.
Now, onto what I feel were much less successfully done adaptations…
First, the one that always makes me angry as heck: The Divergent Series.
The first movie was actually pretty dang good. They kept to the book’s storyline, they included everything that was truly important (yes, they changed what Four’s job was, etc., but it worked out). I thought it was well cast, I was impressed they were able to include as much information as they did, and I liked the effects. I was SO excited to see the second movie after that!… and then, OMG, Insurgent arrived. And *what*??? Did the screenplay writers even READ the book? Aside from a couple of scenes, the entire movie had absolutely nothing to do with the story the book told. It was absolutely abysmal and it’s no wonder Allegiance (part one) was an utter flop. So much so, they never filmed the final chapter. And who cares? Anyone?
Next, The Mortal Instruments. Now, I know there are just TONS of fans of the Shadow Hunters series that just got cancelled. I get it… it was pretty flashy and, if you didn’t read and love the books, you’d probably really love the series. But, the movie they made years ago was horrible (Clary was just stupid and Jace came across like some psycho creepy stalker). I thought they’d be able to do better with the mini-series. I was really excited … and at first I was willing to give them a little leeway. But then it just really started to jump the shark. They skipped over things, removed really important things that were integral to why they were who they were, and they downright changed some of the characters completely. I stopped watching about 2/3 of the way through the first season. If it got better, I apologize, but really … I doubt it did.
Shannara, the series, started out as being based on “The Elfstones of Shannara” book. And, honestly, right up to the very end followed the book pretty decently. But the whole “She’s captured by trolls, I must save her!” thing? Completely jumped the shark. The book ended with them together, but that was the end of their story in the books, other than being the parents of the characters in the next book. Obviously, the makers of the series didn’t want to start the next season in a whole new generation after getting everyone attached to the previous characters, but as a huge fan of the books, it really annoyed me. I haven’t watched any of season two for that reason.
The Dark is Rising was made into a movie twice and both times failed miserably. I adored this series as a kid, and still occasionally re-read it now. After the horrendous first movie back in I hoped someone would some day redo it. The did, calling it “The Seeker” and, while it was marginally better, they had to accommodate the changes in technology and it altered the story (along with some other changes that just didn’t work and changed the heart of the plot). I’d really hoped for a good movie, because the later books are just incredible and would have made amazing movies as well. But I suspect that after the flop of “The Seeker” that series won’t see the light of day again.
There are so many others I’d love to discuss, but this is a blog post, not a novel. But books from my own childhood: The Giver, A Wrinkle in Time, The Black Cauldron, The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, and so many others … a discussion for another day, I suppose.
I hated that they didn’t make all the Narnia books into movies. I enjoyed them!
Great list! I agree with you on Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. I would’ve loved for the whole Narnia books to be made into movies. I also like the Lord of The Rings movies, even if I have only read book 1
I agree with you on Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, the screenwriters did leave stuff out, but the heart of each story remained intact and it would have been quite hard for them to include everything, especially from the later Harry Potter books. I liked The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, I honestly can’t remember Prince Caspian that well and I don’t think I ever saw Voyage, but TLTW&TW was the only Narnia book I ever finished, so if they changed a lot from Prince Caspian, I wouldn’t know. Divergent was absolutely terrible, it started out well, but definitely spiraled.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/14/top-ten-tuesday-211/
We agree on these!! I totally agree on Divergent, I enjoyed the first film for all its tweaks and then suddenly it was like ‘what?’ (Although to be honest I didn’t like the book ending either, I didn’t understand why Tris had to be fridged!!)
Though I haven’t seen IT (read the book) as the first one well my husband will have nightmares again!! And if I’m alone i want to watch it in daylight (as my nightmare screams could wake the village) but I have two small children so that’s not going to happen for some time!!
I totally agree with the ending of Allegiance. I never understood the reason behind it. If she’d have died in some glorious way, saving all mankind, then maybe. But really, ultimately her death was lame and meaningless.
I think you’ll like the new “It”. It’s scary, for sure, but not typical horror movie scary.
Totally with you on Divergent! So true.
Right? I was so upset with Insurgent.
I agree with pretty much all of these especially Divergent. I really enjoyed the first film but then it definitely just went downhill from there. I also really hope they turn the rest of the Narnia books into films cause they were such a big part of my childhood!
I’m really hopeful the next studio will kill it with the Narnia adaptations. I hope so, anyway!
I thought the HP movies were pretty darn good too. Obviously not perfect, but other than HBP there were none I thought were bad for adaptions.
Glad I’m not alone!
I agree with you on a lot of these. I saw the Divergent movies as good fanfiction, but I still think the acting was pretty bad. The thought of some of my favorite books becoming movies would be exciting to me… but at the same time, its kinda scary. Sometimes they just screw up so badly.
Every time I hear they’re going to make a movie from a book I enjoy, I hold my breath. I’m equally worried and excited…
Great list! Yes, I love the new IT movie and I’m so excited for the next one! I love the LotR movies, too – I find them so comforting.
I’m glad to find another “It” fan 🙂
I have to agree that I thought the Harry Potter films were well done. Sure there were bits I missed but I think they worked out pretty well overall
Exactly … with as rich as the novels were, the movies would have been weeks long to fit everything.
I totally agree with you on the Harry Potter movies! When I was younger and they were still coming out I liked to rag on them with people, but in all honesty they are still fantastic and I wouldn’t trade them for anything (although I wouldn’t mind a little Peeves action 😉 ). I also loved the LOTR movies, so we can horrify everyone together, haha. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe was really a well-done adaptation in my opinion as well, it captured the atmosphere perfectly.
LOL.. okay. Let’s take on the HP and LOTR purists together. HA!
I agree about LotR and The Hunger Games- considering how often adaptations get royally screwed up, I think they did a pretty good job with those. Same with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. VERY well done, considering! And Divergent too haha, although I liked Insurgent a little more than you did (even though they DID eviscerate the story).
Shannara didn’t work for me, sadly, and I loved those books as a kid. The Black stallion though I think is an amazing movie.
Surprisingly, I agree with you on “the Black Stallion” although the didn’t follow the book as closely as I might have liked. Still, the heart was there I think.
I like the Narnia series and the Hunger Games movies, too. Good list. My twist on the movie theme
The Hunger Games was very well done. I’ve seen Divergent but I haven’t gone on with the series – the book trilogy ending annoyed me so much I couldn’t be bothered watching more movies. Seems like that was a good choice.
Hunger Games is a rare case where I enjoyed the movie more than the books. I just couldn’t get engaged by that writing style for some reason.
Divergent and Shannara are my biggest deceptions… with Eragon!
I never read Eragon…did see the movie and didn’t love it, though. Agree (obviously *G*) with Divergent and Shannara.
Great post! I agree with a lot of your views here, I also thought Harry Potter and Hunger Games were pretty good adaptions, and enjoyed the Narnia movies as a kid. I do like shadowhunters, but mostly because I read the books so long ago I can kind of disassociate myself and separate the two in my mind if that makes sesne? The Percy Jackson movies are the worst adaptions I’ve ever seen, so anything that at least resembles the book is good in my eyes as it’s better than the PJ moves ever got haha.
I nearly put “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” on here. That was abysmal! The second one as at least a little closer to the book, but their first mistake was making Percy so old.
I only recently found out there was a mini series of The Stand. I can’t imagine how that passed me by for so long, I really must try and watch it sometime.
I really enjoyed It, and having seen the trailer for the new movie, I can’t wait for Chapter 2!
Keep in mind the mini-series for “The Stand” was made in the 80s … so it’s definitely dated. 🙂
It will be interesting to see if we are still getting more Narnia films despite the right having been sold again. There’s been a lot of talk also as to what would be the best one to continue with.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Shannara books but enjoyed the first few episodes of this. I haven’t watched on though because, time?
LOVED the Narnia films, and am hoping Netflix doesn’t ruin the magic when they adapt the series. Also though The Hunger Games series was really well done! 🙂 Thanks so much for the Finding Wonderland visit.
I loved the Narnia films, probably more than the books tbh, but I really didn’t like the HP films. I actually watched them first and disliked them so much they put me off reading the books for years…