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Movies that are better than the books
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Way Way Better
4659
7.4
8.1
Based on the novel by Peter Benchley.
Likable characters vs. unlikable characters
Scary Shark Attacks vs. Unscary Off-page shark attacks
Relevant scenes vs. padding and unnecessary subplots
Great finale vs. anti-climax
To me, there is no contest.
Likable characters vs. unlikable characters
Scary Shark Attacks vs. Unscary Off-page shark attacks
Relevant scenes vs. padding and unnecessary subplots
Great finale vs. anti-climax
To me, there is no contest.
garfield2710's rating:
2912
7.7
8.1
Based on the book series by Cressida Cowell
The book is okay and entertaining, but the movie is more entertaining and deeper.
The book is okay and entertaining, but the movie is more entertaining and deeper.
garfield2710's rating:
1857
7.6
7.9
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl.
The movie took a very basic animal story, and made it a much deeper, richer and character-driven film that is vastly more interesting.
The movie took a very basic animal story, and made it a much deeper, richer and character-driven film that is vastly more interesting.
garfield2710's rating:
8717
7.3
7.8
Shrek (2001)
Based on the book by William Stieg
To be honest, the picture book is really dull and the only reason it's known at all is because of the movie.
To be honest, the picture book is really dull and the only reason it's known at all is because of the movie.
garfield2710's rating:
1137
6
6.5
Nanny McPhee (2005)
Based on the "Nurse Matilda" books by Christianna Brand
The stories are long, dull and repitative. The movies are fun, bright and energentic.
The stories are long, dull and repitative. The movies are fun, bright and energentic.
garfield2710's rating:
310
6.4
6.3
Freaky Friday (1977)
Based on the novel by Mary Rodgers
I found the movie more entertaining and funny than the book.
I found the movie more entertaining and funny than the book.
garfield2710's rating:
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Better
2550
7.7
8
Based on the novel by William Goldman
The book is fun to read, but it drags in some places, while the movie was fun to watch all the way through.
The book is fun to read, but it drags in some places, while the movie was fun to watch all the way through.
garfield2710's rating:
8050
7.2
8.2
Based on the novel by Michael Crichton
To be fair, the book is probably more realistic, but the movie is more magical and treats the dinosaurs more in a sense of awe.
To be fair, the book is probably more realistic, but the movie is more magical and treats the dinosaurs more in a sense of awe.
garfield2710's rating:
2966
6
6.9
Based on the novel "Babe: the Gallant Pig" by Dick Gray-Smith
The book is good, but the movie actually expands the book giving meat (no pun intended) to characters already in the book, and creating interesting characters of it's own.
The book is good, but the movie actually expands the book giving meat (no pun intended) to characters already in the book, and creating interesting characters of it's own.
garfield2710's rating:
1624
7.2
7.7
Based on the novel by David Morrell
The book is a decent action novel, but the movie resonates deeper with more relatable characters, and more humanity than it's source material.
The book is a decent action novel, but the movie resonates deeper with more relatable characters, and more humanity than it's source material.
garfield2710's rating:
3026
7.4
7.8
Based on the novel "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl
It's more magical, more entertaining and has more interesting characters, especially Charlie.
It's more magical, more entertaining and has more interesting characters, especially Charlie.
garfield2710's rating:
8
6.6
6.5
Based on the book by Sid Fleischman
It takes a simple story and expands it and makes it more interesting.
It takes a simple story and expands it and makes it more interesting.
garfield2710's rating:
910
6.3
6.5
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Based on the book series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The books are good, but the movie is simpler, more straightforward and has more interesting characters.
The books are good, but the movie is simpler, more straightforward and has more interesting characters.
garfield2710's rating:
2824
7.7
7.7
Coraline (2009)
Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman
To be short, I found the movie creepier.
To be short, I found the movie creepier.
garfield2710's rating:
2972
5.4
6
Based on the novel by E.B. White
The book's pretty good, but to me, the very rushed and unsatisfying ending drag it down. The movie is consistent and has a good ending.
The book's pretty good, but to me, the very rushed and unsatisfying ending drag it down. The movie is consistent and has a good ending.
garfield2710's rating:
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Very Close Call
1899
8.1
8.3
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Based on the novel by Harper Lee.
My favorite film of all time vs. one of my all time favorite novels. It's so close it's practically a tie. But I do appreciate that the film still has the same impact as the novel, even if it doesn't have as much in it.
My favorite film of all time vs. one of my all time favorite novels. It's so close it's practically a tie. But I do appreciate that the film still has the same impact as the novel, even if it doesn't have as much in it.
garfield2710's rating:
452
6.5
6.8
The Crucible (1996)
Based on the play by Arthur Miller
Both are very good, but the movie expands the play by showing us extra scenes that were only mentioned in the play and going more into the characters, making the film slightly more interesting.
Both are very good, but the movie expands the play by showing us extra scenes that were only mentioned in the play and going more into the characters, making the film slightly more interesting.
garfield2710's rating:
2009
7.5
7.6
True Grit (2010)
Based on the novel by Charles Portis
They're very close to each other, but I love the almost twisted sense of humor in the movie, and find the ending more meaningful in the movie.
They're very close to each other, but I love the almost twisted sense of humor in the movie, and find the ending more meaningful in the movie.
garfield2710's rating:
541
7.2
7.5
Based on the Winnie the Pooh books by A.A. Milne
This is the Winnie the Pooh I think of when I hear the word "Winnie the Pooh" though the other stories are great.
This is the Winnie the Pooh I think of when I hear the word "Winnie the Pooh" though the other stories are great.
garfield2710's rating:
802
7.6
7.5
Based on the novel by Robert O'Brian
The movie is darker, and also eliminates some unecessary scenes, making it flow much better.
The movie is darker, and also eliminates some unecessary scenes, making it flow much better.
garfield2710's rating:
3105
7.3
7.4
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Based on the novels by Lewis Caroll.
To clarify, it's better than both books as a whole, not just the first book, because I found "Looking Glass" to be inferior to the original as it dragged sometimes.
To clarify, it's better than both books as a whole, not just the first book, because I found "Looking Glass" to be inferior to the original as it dragged sometimes.
garfield2710's rating:
421
6.1
6
Based on the novel by Wendy Orr
It's a close call, but I think the characters are more fleshed out in the movie.
It's a close call, but I think the characters are more fleshed out in the movie.
garfield2710's rating:
1498
6.5
6.7
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl
The book is unecessarily creepier and the characters are more memorable in the movie.
The book is unecessarily creepier and the characters are more memorable in the movie.
garfield2710's rating:
287
5.3
5.4
Hotel For Dogs (2009)
Based on the novel by Lois Duncan
I barely remember the book, but what I do remember, I remember it being very boring and uninteresting. The movie might have problems, but it's never boring.
I barely remember the book, but what I do remember, I remember it being very boring and uninteresting. The movie might have problems, but it's never boring.
garfield2710's rating:
4138
5.1
5.3
Based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer.
Think about it. Would you rather watch this 2 hour film, or read the 500 page novel that could take 8-10 hours? That's what I thought.
Think about it. Would you rather watch this 2 hour film, or read the 500 page novel that could take 8-10 hours? That's what I thought.
garfield2710's rating:
Whenver I talk to people, I always hear the same general concensus that "The book is almost always better than the movie." I really don't like that statement, because it generalizes that basic attitude that reading is better than watching films, which are two different art forms and thus are going to treat stories differently. In rebuttal, I have compiled a list of movies that I feel are better than the book (or other source) they are based on. Please keep in mind that this is opinion, if you disagree then that's fine. Actually, I would be very interested in why you agree, or disagree with my choices.
Please note, if a film is not selected, then I either have not read the book and/or watched the movie, I think the book is better, or I would have to think more in-depth as to which is better.
Please note, if a film is not selected, then I either have not read the book and/or watched the movie, I think the book is better, or I would have to think more in-depth as to which is better.
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