It happens all the time and you have certainly heard it once or twice: “He didn’t look like I imagined him”, “I wish they’d cast someone else rather than her”, and of course, “it wasn’t as good as the book”. When a popular novel get adapted, most readers fear that they’re about to watch their favourite stories get butchered.
But then there are the pleasant surprises – the book-to-film adaptations that really get it right, and bring to life everything that we love about our favourite reads. We’ve chosen some of the best.
The Fault In Our Stars
Directed by Josh Boone
Written by John Green
The movie is an unexpected Box Office hit and the trailer is one of the most liked videos on YouTube. The book is brutally honest, without being gruelling, and it has buckets of humour and romance, which Boone managed to portray perfectly.
Atonement
Directed by Joe Wright
Written by Ian McEwan
Most Atonement fans agree that Keira Knightley was born to play louche, sulky Cecillia, and paired with its a nostalgic setting, great casting ensured the movie’s success. Then there’s the heartbreak factor… but we’ll stop right there – no spoilers here!
Life of Pi
Directed by Ang Lee
Written by Yann Martel
Through breathtaking visuals, Lee brings the book’s story to life on the big screen. Both versions are as heartbreaking as they are intoxicating, and movie sees a previously unknown actor, cast as ‘Pi’, capturing the innocence, strength and desperation of a boy alone at sea.
Cloud Atlas
Directed by the Wachowskis & Tom Tykwer
Written by David Mitchell
The filmmakers found a way to make the bizarre novel one of 2012’s most talked about and ambitious films. The visual and make-up effects are out of this world – and it’s hard to go wrong with Tom Hanks in your movie.
Moneyball
Directed by Bennett Miller
Written by Michael Lewis
Everyone loves an underdog story and Miller makes the tale of a small-time baseball team in the big league compelling and believable.
The Talented Mr.Ripley
Directed by Anthony Minghella
Written by Patricia Highsmith
The casting and acting are superb in this creepy, gripping film. Matt Damon stands out in his portrayal of the very disturbed character that is Ripley.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by Jordan Belfort
Belfort’s tell-all tale turned into one of 2014’s most watched and talked about films, and marked yet another fruitful collaboration with DiCaprio and Scorsese.
Trainspotting
Directed by Danny Boyle
Written by Irvine Welsh
With an amazing cast of then-unknown actors and a consistently creative director, Trainspotting managed to grasp the book’s pure punk adrenaline rush. With its unflinching look at drug culture, it makes pretty harrowing viewing even for the most jaded of film fans.
The Lord Of The Rings series
Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien
When faced with the daunting task of making Tolkien’s work come to life, Jackson created a breathtaking visual representation of one of the most beloved fables of all time. Lovers of Lord of the Rings might be some of the most avid book fans around, but these films did a pretty good job of pleasing them.
Fight Club
Directed by David Fincher
Written by Chuck Palahniuk
The film’s become a cult classic to the point that it often overshadows the book, and even the author’s said that there are some parts of the story that the movie depicts better than he was able to.
The Virgin Suicides
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Written by Jeffrey Eugenides
Beloved aspects of the book such as the sadness of the Lisbon family, the reading of Cecilia’s diary, the house slowly becoming rundown and the peach schnapps under the bleachers, come perfectly to life in Coppola’s visually beautiful film.
Chocolat
Directed by Lasse Hallström
Written by Joanne Harris
There was a few changes from book to film, but changes for the better. The lovely story full of warmth and humour and charm is beautifully captured and the film doesn’t fall into any obvious genre. Plus, who doesn’t love a Johnny Depp film?
