We don’t usually watch the Oscars in our household, but we have some friends staying with us and had a fun evening of watching Hollywood’s premier awards gala on Sunday. Every movie season features adaptations from books, but this year’s crop was especially loaded in that regard:
Two of my three favorite movies are adaptations from books: "The Shawshank Redemption" from Stephen King's "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Crow" from James O'Barr's graphic novel. It would be hard not to mention "The Princess Bride" too, which adapts the frame story so well.
For nonfiction, "Black Hawk Down" was a superb adaptation of Mark Bowden's book. I also stop and watch every time "Catch Me If You Can" is on the channel; the movie really brings Frank Abagnale's story to life.
I loved the four-episode Netflix series adaptation of All The Light We Cannot See and I am looking forward to the upcoming series 'A Gentleman in Moscow.'
Lonesome Dove was terrific, as was Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy (the 2011 version). The recent PBS series All Creatures Great and Small seasons 1-3. Season 4 seemed to feature less veterinary work and more focus on the people…
Bram Stoker's Dracula by Coppola hugely improved on the book (despite Keanu Reeves and Wynona Ryder - they're great now, but in the 90s, not so much). Silence of the Lambs is also an excellent adaptation. The Road is another great pairing.
Most recently, I think the Apple TV+ limited series adaptation of Lessons in Chemistry was so well done, and even though I loved the book, I loved the show even more. I also really enjoyed the Amazon Prime limited series adaptation of Daisy Jones & the Six, it was a phenomenal production that brought not only the characters but even the music to life!
Lord of the Rings was superb. I also loved both Dune films. No Country for Old Men is really good, like you said. I like Javier Bardem as Stilgar better. He doesn't give me nightmares like Chigurh. The Count of Monte Cristo with Jim Caviezel, Guy Pierce, and Sir Richard Harris is another one I love, even though it is so different from the book. Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy changed comic book, super hero movies, and is still probably the best. I have also loved The Scarlet Pimpernel with Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen.
The Jane Austin adaptations - I rewatch them a lot. The various Jane Eyre movies over the years. And the recent Lincoln Lawyer (Michael Connelly) series on Apple TV
I really liked the HBO miniseries Station Eleven. There were a lot of differences from the book but I thought all the changes for tv worked really well.
I’m usually deeply distrustful of film adaptations of novels and tend to avoid them like the plague, but a few that do stand out are The Age of Innocence, Little Women (1994), Gone Girl, Atonement, and On Chesil Beach.
Loved the Dune films David Lynch’s version and the current Villeneuve ones, like you I’ve only seen part one so far. I also really liked Prime Video Jack Reacher take, it was actually why I decided to read the books, think there are 28 at the moment.
The Handmaids Tale no question. While Atwood's story was a great starting place, it really is very brief and poses more questions than gives answers. While on the other hand, staring into Elizabeth Moss' face is like staring into the sun. The power of that TV show is unmatched.
Of those listed, Erasure is a great read and the film American Fiction is an excellent sit. They are comedic and have pointed things to say about the Black experience and how that is not just one thing, it is many things that is as vast as any other group's experience. It won for best adapted screenplay and the writer/director Cord Jefferson gave an excellent speech (that was televised) and Q&A that you can find on YouTube.
Oppenheimer is so deserving of all the awards it won. How Nolan managed to adapt the book in his signature non-linear way is remarkable. There's so much that can be said about that one. It has made my list of favorite adaptations.
Two of my three favorite movies are adaptations from books: "The Shawshank Redemption" from Stephen King's "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Crow" from James O'Barr's graphic novel. It would be hard not to mention "The Princess Bride" too, which adapts the frame story so well.
For nonfiction, "Black Hawk Down" was a superb adaptation of Mark Bowden's book. I also stop and watch every time "Catch Me If You Can" is on the channel; the movie really brings Frank Abagnale's story to life.
I loved the four-episode Netflix series adaptation of All The Light We Cannot See and I am looking forward to the upcoming series 'A Gentleman in Moscow.'
Memoirs of a Geisha
Lonesome Dove was terrific, as was Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy (the 2011 version). The recent PBS series All Creatures Great and Small seasons 1-3. Season 4 seemed to feature less veterinary work and more focus on the people…
Bram Stoker's Dracula by Coppola hugely improved on the book (despite Keanu Reeves and Wynona Ryder - they're great now, but in the 90s, not so much). Silence of the Lambs is also an excellent adaptation. The Road is another great pairing.
Most recently, I think the Apple TV+ limited series adaptation of Lessons in Chemistry was so well done, and even though I loved the book, I loved the show even more. I also really enjoyed the Amazon Prime limited series adaptation of Daisy Jones & the Six, it was a phenomenal production that brought not only the characters but even the music to life!
Forgot to mention Brokeback Mountain
Lord of the Rings was superb. I also loved both Dune films. No Country for Old Men is really good, like you said. I like Javier Bardem as Stilgar better. He doesn't give me nightmares like Chigurh. The Count of Monte Cristo with Jim Caviezel, Guy Pierce, and Sir Richard Harris is another one I love, even though it is so different from the book. Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy changed comic book, super hero movies, and is still probably the best. I have also loved The Scarlet Pimpernel with Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen.
The Jane Austin adaptations - I rewatch them a lot. The various Jane Eyre movies over the years. And the recent Lincoln Lawyer (Michael Connelly) series on Apple TV
I really liked the HBO miniseries Station Eleven. There were a lot of differences from the book but I thought all the changes for tv worked really well.
I’m usually deeply distrustful of film adaptations of novels and tend to avoid them like the plague, but a few that do stand out are The Age of Innocence, Little Women (1994), Gone Girl, Atonement, and On Chesil Beach.
Loved the Dune films David Lynch’s version and the current Villeneuve ones, like you I’ve only seen part one so far. I also really liked Prime Video Jack Reacher take, it was actually why I decided to read the books, think there are 28 at the moment.
My favorite books-to-screen is Wild (book by Cheryl Strayed, movie with Reese Witherspoon).
Jane Eyre, the Orson Welles / Elizabeth Taylor / Joan Fontaine version.
All the Right Stuff is another great film adaptation. Who's the greatest pilot you ever saw?
Good Omens, Hunger Games, BBC Sherlock are the ones that come to mind
The Handmaids Tale no question. While Atwood's story was a great starting place, it really is very brief and poses more questions than gives answers. While on the other hand, staring into Elizabeth Moss' face is like staring into the sun. The power of that TV show is unmatched.
Of those listed, Erasure is a great read and the film American Fiction is an excellent sit. They are comedic and have pointed things to say about the Black experience and how that is not just one thing, it is many things that is as vast as any other group's experience. It won for best adapted screenplay and the writer/director Cord Jefferson gave an excellent speech (that was televised) and Q&A that you can find on YouTube.
Oppenheimer is so deserving of all the awards it won. How Nolan managed to adapt the book in his signature non-linear way is remarkable. There's so much that can be said about that one. It has made my list of favorite adaptations.
Fun discussion, my favorite in fact!