bad book, good movie

So, can anyone think of examples where the book was bad, but the movie made out of it was good?

Usually, there's a great book, someone tries to make it into a movie, and they do a terrible job (or at least a disappointing job). My sister-in-law and I were talking about that, and both mentioned that the opposite is very rare. I could only think of two: "A Room With A View" and "Out of Africa". Those are both spectacular movies, but the books . . . . .. I'm not sure how they GOT such good movies out of those books. Out of Africa the book wasn't BAD, per se, but it wasn't very engaging (the movie barely even resembles it; loosely based on ). But A Room With A View . . . I couldn't even make myself finish the book. The male romantic lead in the movie was whimisical and eccentric; the lead in the book was irritating and inconsiderate. Bleah!

Not off the top of my head.....I'll give it some thought. But in my experience, I tend to enjoy the book more than the movie. Interesting question, though.....I'll see what I can come up with.

Well I hate to say this, but..... Cold Mountain.

I read the book first of course, and THEN had to see the movie. I really LOVED the book --- the book rocked! Great writing, the style of the author was spellbinding ---- BUT --- they didn't tap into the lust / love between Inman & Ada like the MOVIE did.

I think the actors have a lot of sway when it comes to that, though. While the book was really great (I cannot say it was bad... it's just the movie was BETTER), the movie was so heart wrenching because of Jude Law & Nicole Kidman. They had awesome chemistry. In the book, there was hardly any chemistry.

If the actors are great, and it's directed great, I think ANY book, whether it's boring or bad or great or whatever... can be an incredible movie. Bad actors make a bad movie, great actors make a great movie... no matter where it came from!

...Contact? someone remember? .... the movie was cool and Jodie Foster, great actress! ...

Breakfast at Tiffany's - it's such a great movie (a couple not great things in it), bc of Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. I couldn't even finish reading the book. Maybe it's bc I saw the movie first but I simply hated how negative the book was.

Uh, oh, CoolCat, I disagree with you! LOL! I have to say I think the book Contact, by Carl Sagan was much better than the movie. I loved the movie, but there are just a lot of things that it couldn't capture. But then, I am a scientist, so I probably enjoyed the book more because of my background, whereas I can see how other people might not like it as much.

i can't think of any.

a really dissapointing movie was 'girl with a pearl earring' or 'chocolat' as the books were so good.

From childhood to this day, I have never been able to even finish the book, The Secret Garden. I found the movie watchable, though.

Next example isn't an entire book, but just an ending. The end of the movie Jaws, where Chief Brody blows up the oxygen tank in the shark's mouth, is far superior to the shark's demise in Peter Benchley's book. As I recall, it just picked that moment to finally die from all the harpoon wounds.