Question Of The Day, Wednesday, May 17, 2017

[Mamanyt1953]

I know that a lot of you, like me, are fairly avid readers. Here's my question...So often, books are made into television series or movies. Name the book that was done BEST, and the one that was done WORST.

I'm cheating a little. My "best" example is actually a series, "Outlander," which is being WONDERFULLY done by Starz. They are giving one whole season per book, and really following the books beautifully.

Worst has to be True Blood that aired on HBO. I LOVED the Sookie Stackhouse novels. The characters were interesting and engaging, even the villians, and there wasn't a lot of gore or near-porn. What HBO did to that series was a crime. It was nasty, bloody, and the characters were unrecognizable

MORE LIKE STARZ, please!

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

i haven't read many books that have been made into tv series or movies, so can't think of one that was done worst. the best i've seen was The Assets, which was a mini series.

 

[Winchester]

You know, Mamanyt1953 , I agree with you on both counts. I love the Outlander series and think they're doing an outstanding job.....I only wish it didn't go so long between the seasons. But they're actually quite faithful to the books. And with as much information that's in each book, I can imagine how hard that is. They are good books; this is a great series.

I gave up on True Blood after the third season, I think it was. It was just too stupid to watch. And that was a shame because I did like the books.

 

[muffy]

I don't answer the door unless I'm expecting somebody. Nor do I answer the phone when I don't know the person calling. I just don't like being bothered. They just want to sell me something or they want a donation. I have been known to use swear words when they get nasty with me. One time someone knocked on the door and when I didn't answer he tried the door knob to see if my door was opened. I should have called the police. He was up to no good.

Muffy

 

[sivyaleah]

So far I'm highly impressed with the translation of The Handmaid's Tale to TV. It's really been true to the book for the most part and, the acting is A+++.
Worst I can think of off-hand is Dune. The book(s) are sci-fi classics. The movie was a piece of garbage. So awful that it's a kitschy classic now. I will admit to having seen it more times than I probably should have I'd love to see a better version of it come out.

 

[Willowy]

I'm not sure about best, I'll have to think about that.

The WORST, ever, in the entire world, forever and always, is Congo. I love the book---Michael Crichton is good at making things seems plausible even if they are a little silly when you think about it. But the movie is horrible. Just the worst thing I've ever seen.

 

[Kieka]

I love Neil Gaiman books Stardust and American Gods as a movie and TV series respectively. The changes between the two add to the story instead of distract from. Just really good. If you never saw Stardust you really are missing out. Ditto for the American Gods series going on right now (warning, it really is for mature audiences).

Thinking about it another good one (not great but highly underrated) was the adaptation of the Dean Koontz book Odd Thomas movie. About a guy who sees ghosts and what happens because of it. Technically a comedy but just enough serious and tragedy to make it more. It had issues in marketing and ended up being straight to DVD which was really sad because Anton Yelchin did really good as the lead.

Bad.... Enders Game. Hands down one of those I was really looking forward to and they just killed the entire feel of the story. It was sad to watch because that big emotional ah-ha moment had nearly no impact and the emotional wringer was just gone.

 

[kittens mom]

Walking Dead best of both worlds.

 

[amysuen]

I know that a lot of you, like me, are fairly avid readers. Here's my question...So often, books are made into television series or movies. Name the book that was done BEST, and the one that was done WORST.

I'm cheating a little. My "best" example is actually a series, "Outlander," which is being WONDERFULLY done by Starz. They are giving one whole season per book, and really following the books beautifully.

Worst has to be True Blood that aired on HBO. I LOVED the Sookie Stackhouse novels. The characters were interesting and engaging, even the villians, and there wasn't a lot of gore or near-porn. What HBO did to that series was a crime. It was nasty, bloody, and the characters were unrecognizable

MORE LIKE STARZ, please!

I just read Outlanders and got the second book from my daughter-in-law. Glad to hear the series is as good as the book! Not that I need another historic show to get hooked on...

My Best is the Princess Bride. Not because it follows the book, it doesn't at all, but because the movie was done SO MUCH BETTER than the book. I've only been unable to finish reading 2 books in my adult life and The Princess Bride Book was almost #3. (I forgot #1, and #2 was about Marie Antoinette - I liked the character so much I couldn't read it because I knew what was going to happen to her)

I can't think of my Worst. I'll think about it...

 

[Mamanyt1953]

So far I'm highly impressed with the translation of The Handmaid's Tale to TV. It's really been true to the book for the most part and, the acting is A+++.
Worst I can think of off-hand is Dune. The book(s) are sci-fi classics. The movie was a piece of garbage. So awful that it's a kitschy classic now. I will admit to having seen it more times than I probably should have I'd love to see a better version of it come out.

Yeah, "Dune" was a major disappointment. The only two things about it that I really liked were the sets and Lina Hunt, who is good in anything at all. Oh, all right. The sandworms were pretty cool. And I've seen it more than once or twice, myself!

 

[cassiopea]

Best? Mmmm, that is tricky....can't really think of anything, I am sure there are some out there. I suppose many of the Jane Austen adaptations do a decent job (Though not a personal fan)


And the first Lord of the Rings film, it was reasonably loyal to the book. Everything else afterward sort of went the other way but I digress.


Worst?

A Woman in Berlin. I really enjoyed the book, it was gritty (Without being too graphic) honest, complex and the writer was an intelligent, interdependently thoughtful and observant woman, also complex and fascinating. I won't go into essay long details on why it is a significant book.

In any case, I saw most of the movie version. It was alright, but there were changes or aspects removed that I didn't really like. And a romance blossoming between her mutual deal companion person/rapist and herself? didn't happen in the book....



Another one would be the Game of Thrones series. Lover of the books! The first season started off Ok - there were differences but imperfections are to be expected I suppose. Afterward though, there were way too many changes. Changes in scenes, changes in characters, characters added that never existed in the book. It just changed the whole dynamic, unrecognizable even. Plus, I admit I sort of miss the days where the series was a hidden gem of a secret, now it is beyond mainstream! Oh well, if it brings attention to the books in some way, the books do deserve recognition.


Again I am sure there are others - I know I disliked My Sister's Keeper the movie, but I have heard the the books are much superior. Same with the Eragon movie, never saw it or read the books but friends told me they were very disappointed with the movie.

 

[artiemom]

I make it a point not to see a movie adaptation of a book. I am always disappointed; between the screenplay, the actors, etc.. I prefer to have my imagination, and my inner thoughts to myself, rather than share with someone's interpretation...

 

[arouetta]

I gotta agree with Dune. My mother years and years ago (before such things were done) that if the movie were 6 to 8 hours long it might have done justice to the book, but they just chopped it to no real sense of what was happening to make it fit 2 hours.