Wednesday 7 May 2014

Best Book Adaptations in Hollywood Movies


Before the arrival of cinema, people used to go to theatres on for watching dramas, skits and plays. Only books used to be the path of fantasy and imagination. But today we have CINEMA. Films have taken the places of books (sad but true). But if there exists any debate between books and films, the proir will win anytime, anyday. Films now and then have always been based on books. Be it a bestselling novel or just a travelogue films have been made on every genre of literature. But do they stand any chance beside this enchanting medium of salvation? Well they sometimes do. Here are some movies which have been successful in adapting books in itself...








1. The Godfather



When talking about film adaptations, there is no other film to top the list. The Godfather is and will propbably remain The best book to movie adatations of all time. No doubt this book can top any appreciative list ever made. Very few people know that the book is adaptation from the novel "The Sicilian" written by Mario Puzo. The film was not made exactly like the novel but the improvisations were essentially good and proved widely fruitful. The novel unlike the movie eneded in a positive note where Kay finally decides to take his father's business. Widely popular then and now, this book pretty much overshadoed the books flavour and popularity. This is one of the must watch movies of all time







2. Silence Of the Lambs



I believe thriller genre is most hard to adapt in terms of movie, and when the book is Silence of the Lambs the job becomes nearly impossible. The plot, the eere essence and the gruesome Hannibal Lecter. The only plot difference was the budding romance between Starling and Crawford which was not shown in the movie. Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter blows our mind  through their exceptionally good acting. The novel by Roald Dahl was already famous and well recieved globally therefore people were eagerly waiting to examine and review it to the cores. But the film surpassed every critic and is often regarded as the best thriller movie ever made.







3. Great Expectations


Another cult film made on Charles Dicken's novel on the same name. The novel has benn filmed many times but never been so beautifully done than by David Lean. Both the novel and the film are classics in their field. Pip here is played by John Mills who takes our heart away with expectional acting. Superior cinemtography which is essential for any book adaptation is movies makes its the most celebrated adaptation of the novel ever made in pop culture.








4. Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban


People may say there are many other movies ought to be put in the list other than any Harry Potter movie. But the way harry Potter has moulded cinema and modern culture, it is worth mentioning. We all love Harry Potter movies, but sadly there are very few of us who have read the books first (me being one of the fortunate to read the books before watching the movies) . Harry Potter is a craze and culture of its own that is still running. Before the movies, the books have already gained prominence and popularity worldwide. After the movies were released more people recognised Harry Potter. This is where films win over books. There are 8 movies in the franchise but the one worth mentioning is Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban. The story, plot and imaginative screenplay (thanks to J.K Rowling) opens to us a gateway to another world. This particular film proves that these are not merry children movies with wizards and magic wands.





5. Fight Club


There are films which are not widely celebrated but are sometimes gem of its own. David Fincher's Fight Club is essentially one of those films which is nearly perfect but is under- appreciated. If you have read the novel by Chuck Palahniuk you will get why i have placed the book in this list. Both the novel and the film carries a subtle wave of revolution. The movie succesfully depicts the author's hard to film ideas on fake consumerism and self empowerment. The film was initially did averagely at the box office but soon got its pace. Even today it is an remarkable and innovative way of cinematography and story telling.







Other films worth mentioning : Precious, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Shining, Schindler's List













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