Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme/original feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to go to their site to see the original list for today plus links to a whole slew of other blogs. After you read mine, of course.
Today's topic is: Best and worst movie adaptations
Best
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides (author) and Sophie Coppola (director)
This is one of those very few instances where I actually liked the movie better than the book. The book is so vague but Sophie Coppola does an exceptional job of nailing the ambiguity and restlessness of these 5 doomed girls. So good.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien (author) and Peter Jackson (director)
My husband is a huge fan boy of the books and he loves the movies (as do I). That's a good enough endorsement for me.
Chocolat by Joanne Harris (author) and Lasse Hallstrom (director)
I enjoyed this cute novel about a single mom trying to make it as a sweet-shop owner is a close-minded French town, but the novel doesn't have Johnny Depp in one of his seriously swoon-worthy roles. Seriously, he is so freaking hot in this movie.
Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown (author) and Robert Luketic (director) I made the mistake of reading this book after I seen the movie several times. This is another instance where the movie is better. It just has this bubbly lightness and humor about it that the book is lacking.
A Clockwork Orange by Anothy Burgess (author) and Stanley Kubrick
Nobody but Stanley Kubrick could have made this shockingly violent and absolutely genius novel into the relevant film it still is today.
Worst
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (author) and Chris Columbus (director)
Honestly, I thought the movies got better as they went and I absolutely loved The Deathly Hallows part 2, but I didn't think this first movie even came close to the book. Don't get me wrong here. I do love the movies and the cast and have seen them all a thousand times, but I just don't think the first movie did the book justice (although really, none of the movies come close to the magic that are the books).
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (author) Luke Greenfield (director)
This movie was a freaking travesty. Seriously, worst adaptation ever. I turned it off about 30 minutes in so it wouldn't corrupt my love for this book.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (author) and Catherine Hardwick (director)
Look, I'm not going to be a hater, but the movies are pretty bad.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (author) and Nick Cassavetes (director)
This is cheating a little since I haven't actually seen this movie. But I know that they change the ending. Which is so incredibly lame because the author wrote, like, the most amazing, albeit sad, ending Hollywood could ever come up with. And then Hollywood changed it. WTF. Seriously. Boo.
Watchmen by Alan Moore (author) and Zack Snyder (director)
As nerdy as I am about superheroes and movies based on comics/graphic novels, I don't actually read that many. But I did read this cover to cover in anticipation of the movie and was then blown away by how bad the movie is. It doesn't even come close to capturing the complexity of the comic. And they cut out the Pirate's tale--which is the best part!
What did you chose for best/worst? Link me up!
As nerdy as I am about superheroes and movies based on comics/graphic novels, I don't actually read that many. But I did read this cover to cover in anticipation of the movie and was then blown away by how bad the movie is. It doesn't even come close to capturing the complexity of the comic. And they cut out the Pirate's tale--which is the best part!
Bonus: My two favorite re-tellings
Clueless based on Emma by Jane Austen and 10 Things I Hate About You based on The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.
What did you chose for best/worst? Link me up!
Hey
lovely GFC and new followers, please follow me by Bloglovin as we all
know Google Reader has gone by the wayside. (I like to follow
back, so please let me know if you're a new follower--and leave a link!)
Thank you!!!
Absolutely loved Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You (still upset about Heath Ledger). And I consider Legally Blonde a classic at this point. I actually really enjoyed Something Borrowed--but I love Ginnifer Goodwin!
ReplyDeleteYes on your favorite retellings!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm the reverse on HP. I'm not impressed with the movies in general, but I thought they got worse as they went along. Haha. Also, I loved the Watchmen movie, though the graphic novel's definitely worlds better. You just can't capture the clever switches (panel to panel) in film.
Huh. I actually didn't know Legally Blonde was a book! Gotta disagree on Sorcerer's Stone, though. It's what made me decide to pick up the book, which I think is the purpose of a good adaptation. Happy TTT! Dannie @ Left to Write
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know Legally Blonde was a book! But I can already agree with your opinion because I enjoyed that movie so much I don't see how they could get some of that humor across in a book version. And I'm kicking myself for forgetting HP though *ducks head* I would have put it in the best, though obviously not as good as the books I was still a huge fangirl of the movies going to every midnight showing #Nerd. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE both of your bonus choices. I could watch those again and again. Great list Natalie!! And thanks for stopping by mine earlier :D
ReplyDeleteSheri @ Tangled Up In Books
Love Legally Blonde! Lol! Totally agree with you on Twilight! Disappointing! Great list!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Ally @ Book Fixation
Gah, those are the best retellings ever! I love that you added those in there at the last minute! Also I totally agree with The Virgin Suicides. I don't know why I didn't add that one into mine!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Great list! Thanks for stopping by my TTT!
ReplyDeleteI love your bonus re-tellings too. And I'm glad we both have LOTR! I want to watch them again right now!
:)
I actually wen to the High School that Ten Thing I Hate About You was filmed at! Love that movie =D I agree Clockwork Orange is a very good movie adaption and Twilight was absolutely terrible. I'm see that on a lot of worst lists today.
ReplyDeleteI love 10 Things I Hate About You! I was going to choose it, but I still haven't gotten around to reading the play.
ReplyDeleteYES To LOTR! Love those movies + books! :)
I love the retellings! Legally Blonde was such fun and I didn't realise it was based on a book. Of course, LOTR :)
ReplyDeleteI saw Something Borrowed and was disgusted. Because of that, I never read the book. Sounds like this is a "Don't judge a book by it's movie" kind of situation.
ReplyDeleteYes! I agree with your list sooo much! I forgot about Something Borrowed.
ReplyDeleteJess @ www.suchanovelidea.com
I have to agree with you about Something Borrowed. The book was drastically better. I loved the Legally Blonde movie. I didn't even realize there was a book.
ReplyDeleteHere is my TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2013/07/top-ten-tuesday-bestworst-books-to-movie.html
I LOVE 10 Things I Hate About You, but it's nothing like the play. Haha, I read the play after I saw the movie and was so surprised by how different they were. Guess that's why it's an adaptation and not a retelling. I really have to see The Virgin Suicides because that's on a ton of lists today! Great list :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my Top Ten!
I completely agree with you with regard to Something Borrowed - I think its downfall was the casting. None of the actors fit the characters very well. As much as I love K-Hud, I think she might be a little bit too mature for the Darcy type characters.
ReplyDeleteI forgot about Chocolat! Great book, great film, great film score.
I haven't read the Legally Blonde book, but I love the movie! It's so funny! Yes! BOO to those people who decided to change the end of My Sisters Keeper!
ReplyDeleteGreat list :)
I agree. I try not to be a hater on Twilight, but I loved those books. And Kristen Stewart RUINED those movies for me. Rob Pattinson wasn't my favorite but I could deal with him. I loved Lord of the Rings- that was such a great adaptation!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by earlier Nat!
Jessica@Lovin' Los Libros
Great list! I agree with My Sister's Keeper. Definitely a disappointment especially the way they changed up the end. LOVE Clueless & 10 Things I hate About you.
ReplyDeleteGreat Top10, I totally agree that Lord of The Rings was a best for sure!
ReplyDeleteThnx for stopping by my TTT
-Danielle @ Coffee and Characters
I didn't know that Legally Blonde was a book! It's too bad the movie out-shined it.
ReplyDeleteOmg, I ALMOST put 10 Things I Hate About You on my list! But I figured it was definitely a retelling rather than adaptation, so I left it off entirely. TOTALLY love that movie, though!!
ReplyDeleteI've only read/watched half of these, but I completely agree about those retellings! I used to watch Clueless every time I saw it on. Okay, well, honestly, same goes for 10 Things. Heath Ledger. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Legally Blonde was a book, based on what you said I won't be reading it, but interesting to know. I can't believe I forgot Something Borrowed. I really liked that book but the movie was awful, just terrible, ugh I can't even think about it! haha.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Legally Blonde was a book but 'meh'. I love "10 Things I Hate About You" so much. It was one of my favorites during my teen years. Great list. Thanks for stopping by mine!
ReplyDeleteI also didn't realize that legal blond was based on a book. If anything this TTT has shown me I need to read more books! I enjoyed your list, thanks for visiting mine.
ReplyDeleteLisaILJ @ I’ll Tumble for YA
What a fantastic list - especially the bonuses (which are, frankly, awesome). So glad to see HP on your worst list; I think the movies are pretty bland adaptations of the books overall - although I did put HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban on my best list because I thought it was the first one to at least attempt to do the books justice.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else notice that Chris Columbus can't seem to make worthy adaptations of really great books? (HP1 & HP2, Percy Jackson)
Erin @ YA Book Crush
I don't think I knew that Legally Blonde was a book before it as a movie! Now I have a new book to add to my TBR list :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my post earlier. Great list!
ReplyDeleteSandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
Oh, gosh, YES, Johnny Depp was swoon-worthy in Chocolat! Such a good movie. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my TTT!
~Merin @ Read and Reviewed~
Aww I love Clueless! Never knew Legally Blonde was a book either! Definitely agree with My Sister's Keeper - so stupid. She really did write the perfect ending!
ReplyDeleteWoah, Legally Blonde is a book? Really? I NEED that! Elle Woods is my role model!!! :D Hehe, about the Harry Potter movies...I think it's really difficult to judge them. For a movie, all of them were just incredibly well done, I think. The setting, the actors, the writing...I love it! But in comparison to the books, my favorite books ever and ever and ever, they just don't keep up. Then again, I have not found a thing (out of all the things and all my passions) that made me as enthusiastic as the HP books in the 10 years I've known them :D
ReplyDeletePS:why do I feel like this is a really freaky comment? mhm...
I loved Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You! I haven't read Something Borrowed but I really didn't enjoy the movie. Maybe I'll have to read the book to see what the movie missed? :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my Top Ten!
How did I forget about Clueless?! Love that film!
ReplyDeleteYES TO CHOCOLAT! How on earth did I forget that?! It's one of my all-time favourite movies, for sure, and it doesn't hurt that Johnny Depp is in it haha But I totally agree on My Sister's Keeper, too. I'm still angry about that one. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI agree with so many of your choices, and am glad you put Harry Potter down in your worst. I think if you haven't read the books, the first Harry Potter film is great, but as a lover of the books I wasn't too impressed, although it's got better on subsequent viewings.
ReplyDeleteAnd I had no idea that Legally Blond was a book!
Sarah
Chocolat!! I LOVED both the movie and the book. Completely brilliant adaptation.
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
Hah poor Twilight. That movie is getting a lot of hate (but I agree). Lord of The Rings is a great one. I haven't read the books but I've heard from a lot of people that the movies do a pretty damn good job!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
I didn't know Chocolat was an adaptation o.O Love that movie :) With Clockwork Orange, I think the movie does a good job (almost put it on my own list) but I liked the book better. Also, the movie follows the US edition, which lacks the final chapter (I kid you not, there's one more chapter and it really changes the message).
ReplyDeleteClueless is so much retro-90s fun! And I loooove 10 Things I Hate About You! Julia Styles and Heath Ledger are amazing, and I have so many fun memories related to that movie ^^
Thanks for stopping by yesterday!
Great top ten! I loved 10 things I hate about you, such a great movie! LotR is just an amazing adaption, I haven't met anyone who read the books who hated the movies.. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteevelinesbooks.blogspot.nl
Watchmen.....I wanted to flip out when I saw the ending of the movie....UGH!!
ReplyDeleteI need to get serious about reading/seeing Clockwork Orange.