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Today I would like to present to you a list of book-to-movie adaptations. I’m mainly going by how well the movie stuck to the events in the book. I’m also looking at the writing of the movie and the character development. Lastly, I’ll be considering how well the actors brought these beloved characters to life and how well that impacted the impression of the movie!
Here is my top 5 best book-to-movie adaptations in no particular order. Also, SPOILER ALERT:
1. The Green Mile by Stephen King – Movie in 1999
As far as adhering to the book, this movie was spot-on. It followed the book very well; the only thing missing was one minor character. This is the story of a man who works at a death row prison during the 1930s. It is told by his older self through his stories and memories. It focuses on a prisoner named John Coffee who was wrongfully sentenced to death for murdering two children. The movie was very well cast as well. Lovers of the book will love this movie.
Source: Amazon
2. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green – Movie in 2014
This one may be a guilty pleasure for you, but it’s okay to admit you like it. It is a young adult novel, but the story is universal. It follows the love story of two cancer patients who find each other through a support group. This will definitely pile on the feels. Keep tissues nearby when watching or reading it. The movie stays very close to the book. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort make an absolutely adorable Hazel and Augustus.
Source: Amazon
3. 1984 by George Orwell – Movie in 1984
This is an older one but, nevertheless, a fantastic story. The book was written in 1949 and the movie version, Nineteen Eighty Four, was made in 1984. This is one of my favorite books, and the movie was a wonderful adaptation. It kept all of the major plot points. The look of the people in the city and the televisions in the apartments look just like what I pictured in the book. For those of you that like dystopian science fiction, the book and the movie are a must!
Source: Amazon
4. Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice – Movie in 1994
This was my favorite series growing up; Anne Rice has written some beautiful works about her amazing vampire characters. This movie was based on the first book in the series of the same name. Tom Cruise was not the one I would’ve picked for Lestat, but he did a decent job of it. River Phoenix was supposed to play the interviewer, but he passed away before the movie was finished filming. Kirsten Dunst did a wonderful job of playing Claudia. One casting choice that mildly annoyed me was Antonia Banderas for Armand. Banderas circa 1994 was some nice eye candy, but he was too old for the character. Armand was a teenager when he was turned into a vampire, and vampires don’t age. Overall, it was a decent portrayal of the cult classic novel.
Source: Amazon
5. The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien – Movies 2001, 2002, 2003
Not only were the movies visually amazing, but they kept to the story fairly well. The extended versions of the movies had even more details. The beautiful worlds looked amazingly brought to life on the screen. Also, the revolutionary technology behind the battle scenes was absolutely amazing. As a fan of these beloved books, I absolutely enjoyed the movies.
Source: Amazon
What are some of your favorite book to movie adaptations?
Featured image via Learning Liftoff
