I love movies almost as much as I love books, and sometimes more. Such as in the case of Mary Poppins, which, as a kid, I watched so often that I wore out the tape. So, here are my picks for Top Ten Tuesday’s best and worst movie adaptations.
The best
- Chocolat
I haven’t read the book, but the movie is amazing. - Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Forget the book (it put me to sleep, several times), watch the movie.
- True Blood
I loved the books, but the TV series is so very different and a lot more fun (at least up to season 3). - One for the Money
When I heard Katherine Heigl was playing Stephanie Plum, I almost joined the revolt, but she turned out to be very good.
- Easy A
Another book I haven’t read (The Scarlet Letter), but I movie I love.
The worst
- Elektra
I love Elektra in the comic books (particularly The Elektra Saga), and this was very disappointing. - Eragon
The bit where Saphira flies into the clouds small-dog-sized and after a few thunderclaps comes out dragon-sized, is the worst. Find the book here.
- Practical Magic
It’s a good movie for a rainy, must-eat-chocolate kind of day, but there is no comparison to the book. - Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
The movie glossed over too much, particularly at the start. Find the book here.
- Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Part 2
Yeah. ‘Nuff said.
What? No Kevin Sullivan-produced Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea? 😉
Sure, they mashed a few of the books together to fit into 8 hours, but still – major plot points, and many minor, were well-represented. The scenery couldn’t have been more authentic since it was filmed on Prince Edward Island. And I have never seen a movie adaptation with a more perfect cast. The characters actually lived through those people.
However, I prefer to pretend that the Anne movies which followed the original two were never actually made.