Typically I’m one of those people who thinks the book is better than the movie. And sometimes when a favorite book is made into a movie, I’m not even sure I want to see it. How will they have messed it up? What wonderful things will be left out?
And then I watched Masterpiece Theater’s Downton Abbey and wished that it had been based on a novel so I could go read it. Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) wrote the screenplay and it’s genuis. The characters are sharply drawn, the plotting is impeccable, the conflict is ripe and each episode draws the viewer into the next. It does everything a well-crafted novel should. Plus, you get to SEE the gorgeous clothes and the beautiful house.
There will be a second season this coming January. At last, a reason to look forward to winter!
Q4U- What’s your favorite movie based on a novel? Was it better than the book?
Meet Sarah
There are 2 movies that I think did justice to the books: About a Boy (book by Nick Hornby) and Possession (book by A. S. Byatt). A movie must inevitably be different and leave out some of a book due to the nature of the medium, but both of these had everything that made the book special. As a side note, I have a friend who lives on the property where Downtown Abbey was filmed. 🙂
The only instance that comes to mind for me of a movie living up to the book was The Client.
Oh! I’m jealous! Is living near Downton Abbey like living near the beach? You rarely go and take it for granted?
And the movie I hated, because it strayed so for from LaVyrle Sencer’s novel, was Hummingbird.
I have lots of favorite movies, Sarah, but sadly, I’m not sure that any of them (that have been made into movies) have been as great as the books. An exception might be the “The Waltons” T.V. series fashioned after Earl Hamner, Jr.’s “Spencer’s Mountain.” Wait–that was the movie that the T.V. series was created from. Not sure if there is a book. There must be…John Boy was a writer!
(Oh, and to “Mom” above: I agree with your thought about LaVryle Spencer’s novel being made into a movie, and it straying a bit from the actual book. Now, “Morning Glory” which starred Christopher Reeve years ago, I thought was better.