loz Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Since Mike O brought the concept of top 10s back albeit kicking and screaming and demanding to be left in peace I thought I would resurrect an idea I mentioned before. It was back when we were having a discussion about films that I mentioned the idea of films that did books justice (rather than the more normal situation where films ruin stories). I didn't create a thread then as we had done top 10s to death at that point however Mike has opened the floodgates once again! So here are mine - I have included films that either faithfully tell the story of the book and do it justice, or films that take the basic premise of the book and use it as a template for a different story (and make a great film out of it). My top would be (not really in order and trying to keep it to fairly mainstream well known films) Clockwork Orange Shawshank Redemption (from the Stephen King short story collection Different Seasons) Catch 22 The Exorcist Bladerunner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) The English Patient Apocalypse Now (Heart of Darkness) Jaws One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Lord of the Flies The Godfather (film is actually better) Yes that is 11 - had to leave it that as I couldn't take any of these out/ CLosest I came was to take out Catch 22 purely on the grounds that I love the book so much and as a result it is the nearest one on the list to not doing the book justice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Nice list, Loz. I think that the Cold Mountain movie did a good job on an excellent book, so that would be in my top 10 list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I love the shining in both forms, however, they are quite different... but kubrick deserves to get a mention for his take on it, despite whatever king might say. arguably, the film is superior. nicolas pileggi's "wiseguys" became/inspired goodfellas. obviously deserves a mention. I think it's time for a top ten list of top tens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted February 17, 2007 Author Share Posted February 17, 2007 The Shining is a very good shout (surprised I missed it off my list to be honest). Some would argue that Nicholson alone made the film great however I disagree. Very few film makers are good enough to make a film with only one murder in it (there was only one wasn't there?) as terrifying as The Shining was - Kubrick is one of those few Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 a good point- I've never given thought to the fact that there was only one on screen murder... you have to laugh when king said he doesn't understand the (horror) genre. speaking on quality books-to films, do not deny the silence of the lambs again, and look out for notes on a scandal, that's meant to be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Have you read that alien book "Communion", meant to be much better than the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moos Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Have to agree with Phillip. Cold Mountain was a great adaptation. Other good adaptations: The Lord of The Rings - Okay, it was probably not 100% as good as the book but it was really close. Brokeback Mountain - A very short story by Annie Proulx (think it's spelled like that) became a great movie. The short story was great but the movie was even better. The Bridges of Madison County - The book is really good. The movie with Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood is amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Stand by me (King again) Empire of the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_mac Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 I love Full Metal Jacket. So amny people say that after the training camp (which is brilliant) that it just turns to another nam movie. I disagree, as this is one of the few films where you actually, at the end, get up close and very personal with the killer! Also it all takes place in a city setting where most are set in the jungle I also like 2001 a space oddessey, just because I am a bit of a Kubrick fan. The big lebowski, blazzin saddles, are great comedies. Too late, to think of more, but I am suprised it has taken so long for another top 10 list to surface! Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted February 18, 2007 Author Share Posted February 18, 2007 How could I forget 2001! A film that sits at least in my top three films of all time and I book that blew me away when I first read it (the follow up books notnearly as good) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjd Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Im a huge fan of Palahniuks 'Fight Club' and also enjoyed David Finchers film. Though i know a lot of people think its a pile of pretentious w**k. Though im still waiting for some one to take the plunge with 'The Catcher In The Rye'.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makelele Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Im a huge fan of Palahniuks 'Fight Club' and also enjoyed David Finchers film.Though i know a lot of people think its a pile of pretentious w***. Though im still waiting for some one to take the plunge with 'The Catcher In The Rye'.... Fight Club is there, as is American History X(another Norton great, along with Death to Smoochy)...but i would have to put THE DEER HUNTER(minus the boring wedding scene) in the top 10 for sure, that movie had me on the edge of my seat like no other! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Street Ken Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Great Expectations-a top read and great film, from the legendary David Lean. Apocalypse Now...Heart Of Darkness is also in my Top 10 books. Hi Fidelity...good book, fun movie. You Only Live Twice/On Her Majesty's Secret Service...classic! Where Eagle's Dare. The Jungle Book!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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