Top Five Movies that are Better than the Book
Harry Potter Part 6 (easily the sequel-iest of the Harry Potter movies) has just hit theaters, and muggles, wizards, and nerds alike can now rejoice in watching such a beloved book come to life on the silver screen. Now, as any elitist, monocle-wearing fat cat will tell you, it’s common knowledge that books are usually much better than the movies in which they are based (undoubtedly true when to comes to the case of the Harry Potter films). Well, the following list proves that they’re a few exceptions when it comes to cinematic adaptations. These are the movies that make us look at books and spit on them, encouraging illiteracy across the country. Because—as we all know—reading is for pussies…
*Note: The following list contains only books that I’ve read. They’re may be better choices (i.e. the Godfather or Debbie Does Dallas, perhaps) but since I haven’t read them, I can’t be sure.
Die Hard
You may not know it, but Die Hard is actually based on a 1979 novel by Richard Thorpe entitled “Nothing Lasts Forever.” Some of the details got changed in the adaptation (i.e. the inclusion of the fat Black guy from Family Matters), but for the most part the overall storyline remains the same—terrorists attack an office building on Christmas Eve. Whereas the novel is a competent—albeit generic—thriller, Die Hard was a revolutionary action film that created iconic characters, memorable one-liners, and further reinforced the innate truth that all German men with long blond hair are in fact either Nazis or terrorists.
Sweeping generalizations aside, Die Hard is a great movie that launched a multi-million dollar franchise with a fan base that extends across the globe. The book is a forgettable thriller that is often sold at thrift shops where hipsters buy vintage t-shirts and broken Nintendo games. Advantage? Movie.
High Fidelity
British author Nick Hornby (the author behind Fever Pitch and About A Boy) has always written novels that seem to translate well to cinematic structure. For me, the movie that actually supercedes its narrative forbearer is none other than 2000’s High Fidelity. High Fidelity is to guys what Sex and the City (or some other equally retarded thing women like) is to girls. It gives us dudes a “realistic” perspective on facing adulthood and dealing with relationships. Heck, it’s a subject matter so good that Zach Braff felt compelled to make two movies about it (Garden State and The Last Kiss at your service).
While there is no doubt the book is certainly very well written, I just like the movie a little better for some reason. Maybe it’s John Cusack’s great performance. Maybe it’s Jack Black’s comedic timing. Or, maybe it’s the fact that the movie takes place in the United States versus the book’s native England. Because let’s face it, folks, the USA just makes everything better. *Belches loudly/Goes to Applebees*
Jurassic Park
Yeah…I know…I talk about Jurassic Park a lot. But, that’s just because it had such a profound effect on me as a child—much like that creepy guy in the white van who gave me candy after Little League games.
Lots of Michael Crichton’s books have been turned into movies, but only Jurassic Park was able to trump the novel’s greatness. Beyond telling a compelling adventure story, this film did tons for the industry—from spawning revolutionary special effects techniques to creating a formula for the event driven summer blockbusters that are so commonly seen in multiplexes today. Sure the subsequent sequels were complete sh-t shows that featured velociraptors with mohawks and a girl beating up a dinosaur using rhythmic gymnastics, but that still doesn’t taint (tee-hee!) the glory of the original Jurassic Park. I salute you, Mr. Spielberg. Thanks for proving that reading is in fact obsolete.
Big Fish
Like Jurassic Park, Big Fish is a movie that seems to show up on these lists often. Well, like Zima and one-legged prostitutes, it just happens to be one of my favorite things. More amazingly, however, is just how much better the movie is than the novel in which it is based. In Daniel Wallace’s book, the entire narrative is a very loose connection of tall tales and yarns that lacks the cohesiveness and honest relationships that the movie creates. To put it bluntly, the book feels cold and loose—much like your mom last night.
Now, there are some who prefer the book’s more Laissez-faire approach. Me on the other hand…I think the film took the novel’s original framework and reshaped it into something that is more meaningful and moving. Coincidentally, women have often said the same thing about my penis.
Stand By Me
Lots of Stephen King novels have been turned into movies, but the majority of them suck something hardcore. That being said, they’re some key exceptions when it comes to adaptations of King’s work. The Shining is both a great book and movie. The same could be said for the Shawshank Redemption. However, when it comes to a film usurping its source novel, the clear winner for me is Stand By Me. Based on King’s novella called “The Body” (kudos on the title change, studio execs.), the story centers on a group of kids as they set out to find a dead body in the woods. What results is a coming of age tale that reminds people of a carefree time when Corey Feldman wasn’t addicted to crack and Jerry O’Connell was so fat that it was ludicrous to think that one day he would end up banging Rebecca Romijn.
The movie accomplishes something very rare when it comes to a cinematic adaptation of a novel—it takes the source material’s core themes and expands them to something that is emotionally richer and visually more stimulating. Yes, Stand by Me is proof that movies can occasionally trump the books in which they are based. That being said, I must say that this film is a tad unrealistic. I mean, when I asked a bunch of friends if they wanted to head into the woods with me to search for a naked dead body, they just turned to me and started crying. Gosh, fourth graders can be so immature….
Over and out, my peeps.
