The adaptation of a book to film is one that is very tricky. The Lord of the Rings is one of the few that has managed to succeed and how. The spectacle that was the three movies has gone down in cinematic history. (If only they’d managed to squeeze in Tom Bombadil that would’ve been absolutely sublime). Here’re a few movies that really really didn’t do justice to the literary genius they were based on.
Little Women
Despite reading this masterpiece too many times to count, I still find myself hating Amy. She’s one of the literary characters I just cannot abide. Bratty, spoiled and entitled, the book gave this character the dimensions I don’t think the movies did justice to. While, Winona Ryder as Jo was spectacular, I somehow could not appreciate Saoirse Ronan as Jo. She was one note and Jo isn’t. The book Jo is tender, stern, vulnerable, passionate, loving and headstrong. I say “Is” because book characters are forever and Jo March is eternal, our quintessential feminist. The book’s impact was so phenomenal that eventually the US issued a postage stamp in author Louisa May Alcott’s honour.
