“But, have you read the book?” There’s always that one friend who asks you this question when there is a book to screen adaptation. And it’s inevitably followed up by, “Nah! The book’s better.” While, we have to agree that happens most of the time, there are some movies that are just as good as the book doing complete justice to the literary work.
The Godfather
All mafia movies have one Godfather – pun totally intended – and every single mafia movie made after that is measured by Francis Ford Coppola’s magnum opus. Santino with his fiery temper, Fredo and his weasley self, and Michael with his quiet menace and the top dog of them all Don Vito Corleone. While the movie did not have all the elements of the book, it did not take away from its magnificence. This is one of the rare times, it’s ok to admit the movie is as good as the book, if not better.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
The Pevensie children took us on a magical ride to Narnia and we enjoyed every bit of it. Tilda Swinton as the sinister White Witch, made even the adults squirm a bit. When Aslan shook his mane we all cheered, and to tell the truth, we all wanted to try Turkish delight after the movie ended. The movie was so beautifully adapted from the book – the CGI was gorgeous and far ahead of its time – that we all forgot it wasn’t the first book of the series!
Gone girl
Ben Affleck is a polarising actor but you can’t help but appreciate his performance in the film as a bewildered husband with something to hide. Rosamund Pike is an actress par excellence and her ‘Amy’ made our hair stand on end. The book fleshed out some characters like the one who snaps a selfie with him and some situations like the one at the ramshackle mall with Nick and Amy’s dad and Nick’s conversation with Desi. But despite the elimination the movie still packs a punch to the gut. Safe to say, the movie was as good as the book.
A Time to Kill
John Grisham’s book will forever be one of those raw books that make your heart ache. Making a movie on sensitive issues, especially those involving a child is always difficult and sometimes can miss the mark completely. Matthew McConaughey and Samuel L. Jackson’s performances are memorable and do not deviate much from the book, which was such a pleasure to watch. One of the rare successful book-to-movie adaptations, unlike these.
Atonement
If heartbreak was a book AND a movie, it would be this. James McAvoy and Keira Knightley (intense gurning aside) are the tragic, gorgeous couple in this heart-rending tale of jealousy, anger, lies and regret. The intense hatred you feel for Saoirse Ronan’s character will only be blunted by the chill you feel from Benedict Cumberbatch’s Paul Marshall. The movies does complete justice to the book and by the end of both if you aren’t bawling, you need to meet a heart specialist.
Eye of the needle
Ken Follett’s first novel became one of the best selling books of its time. The book released in 1978, the movie soon made its way to screens in 1981 and did well! Donald Sutherland as German spy “Die Nadel” was absolutely perfect. The movie was an excellent adaptation and though there will be naysayers, the book and the film are equally matched. A Bollywood movie, Fanaa, that borrowed heavily from the book was released in 2005.
Matilda
Matilda is one of Roald Dahl’s greatest works. It’s unfortunate he passed away six years before the book made it to film. We wonder if he would have loved it or hated it, like he hated the film adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mara Wilson, Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman take us on this crazy ride of gifted children, loving teachers and what it’s like to be understood and accepted. Fun fact: Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman are like family to Mara Wilson. Check out this amazing piece on their relationship.
Jurassic Park
When the movie was released in 1993, it was something none of us had ever seen. The science might not have been clear or comprehensible, but what was clear was the sheer scale of production and the impeccable CGI and animatronics. With famously familiar faces and some that attained fame later on, the movie was a landmark in cinema. Spielberg’s take on Michael Crichton’s book of the same name, did veer from the literature and consequent movies picked up elements from the original book, but what we did get was thrilling ride in a park 60 million years ago.
