Movies Better than the Books

List creator: CBenson Created on: August 24, 2006 - 11:28 AM PDT Description: I think the following movies elevated their source materials in a substantial way, going beyond being just a good adaptation. For a lot of these picks, less was more.

show images/hide images

	movie title	related list	average rating	MPAA rating	watch	rent	buy
	Reversal of Fortune (1990)
"Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bulow Case" by Alan Dershowitz. How did they get such a sharp, succinct screenplay out such a bedside novel? Jeremy Irons is fantastic in this movie.
	Fletch (1985)
Based upon an decent mystery novel by Gregory McDonald, but Chevy Chase and Andrew Bergman made the movie a cult classic with their improvisational-style humor.
	Dead Ringers (Criterion Collection) (1988)
Twins: Dead Ringers by Bari Wood. Cronenberg's take on this sensationalistic novel is restrained and practically flawless. Jeremy Irons, once again, is terrific.
	The Shining (1980)
Novel by Stephen King. For me, the difference in quality between the book and the movie is greatest in "The Shining." The movie turns a bloated horror novel with a cheap ending into just about the scariest movie ever made.
	The Godfather (1972)
I can't believe I almost forgot this one. The original novel was written by Mario Puzo and is nothing more than a violent soap opera potboiler. Maybe this does beat out "The Shining" as biggest difference in quality between the book and the movie.
	Jaws (1975)
Novel by Peter Benchley. Classic movie created from the kind of book you buy at the airport.
	The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
When one of the stars of the movie uses "treacle" to describe parts of the book, you know it can't be good. And it isn't. It really isn't.
	Ordinary People (1980)
Based upon the melodramatic novel by Judith Guest, this is one of those cases where nobody is going to complain about what the movie left out of the book, which was a lot of self-consciously artsy & overwrought stream of consciousness crap.
	The Haunting (1963)
Based upon "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson. I would argue that this is Robert Wise's best film and one of the very best horror films ever made. The novel isn't bad, but its pyschological elements come off as too topical. The movie is more lean and simple, which creates much better tension than the novel was able to create.
	Misery (1990)
Novel by Stephen King. Thank you, William Goldman, for turning dog food into steak - sort of cheap steak, but still steak.