I love books, but have often found that their movie recreations are poorly done. Has anyone ever found a good movie based on a book?

The best I have found was the movie version of White Oleander. I'm not sure who the actress was who played Astrid but she was excellent. Almost made me want to grow my hair long and move to LA. Anyway, watch it if you can. Read the book first though.

I think that I've yet to find a decent film that was first a book. I read the Beach years ago and was a bit disappointed when I watched the film.
I've read the Lord of the Rings books and think they're great...I've enjoyed the films too, I found the films easier to follow, but thought that the books were much better.

the best book-to-film conversion i've ever seen is fight club...i read the book and didn't think much of it, but the film is amazing...mind you, so much stuff was changed...

although i'd usually agree. a film of a book is usually just a pale imitation...

Best book to film was the BBC's version of Pride and Prejudice. It's five hours long so it get's most of the stuff.

Ewwww, Jane Austen bores the crap out of me in any form, LOL.

I've been wanting to add to this thread, but it's tough to try to remember all the books-into-movies -- and oftentimes, I've either read the book but not seen the movie, or seen the movie but not read the book. From my experience, though, it seems too tough to compare the books with the movies, because the movies often turn out so different from the original book, which doesn't necessarily mean it's better or worse...just different.

An example of what I mean: I liked the book "What Dreams May Come." I also liked the movie of the same name. However, the movie was so different from the book, in my opinion, that it's hard to regard them on the same level, but I still like both.

I do have to say I liked the Lord of the Rings books and the movies. And I liked both the book and the movie of The Joy Luck Club. Same with the book and movie of Fahrenheit 451.

Hmm, I just finished looking through my book and movie collection for ideas. I've seen a movie adaptation of Tolstoy's (I think it's Tolstoy anyway, correct me if I'm wrong) Anna Karenina, and I've seen the original film adaptation of Frankenstein, but I haven't read the books for either of these (shame, shame, being that I'm an English major). And, of course, I've seen but not read Fight Club and Requiem for a Dream. However, I've read the books for Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby, and Animal Farm but have not seen the movies for them.

a clockwork orange- only movie ever to directly follow the book

both the movies "Kiss the Girls" and "Along Came a Spider" based on the James Patterson books, werent to poorly done. They left alot of stuff out of the movies, but i think that was only because his books were more like a series and thus parts had to be left out. But other then some of the underlying plot lines they left out i thought both were pretty good.

Have you ever read White Oleander?

Yep. Twice.

Yeah yeah yeah, I know they left out parts of it. Like the foster home she lived in with the crazy rich lady and the one who lived in the turqouise house. But as a movie, it was good, especially coming from a book.

As I said, I have never found a really really good one based on a book, but White Oleander was pretty well done.

I've read White Oleander over 50 times in the course of a few years.

They did Starr ALL WRONG. Same with Claire.

I will never look at that movie again.

It sickens me.

I didn't mean to *offend* you.

I just liked the movie too...

Please remove your claws from my backside...owwwwww...

Sorry.

It's OK Missy...