Quick, give us an answer: should you read the book before you see the movie, or should you see the movie and then dive into the book? It's a heated debate as old as time—and one with no right answer.
If you've ever watched a book to movie conversion with a book lover, it is very likely to hear, "The book was better than the movie." However, this is not universally true, but a large portion of book-to-screen adaptation is disappointing. A film is rarely up to the mark of the book because the books are difficult to transition to the screen. In books, you are free to add creative imaginations, complex crime scenarios, or anything you like, but the screenplay must make choices to advance the story visually and whittle it down to fit the traditional 90- to 120-minute running time.
As said, "The book is a film that takes place in the mind of a reader."
Most often, the time restrictions and screen limitations cheapen the experience or take away the power of the words on the page. But don't worry, with FAYVO, you can find the best of everything. From the hundreds of movies, we list down the best ones in the genres of comedy, horror, thriller, and everything-you-love.
So, let's get down to the options; from classic literature to modern pop hits, we have the best book-to-screen adaptations mentioned below, and they'll make you ponder, "Which is better, the movie or the book?"
Let's read about them.
The Lord of The Rings:
Who doesn't admire and love this iconic series? The book was written so perfectly that it took years to translate to the screen. Peter Jackson took the lead, and as a result, we had one of the most successful trilogies of all time. So successful, in fact, that he then tried other famous creative books to transform into screenplays.
The Silence of The Lambs:
Jonathan Demme's conversion of this horror novel is very close to Thomas Harris's writings in most aspects. Although there are changes in the original story with the two important additions: Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, they have added more to the plot. Their performances are so good, so memorable, and so viscerally convincing that they turned a dark, twisty thriller into a permanent pillar of pop culture.
Dune:
Denis Villeneuve's long-awaited movies are the first part of the adaptation of Frank Herbert's 412-paged sci-fi novel Dune. The story takes place in a futuristic feudal society in the year 10191. In the movie, we see noble houses struggling to colonize resources and power. In between the devastating situation of sandworms and a hallucinogenic drug called spice, this tale of familial legacy will keep you hooked, whether you are reading it or watching it.
Harry Potter Series:
From the most imaginative and top-selling book series to the most-loved and super-hit release, Harry Potter is known to have the closest book-to-screen adaptation. The amazing storytelling that populated J.K. Rowling's works were translated seamlessly to the big screen in a way that brought fans of either the print or film mediums together. The characters, costumes, magic wonders, everything amused the readers and viewers alike.
Crazy Rich Asians:
This charming and humorous romantic comedy came out in 2013 for the people to read, and just five years later, it was converted into a moving (movie-ing) book, directed by Jon M. Chu. The film was an immediate hit. It served the writer's efforts by capturing the intimacies and delivering the complex expectations. To support its success, it's worth mentioning that Crazy Rich Asians earned several Golden Globe Award nominations and high praise.
Hold on for a moment, and ask yourself which big-screen versions of our favorite books have managed to look good and preserve their essence? And when you find the answer, share your favorite movie on FAYVO and see who else is the admirer of your tastes and choices.
Cruella:
You likely associate Cruella de Vil with Disney's 101 Dalmatians franchise. Back in the time when we were kids, we loved the movie, but to clear the reference, Cruella was the character in Dodie Smith's 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians,' and then in Smith's sequel, The Starlight Barking. In Disney's latest villainess origin story, Emma Stone stars as the fashion enthusiast, and you'd love to see this conversion once.
The Maze Runner:
Maze Runner's novel covers the story of extraordinary smart guy Thomas and his friends. They try hard to survive in a world full of twists and turns. To keep the viewers on their feet throughout the movie, the film was kept the same as the book. While watching it on the big screen, you'll applaud its perfection as it is one of the best book-to-screen adaptations.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower:
In 1999, author Stephen Chbosky wrote this iconic book that instantly became a favorite for many young adults. Right after its publishing, Chbosky dreamed of converting this book into a screenplay. Ten years later, with the help of producer John Malkovich, writer-director Chbosky brought it to the big screen. The story covers difficult themes of drug use and broken friendships.
Find It, Fay’v It & Organize the Way You Want:
The idea of making a movie collection or a list sounds simple enough. But sometimes, executing an idea is harder than it seems. What's the use of a movie collection or recommendation if you've got to dig it up?
That's another thing that makes FAYVO more interesting. You can create a box for each list you want - Comfort Movies, Critically Acclaimed, Action, Horror, Coming Soon, and whatnot. Fayvo's boxes can help you out here. You can add everything you've got to it and access it anywhere, anytime. Super easy and super cool. 10/10 for categorizing!
