Movies better then the book
I can only think of 2...
1-The Painted Veil
2-Silence of the Lambs
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MovieChat Forums > The Painted Veil (2007) Discussion > Movies better then the book
I found the movie of Borstal Boy, by Brendan Behan, much better than the book. But I have to disagree about Passage to India: I enjoyed the book immensely.
So many movies, so little time...
My two:
"Swiss Family Robinson" - okay, so it's a Disney movie from the 60s, but it's entertaining rather than dry, pompous, and prosyletizing like the book.
"American Psycho" - I loved the book for the first two thirds, before it descended into alternating chapters of straight name-dropping and ridiculous gore. The movie was more even-keeled.
1-The Painted Veil
2-Catch Me If You Can
I read the Horse Whisperer and thought it was a good book, but when I saw the movie I thought it was better. There were major changes to the plot, especially to the ending, that I thought were improvements from the book.
From all the posts I'm reading here, I think I would prefer the movie The Painted Veil to the book too. I just like the storyline better. When I think of that great make-up love scene, after they get drink with Wallington... that's one of the most powerful scenes of the whole movie! Its great to see these two people truly fall in love for all the right reasons, after marrying for all the wrong reasons in the first place. Awesome story!
Open Range based on the novel Open Range Men. The novel lets the two leads get jailed and then leaves them in jail while we (the reader) are supposed to forget about them and start following the townspeople for about a third of the book. One of the worst books I've ever read, but improved makes a great film. Way to go, screenwriters.
Still trying to decide if I should read Painted Veil or not.
Last of the Mohicans. The book is good, and purists would point out that the plot of the movie differs pretty greatly from that of the book, but I liked how the movie added a lot of perspectives on how the colonies and England were drifting apart.
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Couldn't agree more about The Shining. Kubrick was an artist. It says a lot about King's lack of taste that his idea of a good version of his silly book was the abomination he produced.
Another movie that was better than the book was The Godfather (and The Godfather Part II). The book was trumped-up pulp fiction; Coppola's films have grandeur and lasting power.
I haven't read The Painted Veil by Maugham, but I've read some of his other books and admired his lack of sentimentality and avoidance of cliches. I'm going to check the book out.
I agree with that.
shareI'd say The Notebook. The movie developed the story so much better! The book was just a superficial, quick narrative, with no depth and character development. I haven't read any other Nicholas Sparks books-turned-into-movies but judging from The Notebook, I wouldn't.
shareI agree with bugarka, though I did like the book, when I saw the movie, I fell in love with the first hour where they're teenagers. The book didn't have any of that. Also I loved the ending of the movie much better.
Also, Devils Wear Prada was MUCH better as a movie. I don't know why anyone really liked the book in the first place. I found that it was basically a litany of complaints against Anna Wintour, thinly disguised as Miranda Priestly, and Vogue, also thinly disguised as Runway or whatever name they gave it. In the movie, the characters were far more interesting. Her second book, Everyone Worth Knowing (I think?), is a lot better.
Also Memoirs of a Geisha... Hm.. I think I liked the movie better too, though I liked the book as well. When I saw the movie, the age gap didn't bother me as much as it did in the book, and... hm i don't know, but I think the actors brought it to life a lot better...
and I'm watching Painted Veil now... I'm in love with Walter's awkwardness.
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I agree about The Notebook. The book was disappointing for me in comparison. :(
Also A Walk to Remember. I thought the movie was much better.
Honestly, I don't understand why Nicholas Sparks' books are so popular...but they sure make good movies!
As far as The Notebook goes, I totally agree. However, I have read A Walk To Remember as well as seen the movie and I actually really liked both.
Once upon a time there was a magical place where it never rained. The end.
The Painted Veil is the only one I can think of. I didn't like how, in the book, Walter and Kitty never ended up falling in love. And also, how Kitty went back and slept with Charles again. That was a bit backward.
It does seem silly really, to put all that effort into something that's just going to die.
Really agree with you here. There were so much unpleasantness in the book, I couldn't really understand why it was even considered a good book! I really didn't like it. The film corrected the uneven story and added wonderful cinematography!
shareFilms that were better than the book
1) Dr. Zhivago - Pasternak, almost unreadable
2) White Fang - so much better with pictures!
3) The Color Purple - just more
4) Terms of Endearment (sorry Larry - some of the novel was a little weird)
5) The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton, 'nuff said