Thursday 14 April 2011

Top Five: Movie Adaptations

In honour of the movie-focused week over at Holes in my Brain and, of course, my own obsession with adaptations, I've decided to do my top five this week on my favourite big screen versions of books...

1. The Princess Bride. It's my favourite movie of all time. And it's based on one of my favourite books. It's awesome as a movie in itself, but it's also a fantastic adaptation. It really captures the whimsicality and humour of the novel, as it should - author William Goldman wrote the screenplay! On top of that, the casting is perfect, the costumes are great and the sets - well, they're kinda crappy, but that only adds to the charm.


2. The Notebook. This is one of those rare movie adaptations that's actually better than the book. While Nicholas Sparks' novel focuses mainly on the reunion of Noah and Ally, and refers to their teen romance briefly in flashbacks, the movie takes the time to build up their relationship before finally tearing them apart. Which makes their reunion all the more powerful - and, of course, romantic! Oh, and Ryan Gosling + Rachel McAdams = Total perfection.


3. Adaptation. This is based on Susan Orleans' The Orchid Thief, a book which I had to read for uni and which I hated. It's totally nuts and kinda boring. The movie, too, is totally nuts, but it's most definitely not boring. It takes a non-fiction, non-linear ramble and turns it into a fictional, non-linear ramble - completely changing the story but staying true to the essence and themes of the book and making it 100 times more entertaining in the process. Plus, it gets bonus points for Meryl Streep.


4. The Secret Garden. The movie isn't the most faithful adaptation ever, but, like Adaptation, it stays true to the spirit of its source material (Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel). Mary's blossoming (garden puns FTW!) from a churlish, selfish loner into a caring, lively girl is as magical to watch as it is to read. And Andrew Knott's Dickon was, like, my third love (after Prince Eric and Westley. I was eight by this stage).


5. Jane Eyre. The latest version of Charlotte Bronte's classic romance is ah-mazing. Inevitably, big chunks of plot are left out, but it does a fantastic job of condensing hundreds of pages of story into a couple of hours of film. The important stuff is there, and then some. Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska are brilliant as Rochester and Jane, and their chemistry is crazy-hot. The passion which is so central to their story - and is sometimes missing in adaptations - sizzles and leaps off the screen. Swoon!


Coming soon: my top five mini-series/TV adaptations!

16 comments:

  1. Ooh, I want to see the new Jane Eyre so much! Glad to hear that you liked it! Of all these movies, I've only seen The Princess Bride (which I looove).

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  2. Yeah I'm kind of obsessed with Michael Fassbender after seeing him as Rochester! I can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can watch it repeatedly :)

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  3. I think I've got quite a few recommendations of The Princess Bride, I SERIOUSLY need to watch that soon! Love the list, and I'm totally in love with THe Notebook as well :)

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  4. You definitely need to watch it - like, now! :)

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  5. I loved The Secret Garden! Have you seen the 1994 A Little Princess. Quite different from the book but good in a similar way to Secret Garden. I can't wait to see Jane Eyre.

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  6. I loved A Little Princess when I was younger, but I haven't seen it in years. Might need to rewatch!

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  7. Cool post!:) I have not watched any of these...wondering how come? Will be watching now!:)

    Komz
    http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/

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  8. Wow Belle! So the new remake of Jane Eyre is already making top lists? If you deem it ah-mazing then I've got to get myself to the movies and watch it! I tried going a couple of weeks back but no one would go with me. :(

    Will you?

    I lovvvvvvvvved The Notebook! And TPB is a classic that I can watch again and again.

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  9. I would love to see it with you! ;) But yes, you definitely should see it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I hope I haven't set too high expectations for it, but I really do think it's ah-mazing. The friend who I saw it with has never read the book, but she really enjoyed it too, so I think that's a good sign!

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  10. Hi Belle!
    I loved the Secret Garden, too! I haven't watched Jane Eyre yet, but I will soon do! :) Great list!

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  11. Thanks Evie! Let me know what you think of it :)

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  12. The Princess Bride is one of my favourite films ever!

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  13. I'm a little late to the game on this post, but I just finished reading The Princess Bride last week and agree about the movie interpretation. I'm still trying to sort through the whole thing with S. Morgenstern, but overall it was a good book - very unique. Also, like you said, the casting for the movie was perfect.

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  14. It's never too late to comment! :) I've made a few of my friends read The Princess Bride and the intro/S. Morgenstern stuff tends to confuse them, too. I love all Goldman's little notes throughout, though, they're hilarious.
    If they ever remake the movie, I think I'll cry. I don't see how it can get better!

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  15. I've been saying for some time now that The Notebook movie is way better than the book. And I adore The Princess Bride too! Although it's hard to say which is better because they're both great and also a little bit different. I haven't read/seen some of the other ones yet though...

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    1. I agree, it's a really close choice between The Princess Bride book and movie, they're both so amazing.

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