My Cart - We all know it’s good to read, and often movie adaptations can really butcher our favourite literary works. Indeed it’s all too easy to think of the number of times you’ve heard the infamous phrase “the book was better than the film” uttered. However here we take a quick look at some notable exceptions to the rule where the film adaptation ended up being even better than the book it was based on.
A little-known fact is that the cult classic dinosaur adventure Jurassic Park was in fact based on a novel of the same name by science fiction writer Michael Crichton. Unlike its blockbuster counterpart, Jurassic Park the novel is a little less action-packed and has a greater scientific and technical focus. Ultimately it just doesn’t quite have the sense of fun and adventure captured perfectly by the film.
Another surprising and arguably fortunate book adaptation is Die Hard. The movie was adapted from the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorpe. Die Hard is a true classic for action fans and spawned a very successful franchise, largely thanks to its great direction and charismatic lead Bruce Willis. Though a number of key features from the novel were retained during its transition to the big screen, a few changes were made, particularity to its characters, which just don’t have the same impact as their big screen counterparts. The novel also has a much darker tone than the film version.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a cult horror classic and Jack Nicholson’s turn as the disturbed Jack Torrance is truly unforgettable. The source material for the film was a novel of the same name by acclaimed writer Stephen King, and whilst the book itself was a tightly wound thriller, it can’t quite stand up to the chilling effectiveness of Kubrick’s masterpiece.
The 2011 film Drive staring Ryan Gosling gained an instant cult following. This film is a fine example of the rarest of breeds… a story that works better as a film than a book. Although they both tell much the same story, the novel suffers from much slower pacing and a rather more meandering storyline, unlike the film, which is characterised by its tight narrative and thrilling closing scenes, not to mention its beautiful cinematography and great soundtrack.
Hopefully this has inspired you to be a little less sceptical of movie adaptations; after all, they really aren’t all bad. If you’re looking for a cheap TV then here at Electronic World we have a great selection for you to choose from. Don’t forget to check out our main site and for more information about our great range of products please do not hesitate to contact us by giving us a call on 0121 327 3273.
