Whenever the movie adaptation of a well-loved book is announced, ardent book fans collectively gasp. More with cynicism than with excitement. After all, the thought that one’s favorite stories and characters might get tempered isn’t particularly pleasing. There’s also this indisputable truth that no matter how amazing an adaptation turns out, it can never have the subtle layers of details the books provide.
If we keep all this in mind, can we make the book vs movie comparison? Can we say that movies can be better than books? Definitely, yes; because of the simple fact that outliers always exist in any stream of consistency. Movies that make such exceptions either benefit profusely from the directors’ and the screenwriters’ extraordinary ability to fill the plot holes the book had and provide the story a creative twist, or from an immensely talented cast or simply from charming visuals. Whatever the reason, the movie ends up outshining the book it’s based on.
Here are some movies that, we think, outdo their source of writing.
1. THE NOTEBOOK
The Notebook has a beautiful story of everlasting love, but (unpopular opinion) the book is slow and not everyone’s type. Ryan Gosling’s and Rachel McAdams’s chemistry in the movie is the reason this story is still making waves. They made it much more enjoyable and lovable than what the book managed to do.
2. GONE GIRL
The Gone girl book is a personal favorite. It’s a gripping page-turner full of plotlines that keep one reading the page without pause, but the movie is simply better. What grips viewers from the start is Rosamund Pike’s phenomenal acting. She brought to life the psychologically disturbed character of Amy so well that she deserves all the commendation she receives for it.
3. CRAZY RICH ASIANS
The Crazy Rich Asians book is crazy detailed. Almost every character has a background story. There are many subplots as well. With that much depth, Jon M.Chu has undeniably done an extraordinary job of compressing it all beautifully in a 2-hour movie, speckled with humor and charming visual details.
4. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
If we compare the movie vs book versions, both are enjoyable, but the movie takes the lead. Why? Well, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt! Do I need to say more? The book also feels repetitive, but the movie is concise and stays close to the book. A win.
5. JAWS
Jaws movie is unarguably grand. It’s so unforgettable and leaves such an impact on people that just the thought of water makes them shiver with fright for days to come. The book, in comparison, just simply feels lacking.
6. FORREST GUMP
The movie Forrest Gump is vastly different from the book. Robert Zemeckis only took the basic elements from the book, and honestly, his decision couldn’t have been better. While both focus on Forrest’s adventures, the movie feels much more cohesive and realistic as compared to the book, which feels absurd and random.
7. THE GODFATHER
If we make the movie vs book comparison, both are amazing and offer different experiences. While the book is much more detailed, the movie is simply iconic. The stellar cast, the energy, the pace, it has everything. It’s a masterpiece.
So this was my opinion of movies that I think are better than their books. Do you have anything to add to the list? Please feel free to comment.
