Is there any movie that was equal to or better than the book, is it intrinsic to the media themselves?

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 15:36:23 -0400

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jul 23 at 2016 3:43 PM

PO3 David Fries — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 15:43:37 -0400

The only one that's come close that I have seen is Sphere by Michael Chrichton.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jul 23 at 2016 3:51 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 15:51:34 -0400

This post was inspired by encountering the travesty that is the "Starship Troopers" film again on TV. 300 is my other least favorite. The Bourne Identity on the other hand represents a movie I really enjoyed, and then a book I enjoyed later. (encountering first one then the other.)

I think its a mix of the options I provided, I do think there are strengths and weaknesses to each I do think the one that is created first tends to be better, I do think as a consumer you will enjoy the one you encounter first at a higher level than the one next. All that said, books have freedom and leisure to really tell the story.

A medium I didn't bring up is games. Maybe it needs its own category. I've never loved a book based on a game like the game. But maybe that's the same dynamic replaying.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 23 at 2016 3:54 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 15:54:47 -0400

Believe it or not I liked Forest Gump the movie better than the book. The movie made Forest out to be more believable, like your (below) average everyday person who has extraordinary things happen to him.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 23 at 2016 4:39 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 16:39:17 -0400

Books and film are vastly different media for telling stories. I don't judge them against each other. Often, they're equally good though significantly different. 1984. Dune. Both powerful books and films.

Response by SFC Richard Giles made Jul 23 at 2016 4:49 PM

SFC Richard Giles — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 16:49:43 -0400

Like a few others have said before me, 2 completely different mediums. I know a few people that won't go to see a movie if a book has been wrote 1st. Their reasoning is the movie can't go as deep into detail as the book.
The one example I can give is from a long time ago when I was into horror and mystery and that was "Christine". To me the book was way better then the movie just because of the point I mentioned earlier.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jul 23 at 2016 6:06 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 18:06:45 -0400

Best book "Gettysburg" Stephen Sears" lousy movie best movie "Reservoir Dogs"think that was only a scene play so can't complain,I agree generally apples and oranges on comparison.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 23 at 2016 6:16 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 18:16:36 -0400

The Princess Bride was nearly a tie. I'd be hard pressed to call either medium better than the other. This however is a "true" rendition of one to the other.

Blade Runner and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? is another, which share the same "outline" but vastly different philosophical approaches.

Starship Troopers I will include because they share the same NAME (only). Heinlein's book is a vastly superior STORY, however, the movie when taken for what it is (a satire on Fascism) is very good. We must however remember that the movie is UNRELATED to the Heinlein book. It licensed the Name, and later applied a "few" key story elements to create the illusion of adaptation.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 23 at 2016 8:01 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 20:01:01 -0400

I've generally foundnbooks superior, if only for the simple reason of having the opportunity to go into greater detail of both characterization, and or explanation. That being said, on rare occasions, I'd found, once in awhile, a movie can at least equal a book, or, if not precisely equal, at the very least, get reasonably close. The best example I'd ever seen for purely military history films, I think was The Great Raid, about the liberation of Cabanatuan POW camp on Luzon that the Japanese ran for the survivors of the Bataan death march. Another, that, if not perfect, was so well casted and acted as to let one ignore the very few historical inaccuracies, was, of course, Glory, Matthew Broderick along with Denzel Washington should, in my view, have gotten an Oscar for his depiction of Col Robert Gould Shaw, plus, casting him in the role was virtually genius, as well, to my way of thinking. There's also DaY One about the Manhattan Project, which, aside from leaving out the story of Louis Slotingp, as depicted in the otherwise abysmal Fat Man and Little Boy, where I'd thought Paul Newman woefully miscast, Brian Denehy in Day One did a tour de force as MGen Leslie R Groves, Paul Newman did his best, however, Brian Denehy was a spot on match in terms of physiognomy, though John Cusack playing Louis Slotin or the role of him in Fat Man was quite good, certainly. Tjere are others I could cite as well, however, hopefully, those at least I think reasonably illustrate my point, I'd be eager for any thoughts, I realize of course that tastes as to such things will obv differ, many thanks.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2016 8:08 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 20:08:24 -0400

An excellent question for discussion. Sure beats the usual drivel on here!!!

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Jul 23 at 2016 9:42 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 21:42:25 -0400

Princess Bride

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Jul 23 at 2016 10:31 PM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 22:31:01 -0400

I always tried to read the book first before seeing the movie although this wasn't always the case. Ex. I saw the movie We Were Soldiers before reading the book. Same with Platoon. Anyway if I end up reading the book first I too often criticize the movie depending on what's left out. I stopped watching the Harry Potter series because of that reason. I've also come across some movies that do a doggone fine job of portraying their respective book (Flags of Our Fathers).

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2016 1:06 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 01:06:47 -0400

I've read a few. Battlefield Earth, the book was great but the movie butchered the book. The Short Timers, aka Full Metal Jacket, were both very entertaining. The Ludlum books, Bourne Identity, et. al. were much better than the movies. The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, Angels and Demons and the DaVinci Code were great books also.

Then there is Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged three part movie of which the book is better but I'm glad they made the movie into three parts without cutting out the premise of the story. Overall books are much better.

There are still several I would love to see adapted for the big screen like Without Remorse, Tom Clancy and the Incarnations of Immortality series, Piers Anthony.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2016 11:44 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 11:44:04 -0400

Here ya go, Capt Richard P........think this sums it up!!!