Top Ten Tuesday: The Best & Worst Book to Film Adaptations

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

The Top Ten Best & Worst Book to Film Adaptations

I'm one of those people that needs to read the book before I see the movie, but it's a catch-22 because if I love a book, the movie will almost certainly never live up. That said, there are some that do live up to their literary counterparts, so I figured I'd show a split. Here are the five best and the five worst book to film adaptations...in my humble opinion, of course!


1. Pride & Prejudice - The 2005 version. Keira Knightly plays the perfect Lizzie Bennett...and Mr. Darcy...yeah, that is all.

2. The Notebook - I swear, I'm not a big romantic film lover, but this is perfection to me. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are the perfect Allie and Noah.

3. A Walk to Remember - I read this book so long ago, but the movie actually lived up, and it made me cry half a dozen times. It doesn't hurt that the music is pretty great, too.

4. Atonement - I went with some friends to see this one who thought it would be like Pearl Harbor. Needless to say, it's not. It's rough, it's edgy and it's not a feel-good movie...but it's amazing.

5. Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - The movies just got better and better. I just happened to love this film the most. It might be the fact that I still love Sirius Black.


1. I Am Number Four - I really liked this book despite the controversy surrounding the author(s) of it. The film, however, was just blah. I expected more from you, Alex Pettyfer! 

2. The Last Song - I love this book. I hate this movie. I should have felt something while watching this, but let's be real. Miley Cyrus portrays the emotional range of a bean.

3. The Lovely Bones - This movie is just blasphemy. I loved this book. Loved, loved, loved. Tell me, do you really think that any of the true passion was captured in this film? No. It wasn't.

4. My Sister's Keeper - Ugh. I really don't have words to say how wrong this film was cast and just how badly it played out. That ending...you changed the. entire. book. UGH.

5. The Lightning Thief - There have been worse movies made. I know this. However, if you're trying to set up an epic new fantasy film series...do it right. The books is a zillion times better.

38 comments:

  1. Have you read Atonement? I never have but have always meant to. I'd like to read it and then see the movie. I loved the 2005 P&P. I think the BBC version is a better adaptation, but I really liked Keira Knightley's portrayal and I find Matthew MacFadyen more attractive than Colin Firth.

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    1. Yes, and I loved Atonement...I think the book is excellent, and the movie is really well done in terms of staying true to the story. I worried it would be far too romanticized, but it wasn't.

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  2. Unfortunately, I agree with you about The Lightning Thief. I haven't read or seen your other worst picks so I can't comment (though I do agree with all your best choices). I would also add The Perks of Being a Wallflower to "Best" and Ella Enchanted and The Host to "Worst" (sucks because I loved those books so much).

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    1. I haven't seen The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I totally agree on Ella Enchanted and The Host. Those were extremely poor adaptations!

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  3. I know! I'm so disappointed about The Lightning Thief as well. It's so different from the book. Despite of my raging love to Logan Lerman, I think the movie tries too hard to be 'the next Harry Potter'. And I LOVE Pride and Prejudice. So gorgeous, so perfect. <3 Keira Knightley is just awesome. :')

    Wonderful list, Melissa! <3 I'm a new follower too. Hoping to talk more in the future! :)

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    1. I'm so glad you understand my love of P&P, Hilda! I love that movie so dang much :)

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  4. I totally agree with your top 5 best adaptations! All of which are great movies! The Lightning Thief was a huge disappointment!

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    1. The Lightning Thief....it could have been so good...but it just failed!

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  5. If I had all say to rant about the fail Te Lightning Thief was, I would but I'll just leave it as this: RAGE. My favourite series as well- movie puts it to shame.

    Great choices, Melissa! <33

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    1. ugh, I hear you, Melanie. That series is amazing, and the film just didn't do it justice. I don't know if I can even see Sea of Monsters!

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  6. The Lightning Thief was a utter epic fail. It makes me feel stabby to think how they took an absolutely incredible book and butchered it beyond recognition. For shame, Hollywood.

    TTT @ Krista's Dust Jacket

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    1. Right?! Amen to that, Krista. I almost wish they just hadn't made a film!

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  7. Oh The Notebook is perfect for this list!!! Great choice. I'd forgotten about that one but I could watch and read it a zillion times. You're right, it's perfect. And also, the Percy Jackson thing is SO HARD because I know that you and I both share the same love for this series - each time I see it I WANT TO LOVE IT - like it's going to be different this time, ya know? But AAHHH. Still, I watch it if I see it on TV (rare, I don't watch a lot) and I have high hopes every time. Always let down a little. I'll still see the second one because hello NATHAN I LOVE YOU. We'll see how that one goes. Maybe the movie makers have realized that the world didn't like the first one and they've made the second one better? Maybe?? xo

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    1. Well, I know it was debatable for a while if they were even going to make a second film because it did pretty poorly and a lot of people were disappointed. Here's to hoping they actually get something right for a change ;)

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  8. I loved The Notebook and A Walk to Remember. Completely agree with you about The Lost Song!

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  9. Nobody liked The Lightning Thief movie. What a disappointment it was.

    Here's my Top Ten Best Movie Adaptations.

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    1. Too true, Deb. Ugh. Another one of those movies that should never have been made.

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  10. I loved the movie version of A Walk to Remember, even though the approach to the story differed so much from the book. It's one of my favorite teen films (it sits next to 10 Things I Hate About You on my mental shelf!).

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    1. I love love love 10 Things I Hate About You, and I've definitely seen A Walk to Remember more times than I can count haha!

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  11. Aww A Walk to Remember and The Notebook! Such good adaptations! I read The Last Song about a year ago and got the movie straight after, but I've never got round to watching it...might give it a miss now haha! Definitely agree with My Sister's Keeper too, boo!

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    1. Ugh...I'm STILL pissed about My Sister's Keeper! Why did they even make a movie?!

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  12. I completely agree with your best list! Pride & Prejudice with Kiera Knightley is one of my favorite movies ever. I've probably watched the movie like 10 times already. And the actor who plays Darcy was so good.
    I didn't read the Notebook, but I've heard the movie is a 1000 times better than the book.

    I've only watched The Lovely Bones, but I didn't like the movie at all. And as for The Last Song, there's no way in hell I'm watching any movie with Miley Cyrus in it. Your line about her acting had me laughing!
    I didn't know they had changed the ending of My Sister's Keeper, but that sucks.

    Anyways, great post, Melissa!

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  13. Great top ten! Thanks for stopping by:) I forgot Atonement, love that movie.

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  14. Hahahaha the emotional range of a bean. True though. I didn't care for that movie outside enjoying Liam Hemsworth, she just didn't feel right for the role. I LOVED the Keira Knightley version of Pride & Prejudice, I've watched that an absurd number of times. So good:)

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  15. I really liked this P&P adaptation and loved the Notebook, although I haven't read the book. TOTALLY agree about My Sister's Keeper. It made my worst list, too. I haven't watched the movie because I know they changed the ending!!! Seriously, the author gives you the best Hollywood ending ever and then you change it. So lame. Great list!
    Natflix&Books' TTT

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  16. I really need to read A WALK TO REMEMBER and THE NOTEBOOK -- I adore the films!

    Ugh, THE LIGHTNING THIEF. I'm really nervous about the sequel! Let's hope they get it right this time.

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  17. Dune...worst adaptation ever...EVER

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  18. I'm not a huge romantic film lover either, but The Notebook and A Walk to Remember are two of my absolute favourites. Both give me butterflies every time! I haven't seen My Sister's Keeper, but I wasn't a huge fan of the book to begin with. I really can't stand it when the story is drastically changed though. That's really the worst thing that could happen for me.

    Grist lists, Melissa!

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  19. Percy Jackson was also on my worst list, though I liked it as a movie, but not as an adaptation. I was actually disappointed in the book for The Notebook. I loved the movie, but I just didn't get emotional like I wanted to with the book. Great list! My TTT.

    Vyki @ On The Shelf

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  20. Wow, there actually isn't a single book on here that I disagree with! PJ was truly horrible but The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and especially P&P are all faves. Lovely list, Melissa!

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  21. I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree over which P&P adaptation is the best. :) I actually was pretty disappointed with the casting of Sirius Black - I really like his character and imagined him to be...better? more attractive? I was predisposed to dislike the film and so I did end up disliking it. I've heard bad things about The Lovely Bones and My Sister's Keeper (and I enjoyed both of those books). They sound like films I should skip over...unless, I guess, I just want to be all rage-y about how the freaking perfect ending was changed in My Sister's Keeper. Which I probably don't want to do. And I agree with the point you make about Percy Jackson - if you're going to do an epic fantasy, try to do it right!

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  22. The Lightning Thief was TERRIBLE! As was I Am Four. *shudder* Just so bad. Granted I wasn't a huge fan of the Four book but it wasn't nearly as bad as the movie. And how can you ruin a book like The LIghtning Thief?!? Uhg.

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  23. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite! I do prefer the Colin Firth version, but I enjoy the Kiera Knightly one too! :)

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  24. I haven't read any of the books these movies were based on except for P&P (and that was a long time ago) but have to agree that the movie versions of Harry Potter, A Walk to Remember (Shane West!) and The Notebook were awesome. I still need to watch the P&P movie though.

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  25. Oh, I love your lists. And I got so happy when I saw you had included A Walk to Remember on the first category because I absolutely loved that movie. And that book was one of the first ones that got me into reading and I thought the movie stayed very true to the book. Nice picks, Melissa! : )

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  26. I completely agree with this TTT! I LOVED all of your favorite adaptations. I actually thought the movie A WALK TO REMEMBER made more of an impact than the book. And Atonement! WHOA that was well done too. I think I liked the movie ending better than that book too. Also those terrible adaptations - YES to the Lightning Thief! I've read My Sister's Keeper and The Lovely Bones but avoided those adaptations, and I've seen The Last Song and I Am Number Four but haven't read the books. Not sure what that says, but I'm not compelled to read/watch the opposite.

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