What is you worst book to film transfer!

Gunni Parker · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:28

As the title say's, in your opinion what is the worst book to film transfer you have seen?

Mine is Richard Mathesons "I am legend"

The book is personally my most favourite book of all time. It is fantastic, and unless if you have read it you won't know what I am on about. The film took no elements from the book other than the book title, character name and made it into an apocalyptic esq surrounding. Everything else was changed for the worse. If I wouldn't have read the book many moons ago maybe I would have had a different opinion about the film. But I have and its *insert lots of swearing here. :eek:

Meridian · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:32

I assume that you mean the latest version of the book? It has been filmed twice before.

M

PermaBanned · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:34

Eragon and Northern Lights.

Ziggy · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:39

Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption.

But really Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

Gunni Parker · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:46

Meridian said:
I assume that you mean the latest version of the book? It has been filmed twice before.

M

Yes I do. The Omega man was just as bad though. The original film I have not seen and I have heard its the closest version to the book.

Do you agree with me?

Moobert · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:47

Meridian said:
I assume that you mean the latest version of the book? It has been filmed twice before.

M

There has also been a few quite bad movies that have basically stolen the whole story and thrown some other crap into the mix, "I am Omega" springs to mind

Antar Bolaeisk · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:49

Superewza said:
Eragon and Northern Lights.

+ 1 for Northern Lights, the book is absolutely fantastic and one of my favourites but the film was complete and utter Bantha Fodder.

Majago · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:51

Timeline by Michael Crichton. Paul Walker ruined that film

Vonhelmet · 26 Nov 2009 at 22:55

I believe that one of the versions of 1984 ended with Wilson shouting "Down with Big Brother!" and being gunned down.

Fail.

Ooh, and The Lost World by Michael Crichton. The book isn't brilliant, but the film is awful.

Guy · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:02

Gunni Parker said:
snip

I cannot agree more, they just missed the whole point of the book, also made the mistake of reading the book a day or 2 before watching the film. Man that made it a whole lot worse

Arjun806 · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:22

All of the Harry Potter books. I grew up reading them so I really like him, but I hated the films, especially the latest one.

Shamikebab · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:27

Northern Lights or Return of The King.

Irish_Tom · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:30

I think Hitchhikers' is the most disappointing but the Bourne Trilogy annoyed me somewhat. If they weren't such good action films in their own right I would be seriously peeved.

Apart from there being a secret agent who loses his memory, there is very little correlation to Ludlum's books. For instance, in the books, most of The Bourne Supremacy takes place in Hong Kong and in The Bourne Ultimatum, Jason Bourne is a much older man who comes out of retirement to keep his wife and kids safe from Carlos The Jackal. Where does that fit into the films?!? :confused:

As I said, if they weren't good action flicks I would be really annoyed. I just have to watch them thinking "they should have changed the title".

I also agree with Northern Lights. I'm not too fussed about the LOtR films, except for Saruman's death at Isenguard and Frodo and Sam being taken to Osgiliath by Faramir.

Panzer

Xordium · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:41

Dune and Northern Lights.

Moobert · 27 Nov 2009 at 00:11

Panzerbjorn said:
I think Hitchhikers' is the most disappointing but the Bourne Trilogy annoyed me somewhat. If they weren't such good action films in their own right I would be seriously peeved.

Apart from there being a secret agent who loses his memory, there is very little correlation to Ludlum's books. For instance, in the books, most of The Bourne Supremacy takes place in Hong Kong and in The Bourne Ultimatum, Jason Bourne is a much older man who comes out of retirement to keep his wife and kids safe from Carlos The Jackal. Where does that fit into the films?!?

As I said, if they weren't good action flicks I would be really annoyed. I just have to watch them thinking "they should have changed the title".

I also agree with Northern Lights. I'm not too fussed about the LOtR films, except for Saruman's death at Isenguard and Frodo and Sam being taken to Osgiliath by Faramir.

Panzer

Spot on

me227 · 27 Nov 2009 at 02:43

I Am Legend. The book's ending just tied in with the whole meaning of the name and it made a point.

Northern Lights. Film = Crap

Neuromancer I think was made into a film with Keanu Reeves. Terrible terrible stuff.

K1LLSW1TCH · 27 Nov 2009 at 03:08

I actually read Rambo: First Blood part 2. It wasn't *as bad* as it sounds.

DampCat · 27 Nov 2009 at 06:49

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

All the other films were pretty good for book transfers. Some stuff was changed slightly or cut out or not as it was in the book, but you have to expect that in films. In any case, films versions are interpretations, not direct transfers. In Half Blood Prince though... I mean, nothing was the same. In fact, the only scene they did justice was the lake horcrux. The rest was just teenage angsty love that was only an undertone in the book, with "the half blood prince" being tacked on at the end having been forgotten about since the first 20 minutes.

MonkeyNews · 27 Nov 2009 at 07:04

Yeah agree with Hitchhikers, loved the books and loved the BBC TV and radio series but the film was just poor in comparison, but I suppose it is hard to compress 5 books into an hour and a half.

Oh and no Simon Jones then no dice

molinari · 27 Nov 2009 at 07:25

Well the two that come to mind are two that have been mentioned already:
I Am Legend - Awesome book, awful film.
Northern Lights - Awesome book, pretty poor film.