The Godfather. From a novel to one of the greatest films of all time.
The Eagle Has Landed I thought was an amazing book the film could never get over Michael Caine as a German
The Hunger Games book was darker than the film and I think the film lacked because of it
In my opinion if I have read the book the film very rarely comes close the pelican brief drove me mad the main guy was black and the book had a racist twist in it
It been well noted in many quarters that its a very hard book to get though.
Ice Station Zebra a good film but is better to read the book after seeing the film as the end of the film is only half the story.
I read most of the Sharpe books before they were made in to TV films and a lot miss stuff out that are in the books most very good films but there was one that bore no resemblance to the book that was about some cult and sacrifices in the film but not the book as I remember.
Was the same with Matthew McConaughey who was cast as Dirk Pitt in Sahara...!! Pitt in the books by Cussler is about 6'4", with green eyes and jet black hair. Matt is about 5'9" with blond wavy hair and a southern drawl... I mean, I know it's not as bad as casting a midget in the role of Jack Reacher (who is also 6'5") but, come on... Artistic license is one thing but are you seriously telling me that Hollywood cannot find suitable actors for the characters they are supposed to be embodying or portraying!
I guess in Cruise's case as he owned the rights to produce, then he does what he likes..
i had never properly seen the godfather until last year. i read the book a few months before seeing the film for the first time and thought the film was awful. the book was so much better
it was hard to get past the details left out
Occasionally you get a film which is better than the book. Two examples being, The Firm (the book feels too long ) and Jaws (the book is a little trashy)
I felt that Carrie and Misery were both better than their books too.
If we are going to follow the Stephen Kings then The Body, The Mist and The Green Mile along with the already mentioned Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption are exceptional adaptions and in some cases surpass the original text.
The Princess Bride, i feel, is a slightly better film than the book.
Lampshaded in the film.Andy does ask Red how he got his nickname. He replies, "maybe it's because I'm Irish."
There are lots. Most people assume that the book will always be better and whilst in most cases it is, it's not always.
World War Z - The most recent one I can think of. Cracking film and nothing like the plodding book.
Jurassic Park - Not a bad book but the film was stellar.
Salem's Lot - Another laborious read by King. The two part TV film with David Soul and James Mason however was exceptionally creepy.
Silence of the Lambs - Was much better than the book
The Prestige - Boring book by Christopher 'somebody'. The film was fantastic though.
The Bourne Trilogy - The books were a snore fest and Bourne is a lot older than Damon. The films are epic and kicked the spy franchise including Bond up the ass. Speaking of which...
Casino Royale - So so book. The remake of the film with Craig is immense though.
LoTR Trilogy - This is really saying something because the films were so boring it was like counting sheep so it shows how naff the books were.
LA Confidential - Decent book but the film was outstanding.
The Shining - Another decent book by King but it was brought to vivid life by Nicholson and he was completely different and better to how I imagined him in the book.
The Mist - Yet another King short. Wasn't bad but the film (with Thomas Jane I think it was) was great and that ending is brilliant.
Just some I can think of because that's the kind of stuff I read. A lot of King adaptions made much better films.