| With a slew of movies coming out that have been | | | | and actors really know the story, this is when the best |
| modeled after popular books, it seems to be a | | | | results occur.The trouble is when a movie is just |
| prevalent theme that the book is almost always better | | | | thrown together, without the time being taken to |
| than the movie. Perfect case in point is the latest | | | | maintain the integrity of the written story, and the |
| release "The DaVinci Code", an adaptation of the | | | | money to make the sets as realistic as possible, or |
| wildly popular and controversial work of fiction by | | | | sometimes it's just plain old misdirection.Take for |
| author Dan Brown. I loved the book, couldn't put it | | | | example the adaptation of the science fiction novel |
| down. But the movie was average.If I would have only | | | | Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard. The movie, |
| seen the movie and not read the book, I would have | | | | featuring John Travolta dressed in alien garb, ended up |
| walked out of the theater with the conclusion that I | | | | being a gross misinterpretation of the story, as well as |
| would not have wanted to read such a mediocre | | | | the brunt of several jokes around Oscar time, due to |
| book. Of course for every status quo, there are | | | | its poor reception from audiences and critics.Or how |
| always exceptions to the rule. The movies "Angela's | | | | about the unforgettable Ishtar starring Dustin Hoffman |
| Ashes" based on Irish novelist Frank McCourt's story | | | | and Warren Beatty? This atrocity was the brunt of |
| of a poor Irish family ended up being an excellent film, | | | | jokes for years after its dismal release as the most |
| well acted with a perfect cast and authentic | | | | boring movie ever made. And what about this list of |
| feel.Another example of a good movie based on a | | | | bombs that originated as well spun novels and novellas, |
| book is the autobiography about an embittered | | | | only to be poorly translated to the big screen?- |
| Vietnam veteran, Ron Kovic, played in the big screen | | | | Dangerous Minds |
| adaptation by Tom Cruise (before he was annoying). | | | | - Dune |
| The film ended up being a heart breaking protrayal of | | | | - The First Wive's Club |
| a man who served his country in good faith, and then | | | | - Freaky Friday |
| lost his legs and seemed to be cast off and forgotten | | | | - Girl Interrupted (this may just be my opinion though) |
| by the very government he fought to protect.Let's not | | | | - The Ghost and the Darkness |
| also forget an excellent silver screen adaptation of the | | | | - Little WomenAnd the list goes on. Just goes to |
| novel Dr. Zhivago, played by Omar Sharif, and the | | | | show, the majority of the time, one's imagination can |
| story of his unrequited love for Lara Antipova, played | | | | produce far more vivid and emotionally moving images |
| by the beautiful Julie Christie. This masterpiece of a film | | | | than that of a Hollywood director, or any amount of |
| was directed by David Lean with a true authenticity | | | | special effects. |
| and loyalty to the story. It seems that if the director | | | | |