Wednesday 14 July 2010

Top Ten Picks: Book-to-Movies Adaptations

Top Ten Picks is an original meme at Random Ramblings where RR picks a specific topic, you make a list, and post it. For this week, the topic is on our favorite books-to-movie adaptations. In RR's opinion, these are the ones that have truly captured the essence of the books, and did it justice! Some, even might have exceeded expectations.

MY PICKS ARE:
1. Northanger Abbey
The 2007 movie version of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey truly compliments the novel, in my opinion. It's beautifully done, it's fun, funny and even a little suspensful.The cast was well chosen and additions and changes that were made in the movie really worked so well!

2. Hamlet
I hope plays count because in my eyes, Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet from 1996 is the best adaptation of a Shakespeare play I have seen. It totally captures the spirit of the play and it's also lush and even a bit sexy. It's a feast for the eyes and the cast does a marvellous job.

3. The Lord of the Rings (entire trilogy)
Have you read the books by Tolkien? Have you seen the movies? Because if you have, then you know what I'm talking about. The books are absolutely epic, and so are the movies, just breath-taking. The changes that were made for the sake of attracting audiences really work and totally compliment the books, in my opinion. I...really don't know what to say.;) Only that the movies are just as amazing (if not more, to me) as the books are.

4. Primal Fear
Two words: Edward Norton. He makes the movie, he so does. His acting, his performance as Aaron Stampler, is top notch. To see Aaron from the book (by William Diehl) come to life so wonderfully is a true feast for the eyes. The movie does justice to the book, and Edward Norton totally nails Aaron Stampler.

5. Dracula
Bram Stoker's classical novel. To be honest, I liked the novel, but it really bored me at times. The movie with Gary Oldman, although very romanticised, really appealed to me and it is one of those movies that I like better than the book a movie is based on.

6. Jane Eyre
This is one of my favourite books and the BBC adaptation from 2006 is love.;) It captures the essence of Charlotte Bronte's beautiful novel and it just speaks to me, as does the book. When you get this feeling, you know the adaptation is perfect.

7. The Girl with a Pearl Earring
I love Tracy Chevalier's stories and this books is so amazing. I think the movie really captured its essence: Vermeer's paintings, his environment, his era, and Griet. Scarlet Johanssen IS griet. Love it!

8. Bridget Jones's Diary

I loved the book by Helen Fielding, but the movie is way better and more enjoyable. Rene Zellweweger IS Bridget Jones and the story works so well in the movie, better than in the book. This movie totally exceeded my expectations.

9. Interview with a Vampire
The first ten minutes, I thought: This is nothing like Anne Rice's novel. Then, I fell in love with the movie. It really compliments the novel beautifully. It is very decadent and vampiric, as well as sad and yearning. Beautiful. Luois and Lestat came to life perfectly.

10. Sense and Sensibility
The BBC adaptation from 2008 is probably my favourite Jane Austen adaptation. It is faithful to the novel, and the things that are added and changed totally improve the story for the viewer. You can see what can't be seen in the novel. Fantastic!

7 comments:

Debbie said...

I agree with most of those, especially the Austen/Bronte/Rice adaptions and Bridget Jones!

Blodeuedd said...

Greta choices!
I prefer the 96 or was it 95 Persuasion cos I love the end when he asks her dad if he can marry her and her dad replies "anne, you wanna marry anne? whatever for? :)

The Insouciant Sophisticate said...

I haven't seen/read a few of this but I agree wholeheartedly with Northanger Abbey especially because I'm kind of in lust with JJ Feild. Altogether it's just absolutely delightful!

Irena @ This Miss Loves to Read said...

In lust with JJ Field: I can totally understand.;)

Cathy said...

I like the variety of your list. This was a fun thing to do!

La Coccinelle said...

I totally agree with #10. I love that adaptation!

Jillian said...

I completely agree with you with LOTR. I feel like because of the movies, people who have never even heard of the books are suddenly interested! And I absolutely agree with Bridget Jones' Diary. Good book, but I loved the movies! I think it's the actors that played the characters that truly made all the difference in the end.