Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (30) - Best Book-to-Movie/Miniseries Adaptations


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is the best and/or worst book-to-movie adaptations.  I've already done a post on worst book-to-movie adaptations; it was actually the first Top Ten Tuesday I ever participated in (if you'd like, you can read it here).  So now I'm going to do the best adaptations, but with a little twist - I'm including miniseries in the list because I honestly think they're way better at bringing books to life than the movies.

Top Ten Best Book-to-Movie/Miniseries Adaptations


  • The Lord of the Rings trilogy  -  While I hate to pick one movie as my favorite, I will definitely say that this trilogy is in my top five.  There were some changes from the book, but there weren't too many, and they were changes I could live with.  Even if I hadn't read the books, I would still love these movies, simply because they're so well-done and exciting.
  • Pride and Prejudice  -  Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  Enough said.
  • Jane Eyre  -  I like almost all the adaptations I've ever seen of Jane Eyre, but this one is definitely the best so far.  The actors have great chemistry, the script stays true to the story, and the tension between Jane & Mr. Rochester is amazing.
  • I Capture the Castle  -  This is one of those movies I saw before reading the book, and I loved it.  (I love the book infinitely more.)  I think it has a great cast, and while certain parts were cut for time, all of the best parts are still there.
  • Persuasion  -  As much as I LOVE Pride & Prejudice, I think Persuasion has so much more emotional depth to its love story.  And this movie adaptation is so good.  Ciaran Hinds is an amazing actor, and he makes such a great Wentworth.  And Amanda Root as Anne...all of that regret & longing & hope & love - it's all in her eyes.
  • Emma  -  I'm obviously an Austen fan, and this is perhaps the best miniseries adaptation of one of her novels.  With an extremely talented cast - Romola Garai, Johnny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon - and the sets & costumes, Emma just comes to life so beautifully.
  • Under the Tuscan Sun  -  This is one of those rare times that the movie is better than the book.  I found the book so boring I didn't finish it (which is rare for me), but I loved the movie.  They took the core idea of Mayes' story and turned it into a sweet movie about travel, family, love, and self-discovery.
  • Twelfth Night  -  I love Shakespeare adaptations, and this is one of my favorites.  I could not stop laughing; the actors were brilliant, and their timing perfect.  I loved the time period and setting they used - late 1800s in Prussia (or maybe Poland?).
  • Going Postal  -  I've enjoyed all three Discworld adaptations, but Going Postal is the best of them.  For one thing, either they had a bigger budget or a better special effects team, because the CGI and effects were much higher quality than in the first two.  I also loved the story - the thief/cheat is given a second chance at life to redeem himself, which leads to a hilarious adventure. 
  • The Hunger Games  -  Besides being an adaptation of an amazing book, this movie was great because it only adjusted a few of the original story elements (mostly small details), and the material added enhanced the storyline, rather than drastically changing everything.  I'm sure it helped that Suzanne Collins worked on the screenplay.  Plus, the cast, the costume designs, and the cinematography itself all worked together to make this an incredible adaptation.
So what do you think?  Any you agree with?  Disagree with?  What are your favorite book-to-movie adaptations?

12 comments:

  1. My favorite Jane Eyre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre_(1997_film)

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    1. Ciaran Hinds is a spectacular Mr. Rochester. He's just an amazing actor in general, but he's especially great in that movie.

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  2. i definitely agree w/ hunger games & i generally love most shakespeare adaptations, especially if they're set after their original time. i love this version of emma & of course, P&P. I need to watch Persuasion this summer for a classics reading thing, so i'm looking forward to this adaptation. also, i never read lotr, but i LOVE these movies. great list :) ~daphne

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    1. Thanks! I not only recommend this version of Persuasion, but also the 2007 BBC version too. Both of them are really good adaptations, and each one has something unique to offer.

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  3. The Hunger Games was an awesome adaptation! Great picks!

    My TTT: http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/top-ten-best-and-worst-book-to-movie-adaptation-experiences/

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  4. Exactly, Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy - Perfection!!

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  5. Oooh, someone else who likes the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root version of Persuasion! It doesn't tend to get mentioned that much but I think the actors do a fantastic job of portraying the tension between their two characters.

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    1. I know. It's definitely underrated. I think Ciaran Hinds is just fantastic in this movie.

      Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  6. awwww... under the tuscan sun!! i loved that movie, but have to admit i didn't read the book!

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    1. If you ever do read it, just don't expect it to be anything like the movie. The book gets bogged down in renovation details, the Polish workers are a very small part of one chapter, and there's no romance. I definitely think the movie's way better.

      Thanks for commenting! :)

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Thank you so much for commenting! I always appreciate reading what you have to say.