Books-Turned-Movies
November 24, 2009 by Misa
Filed under Featured Blog, Hot Topics, Misa's Columns
25 best book to film adaptations“Twenty-five films that made it from the book shelf to the box office with credibility intact.”
I was looking through this article by Melissa Katsoulis about the 25 best book to film adaptations and something struck me. Only 7 (not including the Harry Potter Series and Hermione’s presence) of the 25 have either a strong female presence or a strong romantic element. Here’s the pared down list of those that do have one of those two elements,
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
Doctor Zhivago, by Boris Pasternak
Dangerous Liaisons, by Pierre Choderlos de laclos
The Remains of the Day, by Kaxuo Ishiguro
The Heiress, by Henry James
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, By Muriel Spark
The Leopard, by Guiseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa
The Harry Potter Series, by JK Rowling
One common element within this list is that they all have somewhat of a tragic nature. If there is a love story, it tells of unrequited love, or love lost, or love never realized. I love good movies. I love to be swept away into another world (which is why I love books, too, of course). But more than anything, I love the happily ever after. I want to see the best in in people, the hope in situations, and the love that sustains. One of my favorites, for example is The Shawshank Redemption, by Stepehen King. What a movie! Love it, and I can’t believe it’s not on this list!.
I decided to make a list of my own. Books made into movies that fill me with that sense of wonder and “Ahhhhh”, that have romance and/or a strong female presence in them, or that just fill me with warm fuzzies. Here’s my list:
Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan (one of my all time favorites)
Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel
Practical Magic, by Alice Hoffman
Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine
Chocolat, by Joann Harris
Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
Emma, by Jane Austin
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin (the A&E version with Colin Firth… AHHHHH)
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austin
Jane Erye, by Charlotte Bronte
The African Queen, by CS Forester
Bridget Jones’s Diary, by Helen Fielding
Question of the Day: What’s your favorite book to movie (with or without a female lead, romance, or strong female presence)?
I love Bridget’s Jones’s Diary! Reminds me that I’ve been wanting to see it again. For strong female heroine, I instantly thought of Ripley from Aliens, although I wouldn’t say that’s a favorite of mine. Certainly memorable though!
I love Bridget Jones’s Diary, too, both book and movie. It’s definitely a warm fuzzy movie, especially with Colin Firth in it. =)
Deep End of The Ocean. I really have too many favorites to list but that one came to mind.
Did they make that into a movie, Amy? I never saw it (or heard of the movie).
Yep, It had Michell Pfeifer & Treat Williams. I think it has been quite awhile ago. I read the book first and kinda happened upon the movie. But I really liked it. I thought the characters were strong. Sometimes the movie ends up so different. This was pretty accurate.
I loved Jurassic Park. Although slightly different from the book I felt the movie stayed true to the feeling of the story and the characters in it.
I have to say Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook is one of my favs!!
Haven’t read or seen that one, Tonya. I know what I’ll be doing over Thanksgiving break. =)
I have read and seen Jurassic Park, Jill! Yay! Great example.
I’ll be looking for Deep End of the Ocean, Amy.