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Now as well all know, most films are a pale imitation to the source material; Books and comics are usually a better medium for in-depth characterizations and what not, but sometimes the films do get it much better than the book ever did... Which stories come to mind that were done better on film than in the books?

My top two are

Lord of the Rings - it stripped sooo much dead weight and streamlined the story; plus the amazing visuals make the films more memorable and give that story a higher replay value than the books ever could have

and

Watchmen - replacing that Squid with framing Doc Manhattan was a much much better ending, its always better to utilize characters rather than use some MacGuffin and Snyder really improved upon the coming book ending that was originally given to us.

The Godfather. The book is decent, but the movie improved on it in every way.

Jaws. The novel flat out sucked, but the movie is a classic.

Fight Club. Good book. Better movie. Even the author thinks so.

The Mist. Stephen King himself said that the movie had a better ending than his short story.

Jurassic park, books good but the film is better and seeing the T-Rex for the first time is just the best

Lord of the rings

most MCU films..

Christine, although i enjoyed King's novel

Jurrassic Park

Hellboy.

All the comics are far superior to their film Satanic counterparts.

Originally posted by relentless1
Watchmen - replacing that Squid with framing Doc Manhattan was a much much better ending, its always better to utilize characters rather than use some MacGuffin and Snyder really improved upon the coming book ending that was originally given to us.

**** that. Snyder's Watchmen missed the entire point of the comic. Beyond that, using Dr. Manhattan for the ending made no sense. Dr. M is an American "asset" having him turn against humanity wouldn't unite the world anymore then if several American Nuclear bombs accidentally went off. In fact, the other nations would blame and condemn America (if not attempt to nuke America immediately after Moscow was destroyed). It would actually make everything worse.

Originally posted by ares834
**** that. Snyder's Watchmen missed the entire point of the comic. Beyond that, using Dr. Manhattan for the ending made no sense. Dr. M is an American "asset" having him turn against humanity wouldn't unite the world anymore then if several American Nuclear bombs accidentally went off. In fact, the other nations would blame and condemn America (if not attempt to nuke America immediately after Moscow was destroyed). It would actually make everything worse.

spewing the same rhetoric I've seen a million times without an opinion of your own on the film... also how would it make more sense to use the squid? the world would just assume that Doc could handle it, using Doc as the scapegoat world well within the story presented; the last time anyone saw him he got pissed and took off from Earth, of course all nations would believe that he came back for vengeance after that with the explanation that the ambush with Jeanine and the rest at that interview would have tipped him over the edge.

The theme of the "greater good" was explored quite well in Watchmen, most of the group finding that keeping silent about Veidts ruse a better alternative; in other words, they were cool with sacrificing some to save many, the only one who wasn't paid with his life.

Both iterations lack a true hero, both explore human reactions to extraordinary situations and both lack a black and whit morality seen in most other works of fiction. Sure, a lot of the journals and such were left out of the film but that's what had to be done in order to fit the run time AND keep the flow going for the viewing audience.

Originally posted by relentless1
spewing the same rhetoric I've seen a million times without an opinion of your own on the film... also how would it make more sense to use the squid? the world would just assume that Doc could handle it, using Doc as the scapegoat world well within the story presented; the last time anyone saw him he got pissed and took off from Earth, of course all nations would believe that he came back for vengeance after that with the explanation that the ambush with Jeanine and the rest at that interview would have tipped him over the edge.

You literally just answered your question here. Doc left. Anyway, the reason why using Doc wouldn't work was already explained. Sure, they may believe that Doc came back with a vengeance but they would place the blame on America for losing control of him (and that's assuming they don't just immediately fire their nukes after Moscow is destroyed).

Originally posted by relentless1
The theme of the "greater good" was explored quite well in Watchmen, most of the group finding that keeping silent about Veidts ruse a better alternative; in other words, they were cool with sacrificing some to save many, the only one who wasn't paid with his life.

That's, uh, not the theme of the comic, or at least not the main one. Far more pivotal is the idea that violence and the threat of violence (and therefore by extension, superheroes) as a "peace" keeping tool is moronic. Snyder completely misses this when he glorifies the violence and the heroes.

Originally posted by relentless1
Both iterations lack a true hero, both explore human reactions to extraordinary situations and both lack a black and whit morality seen in most other works of fiction. Sure, a lot of the journals and such were left out of the film but that's what had to be done in order to fit the run time AND keep the flow going for the viewing audience.

Does it? Certainly, the comic has a lot of grey morality and lacks a hero; but I would argue this is not the case in the film. The film's version of Rorschach is presented in a far more heroic and "badass" light then his comic counterpart. By contrast, Ozymandias is presented as sneering and effeminate rather then the very all-american and heroic facade he presents in the comic. Hell, they cut out much of his development; most notably his confession to Dr. Manhattan which is one of the most poignant and important parts of the comic.

Originally posted by ares834

. Hell, they cut out much of his development; most notably his confession to Dr. Manhattan which is one of the most poignant and important parts of the comic.


Was it even included in the directors cut?

Originally posted by Dr Will Hatch
Jaws. The novel flat out sucked, but the movie is a classic.
Wow, I thought the Jaws novel was fantastic. I couldn't put it down. Obviously the movie is great, too, but I wouldn't say one is way better than the other. They're very different mediums.


Originally posted by Dr Will Hatch
The Mist. Stephen King himself said that the movie had a better ending than his short story.
I wouldn't be surprised knowing some of King's writing. Darabont's film is amazing.



Originally posted by relentless1
Watchmen - replacing that Squid with framing Doc Manhattan was a much much better ending, its always better to utilize characters rather than use some MacGuffin and Snyder really improved upon the coming book ending that was originally given to us.

While I don't necessarily disagree, I was actually looking forward to seeing the Squid. Heh, but yeah, Watchmen is a good adaptation.

Originally posted by Eon Blue
Hellboy.

All the comics are far superior to their film Satanic counterparts.

^ Pretty edgy stance there, but that's actually the opposite of the thread topic, so nice fail. Stay on topic.


Children of Men (2006) - better than the book, The Children of Men by P.D. James.

Originally posted by Patient_Leech

While I don't necessarily disagree, I was actually looking forward to seeing the Squid. Heh, but yeah, Watchmen is a good adaptation.


For the love of God, never ever try explaining "the squid" to someone who saw the movie but didn't read the graphic.

Sin City.

An absolutely stunning and beautiful adaptation.

Originally posted by Impediment
Sin City.

An absolutely stunning and beautiful adaptation. true, for me I'll pick three Stephen King adaptations, Shawshank, Green Mile and the Mist.

300.