5 Book to Movie Adaptations that are Actually Good

You can’t deny that it can be entertaining to see a book you’ve only pictured in your mind, alive on a big screen. That’s a special kind of magic. Of course, that’s only for movies that are good. Bad movie adaptations exist, and I think we’ve all seen one…or ten (hint hint: My Sister’s Keeper).

The list below features five movie adaptations of books that I really enjoyed.

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1 – The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

I can’t be a princess! I’m still waiting for normal body parts to arrive!

Mia Thermopolis, The Princess Diaries

This was my favorite movie growing up. The idea that an ordinary girl could be a princess? Talk about a dream come true.

Then I find out there’s an entire book series? I headed to the nearest Barnes & Noble to get my hands on them. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the biggest fan and couldn’t get myself to read past the second or third book. ‘Tis life.

Crazy to think this movie was made in 2001 – woof. Julie Andrews was made to portray a Queen. Everything about her is regal and elegant. Don’t even get me started on her relationship with Joseph. They had waaaay more chemistry than Mia and Michael. Honesty though, that makes sense since they’re only in high school. In fact, it’s more realistic.

This movie, mwah! Chef’s kiss.

2 – Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin

You have bewitched my body and soul. And I love…I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.

Mr. Darcy, Pride & Prejudice

By far the BEST Pride and Prejudice movie adaptation ever made. I’m talking about the 2005 movie starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen. I’m not discounting the BBC series with Colin Firth – that one is good too, but it is my opinion that the 2005 adaptation is greater.

The influence this book as made on our entertainment is just astounding. Not only do we have Pride and Prejudice, but we also have thousands of spinoffs like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Also, where would Hallmark be without the Pride and Prejudice storyline? We wouldn’t have great titles like Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe, or Unleashing Mr. Darcy.

I talked about Queen Clarrise and Joseph having Chemistry, well Elizabeth and Darcy can join this club. Can we all agree that Matthew Macfadyen really nailed those non-verbal cues? The iconic fist-clench, and just the way he looks at Elizabeth. That man has nailed the female gaze.

3 – Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Life, uh, finds a way.

Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park

It’s required that you listen to the theme music whilst reading this section.

I LOVE dinosaurs, and I love this movie. First, we have a great cast. No one but Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill could have done this movie. They slay.

I first saw this movie when I was but a small tot, so I didn’t read Michael Crichton’s book until high school. He almost immediately convinced me that you could clone dinosaurs using the blood of fossilized mosquitos. As I was reading, I thought, yes that makes total sense! Sadly, it’s just not possible 😦

Jurassic Park is so popular they rebooted it and made Jurassic World. I’m okay with the first installment. It’s the other two I have issues with…and I don’t know what Chris Pratt did to the writers of Jurassic World because they gave him the cheesiest lines.

Just to prove my point:

• “I would have a word with your people in the lab. That thing out there…that’s no dinosaur.”
• “Don’t worry. It’s gonna be just like taking a walk in the woods…65 million years ago.”
• “Just breathe. If you don’t, she’ll think you’re scared.” (referring to a dinosaur?!)

And those are just a few. This also proves that no matter how many times they try and reboot the classic, nothing will ever beat it.

4 – Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkein

All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us.

Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring

I haven’t finished the LOTR books yet, and I have to say, it’s a struggle. The story is great, but the descriptions are extremely lengthy and I often find myself zoning out in the middle of paragraphs. I’d even compare it to a food diary. Every other chapter goes on about food.

To get myself more pumped up about the books, I decided to watch the movies and it’s crazy how perfectly cast the characters are. They are everything I expected and more.

The perk of this book being made into a movie is that they couldn’t include every single detail – only the most important plot points. You know, since it’s inappropriate for a movie to be over 5 hours.

No matter the struggle, I still plan on finishing the books. I will prevail.

5 – The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

We accept the love we think we deserve.

Mr. Anderson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Back at it again with that great cast. I think this was one of the first projects Emma Watson did after filming the Harry Potter movies. This movie determined if she could play anyone besides Hermione Granger. She obviously passed the test with flying colors.

This movie was the perfect combination of dramatic and funny. Maybe it was a little strange for Charlie and Sam to have a thing, and Charlie and Mary Elizabeth for that matter. He was fourteen…they were eighteen…but hey! Age is nothing but a number. Unless one person is 18 and over and the other just became a teenager…*grimace face*

Overall, I felt like they didn’t stray too far from the book in this movie, and considering the book’s length, I think that’s a good thing.

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It seems the key to having a good book-to-movie adaptation is the casting. If you don’t have a good cast, then the movie will suffer. Also, you don’t have to make the movie exactly like the book – sometimes it’s good, or even better, to go your own way.

What’s your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? Let me know in the comments.

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