Monday, February 21, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday - Book to Movie Adaptation

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. I'm sure they'd love to share your lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten list.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow's Part 1 - While I have seen each of the Harry Potter films countless times, I haven't been completely impressed with each of them, the 1st part of Deathly Hallows was a movie for fans of the book. Personally, I would have been fine with splitting the films in half starting with Goblet of Fire.

2. The Devil Wears Prada - This is one of the few cases where I saw the film before I read the book. I really really really love the film. It's snarky and funny and has the best clothes! The book on the other hand has a more irritating version of Anne Hathaway's Andy doing less interesting things. There is a lot different between the two versions of this story, but the movie is a good time, and a great adaptation.

3. The Lion King - Does everyone remember the day you figured out the weird squiggly thing in front of the isney on the Disney logo was actually a D? What about the day you were in a high school English class, reading Hamlet and wondering where you'd heard the story before. Remember when it hit you that the first emo Prince from Denmark was really like Simba? Wasn't that a good day. Everyone go watch the Lion King. Try not to cry when there is a stampede. Hakuna Matata.

4. Pride & Prejudice (BBC Miniseries) - At the risk of sounding like a broken record - Oh, Mr. Darcy! I am in love with Colin Firth, or maybe just Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. He's fantastic here, and it's a great representation of Austen's most popular novel.

5. Everything is Illuminated - While this isn't the best adaptation I've ever seen, I think it's a beautiful film. I also think Elijah Wood is a great JSF.

6. Bridget Jones Diary - Okay, I was wrong. It is Colin Firth. A modern day retelling of Pride & Prejudice, based of the bestselling novel by Helen Fielding is a great movie for single girls everywhere. You'll laugh, you probably won't cry, but you will yell things like GO DARCY. PUNCH DANIEL IN THE FACE. Or maybe not. I don't really know you. That's what I yell, though.

7.Breakfast at Tiffany's - I don't know about you, but this is the movie that made me love the little black dress. It also  made me love Audrey Hepburn, cats called Cat and Truman Capote.  I love both the novella and the film, but in different ways. Overall, the movie wins out in my opinion, if just because seeing Holly Golightly makes the entire experience infinity better.

8.Julie & Julia - Food, Meryl Strep, Amy Adams. Based off of two different books, by two different woman in two different time frames. It's a fun story even if it does leave you craving all of the food in the world topped with melted butter.

I'm really picky with adaptations so I couldn't make it to 10 this week. Sorry everyone!

I can't wait to see everyone else's lists! Happy Tuesday!

14 comments:

Jamie said...

I freaking LOVED Everything Is Illuminated. I saw it before I read the book and thought it was so incredible. Ahh I want to watch it again. I also really enjoyed Breakfast at Tiffany's!

Niecole said...

Wow, what a great list... I think Harry Potter will make a few lists, its on mine!

I forgot about a few books that you mention here, love Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones! Also Atonement...

The things you write at The Lion King! It took me ages to figure out it was a D lol.

Love your lits, stop by mine anytime, following you

Stephen said...

Clever thinking of the Lion King! ;) I think it misses Nala going crazy, though.

I suppose you could count her 'enthusiastic response' upon seeing Simba alive and well as a little crazy.

The Phantom Paragrapher said...

Pride and Prejudice is on my list and The Devil Wears Prada , I forgot about Breakfast at Tiffanys. Im a huge Audrey HEpburn Fan.

Bibliophile said...

Pride & Prejudice also made my list. I think I will probably find it on several other lists as well.

I think I need to read and watch Everything is Illuminated.

Jess (Gone with the Words) said...

I love Bridget Jones!! I can watch that movie over and over! Well, same goes for Devil Wears Prada. :)

Jess @ Gone with the Words

Megan B. said...

I love how P&P and Bridget Jones's Diary are showing up on so many lists. I'll have to read the novella of Breakfast at Tiffany's. Lastly, I loved the movie Julie and Julia, but I couldn't make it through the book. Too much Julie, not enough Julia.

Anonymous said...

I wrote a paper for a shakespeare class discussing the play being turned into the Lion King. I was pretty proud of that paper, plus I got to watch a Disney movie for class!

Red said...

I haven't yet seen the movie Julie & Julia but I liked the book more than I expected to.

I had never made the Hamlet/Lion King connection until someone told me how the Timon & Pumbaa spin-off movie was like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

Anonymous said...

I never finished Devil Wears Prada the book but love the movie so perhaps it's worth a revisit. Haven't seen or read Everything is Illuminated but heard great things, so it goes on the TBR list! Totally agree with BJD too! Lovely list! :)

Katie said...

The Lion King! Great choice! I didn't think of that at all.

lisa :) said...

Something's rotten in the state of...Africa? Interesting parallel, definitely not one I ever considered before but it does have an aspect of similarity. Great list!

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

The Devil Wears Prada is one of the few movie versions I liked better than the book...it's a movie we watch over and over to look at the clothes and listen to the fantastic music!

Vicky B said...

I laughed outloud when you said the thing about Disney D. I so remember that day!! And that's awesome, btw. Never really noticed the whoel Hamlet Lion King thing.