I LOVE Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi action movie Children of Men. I’ve watched maybe six times and every time, the ending always almost brings me to tears. So when I learned it was adapted from P.D. James’ book of the same name, it was a no-brainer deciding what my next book would be.
After finishing the book, it wasn’t difficult to reach to the conclusion that I enjoyed the movie better.
While James’ book gives a more in-depth look at how human infertility and humanity’s slow death march towards extinction affects the sexual dynamic between men and women and almost demented ways humans try to cope with a world without children or a race of dead men walking, I feel the book dedicates WAY too much time describing the failing of human civilization and the Regrets and guilt of Theo Faron. It’s not even until after 2/3 through the book where it feels like the plot and story are properly paced and stuff of consequence actually begin to happen.
The film’s adaptation by, comparison, feels consistent in its pacing and the world building and woe-is-mes of Theo feel more compact a take up less of the audience’s time.
What books do you feel were worse than its film adaptation and why?
Neverending Story. The movie streamlined the first half of the book made the characters more likable and made a great movie out of it. I actually liked the book but it was very weird. The second movie (which I was greatly disappointed by as a child) much to my surprise wasn’t just a random plot pooped out by someone as a cash grab, but actually the second half of the book.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Movie was iconic, book was just alright.
The Haunting. I thought the book was mostly really good, but the entrance of the Doctors wife near the end really disrupted the flow practically ruining the whole story for me. The movie toned her role down dramatically and otherwise pretty well nailed Nell’s dreamy, terrifying experience.