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?

  • The_On_Life@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    My answer to this question will forever and always be Jaws. It’s not just that the movie was better; the book is absolute trash.

    I’m honestly shocked anyone wanted to make it into a movie after reading the book. It’s so poorly written, misogynistic, there’s half a dozen plot lines that are meaningless and lead no where. It’s one of the worst books I’ve ever read.

  • _SkullBearer_@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    If you want an even better take on the Children of Men scenario, Brian Aldiss’ Greybeard is miles better. James bloodily ripped it off.

    To answer you question, Stephen King’s Shawshank Redemption was a good book, but doesn’t hold a candle to the movie.

  • red_eight@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Lord of the Rings, total snooze fest.

    The Hobbit was pretty good, but I never saw the movies, so I can’t compare it.

  • funklab@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Starship Troopers.

    The movie was incredible, if you’re into that kind of thing. The book was completely different and I don’t think I ever finished it. Maybe it was a decent book if you haven’t seen the movie. Maybe the movie just ruined the book for me.

  • fedupwithallyourcrap@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    The Witches of Eastwick.

    There’s something about Updike that just rubs me the wrong way. I think it has something to do with his thinly veiled contempt of women in general. But also, bad writing.

    The film is far superior to the book

  • FuckTerfsAndFascists@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Killing Eve the TV show is way better than Codename Villanelle, the book it’s based on.

    Like 1000× better. The author just can’t write.

  • VexMercer@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Practical magic, while still amazing the book is very long winded and almost entirely narrative. The book also misses a lot of the charm that the movie has

  • Joey42601@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    “Cora Unashamed” and “Billy Budd” interesting enough they’re novellas.