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Just a topic where we talk about some of the worst, and best interpretations that have been made into cinema.

Best: Scot Pilgrim vs. the world.

Worst: Dragonball Evolution.

Adaptations would likely be a better term to use.

Best: Sin City and 300, both for being more or less exactly like the comic, panel for panel. Walking Dead, oddly enough, for the opposite reasons. Yojimbo (loose adaptation of Dashiel Hammet's Red Harvest), Road to Perdition, Shawshank Redemption, The Shining, Lord of the Rings.

Worst: Watchmen, Catwoman, Steel (both nuff said). Probably more I can't think of, off hand.

Good: Harry Potter One.

Bad: Harry Potter 7.

The irony is incalcuable.

Totally disagree on that. I thought the last one was great. Though, that does give me this idea:

Good: Ninja Turtles 1
Bad: Ninja Turtles 3

ThatNickGuy said:

Totally disagree on that. I thought the last one was great. Though, that does give me this idea:

Good: Ninja Turtles 1
Bad: Ninja Turtles 3

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That we agree on.

Good: Akira.

Bad: Last Airbender(die in a fire Shamalamadingdong).

Good: Jaws

Bad: It

ThatNickGuy said:

Worst: Watchmen,Steel (both nuff said).

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While I disagree with Watchmen, just because I think it's far from the worst adaptation of a comic book put on the big screen, Steel on the other hand, I mean, can something be a bad interpretation of something that's already bad? I guess so, and if anything, Steel would be it.

Frankie Williamson said:

While I disagree with Watchmen, just because I think it's far from the worst adaptation of a comic book put on the big screen, Steel on the other hand, I mean, can something be a bad interpretation of something that's already bad? I guess so, and if anything, Steel would be it.

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Just be thankful that we learned something from the Steel film. That the words "Shaq" and "motion-picture" do not go together.

Are we judging by what is a good adaptation of the source material, or what is an adaptation from a source material and is good?

Example: Jaws is a terrible book and a fantastic movie. So technically, it's an adaptation which is good, but isn't necessarily a good adaptation since it represents the source differently than what it is.

Twilight is a boring book and a boring movie, so technically the movie is a good adaptation in that it represents its source accurately.

Yoshimickster said:

Just be thankful that we learned something from the Steel film. That the words "Shaq" and "motion-picture" do not go together.

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We call that Kazaam.

Frankie Williamson said:

While I disagree with Watchmen, just because I think it's far from the worst adaptation of a comic book put on the big screen, Steel on the other hand, I mean, can something be a bad interpretation of something that's already bad? I guess so, and if anything, Steel would be it.

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For one, Steel's a great character and one of my favourites. Two, much like Catwoman's movie and Ed Brubaker writing the comic, at the time of Steel's theatrical release, Christopher Priest was doing an amazing run on Steel.

I'm quantifying Best and Worst in this as most closely/least closely adapted the source material.

Best Novel to Movie: Misery
Best Comic to Movie: Going by my criteria above, I'm going to say Superman 1/2, with an honerable mention to Iron Man
Best Play to Movie: Kennith Branagh's Hamlet (as much as I hate that play, he did it well). Another honorable mention to Noises Off.
Best Musical to Movie: Chicago

Worst Novel to Movie: A Stitch in Time
Worst Comic to Movie: Catwoman, dishonorable mention to the Reb Brown version of Captain America
Worst Play to Movie: ANY of the shitty Miramax "re-imaginings" of Shakespeare, such as O or 10 things I hate about you.
Worst Musical to Movie: Phantom of the Opera (hear Gerard Butler sing terribly!)

Bowielee said:

I'm quantifying Best and Worst in this as most closely/least closely adapted the source material.

Best Novel to Movie: Misery
Best Comic to Movie: Going by my criteria above, I'm going to say Superman 1/2, with an honerable mention to Iron Man
Best Play to Movie: Kennith Branagh's Hamlet (as much as I hate that play, he did it well). Another honorable mention to Noises Off.
Best Musical to Movie: Chicago

Worst Novel to Movie: A Stitch in Time
Worst Comic to Movie: Catwoman, dishonorable mention to the Reb Brown version of Captain America
Worst Play to Movie: ANY of the shitty Miramax "re-imaginings" of Shakespeare, such as O or 10 things I hate about you.
Worst Musical to Movie: Phantom of the Opera (hear Gerard Butler sing terribly!)

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Ah dude, I freakin hated 10 things I hate about you. And O was just Othello...but modern. Nothing different, just modern. Add that lame thing that Iago's character said in the beginning and you got yourself a crap movie.

I like 10 Things I Hate About You. >_>

I actually liked the newer Phantom movie, though I will admit Butler's singing is pretty awful compared to the rest of the cast. Poor guy doesn't hold a candle to Crawford.

TBH I was never a big fan of To Kill a Mockingbird. Other than Gregory Peck's performance I saw nothing remarkable about it, particularly when you compare it to the novel, which was vastly superior in every way.

I was never too keen on "the Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy" movie. I just felt Zaphod could have been done better.

And Ford was played by a guy with no charisma... Mos Def must be the dullest comedic actor in history. At least when Buster Keaton was stone-faced it was funny.

sixpackshaker said:

And Ford was played by a guy with no charisma... Mos Def must be the dullest comedic actor in history. At least when Buster Keaton was stone-faced it was funny.

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Damn straight. I do not really care for Mos Def as Ford Prefect. Hell, couldn't they have least given him red hair? It would be funny and slightly made up for him being so damn boring! Also I didn't care for him suggesting the Restaurant and the end of the universe. ANY ADAMS FAN KNOWS IT WAS ZAPHOD WHO SUGGESTED THAT! And I still weirdly like the movie. Bad interpretation, but not the worst movie I've seen.

Going to have to disagree with LotR being a "best" interpretation. Crying hobbits, meaningless changes to the story, and the worst sin of all was weakening characters. Especially Sam. A close second was weakening Faramir, and a close third was weakening Frodo. Sam's scene at the border of Mordor should've had the the strength it had in the book. Sam should never have been tempted by the ring, except perhaps to spare Frodo the burden. Faramir was universally agreed to be a bonehead move, removing his entire purpose in the story. Frodo turned into a pile of goo. Where is his strength at weathertop? at the ford of Rivendell? Gone. Where was Denethor dying on the bodies of his ancestors instead of stupidly running off a ledge like a cartoon character. Bleh. Where was Merry and Pippin's strength in their own adventures? All turned into weak goo, like Jackson thought hobbits were babies.

Now it wasn't bad, and it was good to have a movie with some great effects and costuming. The mood was nice. Gandalf's death (spoiler alert) was actually sad. But not a best interpretation.

In my opinion nothin beats the original animated LOTR and The Hobbit. Frodo/Bilbo kicked ass! Sam was annoying though.

Ahem.

checkeredhat said:

Ahem.

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Was it really that bad? I hear it referenced a lot so I thought it was good.

No I'm saying the movie is a great adaptation from book to film. It's an EXCELLENT movie, and is pretty widely accepted as being superior to the source.

checkeredhat said:

No I'm saying the movie is a great adaptation from book to film. It's an EXCELLENT movie, and is pretty widely accepted as being superior to the source.

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Ooooooooooooh, okay. I hear the same thing about Clock-work Orange being better than the book too.

The 90s Spider-man cartoon. DEAR-LORD! What the hell was up with Vulture's powers? Wasn't a guy with magnetic wings simple enough?

Children please, have some respect for the classics

HCGLNS said:

Children please, have some respect for the classics

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This was an interpretation of something? I know what book I'm getting!

I know I'm double-posting but I don't care!

This is one of the worst movies based on a book I have ever seen. It takes way too many liberties with the source material and turns it into a stupid action flick. I would be okay with Zemeckis making it a different interpretation of Beowulf, but why did he just call it "Beowulf". People who actually LIKED the book like me were expecting something similar to the actual fucking story. But no, he changes a LOT! He could have called it Beowulf: The true story, or Beowulf: Rising(generic title for a generic movie) or Beowulf: Nothing like the book it is based on completely changing the third act of the original story and if you wanted to make your own story to begin with why bring down one of the first stories printed on paper. Not to mention the message Beowulf learns when he dies is the exact opposite as in the book! In the book as he lies dying after finishin off the dragon, he realizes that living your life is more important than seeking glory. In the movie it's "Damn. Guess I shouldn't have fucked Angolina Jolie." Fuck this movie! Also apparently Zemeckis thought the book was boring in high school. ARE-YOU-SHITTING-ME?! This isn't a matter of him having a different opinion than me, this is a matter of him making a full fucking CGI Hollywood movie based on a story that he didn't fucking understand. Go back to making real movies you HACK!

You should check out one called Beowulf & Grendel. It focuses more on, well Beowulf and Grendel, so it's not entirely loyal to the original. And it's less mythic. But goddamn it's a good movie.

ThatNickGuy said:

You should check out one called Beowulf & Grendel. It focuses more on, well Beowulf and Grendel, so it's not entirely loyal to the original. And it's less mythic. But goddamn it's a good movie.

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I've seen a bit of it and what I've seen was good. THAT was a good interpretation, they didn't take anything out more or less put stuff in. Plus I always like stuff where it shows things from the villains perspective.

Another good interpretion of Beowulf that isn't a movie is the book Grendel.

I have never cried more for a murderous troll/giant/whatever the hell Grendel's species is.

A decent telling of Beowulf was the 13th Warrior. And Eaters of the Dead (the book) was quite a good retelling of the myth.

With a name like Eaters of the Dead, you can't go wrong can you?

A really good interpretation that I know of oddly enough the Japanese Wolverine cartoon. Probably the only thing to accurately portray Chris Claremon'ts original story from what I've heard.

The Firm was horrible.

Jay said:

The Firm was horrible.

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How bad? Was it not as violent, did the message not come across at all?

Beyond the name of the characters... the entire movie had almost no relation to the book?

Jay said:

Beyond the name of the characters... the entire movie had almost no relation to the book?

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OOH, I hate that.Like in the Mario Brothers movie...HOW DID I FORGET TO TALK ABOUT THE MARIO BROTHERS MOVIE! Dear lord did that game have none of the magica at all. And Yoshi creeps me out to this day.

Probably Top 5 of all time for sure.

Are there ANY good video-game movie? Documentaries do NOT count of course.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the best video game movie is Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. It has a 43% freshness rating.

So no

True dat. Sadly enough, I can say that the shoujo manga version of Twilight is probably a good adaptation. As horrible as that series is, they at least know their audience. Too bad they can't get good leading actresses.

Counting video games, does Batman Arkham Asylum count? It was awesome that's for sure.

My only real memory of Spirits Within (because it was bland and dumb and I don't remember the plot) was this big black lady who was in the theater. At the part where the black dude is about to die as he fires at the spirit thing, she starts screaming "AW NO, DON'T KILL MY BABY, NO DON'T LET HIM DIE AW NOOOO!"

CynicismKills said:

My only real memory of Spirits Within (because it was bland and dumb and I don't remember the plot) was this big black lady who was in the theater. At the part where the black dude is about to die as he fires at the spirit thing, she starts screaming "AW NO, DON'T KILL MY BABY, NO DON'T LET HIM DIE AW NOOOO!"

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Well I have my reason to smile today.

Howl's moving Castle. Now this is not a bad movie, but having read the book I can say this is a really bad interpretation. The ending is changed completely, Howl's crow form(What?) makes NO sense in context with the story, and characters are either changed completely or written out of the story-line all together. I love Miyazaki but...damn!

The movie adaptation of The Last Unicorn was surprisingly faithful.
Also, Pinocchio in Outer Space was incredulously brainsplode-y

--Patrick

General Specific said:

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the best video game movie is Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. It has a 43% freshness rating.

So no

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I become even happier that the Bioshock movie will probably never be made.

I'm still of the mind that Mortal Kombat was a great movie adaptation. It was extremely faithful to the source material. The fact that the source material was just mindless beatum up action doesn't make for a great movie, but it sure makes for a fun one.

Good: Lord of the Flies (1963): They took out a few things hear and there but it was a SUPERB flick. Very dark imagery, the kids were just horrifying!

Bad: Wolverine and the X-men: Specifically one episode. Where they made Makino....Silver Samurai's wife. They made MAKINO, SILVER SAMURAI'S WIFE! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW! I know their not blood related in that universe, but it's still friggin' gross! Why...why couldn't Silver Samurai be Makino's brother in the show? WHY?! The oginal story with Makino and Logan is a friggin' classic so don't go screwing it up! Wolverine's life sucks all-ready so don't make it any worse!

PatrThom said:

The movie adaptation of The Last Unicorn was surprisingly faithful.
Also, Pinocchio in Outer Space was incredulously brainsplode-y

--Patrick

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[Lumberg voice]
I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you there, Bob. I thought they ripped the soul right out of the book, personally. Molly Grue was a terrible interpretation especially. And Haggard. He lost his ambiguous morality (it's never really clear in the book if he's "evil" or not). The robin hood scene lost all its teeth, and they cut they the melancholy ending out.

Full disclosure: This is probably one of my favorite books, so I'm a bit biased.

fade said:

[Lumberg voice]
I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you there, Bob. I thought they ripped the soul right out of the book, personally. Molly Grue was a terrible interpretation especially. And Haggard. He lost his ambiguous morality (it's never really clear in the book if he's "evil" or not). The robin hood scene lost all its teeth, and they cut they the melancholy ending out.

Full disclosure: This is probably one of my favorite books, so I'm a bit biased.

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I saw the Nostalgia Chick of it. The unicorn's singing was TERRIBLE too.

Good Interpretation(partial assumption because I haven't read the book): Rocky Horror Picture Show. Mostly because it was written and directed by the original author. Anyone else find it weird how Richard O'brien is a regular on Phineas and Ferb now?

Rocky Horror Picture Show was a stage play, not a book. It is extremely faithful because Richard O'Brian not only directed it, but also many of the cast members were in the original stage show as well.

Bowielee said:

Rocky Horror Picture Show was a stage play, not a book. It is extremely faithful because Richard O'Brian not only directed it, but also many of the cast members were in the original stage show as well.

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Huh. I heard it was a book first but whatevs. And yeah I know that Tim Curry was the original Frank N' Furter. Apparently he was supposed to have a German accent with blonde hair but they changed it to the hilarious cockney weirdo we know and love. And Tim Curry hated for a good portion of his career due to type-casting.

You know what movie I HOPE would have a good adaptation. Avenue Q. If someone gets the rights to that and SCREW IT UP I'm gon bust some heads.

Bad one, bad one, mmmmmmmmmmmmm OH! Spider man 3. Not because of Venom, no he was one of the few things they got RIGHT in that flick. I'm talking poor ol' Gwen Stacy. Mary Jane Watson was Spidey's original love interest, and GWEN STACY is the competition. I can deal with Doc Ock being changed into a somewhat better villain, I can deal with the fact that over a billion people saw Spider-man's secret identity and yet he STILL hasn't been found out by the press. BUT THIS! This is low. LOW I SAY!

There were so many things wrong with Spider-Man3 I like to imagine a world where the studios didn't pressure Sam Rami into making that blender of Spider-Man mythos.

oAh man, and Sandman. SANDMAN IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE RELATABLE! He is a jerk! A big Sandy jerk! Yeah he became a hero once but we all know that that didn't turn out well. I do not care about his dying daughter, I want Sand-man to be the villain I know him to be. Also what ticks me off about this movie even more is that it was so universally hated that any chance of there being a Venom spin-off was dashed. Man, he was my favorite bad nineties anti-hero! Yeah I liked his mini-series, so sue me.

One adaptation I'm on the fence of is the "Farenheit 451" movie. The basic message of the movie is still there, but there was a lot left out of it too. Personally I feel it was too early for this to be made into a movie.

I totally disagree with Sandman. He was always a thug, but he was never outright evil.

Bowielee said:

I totally disagree with Sandman. He was always a thug, but he was never outright evil.

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Well yeah, but he at least had a differnt back story than in the movie. The movie just tried too hard to make him pitiable.

Bad interpretation: Hercules: Okay movie, but not a good interpretation of Greek myth...at all. For one, his name was Hercules and not Heracles. Two, Hera was his birth mother when he was Zeus' bastard son whom Hera despised. 3, It's a kids film based on Greek mythology. Greek mythology is full of blood, betrayal, rape, and all sorts of stuff. It doesn't really translate well to a kids film. Also, this is COMPLETELY petty but I didn't like it how Hercules didn't have a beard. In fact, what is up with movies based on Greek stories where the heros are completely clean shaven? Is a bit of scraggly hair two much to ask for?

Hercules is the Roman version. Heracles is the Greek version.

Bowielee said:

Hercules is the Roman version. Heracles is the Greek version.

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And yet they used the Greek name Hades in the movie, rather than the Roman name Pluto. CONTINUITY ERROR! Pure sillyness.

The animated series was...different as well. I remember thinking Icarus was funny though.

Yoshimickster said:

I remember thinking Icarus was funny though.

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Modern culture mixes and matches them all the time. Hercules is interesting in that while most of the greek/roman myths are widely known by their greek names, Hera, Zeus, Posiden, Hades etc... Hercules is usually known by the Roman version.

I think that's lost on Yoshi, it was before his time here on the boards.

Bowielee said:

I think that's lost on Yoshi, it was before his time here on the boards.

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Completely lost. Wazzit mean?

Ooooooooooooooooooh. Heh, that's kinda funny. Bit obscure, I like it.

No, I meant the Icarus reference.

Bowielee said:

No, I meant the Icarus reference.

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No no, I get it. It refers to when someone used it after someone called member Iaculcus Iccarus, a completely different person.

Oh, it's soo much deeper than that...

As the legend goes.

Once upon a time there was (semi) peace in the land of Halforums. The good king Dave ruled his subjects from his admin castle and the subjects engaged in all sorts of jest and hilarity. Then one day, a dark cloud covered the land in the form of a dating post. In this post, the evil Icarus exposed his love for (and assumed dalliance with) a 14 year old maiden and thought it was "all cool" because she was "mature for her age".

Suddenly the land was enveloped in a flame war the likes of which have nigh never been seen before or since. In the aftermath, the unfortunately named Iaculus was repeatedly mistaken for the vile Icarus.

Eventually, Icarus was driven from the land and all returned to normal. Unfortunately, the noble Iaculus is still to this day occasionally teased about the similarity in their names.

And they all lived happily ever after.

Oh yeah...that guy. I remember reading about him. Well, it wouldn't be the internet without creeps would it?

Yoshimickster said:

I saw the Nostalgia Chick of it. The unicorn's singing was TERRIBLE too.

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I think they picked the perfect people to do the voices of the main characters. I think they should've gotten Marnie Nixon or someone to do the singing, though, because Jeff Daniels and Mia Farrow can't sing. Not well enough to do their parts justice, anyway.

The story of The Last Unicorn is one of my favorites, too. And while I admit that the movie was not exactly the same as the book, I would submit that, compared with other movies based on source material (books, actual events, etc), they did a fantastic job of at least attempting to remain faithful to the book, as opposed to, say, Ella Enchanted, The Black Cauldron, or Legend of the Seeker. Kati chimed in with The Lover, and Exit to Eden as a couple more examples.

--Patrick

OH GOD... Exit to Eden... how they tried to turn a book about a woman's descent into the erotic world of BDSM into a comedy with Rosie O'Donald I'll never understand.

Harry Potter six. I fucking hated that one. Probably the worst in the whole movie series. 'specially since they DIDN'T EVEN EXPLAIN WHAT THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE WAS!