Yeah, it was a decent attempt at The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Pretty shoddy acting, but Reanimator has the same problem, really. I guess I could let Dagon slide by.
Decent movie versions of classic novels
- Thread starter JD
- Start date
Yeah, it was a decent attempt at The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Pretty shoddy acting, but Reanimator has the same problem, really. I guess I could let Dagon slide by.
Z
ziesha
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I like Harry Potter !
Here are the ones I suggest. I will be going off general quality and not accuracy, but will make some notes if I know the book well enough.
The Invisible Man
1933 version with Claude Raines. follows the basic premise of the book (although not exact) and on it's own is one of the best horror films of the era. Incredible special effects for the time.
HP Lovecraft's stories
Murky waters here, and you will hear many opinions. I suggest watching Re-animator if you can stomach the gore. Also watch In The Mouth of Madness, even though it's only inspired by Lovecraft.
Tarzan
I've never read the original stories, but know enough to realize that the Weissmuller films are nothing like the books. regardless, the first two in the series (Tarzan and Tarzan and his mate) are fantastic escapist entertainment.
Sherlock Holmes
A lot of great options here. The most accurate thing you will find is the Jeremy Brett television series. They follow the stories very closely, and feature good production values. Many consider Brett the definitive Holmes. I also recommend The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (a comedy).
Phantom of the Opera
The Silent Lon Chaney version. No question
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
As others have said, the Disney version is a lot of fun, if a little silly.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, although they have little to do with the book. Bride is one of the best sequels of all time, not to mention one of the funniest horror films ever.
Edit - I don't think anyone mentioned Horror of Dracula, the first Dracula film Christopher Lee did. It's a really cool adaptation of the book, with some neat changes that make that movie very fresh.
The Invisible Man
1933 version with Claude Raines. follows the basic premise of the book (although not exact) and on it's own is one of the best horror films of the era. Incredible special effects for the time.
HP Lovecraft's stories
Murky waters here, and you will hear many opinions. I suggest watching Re-animator if you can stomach the gore. Also watch In The Mouth of Madness, even though it's only inspired by Lovecraft.
Tarzan
I've never read the original stories, but know enough to realize that the Weissmuller films are nothing like the books. regardless, the first two in the series (Tarzan and Tarzan and his mate) are fantastic escapist entertainment.
Sherlock Holmes
A lot of great options here. The most accurate thing you will find is the Jeremy Brett television series. They follow the stories very closely, and feature good production values. Many consider Brett the definitive Holmes. I also recommend The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (a comedy).
Phantom of the Opera
The Silent Lon Chaney version. No question
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
As others have said, the Disney version is a lot of fun, if a little silly.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, although they have little to do with the book. Bride is one of the best sequels of all time, not to mention one of the funniest horror films ever.
Edit - I don't think anyone mentioned Horror of Dracula, the first Dracula film Christopher Lee did. It's a really cool adaptation of the book, with some neat changes that make that movie very fresh.
I can't think of a good version of the classic story, but Hook is a great movie about an adult Pan(Robin Williams) returning to Neverland.
I don't know how accurate the Disney movie is, but it's a classic on its own as a movie.
People have already mentioned the Jeremy Brett series, and I completely agree. Also, the new BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch is great. It's set in modern day London and the stories are more inspired by Doyle than direct reproductions, but they're great.
Best page-to-screen adaptation I can think of is the 1978 PBS version of Ursula LeGuin's The Lathe of Heaven. Bruce Davison is a perfect George Orr and the script/production mirrors LeGuin's writing about as well as one could want it to.
There is apparantly a later version (1990's?) that was done for A&E that I've heard nothing good about.
There is apparantly a later version (1990's?) that was done for A&E that I've heard nothing good about.
There's an old Swedish production called Terror of Frankenstein that's the most faithful one I've seen. It's probably faithful enough to be shown to a class studying the novel.
It's a decent little movie, but if you check it out, be warned that it's very dry. I'm glad to have it, but it illustrates why adaptations of the novel tend to spice it up a bit.
The Coppola version is not particularly accurate since it hinges on the idea of Mina as a reincarnated version of Vlad the Impaler's bride - something that is completely invented outside the book, though Elizabeta was a real historical personage who did indeed throw herself from the castle tower. But the movie does follow the plot of the book fairly closely with the exception of the Drac/ Mina seduction scenes.
The Coppola version is one of the few Dracula adaptations that retains his moustache from the novel, as well as Drac's being able to walk in daylight.
The idea that Mina is the likeness of Vlad's long-lost love seems to date back to the 1970's tv version with Jack Palance, scripted by Richard Matheson.
Although, of course, this concept has also been a staple of mummy movies since day one, so it could have just been imported for there.
Gulliver-the 1930s (?) cartoon is wonderful, if a little Disney-ish.
George C Scott did a unique take on Holmes-it isn't faithful at all but a splendid movie.
I guess Basil Rathbone will always be Holmes to me...despite straying from who Holmes really was.
Really, one of Hollywood's biggest flaws is its inability to leave well enough alone.
There just aren't that many good adaptations of classics out there. I do agree with the Michael York Musketeers movie. Lots of fun.
Peter Pan-how come Armageddon keeps springing to mind?
George C Scott did a unique take on Holmes-it isn't faithful at all but a splendid movie.
I guess Basil Rathbone will always be Holmes to me...despite straying from who Holmes really was.
Really, one of Hollywood's biggest flaws is its inability to leave well enough alone.
There just aren't that many good adaptations of classics out there. I do agree with the Michael York Musketeers movie. Lots of fun.
Peter Pan-how come Armageddon keeps springing to mind?
Agreed, although I admit to a fondness for the old Gene Kelly/Vincent Price version.
I remember enjoying the Richard Chamberlain version of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO as well.
Same here. Gene Kelly rocks in that film. Check out this clip (especially after 2:25 or so) for some Gene Kelly awesomeness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6prWV23jAw
Actually that staple of Mummy movies is also a Bram Stoker creation - it originated from his Jewel Of The Seven Stars.
Good point. I actually reprinted Jewel at Tor several years ago, with a gorgeous Boris Vallejo cover. Alas, nobody has yet to make a really good version of that book yet. (The Hammer version is better than the Charlton Heston version, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say that either of them is really a good movie!)
Let's see, what can I help you with....
The Invisible Man: Definitely the Claude Rains version from the 30's. Best movie version, and probably most faithful.
Alice in Wonderland: There isn't a faithful adaptation. Not a one. The Disney version is iconic, but mediocre. The Tim Burton sequel is awful. The best one I've seen is a completely unfaithful, but utterly creepy, Swedish (I think) version that all takes place within a house. Anyone else know what I'm talking about? It's really haunting. Otherwise, you're out of luck. Just reread the books.
Peter Pan: The recent live action version is really very good. (2003, I think.)
Hunchback: Not at all faithful, but the really underrated and entertaining and surprisingly twisted cartoon by Disney is well worth watching. The villain in the cartoon, the judge, is the scariest and most complex villain in any Disney cartoon in history (and his song Hellfire will send shivers down your spine.)
Journey to the Centre of the Earth: There's a good version from the 60's, I think. Again, not completely faithful, but a lot of fun. I remember a chicken being one of the main characters.
Legend of Sleepy Hollow: The Tim Burton version is a masterpiece. Unforgettable imagery, and a twisted sense of humour.
Beowulf: The recent-ish animated version by Robert Zemeckis was excellent when I saw it in 3d. I don't know how well it will translate on the small screen, but it's worth a shot.
Sherlock Holmes: The Jeremy Brett series is perfection. Completely faithful in character and tone.