It's a Hardback Life

Most film adaptations are disappointing in some way or another. Some are mostly minor clips and snips (Harry Potter) while others are egregious (I'm looking at you, Practical Magic). Here are a few I think are not only good, but are arguably as good as or better than the books and stories they sprang from.

That's right, you heard me.

Brokeback Mountain

The original short story is spare and bleak, capturing the voice of the tough cowboy ethos that shapes it. The film captures much of that same tone while making the emotional impact of the story about a thousand times more visceral and gut-wrenching. Heath Ledger was so amazing.

The Shawshank Redemption

Stephen King is a great storyteller. That being said, the film is on a completely different level from the source material. Some of this is due to strong direction, but most of it, I think, is thanks to the cast and their incredible portrayals of the characters.

The Neverending Story

Michael Ende hates the film version of his book. Sorry, but he’s wrong. It takes a different direction from his work, but it uses the perfect amount of source material and originality to make a movie I still watch again and again, even if the effects don’t really hold up.

The Princess Bride

Like Shawshank, the film is actually better than the book. Rob Reiner is a genius and no one will ever be able to replicate the miracle that is The Princess Bride.

Interview with the Vampire

Anne Rice wrote the screenplay for the adaptation, which may explain why it is so much more faithful to the book than the execrable Queen of the Damned (which I still regularly hate-watch, don’t judge me). The moodiness of the setting and the miraculous way it is both a "typical" Hollywood movie and yet something much weirder is kind of magical. It's beautiful to watch and holds up pretty well considering it’s over 20 years old. I think some of the casting is a bit odd, but Brad Pitt is great and tiny baby Kirsten Dunst is amazing.