The book is always better than the movie. But these movies come close.
- Charity Harvey
- Jan 9
- 5 min read
It is true - the book is always better than the movie. That's because books can convey so many little details and character traits and plot twists that movies just don't have time for. In reality, if a movie replicated the book exactly, it would probably be about 7 hours long. But there are a few movies out there based on books that come pretty close to being as great as the book. That's what we're talking about today.
All of these movies/books on my list are great for any age! You could definitely watch them with the family but any adult can enjoy them as well. And hopefully these movies are new to you. I've tried to chose the most unique ones from my favorites, or ones that you never knew were based on a book.
First up is one I've already mentioned in another blog post, The City of Ember.
I read the book first of course, and fell in love with it. It is a series, which I have read multiple times, and even as an adult. It's a really good series!
When the movie came out, I was so excited. If you haven't read it already, the story follows two characters, Lina and Doon.
Lina and Doon have grown up in Ember, being told that their city is the only light left in the world. But the city seems to be fading fast. Food supplies are getting low, the lights keep flickering, and it seems they may be stuck in the dark forever. That's when Lina stumbles upon a way out of the city, and she and Doon decide to take the way out. Sounds exciting, right? I was so ready to see all of these characters that I loved come to life. The actors did a great job at capturing their personalities, especially Lina. And check out that movie poster. They had multiple, but this one is my favorite! I think it really captures the urgency of the story.
They did, of course, take some liberties with the script and added some elements that were not in the book. But I was mostly ok with that. Fortunately, they did not take anything away from the book or leave something important out. I understand why they added some things, because sometimes movies need a bit more action that the book. But they added a giant mole (that's right, a mole), because the city is supposed to be surrounded by giant, underground creatures. In the book, that's one reason people never try to leave. They are uncertain what is out there. Once you keep reading the book, you understand why the creatures underground have gotten so large, but the idea isn't fully explained in the movie. So the giant mole chasing people seems a bit....silly. That was the one part of the film I didn't really care for, but it wasn't enough to make me stop watching! Also, that made for some action packed scenes, so that is a plus!
Next is one that is totally different from my favorite genre, but it was one of my favorite books of all time. It is a children's book, but I highly recommend it (and the movie) to every adult as well. It's rare that a book/movie changes the way I think, and really moves me, but this one did. It's Wonder. If you haven't read it yet, please go get it now. I laughed, I cried, I read it multiple times.
I was so scared to watch the movie when it came out, because I was worried that it would be ruined. I was so emotionally attached to this story, that if it wasn't done just right, I was going to be extremely disappointed. But I was pleasantly surprised. Of course the movie wasn't the book, but it came pretty close. There were parts that made me cry, that made me laugh, and made me say "that's how it is in real life."
If you haven't heard about Wonder before, let me just give you a really quick summary. The story follows August, called Auggie, who is going into the 5th grade. He's going to a real school for the first time. Auggie was born with major facial differences, and a lot of children are frightened of him. It's hard for kids to look past the outside. Auggie just wants to be treated like everyone else. Along his journey, he makes some friends, meets some bullies, and learns a lot of lessons. I can't recommend the book and movie enough!
Next is one you may not have seen because it didn't go to theatres, but I had to include it on my list. Flora and Ulysses. Based on the book by Kate DiCamillo.
I actually watched the movie first. I laughed out loud throughout the film. It was so good I made my family and my husband's family watch it. They loved it too! I read the book after I watched the movie, and while there were some differences, the movie really captured the feel of the book. They were both extremely cute and heart warming. If you want a good laugh, you need to watch the movie!
The story follows Flora, who rescues a special squirrel which she named Ulysses. The two of them go on quite and adventure and make some new friends along the way. That's really all you need to know! This book and movie are both so unique, you just have to watch/read for yourself!
I'm going to end this list of recommendations (for now) with one that you may not realize was a book, or had forgotten about them. It is another one that is absolutely adorable, utterly charming, and I loved the books since my childhood: Paddington.
I don't care how old you are; whether you're 5 or 105, the Paddington movies are a must-watch. I loved the first one and the sequel as well. A third one is coming out soon, and I plan on watching it! I hope it is as hilarious as the first two.
You don't need to read the books to enjoy the movies, but if you have any family reading time scheduled or a beginning reader, you should add the books to your reading list!
I hope you enjoyed this list of recommendations and found a book AND movie you like! I will probably post more books vs movie lists, in various genres, because so many have been made. I can already think of more, but this post would go on forever! Join me next time to find your next great read and movie night! Happy reading!
