Thursday, March 28, 2013

Top three books turned movies.

Hallo meine Lieben,

if you read my blog on a regular basis you probably know that I am a huge fan of books and a huge fan of movies. So this week's Random Thursday topic is pretty exciting. Although I have to say that I usually like the books a lot better than the movies. I guess the problem is that when I read a book I already have images in my head of how the characters look like, hoe the scenery looks like, how the characters talk, the atmosphere of it etc. So I think it is pretty difficult or almost impossible to live up to my standards. 



I guess  almost everybody loves The Lord of the Rings.. I read the trilogy before I watched the movies (which I always try by the way) and I think both, books and movies, are absolutely brilliant. I am also a huge fan of the Harry Potter books, I have read them several times, in German and English. 
For my top 3 I have chosen some not so well known books and movies. Well, I guess the Stieg Larsson series is pretty famous now...Anyway....

The girl with the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

I have to admit that I discovered these books really late, I guess it was in 2011 which I can't really explain because I am a huge lover of all kinds of crime novels. But yeah, I was late and it is kind of sad that I did not discover it earlier but the books are definitely brilliant. I recommend them to anybody (I admit that all the names can be a bit confusing at first, there are so many members of the Vanger family).
I also have to say that I haven't even seen the Hollywood version of the movie with Daniel Craig but I definitely want to watch it at some point. But the Swedish version is absolutely brilliant, I usually love the atmosphere in Swedish movies. 

Youth in revolt by C.D. Payne.



I grew up reading the journals by Nick Twisp, they made me laugh  and cry and I could not stop reading. I have read them at least 25 times. Although these are the journals of a 14 year old I don't feel like they were only written for teenagers. I really don't. I still love to read them as much as I did when I was younger. So if you want to laugh a lot and don't mind reading about masturbation, rude alter egos, weird penises, varicosities, old communist neighbors with a bad mouth, transvestites and so on you will love the books.
In 2009 Hollywood decided to turn the first diary into a movie, starring Michael Cera as Nick Twisp. Well, I guess that guy was a decent choice although he does not look like I imagined Nick Twip. And I have to say that I was disappointed. The movie isn't bad, not at all. But it is okay. Not more than that. I guess you can like it if you don't know the books but that's it. 

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.

Again, I read the book first and loved it. Read it 10 times I guess and then watched the movie. And it did not disappoint. It is still a movie I love to watch when it is on TV. Sure, I love the book a bit more than I love the movie but it is still a really good one. John Cusack is perfect for the role of music lover Rob Gordon. I also love that Jack Black is in the movie because Jack Black is wonderful (can't get enough of Nacho Libre, School of rock, Orange County and Be kind rewind.). So I definitely recommend the book and the movie but the book a little more. 

And because three are not enough: two other books turned into movies that I really love. 

About a boy by Nick Hornby.
Well, I like Nick Hornby. And Hugh Grant. 

Submarine by Joe Dunthorne.



Which I read in German first. I think the German title is weird: "Ich, Oliver Tate" ("Me, Oliver Tate"). I don't know why you would name a book called Submarine like that but okay. Germans seem to like to screw up the titles of foreign books and movies.
 I was totally surprised when I found out that there is a movie. A really good one. The perfect coming-of-age comedy/drama in my opinion. 


And now I want to know: what are your favorite books turned into movies?
Have a lovely Thursday!

34 comments:

  1. Oh, that's a hard question. I thought the Harry Potter series was really well done. Jaws of course is a classic but I never read the book so I am not sure if that counts.

    Most recently Cloud Atlas was amazing!!

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    1. i really need to check out cloud atlas! :)
      and i haven't read jaws either but the movie is awesome.

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  2. I haven't seen the first two, but High Fidelity is always on my list of good movie adaptations! About a Boy is pretty good too, but High Fidelity is one of my absolute favorite movies! I love the HP books and movies, but I have to take theme each separately, otherwise I'd get so annoyed by all the things that got skipped or only partially explained.

    My boyfriend and I have been watching my Lord of the Rings extended edition DVDs lately, and he absolutely loves them. He says that there's a lot of things that he didn't quite "get" in the original movies because he never read the books (which we're working on). But I never really thought about or noticed the things before because I'd read all those books at least 10 times and knew them so well! It's been really interesting though. :)

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    1. i agree, Heather, high fidelity is definitely one of my all time favorites too. i never get sick of this movie or book.

      yeah, i can imagine how that is. i guess some things remain unclear when you haven't read the books. but i am glad you enjoy them so much!

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  3. Somehow I haven't heard of ANY of these so I'll definitely have to check them out - always looking for things to watch :)

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    1. oh, you should definitely check them out. i am sure you would like them!

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  4. Hmmmmmm this is a really tough one! I also loved LOTR and the Harry Potter movies.... but there are so many others! Actually one of my favourite books ever is The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman, and I LOVED the movie adaptation. I was so choked when it bombed at the box office so they didn't make book 2 or 3. ~Stephanie

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    1. i haven't read the book or watched the movie but i will definitely check it out. thank you for the recommendation!

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  5. I haven't read any of those books or seen any of those movies. I think I'm going to have to now. :-)

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    1. oh yeah, you should. :) they are really good! i hope you will like them!

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  6. the only one on the list that I saw was 'about a boy', it's an okay film though I didn't read the book. most the books that I like aren't make into movies yet which I think it's good because I probably wouldn't like the movie version.

    have a sweet day.

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    1. i liked the book better than the movie but hugh grant is in it and i really like him and i think he makes every movie better. :)
      have a wonderful easter!

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  7. I loved The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy so much that I couldn't put it down, but I'm waiting for the hubby to finish reading them before we see the movies. One of my girlfriends said the Swedish versions are far better than the Hollywood version but we'll probably see them both!!

    I loved the Youth in Revolt movie but I honestly didn't even know there was a book!

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    1. well i haven't seen the american version yet but i do love the swedish one! hope you will like them too. the books are so amazing!

      and you should really check out youth in revolt, the books are so much better than the movie!

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  8. First of all, Youth in Revolt was based on book(s)?! *mind blown* I have this movie on my DVR and watch it at least once a week. Love it.

    As for The Dragon Tattoo, I couldnt get through the first chapter of the book. I was completely lost and bored. The movie however was totally different story...holy wowza that (american version) movie was fantastic!

    Thanks so much for linking up with us :)

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    1. oh yeah it was! and the books are sooo much better! and that means something!

      i agree that the dragon tattoo can be a bit tiring at the beginning but it gets better!

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  9. I had to use the subtitles for the Swedish version and it is STILL so much better than the English version. They should've gotten a no-name instead of Daniel Craig. The English version wasn't BAD, just not good.

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    1. hmm, now i don't know if i should watch the english version. haha. i really loved the swedish one!

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  10. I absolutely loved Youth in Revolt. Best movie ever. The lead guy was perfect for the part.

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    1. you should check out the books, i am sure you would love them!

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  11. i have to say the hollywood version of the girl with the dragon tattoo not so great. at least for me. i feel like there's something missing in it. but it's worth watching though. i haven't seen the swedish version. i can't find it anywhere in indonesia. maybe on my next trip abroad,

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    1. hmm, i guess i will check it out at some point. and i really hope that you will be able to watch the swedish version. it is really fantastic, it has such a great atmosphere!

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  12. Wow--an interesting post. New reader here.
    My number one be 'Rebecca' when I was younger (14) I loved this book so this has to be number1.
    Lately, I think 'devil wears Prada'

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    1. welcome! i am so glad you found my blog! love yours too!
      i loved the devil wears prada! the movie was so great! and i haven't heard about rebecca but will check it out! thank you!

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  13. I read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a while ago and only saw the movie last week, I loved it so much! It's a brilliant plot and I can't wait to wait to see/read the rest of the series!

    www.edeltherese.com

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    1. yeah, i really love that series a lot. the books are so exciting and well written! can't put them down!

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  14. That's a great idea to post about books turned into movies :)
    Usually I love the books way more than the movies. But when it comes to the Lord of the Rings I liked the movies better, cause they left out the sometimes too long sections (for my taste) about songs and nature, even if those things make the books special, too ;)
    Whereas the Harry Potter books are even better than the movies :)
    I must admit I don't know the other ones you're talking about - oh my how much I need to read when I'm done studying!
    Ich hoffe, Du hast ein wunderschönes und entspanntes Osterwochenende, liebe Katrin.
    Ich drück Dich ganz fest.

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    1. it was lin's idea. :) and yeah, i love that idea too!
      i am like you, i usually like the books better but sometimes there are some really good movies too! and yeah, the lotr movies are really good. i can watch them all the time but i would not read the books once a month. :)
      and i agree, i like the hp books better than the movies too!
      hab ein tolles osterwochenende und lass es dir gutgehen! nach deinen fotos zu urteilen klappt das ja! :)
      ich drueck dich!

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  15. Nick Hornby is such a great writer and I like Hugh Grant too.....a lot !!

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  16. I haven't read any of these books but have seen the last 2 movies and loved them. My favorite part in High Fidelity is when "Seymour Stein" by Belle and Sebastian is playing and Jack Black things it's crap, hahaha!

    And I have to confess that I watched Submarine because it was directed by Richard Ayoade :p. Loved it, too! Plus, it's always nice to see a film that is set in Wales!

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    1. Haha yeah, Jack Black is pretty hilarious in that movie! :) I need to watch it again!

      Yeah, I liked that the movie was set in Wales too! We really need to move to the UK someday, Miki!

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  17. Great choices! I think High Fidelity is one of my all time faves :)

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