Today, is World Book Day, and this year I’m celebrating by sharing my favourite book to movie adaptations. While I do love reading, there’s also something special about seeing your favourite characters and stories come to life on big (movie) screen.
While World Book Day is primarily dedicated to encouraging young people to read, it’s also a chance to celebrate authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world. I fondly remember dressing up for World Book Day in school myself.
My Favourite Book to Movie Adaptations
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
I love all of the Lord of the Rings movies (and books) but there’s something special about the first movie in the series. Which I think is largely due to the cast. They work so well together and seem like such a family both on and off screen. In fact, some of the cast even got matching tattoos to commemorate their time working together.
IT Part 1 and 2
It’s not often that book to movie adpations not only live up to the source material, but also surpase the original movie as well. But the IT remake does just that! Which is why it’s one of my favourites. I love Bill Skarsgard’s sinister version of Pennywise – he’s the perfect mix of creepy and funny.
The Shining
Even though it’s well know that Stephen King hated the Stanley Kubrick version of The Shining. I loved it! It’s a great book to movie adaptation, and it remains one of my favourite horror movies to date. In fact, we watch it most Christmases – it is set during Winter after all. 😉 I think what makes this movie so special is the breathtaking scenery, the hotel setting, and Jack Niholson’s perfect portryal of Jack Torrance. His descent into madness is simply wonderful to watch.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Confession time, I loved the Twilight Saga when it was at its peak, and still have a fondness for fandom. In fact, I recently rewatched the movies over Christmas. Yes, they can be cheesy, but they’re also great, cosy, comfort movies, too. The third part in the Twilight movie franchise was the most accurate to the source material (in my opinion). Making it one of the better book to movie adaptations in the series.
The Host
Stephenie Meyer’s sci-fi novel, The Host had me hooked from start to finish. I loved the story arc and the characters, and was very excited when the movie was released. I fondly remember seeing it with my mum at the cinema. We both loved it and thought it was true to source material. Although, one of the characters looked different than they did in my head!
Even my dad who is a huge fan of sci-fi movies loved The Host – even if he was skeptical at the first. As he doesn’t enjoyed the Twilight stories by the same author! But was pleasantly surprised.
Matilda
Ah, Matilda. I can honestly say that this was one of the books as a child that fueled my love of reading. So, much so, that I read Moby Dick at a young age just like the title character. I also wished I had a teacher as sweet and accommodating as Ms. Honey. Anyone else? In terms of the movie, Mara Wilson is simply perfect as Matilda. In fact, the whole cast is wonderful to watch!
The BFG – either the animated original or the live-action remake
Another Roald Dahl book to movie adpation – or two, to be exact. I loved reading The BFG and watching the animated movie when I was a child. So, I greatly anticipated the live-action remake, and you know what? It didn’t disappoint! As a child, my favourite scenes were the ones involving the Frobscottle – haha; and if I’m being honest I still laugh at them as an adult, too.
The Hunger Games
I had The Hunger Games trilogy on my bookshelf for far too long before I read them! I’d recently finished the Twilight saga and wanted a little break between the two series’. In fact, it wasn’t until I saw the first ‘The Hunger Games’ movie, that I sat down and binged the three books! I loved how effortlessly they transformed from book to screen.
The Bone Collector
The Bone Collector is a crime novel / thriller with a suspenseful plot which keeps you guessing throughout. Unlike the other book to movie adaptations on this list, however, I actually watched the movie first. Before I even knew it was a book! The movie adaptation starring Densel Washington and Angelina Jolie in the late 90s is a great story. But slightly different to the source material – I actually loved the book as the criminal aspects were much more detailed. There’s also a sequel spin-off novel, The Skin Collector, that I’m currently reading.
