Please note that these are my favorite adaptions, and I am not claiming that they are the best or the most faithful. These are my personal opinions of movies that I believe were were just as great, or even better than the books they came from.
#5 - Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Based on "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" by Fannie Flagg
There was a looot of book stuff that didn't make it into the movie. But since I saw the movie before I read the book, I didn't mind. The book provides more backstory on the town and the people in it, and includes a lot of characters that didn't make the movie, but I believe the right choices were made in the adaptation. The movie focuses on two major relationships: Evelyn and Ninny in the present day, and Idgie and Ruth in the past. The book is still one of my favorites, but the movie is a little more to the point, aside from kind of glossing over the whole by-the-way-Idgie-and-Ruth-are-a-couple thing. I do recommend reading it if you liked the movie. (Plus, Sipsy's recipes are in the back!)
#4 - Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Based on "The Magic Bed-Knob" and "Bonfires and Broomsticks" by Mary Norton
Bedknobs and Broomsticks has been one of my favorite Disney movies since I can remember. I love everything about it. I've been putting off reading the book since I found out there was one, but I finally read it... and was pretty disappointed. The book gives a good basis for a story, but it's a very short children's book. (Well, technically, two children's books - The Magic Bed-Knob, and Bonfires and Broomsticks.) Miss Price is barely in The Magic Bed-Knob, and the adventures are quite different. Oh, well, at least now I know, and I still have that perfect movie!
#3 - Divergent (2014) and Insurgent (2015)
Based on "Divergent" and "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
I randomly decided to watch Divergent one day for some light entertainment, expecting it to be a Hunger Games-y young adult knockoff. What I did not expect was to fall completely in love with it. I watched the hell out of the library's copy, then ran to the store and bought Insurgent on the day it came out, along with my own copy of Divergent. I read all three books, but they just didn't have the same spark that the movies had. The books focus on Tris, and contain some interesting background information on how the faction system works, but my expectations were very high, and they fell flat. Just words on a page. In the movies, the characters are brought to life through amazing actors who seem to understand and care about their characters more than the books ever did, and their world seems real enough to live in.
(I have excluded Allegiant because of my negative feelings toward the final book, which were carried over to the movie.)
#2 - My Friend Flicka (1943)
Based on "My Friend Flicka" by Mary O'Hara
The movie My Friend Flicka was filmed on the ranch that the book's author, Mary O'Hara, lived on while she wrote the novel. (So there can be no arguing about the setting being perfect!) The biggest book-to-movie change is that Howard, the older McLaughlin son, has been replaced by Hildy, the young (and very loud) daughter of a ranch hand. She plays the same role as Howard, a tattletale and pain in Ken's ass until Flicka falls ill, when she becomes surprisingly helpful. Obnoxious as she is, I do think Hildy livened it up. I'm always amazed at the training of animals in old movies. There are no special effects yet. They can't just add stuff in with CGI. If you saw it, it happened. Anyway, a wonderful adaptation that really captures the spirit of the McLaughlin family, and a great chance to see the real scenery! (But do not watch the sequels or remakes, because they are garbage. Burn Flicka's scenery into your brain, and then just read the books.)
#1 - Holes (2003)
Based on "Holes" by Louis Sachar
I believe that Holes is probably the most faithful adaptation ever. It's perfect. The only real difference between the book and the movie is Stanley's weight, and since most movies film out of sequence, sticking to that would have been impossible. (And also a terrible thing to ask a kid to do.) Perfect casting all around, each actor brought their characters to life in the absolute best way. Perfect, I say!
#5 - Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Based on "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" by Fannie Flagg
There was a looot of book stuff that didn't make it into the movie. But since I saw the movie before I read the book, I didn't mind. The book provides more backstory on the town and the people in it, and includes a lot of characters that didn't make the movie, but I believe the right choices were made in the adaptation. The movie focuses on two major relationships: Evelyn and Ninny in the present day, and Idgie and Ruth in the past. The book is still one of my favorites, but the movie is a little more to the point, aside from kind of glossing over the whole by-the-way-Idgie-and-Ruth-are-a-couple thing. I do recommend reading it if you liked the movie. (Plus, Sipsy's recipes are in the back!)
#4 - Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Based on "The Magic Bed-Knob" and "Bonfires and Broomsticks" by Mary Norton
Bedknobs and Broomsticks has been one of my favorite Disney movies since I can remember. I love everything about it. I've been putting off reading the book since I found out there was one, but I finally read it... and was pretty disappointed. The book gives a good basis for a story, but it's a very short children's book. (Well, technically, two children's books - The Magic Bed-Knob, and Bonfires and Broomsticks.) Miss Price is barely in The Magic Bed-Knob, and the adventures are quite different. Oh, well, at least now I know, and I still have that perfect movie!
#3 - Divergent (2014) and Insurgent (2015)
Based on "Divergent" and "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
I randomly decided to watch Divergent one day for some light entertainment, expecting it to be a Hunger Games-y young adult knockoff. What I did not expect was to fall completely in love with it. I watched the hell out of the library's copy, then ran to the store and bought Insurgent on the day it came out, along with my own copy of Divergent. I read all three books, but they just didn't have the same spark that the movies had. The books focus on Tris, and contain some interesting background information on how the faction system works, but my expectations were very high, and they fell flat. Just words on a page. In the movies, the characters are brought to life through amazing actors who seem to understand and care about their characters more than the books ever did, and their world seems real enough to live in.
(I have excluded Allegiant because of my negative feelings toward the final book, which were carried over to the movie.)
#2 - My Friend Flicka (1943)
Based on "My Friend Flicka" by Mary O'Hara
The movie My Friend Flicka was filmed on the ranch that the book's author, Mary O'Hara, lived on while she wrote the novel. (So there can be no arguing about the setting being perfect!) The biggest book-to-movie change is that Howard, the older McLaughlin son, has been replaced by Hildy, the young (and very loud) daughter of a ranch hand. She plays the same role as Howard, a tattletale and pain in Ken's ass until Flicka falls ill, when she becomes surprisingly helpful. Obnoxious as she is, I do think Hildy livened it up. I'm always amazed at the training of animals in old movies. There are no special effects yet. They can't just add stuff in with CGI. If you saw it, it happened. Anyway, a wonderful adaptation that really captures the spirit of the McLaughlin family, and a great chance to see the real scenery! (But do not watch the sequels or remakes, because they are garbage. Burn Flicka's scenery into your brain, and then just read the books.)
#1 - Holes (2003)
Based on "Holes" by Louis Sachar
I believe that Holes is probably the most faithful adaptation ever. It's perfect. The only real difference between the book and the movie is Stanley's weight, and since most movies film out of sequence, sticking to that would have been impossible. (And also a terrible thing to ask a kid to do.) Perfect casting all around, each actor brought their characters to life in the absolute best way. Perfect, I say!