Based on...
Books and films are two closely-related forms of art and entertainment. Since the science of film was first established in the late 1800s filmmakers have been using it to tell stories, and they soon began utilising the existing narratives and characters of novels. These films have succeeded (or not) to varying degrees in the transition, some accurately portraying the writer's intention, some building on it and some disappointing the original readers. No matter how well the adaptation is done however, it is still nice to be reminded that yes, happily, there is more to read than Harry Potter.
For screen translations of Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Stephen King and many other notable authors click their links under this category, left. For adaptations of plays and Shakespeare, use the 'Alice's Playhouse' link.
Right: Kubrick's adaptation of Thackeray's novel 'Barry Lyndon'.
Blindness (2008)
6.6/10
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Alice Braga, Yusuke Iseya, Yoshino Kimura, Don McK...
A big city falls prey to a mysterious plague of blindness in Fernando Meirelles' ('City of God'; 'The Constant Gardener') adaptation of Jose Saramago'... Read more
Bliss (1985)
7/10
Director: Ray Lawrence
Starring: Lynette Curran, Barry Otto, Helen Jones
Noticed by its absence for a number of years, this outrageous and daring Australian film stars Barry Otto as Harry Joy, a wistful Sydney advertising m... Read more
Blood and Bones (2004)
7.1/10
Director: Yoichi Sai
Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Hirofumi Arai, Tomoko Tabata, Jo Odagiri, Kyoka Suzuki
Japanese icon Takeshi Kitano plays Shunpei Kim, a Korean immigrant who comes to Osaka as a teenager in1920. Working at a fish factory, Kim claws his w... Read more
Blue Fin (1978)
6.1/10
Director: Carl Schultz
Starring: Hardy Kruger, Greg Rowe, John Jarratt, Hugh Keays-Byrne
Based on the children's novel by celebrated South Australian author Colin Thiele, this is an emotional father and son story about catching the Souther... Read more
Boccaccio 70 (1962)
7.2/10
Director: Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, Vittorio De Sica, Mario Monicelli
Starring: Marisa Solinas, Anita Ekberg, Peppino De Filippo, Romy Schneider, Tomas Milian,...
This loose modern retelling of Boccaccio's Decameron is essentially four short films from four of Italy's finest directors. Fellini, Visconti, Monicel... Read more
Body Melt (1993)
5/10
Director: Philip Brophy
Starring: Gerard Kennedy, Andrew Daddo, Ian Smith, Lisa McCune
A gore-filled Aussie B-movie, directed by Philip Brophy and based on his own short stories, in which a small Melbourne community is being used as guin... Read more
Body of Lies (2008)
7.1/10
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Ali Suliman, Golshif...
Pals Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe team up with Leonardo DiCaprio for this rapid-fire espionage thriller based on the novel by David Ignatius. DiCapr... Read more
Body of Lies ( Blu-ray ) (2008)
7.1/10
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Strong, Russell Crowe, Vince Colosimo, Oscar Isaac, Ali...
Pals Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe team up with Leonardo DiCaprio for this rapid-fire espionage thriller based on the novel by David Ignatius. DiCapr... Read more
Bones: Season 2 (2006)
8.2/10
Starring: David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel
The witty banter, grisly murders and romantic tension is back for a second season of Dr Brennan and Agent Booth's investigations. Things get complicat... Read more
Bosch: Season 1 (2014)
8.4/10
Starring: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Sarah Clarke
Based on Michael Connelly's international bestselling novels. Homicide Detective Harry Bosch finally comes to television. He is relentless. Even in t... Read more