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'.
300 ( Blu-ray ) (2006)
7.7/10
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West
A hyper-real, testosterone-laden interpretation of the Spartan legend, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel and drenched in the same CGI-enhanced gol... Read more
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
7.7/10
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Logan Lerman, Gretchen Mol
In debt and facing the loss of his land, rancher Christian Bale volunteers to help escort notorious outlaw Russell Crowe to a railroad station where t... Read more
3:10 to Yuma ( Blu-ray ) (2007)
7.7/10
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Ben Foster, Dallas Rob...
In debt and facing the loss of his land, rancher Christian Bale volunteers to help escort notorious outlaw Russell Crowe to a railroad station where t... Read more
48 Shades (2006)
5.9/10
Director: Daniel Lapaine
Starring: Richard Wilson (2), Emma Lung, Robin McLevy, Nicholas Donaldson, Victoria Thaine...
17-year-old Dan decides to stay in Brisbane and finish high school when his parents move to Switzerland, moving in with his young aunt and her gorgeou... Read more
50 Ways of Saying Fabulous (2005)
5.7/10
Director: Stewart Main
Starring: Andrew Patterson, Harriet Beattie, Jay Collins, Georgia McNeil, Michael Dorman,...
Growing up in Central Otago in 1975, 12-year-old Billy is a farmer's son out of step with the other kids at his school. He's not interested in farmin... Read more
9 1/2 Weeks (1986)
3.5/10
Director: Adrian Lyne
Starring: Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke
Director Adrian Lyne's erotically charged, controversial drama stars Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke as a young New York couple whose relationship, bas... Read more
A Battle of Wits (2006)
Director: Jacob Cheung Chi-Leung
Starring: Andy Lau, Sung-kee Ahn, Wang Zhiwen, Siu-hou Chin
Based on a popular 11-volume manga series entitled 'Bokko' and set during the Warring States Period in China in 370 B.C. when the country was split be... Read more
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
7.4/10
Director: Richard Attenborough
Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Robert Redford, James Caan, Edward Fo...
In September 1944, flush with the success after the Normandy invasion, the Allies confidently launched Operation Market Garden, a bold plan to drop 35... Read more
A Canterbury Tale (1944)
7.7/10
Director: Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Starring: Eric Portman, Sheila Sim, Dennis Price
A modern parallel to Chaucer's noted report is the story of the effects of that story's countryside on an American GI and three Britishers who find th... Read more
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A Clockwork Orange (1971)
8.3/10
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Miriam Karlin, Patrick Magee, Malcolm McDowell, Adrienne Corri
Stanley Kubrick's dark, dazzling, ironic tale of an ultra-violent future filled with marauding gangs, decaying cities and bizarre technologies. Follow... Read more