Books made into films

Our favorite books like Beastly and Angus Thongs seem to be springing up into films left right and centre.

But for us many of our fave stories just haven't lived up to expectations on the big screen.

What about you - have film adaptations ruined some of your favourite reads? If so, which ones?

Are there any movies that have completely surpassed the book?

Do you think that books perhaps generaly don't make good films? And if there is still hope for the book adaptation, are there any books that you'd really love to see on the big screen?

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Katherine, 13
The book Holes; by Louis Sachar, is the best book i have read and also one of the best films! I read the book first, and i thought the film was exactly how i pictured it in my head! The storyline was exactly the same, unlike angus thongs and perfect snogging (although that is my fave movie!)

Elizabeth, 18
Every book iv read that has been turned in to a film has been ruined for me. At the end of the day you can only ever watch a film, when you read a book you can almost feel it. The words draw you in and step by step you become engulfed in a totaly diffrent world. Once thats been turned in to a film you can forget your imagination because everything suddenly becomes percieved as you had seen it in the film. Often characters and places become replaced with what youv watched. If you read a happy potter book, you know exactly what EVERYTHING looks like, not because of the description and wording of the book, merely because thats the way youv seen it on telly.

Kirby, 13
Whenever ive read a book I always want to go see the movie to see how the director and stuff thinks the places, characters etc are like and also if theyre anything like how I think. For example i think angus thongs and perfect snogging was abit different to what I expected but I think I prefer the movie to the book. So I really think it depends to be honest.:)

Scarlett, 16
I definitely agree that film versions are usually dire, but I reckon they did a really good job of Stand By Me. We were studying it in English and I read The Body afterwards. I liked the story, but it was kinda depressing and I enjoyed the film a lot more. It kept true to the book - just brightened it up a little - and the soundtrack and cast were awesome (Kiefer Sutherland).

Jennifer, 16
I think it depends, action books tend to be better films than romance. For instance, I like both Twilight and Harry Potter. I think the Twilight films are a bit of a let down, they miss/change things and the book gives you a more intimate feeling with Bella and her feelings. On the other hand, the Harry Potter films are great. They really live up to the books fast, has the all the information you need, especially with the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, that has been the best of the lot so far!

Sabreena, 17
I really enjoyed the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella but the film was a bit of a disappointment really. I've always loved the Nancy Drew books too, ever since my sister first gave me one of hers and I did like the Emma Roberts film version but it did feel like a completely different character. Not the Nancy I used to read about really :)

Eleanor, 13
If I've read a book and it is made into a movie, I will only go and see it because I want to see someone else's variation of what the characters look like and their personalities. A lot of the time, directors try to hard or don't try hard enough and 'water-down' the book so it misses out key details and important stuff. The Hunger Games series are being made into movies and to be honest, I don't think I'll go see them when they come out because they'll probably pick the wrong person to play Katniss and a lot of the action will be left out to fit the PG-13 rating. I agree with Rachael, Noughts and Crosses would make an amazing movie - only if it is done right. Books will only make good movies if the author of the book is organised in the screenplay and the film as a whole otherwise everything could be misinterpreted and the movie will end up being really bed.

Becky, 17
I think some film adaptations can be good, the Swedish film of the book 'Let The Right One In' was incredible, they stuck to the book as much as they could, and the scenes in the film were exactly as they were written in the book and they couldn't have got anyone better to play the leads. A Hollywood version has been made of it called 'Let Me In' which i really do not want to see because I know they have tried to stick to the storyline of the book, but they changed the location and took out the key point which makes the book so unique so they don't offend people.

Emma, 16
I LOVE reading, and always find that movies are such a let down compared to the books.

Lola
some film adaptions are really good, but others are just a real disappointment after reading the book, like the series of unfortunate event film. their in totally the wrong order and completely change the really good books. but i'd really like to see 13 Reasons Why by jay asher as a film, as it's told through audio and could boom through the boys head as a film which would be really good. i also think the Anne Cassidy books would make great films :)

Tia, 15
i absolutely agree! the books capture emotions and you paint a picture in your head which is just ruined by the poor film adaptions. I was a huge fan of twilight BEFORE the films now i just dont give care anymore and I want to become a film producer but i would stick true to the book. @Hel house of night series is becoming a film xD

Mikaela, 14
I don't think every book should be made into a movie, there are ones that are great but books are more educational and worth while. The movies are good to get a different perspective and that's what I like about them!

Becca, 15
A film is a director's interpretation of an idea or book - it's never the same as when you can imagine it yourself.

MooMoo, 16
The movie of the lovely bones made me so angry! they changed the whole story and missed out so much.

Rach, 16
They ruined the Georgia Nicholson film! It could have been really good but it turned out pathetic. Some films turn out well like Harry Potter and some arguably better than the books like LOTR, but if you're not prepared to do a film properly and take into account how fans of books are going to feel when you've changed characters/ plot lines, then don't bother!

Hattie, 13
I read Angus Thongs and I thought it was a really good book, but the movie didnt live up to my expectations. I think the book Dizzy by Cathy Cassidy should be made into a film (or any of her other books!)

honey, 15
the princess diaries film was the worst book adaption ever!!!!!

Amber, 16
i totally agree with this. ive read all of the angus thongs series and the books are so much better the film is kinda boring wheres the camping scene and when robbie moves :( either make a sequel or dont do it lol

Rachael, 14
I think 'Noughts and Crosses' by Malorie Blackman should be a movie

Hel, 16
almost everytime i read a good book, i can see it in my head as a brilliant film. like the house of night series! that'd make an awesome series of films. if i was the director, they'd be brilliant :P

Mayo, 13
Twilight - although i like the movies and all, i much prefer the book 'cos you get you're own idea of how the characters look and they also change or add things in the movies. :P

Lola, 15
I'd definitely love to see 'The Curious Incident' as a film, I'd like to see how the directors tackle the things that go on in Christopher's mind. That would be awesome :-). Maybe another Louise Rennison film too, since everyone enjoyed the first one :D. When i was younger, i always wanted there to be another Lemony Snickett film, so I'd better write that down too.. xD x

Lilly, 15
I'm shocked at the cast for beastly and what they've done to the beast. It's a book about being beautiful on the inside...so they pick Vanessa? who is beautiful on the outside and nothing like the character in the book.

Emma, 16
Quite often the films are never as good as the books, however, the films can get some people reading books they would never have otherwise read. I only started reading the Harry Potter books after seeing the films and now I think the books are AMAZING!

jaz, 16
i think books are always better than the films because there is more emotions and you can imagine the characters to look how you want

Gemma
I think that although the films are good, the books are always better because they have more detail. The films dont ruin the books, they just give a different perspective to the story. Also, part of what makes the film not as good is the fact that they always have to cut things out of the story due to the time limit of the film. However, this does not stop me from watching the film and enjoying it!

Michaela, 17
I think that movies can be just as good as the books they were adapted from.. though in my opinion this very rare. The movies that I have seen (which are adaptations) that haven't been as good include; Confessions of a Shopaholic, MR Nice.. there are probably other but I cant bring myself to think of them right now. The main problem with adapting films from books is that with a book you have more detail, it requires more of your attention and it can draw you into the story itself making you experience more of the story. You can let your imagination take front seat with the guidance of the descriptions given in the books.

HK
I love reading and books always beat the movies. I have to say though that the Harry Potter movies are extremely good but, of course, the books wow-ed me more. I'd love all of Louise Rennison's books and I think that they all should be made into movies. :)

Oceana, 14
I think that it depends. We read 'I am David' at school and then watched the film. Although it had parts cut out it was much better! :)

Abbie
Films are never as good as the book! The books have so much detail that films don't and can't include. The films are fun, but are never as good as the book. Though sometimes the film inspire people to read the book, which is great because a lot of people do not read enough and don't know what they are missing. The Twilight saga films got thousands of teenagers reading the books, but is because of who stars in the films? My favourite books and films are the Harry Potters, the books are fantastic and the films do them justice by being fantastic too. lots of love from a book lover xx

Abi, 15
I think that in genral the books are mostly better than the films, take harry potter and twilight They are brillant books but the some of the films aren't up to excpectation.This is my opinion anyway.