Vote or Die for Adaptations!

Wow, P Diddy had it to the extreme.  

No rappers or political candidates here though.  Just an opportunity for you to voice your opinion while I finish up the next entry.

What do you think about movie adaptations?  Do you think they are treasure that illustrate an author's voice?  Perhaps they tarnish the work of art known as literature.  

There's no specific adaptation.  I'm talking as a whole.  Graphic novels, time tested literary classics, comics, high school novels, even modern day works.

Just to kick things off here, here's a list of three that I liked and three that...well...pretty much sucked.

Black Hole List:

1. The Rainmaker - Perhaps my favorite John Grisham novel, Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation lacked substance that made the novel that much more enjoyable.  Rudy Baylor, the protagonist, really develops in the first half, as Grisham is able to develop a backstory on Baylor.  It ain't there in the movie.
2. Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown's thriller involving the Church was a great read.  I had difficulty putting it down to conduct my golf clinic.  But watching the movie was basically going through the motions.  I had a hard time being sold on the "What's going to happen next?" moment.  I doubt it was because I had read the book, but again, the movie just lacked.
3. Last of the Mohicans - Anyone who reads my blog knows that I love this movie; I wrote about it a while back.  The movie is good, but as an adaptation, it sucked.  It didn't have James Fennimore Cooper's touch in description.  I hate to add it to the Black Hole List, but...

Glaringly Good:

1. 300 - Did you see the movie?  Did you read the graphic novel?  Where did one end the other begin?  Exactly.  One of the most brilliant adaptions I have seen.  Frank Miller should be proud.
2. The Greatest Game Ever Played - Mark Frost's account of the 1908 US Open, as the game of golf was basically getting started.  The humble upstart Francis Ouiment earns his title in this riveting must-read/see for any golf fan.  The movie takes few liberties but keeps the substance that makes this story that much more memorable.
3. Holes - One of the first books I read during my first year teaching, the movie was nearly an identical transition to film.  Many don't like the story (it's geared towards teens), but that doesn't take away from the creative story of standing up for others and doing what's right.

So now is your chance.  Vote while you can, and leave comments.  Think these few are wrong?  Want to point the finger at more offensive offenders?  Do it!  Now!  Or die!  Okay, you won't die just because you didn't vote.  But it couldn't hurt right?

On a closing note, I take Last of the Mohicans off the list.  Sorry.  Too bad.

Final quote: Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes.  ~John LeCarre

Epilogue:  Ahh...the voting is over.  Most voted that adaptations are okay, but they aren't the same as books.  One commented that movies are treated as separate entitites (I like the idea!).   I doubt we can ever reach a true concensus, and that's okay.  It's makes for some interesting conversations.  Thanks for all that voted!  Keep visiting!  Oh, and yes, Last of the Mohicans is still one of my favorite movies.  That's not changing anytime soon.