Striptease - Carl Hiaasen is a witty, prolific writer who formerly had a daily newspaper column. He's in southern Florida, and that's where all his books are based. "Striptease" was a page-turner, as all his books are, and told a touching story of a stripper who had a child to take care of and bad guys after her. The movie was a hot mess whose principal focus was to show off a new addition to Demi Moore's body. Hey, she paid for them; she's going to show them!
The Prince of Tides - Actually, it was a pretty decent movie. But when you read the book by Pat Conroy, one of my favorite authors, you can see the richness and detail and beautiful stories that make up this great book. Directed by Barbra Streisand, it somehow promoted a minor character to center stage. Portrayed by Barbra Streisand, what do you know? There was just incidental mention of one major character, passionate about the South Carolina environment, killed by police. He was pivotal to the protagonist! It was all about Barbra, and that character apparently got in her way.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - Loved the book. I gave it as a present to three people in 1994, the year it came out. Then I realized I didn't own it because I had gotten it from the library, so it was later given to me as a gift. I emphasize this personal event because I had never before wanted to share a book as I did this one. It was written by John Berendt, who really did go to Savannah as a magazine writer. And he really did spend an abundance of time there. (He fell in love with the city.) So a magazine article turned into a book. An extraordinarily good one. My major problem with the movie was that it starred John Cusack, and I thought him much too young for the role. Just look at Berendt's picture on the back of the book. Kevin Spacey chewed the scenery throughout. As with a lot of movie versions, a lot of the story was left out.
There are so many more, but this is getting me depressed. The bottom line: Read The Book! One drawback: When you see the movie first then read the book, you'll picture the actors. It's more fun to create your own mental pictures of them. Oh, that's right, that can make you disappointed in the casting.
The most important detail I can give you -- if you're disappointed with the movie, stay until all the credits roll. Find out who wrote the screenplay and who directed. Then avoid them.
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