Let's look at some movies that did justice to the books -- or sometimes were better.
The Godfather - Mario Puzo's must-read tour de force was made into not one but two movies winning Best Picture Academy Awards. The Godfather also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Marlon Brando. He sent a (fake) Native American, Sacheen Littlefeather, to decline his Oscar. Best moment in the Oscars.
Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris walked us through Clarice's introduction to the FBI by getting to know serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins was the mad genius, deliciously creepy throughout. The film won the big 4: Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Actress (Jodie Foster), Picture (Saxon, Utt and Bozman) and Director (Jonathan Demme), as well as Best Screenplay (Ted Tally).
Gone With the Wind was a classic and always will be. Margaret Mitchell's tale of the ravages of the South during the Civil War, showcasing Scarlett O'Hara, a truly memorable character, was made into a superb movie which won eight Academy Awards. They included Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), Supporting Actress (history-making Hattie McDaniel), Director (Victor Fleming, although the movie went through four previous directors), Picture and Screenplay, along with three more technical Oscars. Purists remember that Scarlett had a son and a daughter who never made it into the movie.
Sophie's Choice by William Styron was an unforgettable book. It was filled with beauty and avant garde characters, then shared a horrific memory. The movie did justice to the book. Meryl Streep spoke with yet another convincing foreign accent and worked beautifully with Kevin Kline and Peter MacNicol. Streep won a Best Actress Oscar, and Alan J. Pakula won for Best Screenplay. The film won three more awards, including Marvin Hamlisch's for Best Original Score.
A quick mention of two other good transitions: Jaws by Peter Benchley and All The President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Thanks,
Eddy