The storybook has long left its traditional domain of the bookshelf and has come to live in the land of the motion pictures. Science has chalked out an easy path for those who would rather ‘watch’ a novel than read it. Cinema has transformed the black and white reality of the print into vibrant and moving images for the world to see. To find one's beloved literary characters brought to life is like having our childhood play-worlds come true. Here is a list of the top ten cinematic adaptations of bestsellers.
The Godfather by Mario Puzo - The Godfather is one that would surely top this list as one of the best movies ever made. Marlon Brando immortalized the role of the suave, ambitious, yet frightening Godfather in Mario Puzo's novel. A popular author for his graphic and often violent novels depicting the crudeness of urban life, it required ambition and confidence to do what Francis Ford Coppola did. The Godfather in the movie was as powerful and enigmatic as the Godfather in the book, earning Brando an Academy Award.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling - Who can forget the woman whose creation of a bespectacled boy wizard catapulted her from being a struggling writer to one of the richest women in the world? The Harry Potter magic scaled new heights with the films starring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Emma Watson as the studious Hermione and Rupert Grint as the goofy, yet loyal Ron. The books unprecedented popularity carried over onto the screen as well, with tickets being sold out in minutes and eventually making the Harry Potter series the most successful movie franchise in cinematic history.
Forrest Gump by Winston Groom - Some of the unlikeliest characters make it to the top and “Sometimes, I guess there just aren't enough rocks.” The most lovable idiot of all times, Forrest Gump surely deserved all the success and critical acclaim the movie garnered. Breaking all rules of the conventional hero, Tom Hanks will be forever known as the inimitable Forrest from Winston Groom's bestselling novel. The film was a faithful adaptation of its literary counterpart and created a revolution in popular culture when people got to see Gump's capers onscreen and his simple, yet poignant takes on life.
The Lord of the Rings by J R.R Tolkien - In terms of popularity, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and the following parts of the trilogy is not only a literary epic but an equally breathtaking and impressive chapter in modern cinema as well. Peter Jackson aptly captured the sweeping locales and awe-inspiring battles that Tolkien described in his book. While the movie did not completely adhere to Tolkien’s classic, it did bring the world of the Hobbits and the elves alive in all their complexity and vibrancy for those who never got around to reading the mammoth epic.
Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup - Yes, in case you were wondering, the name is not Q & A anymore. After the worldwide popularity that the movie received due to the windfall at the Academy Awards, Slumdog Millionaire is all over the place with the name of the novel also being changed from Q&A to Slumdog Millionaire. After his critically acclaimed venture, Trainspotting, Danny Boyle scored again with his version of Swarup's novel. The movie followed the novel quite closely and ensured worldwide popularity for the novel and the author.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown - The book sold millions of copies all over the world and incurred the wrath of even more! Tom Hanks slipped into the shoes of Robert Langdon, the charismatic professor while Audrey Tautou breathed life into Sophie, the leading lady. Not only was the book a bestseller, the movie was also a huge hit at the box office, with travel agencies even organizing Da Vinci Code tours for tourists who wanted to visit the places Brown mentioned in his novel as well as places where the film was shot.
Watchmen by Alan Moore - This graphic novel created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons was very well received when it was made into a film. The sordid story of retired and dead superheroes found a fan following which was further cemented by Zack Snyder's film. With innovative graphic imagery and a gripping non-linear storyline, this film broke quite a few rules.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - The first thing that comes to mind when Twilight is mentioned is usually a crowd of frenzied teenage girls waiting to see Robert Pattinson a.k.a Edward Cullen. The sparkly vampire and the beefy werewolf (Jacob Black for the uninitiated) are causing many hearts to flutter. The movie was a sellout as expected (as was the novel) and just added to the visual treat that Meyer rendered with significant expertise on the page.
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisenberger - The nightmare of the bitchy boss was personified by Miranda Priestly in the novel. Meryl Streep perfected the character on the big screen with Anne Hathaway playing the mousy, out-of-place assistant who comes of age at the end. Enough said.
The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - Dismiss it as chicklit if you must, but who could help reading the trials and tribulations of young Becky Bloomwood, with her shopping addictions? This book was an instant bestseller the moment it came out in 2000, proving that light comedy still had a future.
This list is by no means comprehensive. And indeed, there will be time for a “hundred visions and revisions”, as T.S Eliot says.
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in February, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
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—About our writer:
Rudrani is a final-year English Literature student at Jadavpur University.She is passionate about writing and has worked as a journalist with newspapers, NGOs, and other creative organizations. She has freelanced for The Telegraph, The Telegraphin Schools, Radio Mirchi and so on.Awards have come her way including"The Best Cub-Reporter Award" from The Telegraph in Schools and "All India Albert Barrow Memorial Creative Writing Competition". Having worked on feature writing, creative writing, fiction, content writing and celebrity interviews, she feels confident enough to take on the world and is eager to learn en route.
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