Books versus their film adaptations

I'm sure if you're reading this, you probably have a favorite book series. If you're like me and not really into reading, then you might have a favorite film franchise. What if I told you that many of the most popular movies are based on books? While a lot of popular films are based on books, these adaptations tend to vary drastically from the source material. Let's take a look at some of the most notable examples.

Jurassic Park

Since I've only watched the first film, I would've never guessed that the legendary Steven Spielberg's dinosaur classic was based on a novel published in 1990 and written by Michael Crichton. Of course, the main plot point is a not-so-bright scientist resurrecting the dinosaurs, only for disaster to ensue. The main thing that was changed from paper to screen was the ages of the children. Much of the gore was also cut, as it wouldn't have been suitable for a more family-oriented movie.

Forrest Gump

I’m sure most people have watched or at least heard of Forrest Gump, and rightfully so. The film is a classic and is one of Tom Hanks' most recognizable performances. The 1994 film was an adaptation of a novel published in 1986 by Winston Groom. There are significant changes between the book and the adaptation. Many of Gump's adventures were cut, most notably his stint as an astronaut, accompanied by an extremely aggressive ape, and crash landing into a jungle where he is almost eaten by cannibals. Cutting this part was understandable, as this might have alienated audiences as opposed to the actual plot. Less explainable differences included the director’s decision to have Forrest wear leg braces as a child and the iconic “Run, Forrest, Run!" sequence.

Harry Potter

I’ve saved my favorite for last. I have seen and enjoyed all eight movies, but as for the books, I only recently started listening to the audiobook  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I can safely say that the movies differ dramatically from the book series. For example, Harry’s time with his abusive aunt and uncle is explored more in-depth in the novel. Characters like Peeves, who didn’t even appear in the movies, played a major role in the book. These changes, however, have not seemed to have had an effect on the success of J.K. Rowling’s work ... obviously.

Even though there might have been drastic changes from book to film, it doesn't make these works any less enjoyable. Whether you prefer reading or watching, each one has something amazing to offer.

By Evan Majors