The book service "Liters" together with the online cinema Okko conducted a survey to find out which adaptations of popular books are the most successful from the point of view of Russians. We present the results of the survey to your attention.
10. "Twilight", based on the cycle of the same name by Stephenie Meyer
According to Russians, the top 10 best film adaptations of books are opened by a fantasy melodrama about love, lust for blood and the same facial expression for all occasions.
Stephenie Meyer, who wrote this vampire saga, initially saw only Henry Cavill in the role of the main character. However, the 24-year-old could not convincingly play a 17-year-old teenager, so the role went to lean and young-looking Robert Pattinson. And, judging by the results of the survey, it was one hundred percent hit in the role.
9. "War and Peace" 1965-1967, based on the work of Leo Tolstoy
Almost half of the Russians surveyed by Liters and Okko - namely 46.5% - recommend reading the book first to get acquainted with War and Peace. Only 24% of respondents voted for the advantage of the film adaptation.
The 1965 adaptation was filmed by Sergei Bondarchuk, he also played one of the main roles. Bondarchuk's partners in the film were Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Oleg Tabakov and Lyudmila Savelyeva. The images of the main characters so exactly coincided with the interpretations in the school course of literature of that time, that for the Soviet schoolchildren they specially arranged screenings of "War and Peace".
8. "Jane Eyre", film adaptation of 2011, based on the book by Charlotte Bronte
The melodrama, directed by Carey Fukunaga, stars Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender.
Talented acting, amazing music by Dario Marianelli, beautiful landscapes, well-chosen sets and costumes, as well as high-quality camera work - all this made the 2011 film adaptation worthy of a great book.
7. "Fight Club", Chuck Palahniuk
The delightful self-destruction that helps to break out of the series of gray everyday life liked the Russian viewers so much that they placed him in seventh place in the selection of the most successful film adaptations.
Chuck Palahniuk also liked this film, he even admitted that the ending in the film was more successful than in the book.
6. The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Published in 1982, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Rescue was atypical of a horror king. There was not an ounce of mysticism or horror in it, only psychological drama.
The film adaptation, released in 1994, received the status of "cult", although at first it barely managed to recoup the investment ($ 25 million) at the box office. And Morgan Freeman, who played the role of Red, said that this was his best film work. By the way, Tom Hanks could have played in The Shawshank if he hadn't been busy filming another cult film - Forrest Gump.
five.Gone With the Wind, 1939 adaptation, based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell
Several films were made based on Mitchell's book, but the 1939 adaptation is leading in the Litres and Okko poll, with Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.
The love story of a beautiful southern woman and a charming smuggler fell victim to the BLM movement in the United States, allegedly because of the romanticization of the slave system and the "wrong" images of black heroes. TV channel NBO even removed "Gone with the Wind" from the public domain. However, then he decided to return, but with the appropriate politically correct comments.
But Hattie McDaniel, who played the role of Mom, became the first African-American woman to receive an Oscar.
4. "Pride and Prejudice" 1995, based on the book by Jane Austen
The 1995 film became the fifth adaptation of Jane Austen's work, and the most successful in the opinion of critics. Viewers also appreciated the picture at its true worth, as demonstrated by the results of a survey about the most successful film adaptations of famous books.
It's funny that director Joe Wright initially did not want to involve Keira Knightley in the filming, considering her too attractive for the role of Elizabeth Bennett. But Kira's boyish character was the best fit for the wayward and sharp-tongued heroine.
3. "Green Mile", based on the book by Stephen King
Another film adaptation of Stephen King's work (and again not a horror movie) made it into the top 10 best film adaptations in history, according to Russians.
And the director is the same who made The Shawshank Redemption - Frank Darabont. He managed to perfectly capture the spirit of King's complex, mystical and dramatic novel, and convey it to the audience.
2. "The Lord of the Rings", based on the books of John R. R. Tolkien
Peter Jackson, who was able to transfer characters, plot and, most importantly, the spirit of Tolkien's immortal creations to the screen, earned himself the fame of one of the best directors of our time.
And viewers who watched Jackson's films before they read the Lord of the Rings trilogy say they don't regret it at all.
1. "Harry Potter", based on the books of J.K. Rowling
In the first place of the best film adaptations of books, as expected, was the story of the Boy-Who-Lived. 44% of respondents see no difference between watching movies and reading books to get to know the Harry Potter story, and 28% even insist on first watching a movie, followed by reading Rowling's works.
And the top 3 most unsuccessful adaptations included:
- Timur Bekmambetov's dilogy "Night Watch" and "Day Watch" based on the books of Sergei Lukyanenko,
- in second place was "The Dark Tower", according to the Stephen King cycle,
- but on the third - unexpectedly - "The Hobbit".
It is curious that the majority of Russians (63% of the respondents) would prefer a book first, and only then, perhaps, go to the cinema to see if their idea of the heroes of the book coincided with the director's vision.
Over 49% of viewers often or very often find out that a movie was shot based on a book only after watching the film adaptation.