Can the movie be better than the book?

There's nothing greater than the pleasure of reading a good book - unless it's sitting in the movie sneering "That's NOT how it goes in the book".

I'm a serial offender. If there's a film coming out, I'll have to read the book first, just to assert its superiority to everyone in the neighbouring seats. Good thing there aren't any more Tangy Fruits, or I'd have candy concussion by now. Although Giant Jaffas do pack a wallop from above.

Anyway, because I haven't read either Beautiful Creatures or Warm Bodies (or, for that matter, The Great Gatsby), you're going to have to tell me what you thought. How do they compare? How about The Perks of Being a Wallflower?

There are a small percentage of movies that were actually better than the book, in my estimation. I liked Stardust better, for example, because I found it wittier than Neil Gaiman's original, and the ending was happier. I am a sucker for one of those. Yet I like The Iron Giant better than The Iron Man even though the ending is not quite so happy, because it has more action, and they did the character of Hogarth so well. It's a woman's prerogative, etc.

And one of you graphic novel readers, please tell me - why did Alan Moore hate V for Vendetta?

On the other hand, the Best Picture-winning Slumdog Millionaire wasn't even in the same ballpark as Q & A, which was magnificent. Why did they change it? WHY?? And as for the adaptation of my favourite kids' book, The Dark is Rising (aka The Seeker...) Even the trailer was trash.

Did anyone enjoy The Hobbit film better than the book? Is anyone not horrified they've split it into three? Does anyone else secretly wish Smaug would just bloody toast them all?...(Except you, Martin. You're awesome.)

Stream of consciousness over.

*For copies of any of these books, visit your magical local library. No terms and conditions apply.