by WB Senior Intern Jackie Gonzalez
“The book was so much better than the movie!”
We’ve all heard this before, and we’ve probably said it, too. The book to movie topic can be pretty contentious. As bookworms, we swear by the written word and typically cringe at the movie adaptations of our favorite books.
However, it can be challenging to fit a novel’s worth of character development and plot into a few hours on screen, so directors tend to take creative liberties. Some directors get it right, while others fall short of capturing the novel’s magic.
We’ve compiled a list of 3 great titles that are just as worth the watch as they are the read! So, grab some popcorn, get a comfy blanket, and browse this list to choose your next movie.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas’ 2017 best-selling, powerful YA novel follows African American teenager Starr Carter, as she narrates her experiences living in a crime filled, predominantly black neighborhood, while struggling to present a different identity at her posh, upscale high school. Her life is turned upside down when her best friend, Khalil becomes a victim of police brutality – right in front of her. She becomes engulfed with anger and feels the need to fight for justice.
Starr puts everything on the line after Khalil’s death – her image at school, her bond with friends, and even her safety. When she sees how lightly Khalil’s murder is being handled, especially when the guilty officer refers to the murder as self-defense, she becomes an activist in her community to not only fight for Khalil’s name to be cleared, but also for justice for the entire black community. Starr’s actions in the novel bring to light the many issues with systemic racism that are still very real to this day, including the media’s constant downplaying.
In a novel filled with anger, sadness, heartbreak, and the reality of systemic racism, it may seem difficult to encompass the true nature of the situation in a 2-hour film. The stellar casting, including Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, and Russell Hornsby brought on heart-wrenching performances to truly highlight an important issue that should not be silenced. Although there are a few small differences in the 2018 film adaptation, director George Tillman Jr. remained faithful to everything that makes “The Hate U Give” such a powerful rendition of the startling realism of the struggles in the black community.
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Esquivel’s novel, published in 1989, is a journey of a forbidden love during the Mexican Revolution. Family tradition dictates that as the youngest of Mama Elena’s three daughters, 15-year-old Tita, must forego her own goals and dreams to care for her mother until her mother dies. Tita finds comfort in cooking, and the kitchen becomes her world. Every emotion that Tita feels is transferred into her cooking and affects those who taste her food.
By using magical realism and astounding imagery on each page, Esquivel takes her readers on a journey that sweetens a painful love story with mouthwatering dishes, the aroma of secrets and food, and the ability to let their imaginations run wild.
The 1992 film adaptation of Like Water for Chocolate, directed by Alfonso Arau, quickly became a hit in both the United States and Mexico. Many viewers felt that the film fell short of the rich romantic aspect of the novel, while others appreciated the heavy focus on Tita’s story. A novel with such rich storytelling is perfect for the big screen, and Arau allows viewers to enjoy an intense world of passion and romance as they feel the emotions transferred into Tita’s cooking, while still having a rich desire for love.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Published in 1813, Pride and Prejudice is a classic tale of enemies to lovers. Filled with romance and comedy, this novel tells the story of the 5 Bennett sisters who are forced to find rich men to marry. The highlight of the novel is Elizabeth Bennett, who through her stubborn behavior, refuses to marry the first man who comes along. She meets Mr. Darcy, who on the outside seems dark and brooding, which solidifies Elizabeth’s reluctance to marry him. In this tale of manners, Elizabeth soon realizes the difference between superficial goodness and true goodness, as she begins to discover that Darcy may not be the villain she has labeled him to be.
The 2005 film adaptation was not as well-received from Jane Austen fans. Director, Joe Wright, took major creative liberties as he slightly strayed from the original time period due to his distaste towards the clothing worn by women in 1813, and avoided subplots to focus on the romance between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, just to name a few.
However, the quality of acting, costumes, and scenery made up for what was missing from the novel. Although it doesn’t faithfully mimic the story in Austen’s classic, it still deserves a chance. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy the love story between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy?
Let us know a few of your favorite film adaptions!
About the Author
Jacqueline Gonzalez is a writer and editor and currently resides in Corpus Christi, Texas. She has a BA in English from Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi and an MA in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a contributing writer for The Bend Magazine and Visit Corpus Christi, and she is currently working on her first short story collection. Outside of writing, she enjoys reading, watching true crime documentaries, and spending time with her family, dog, and cat.