When my husband took us to see Toy Story 5, we sat through twenty minutes of trailers before the movie. I actually like the trailer portion of the theater experience, because it’s fun to see what’s coming up next and to get a peek inside what marketing executives think people in our demographic (families with kids) will enjoy.
On this particular slate, there were two upcoming movies based on existing IP: The Cat in the Hat, and Moana.
First of all, I don’t know who keeps green lighting these Dr. Suess screenplays, and I don’t know who keeps wanting to write Dr. Suess screenplays, but I want it to stop.
Also, I thought we already had a Cat in the Hat film adaptation, with Mike Myers voicing the Cat. Am I wrong? This time, it’s Bill Hader, who will probably do a really good job, but I can’t imagine him being allowed to really explore new places in this well-known character’s psyche. Because there’s not much there in the first place.
This year, there has already been a lot of discourse over Christopher Nolan’s ” The Odyssey.” People are upset about the casting and the use of anachronistic language, like “Dad,” instead of “Father.” I actually don’t agree with either of these criticisms. Also, I have never read the Odyssey, and presumably, neither have most of the people upset about this movie.
Since I’ve never read it, I can’t get mad over whether or not it stays true to the spirit of the original. But I have read The Cat in the Hat, and can say with certainty that any adaptation of it is already a failure, because the spirit of the book was to help kids read. So.
First up, the best, in no particular order:
Charlotte’s Web (1973) – beautiful animated film with good music (“The Fair (Is a Veritable Smorgasbord)” by Templeton, feat. the Goose), which captures the themes of friendship and the fragility of life, but also meaning and value of every life, no matter how small.
Anne of Green Gables (1985) – perfectly cast live-action miniseries brimming with sincerity and wit.
Pride and Prejudice (1995) – David Bamber as Mr. Collins. One of my favorite performances by any actor EVER.
Sense and Sensibility (1995) – The costumes. The casting. The cinematography.
Emma (1996) – See above. Unmatched.
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – I love all the LOTR movies, but I wanted to pick just one that most closely captured the essence of the book.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – This is a rare example of the movie being better than the book. Disguised as a rom-com, it’s a thoughtful exploration of integrity, pride, and the bittersweet results of living the life we choose.
The Princess Diaries (2001) – another Anne Hathaway gem that is better than the source material. The movie presents us with a cozier world, more cohesive themes, and more memorable characters.
Project Hail Mary (2026) – this one had less of the hard science fiction from the novel, but chose instead to emphasize the buddy comedy component, making it, as one reviewer aptly observed, “a live-action Pixar movie.” And if that’s not high praise, what is?
Julie and Julia (2009) – I actually hated the novel because the protagonist is so selfish and whiny, but Amy Adams imbues the role with much-needed charm. She is such a good actress. I know many people find the “Julie” half inferior to the “Julia” half of the movie, but I love it all.
The Hunger Games (2012) – just this one. Not the other ones. Great casting and great soundtrack.
The Help (2011) – Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and the role that made Octavia Spencer a household name at last.
Jane Eyre (2011) – Mia Wasikowska opposite Michael Fassbender — a match made in period film heaven. It’s dark and brooding in all the ways it needs to be, and is thoughtfully edited.
A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – the only adaptation that matters. It perfectly balances the joy and gravity of the novella in a way that respects its audience and the source material, while not taking itself too seriously.
Treasure Planet (2002) – Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a troubled but vulnerable Jim Hawkins, The Goo-Goo Dolls frontman supplies original music, and the treatment of Long John Silver as a father figure serves the narrative well.
Never Let Me Go (2010) – tragic and memorable…almost too sad, but captures the theme of the novel: how to find meaning in the fragility of life.
Little Women (1995) – I love that they had the guts to cast an older man as Frederich Baher. Gabriel Byrne was still a little too young, but he comes across as thoughtful, intelligent, and tender, and so makes a perfect love interest for Jo after she breaks Laurie’s heart. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive her for that, even though she was totally right to do it.
War and Peace (2016) – masterful adaptation of one of the most laborious tomes ever published. It’ll make you actually want to read the book, and then you’ll feel guilty for not liking it as much as the miniseries.
Atonement (2007) – It’s one of the best-written books you can read, and it was made into a breathtaking film. Not easy to watch, but an excellent adaptation.
No Country For Old Men (2007) – more enjoyable as a film than a book. The book was good, but its spare prose is more impactful on the screen than on the page.
Holes (2003) – it’s fun and it’s got a lot of heart. The villains are probably the best part.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) – it captures the magic and allegorical depths of the book, and the casting of Tilda Swinton as the White Witch, Liam Neeson as Aslan, and Jim Broadbent as Professor Kirke — chef’s kiss.
101 Dalmatians (1961) – it’s a beauty, and has one of the best villains ever drawn.
Okay, and the bad:
Ella Enchanted (2004) – Hugh Dancy as Prince Char was the only thing they got right. Everything else was so stupid and terrible that I remember being embarrassed as a kid for wanting to see it.
Silo (2023-present) – I don’t know what they were thinking with this. The pilot was SO GOOD, but the later episodes are so boring. Like, nothing happens. The books are far more dynamic and generous with reveals and twists.
The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019) – I wanted to love this one, because I love the casting of Dev Patel as David, Ben Whishaw as Uriah Heep, and Tilda Swinton as Aunt Betsey. But it was too twee and self-aware.
The other Hunger Games movies – not fun, not good, too busy
Pride and Prejudice (2005) – my hot take. I don’t like it. I will watch it, but I don’t like it. It’s more of a beautiful-looking film than a faithful adaptation.
Mansfield Park (2007) – this one will make you wonder if the miniseries is bad, or if the book is just a dud. Fannie Price’s hairstyle is unforgivable, even if Haley Atwell is a perfectly cast Mary Crawford.
Mansfield Park (1999) – I like this one as a movie, but it’s not a good adaptation at all. It was seemingly impossible for the screenwriters to present a quiet, moral heroine. And I like Jonny Lee Miller, but his Edmund is a bit too milquetoast.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) – the whole trilogy is bad, but I really hated that this one even exists. Martin Freeman as Bilbo and Lee Pace as Thranduil were wasted in this movie, because they were perfectly cast.
Love Comes Softly (2003) – Katherine Heigl was not the right choice for this one. She was too much of a star at that time to make a convincing pioneer woman.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – another hot take. People love this one, but I found the aesthetic so gross, and the backstory of Baby Grinch being mocked was too sad. I left the theater at nine years old, haunted.
The Sword in the Stone (1963) – the novel is one of my favorites. I’m sad it was given the Disney treatment. The animation is cute, but it’s not the right fit.
Ramona and Beezus (2010) – It’s actually a sweet movie in its own right, but not as an adaptation of the Ramona books. It never should have been live-action. It should have been hand-drawn animation, preferably in the style of the illustrations by Alan Tiegreen, shown below.
and finally…
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) – this one is all wrong. It wants to be taken seriously as an action-adventure film, but it’s for kids. Not as tonally consistent or true to the source as the first film in the series.
Okay, so there are my hot takes and probably some cheap shots. But I’ve got to call them like I see them.
In making this list, I slowly realized that there are a lot of movies I’ve seen that I had no idea were based on books that I’ve never read. Whoops.
Thoughts?
Katie Bertola 