Movies you liked better than the book

[Chainsawmidget]

The Princess Bride, although only slightly.  The book is really great too, but the performances in the movie give it that slight edge. 

Also, replacing the author's notes with the grandpa scenes worked better. 

[zelmo73]

Blade Runner was another one. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was rather ho-hum for my tastes.

[messedup]

For one I liked Frank Darabont's The Mist more than the Shortstory by Stephen King it was based on. Especially the ending was better and King even approved of it.

And how about Comics? Do they count? I would throw Watchmen in there. The movie was very close to the sourcematerial, but changed the one thing I hated about the comic...the Alien Invasion. Also the normal version didn't have the Black Freighter-sidestory which I always skipped while reading the comic. On the other hand the sidestory was included in the Ultimate Cut, where I really loved it due to the visual style.

[AoTFan]

Wanted to revive this thread to say, I thought Alive was waaay better than the book it was based, which is surprising considering how much the story itself should have lended itself to a really powerful book.  I think the author just didn't do enough research or have the ability to really convey the survivors as people, their inner thoughts and feelings.  The book itself just comes off as a really dry experience.

[ER]

The one I always cite is Sophia Coppola's film version of The Virgin Suicides. At times the book absolutely ran off-track into grossness and lost its internal thread but the hypnotic sense within the movie stayed on course and had one of the best soundtracks of all time.

[RCMerchant]

I'll agree with some that JAWS is much better than the book.
I also agree with Hallows on the SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION-

others-
.FRANKENSTEIN (1931) the book is a total bore.
.DRACULA (1931) The book's journalistic style with all the letters and such- what was that all about?
.the HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939)- gimme a break.
.the RAVEN (1934 and 1963)- I mean-you can't translate a poem into a good movie. Watching a guy p**s and moan in his room at a raven about his dead girlfriend is not very cinematic.
.the EXORCIST (1973) I like the book-but the movie is much tighter and suspenseful.

I have to disagree with the SHINING (1980)- I don't think one is better than the other. Both worked for me in their respective mediums.

[Trevor]

Shangani Patrol (1970): the book was a boring textbook while the film was a rip-roaring adventure.

[Chainsawmidget]

The pacing and flow of the story in American psycho was far better in the book than in the movie, although we did miss on a few good scenes. 

The closing narration from the movie actually happens several chapters from the end of the book and the book just keeps going. 

[AoTFan]

Haven't read it, but I'm told the movie version of Forrest Gump is far better than the book it's based on.

[Trevor]

I'll agree with some that JAWS is much better than the book.

Agreed: I found the book tedious and the character of Ellen Brody in the book is an awful one.

I have to disagree with the SHINING (1980)- I don't think one is better than the other. Both worked for me in their respective mediums.

My opinion on that film is if you've read the book, the film is bad and if you haven't read the book, the film is great. Now I am confused.