Screen adaptations of books rarely remain completely faithful to the source material. Directors and screenwriters adapt plots, add new characters, or change endings to make the movies more dynamic and suitable for the screen format. Sometimes these changes enrich the story, and sometimes they disappoint book fans. Let’s break down the most unexpected deviations of movies from the original works.
“The Hobbit”: the adventure became an epic war
J. R. R. Tolkien’s children’s book “The Hobbit, or There and Back Again” is a light and kind story about the journey of Bilbo Baggins. However, Peter Jackson’s film adaptation expanded the narrative into a trilogy filled with epic battles, additional storylines, and new characters such as the elven girl Tauriel. The movie gave the book scale and drama, but lost its coziness and naiveté.
“Jurassic World”: science has gone by the wayside
Michael Creighton’s novel “Jurassic Park” explored the scientific aspects of cloning and the ethical issues of creating dinosaurs in greater depth. However, the films in the series have focused on action scenes and dinosaur fighting. This is especially noticeable in Jurassic World, where the theme of scientific responsibility has all but disappeared, giving way to spectacle.
“Forrest Gump”: a very different hero
In Winston Groom’s book, Forrest is a man prone to rudeness and not always sympathetic. The movie with Tom Hanks completely redefined his image, making Forrest a kind, sincere and touching character. There are also scenes in the book that are not in the movie, such as Forrest’s journey into space. As a result, the movie gained cult status while the book remained in the shadows.
“I am a legend”: different finales
In Richard Matheson’s book, the ending emphasizes the main idea: the main character, Robert Neville, becomes a legend in the world of vampires, as he is their destroyer. However, in the 2007 movie starring Will Smith, the ending was changed: Robert sacrifices himself to save humanity, emphasizing heroism rather than philosophical ambiguity. Fans of the book were disappointed by this change.
Plot changes in screen adaptations are due to several reasons:
- Time constraints. Books often contain many details that cannot be fit into a two-hour movie;
- Audience expectations. Sometimes producers change endings or add more action to make a movie more successful at the box office;
- Director’s vision. Some directors only take the book as a starting point and reinterpret its plot in their own way.
When the changes are for the good
There are cases when deviations make the story better. For example, the Lord of the Rings trilogy kept the spirit of the book but simplified a lot of secondary storylines, making the movies more accessible and entertaining.
Conclusion
Deviations from the book’s plot are always a risk. Sometimes they help adapt the story for a new format, and sometimes they cause a wave of resentment among fans. A book and a movie are different art forms, and each reveals the story in a different way. What changes in the film adaptations are you most remembered for? Let’s discuss together!