Depends on who you ask

A heated debate: Which of these movies was better than the book version?

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While some cases are more obvious than others, the answer is usually not so clear. Taste is subjective, and there will always be a defiant voice claiming that the book was better—or the other way around. The following 12 examples of books adapted into movies range from the obvious to the worthy to the sublime—but not necessarily in that order.

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Peter Benchley’s novel includes more details, subplots, and less action than Steven Spielberg’s film. Granted, there would never have been a Jaws movie without the book first, but the movie version—along with its unforgettable, suspenseful score by John Williams—is generally the preferred one.

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Mario Puzo, the author of The Godfather, once said he wrote the book without thinking much of it, hoping to make some quick cash to pay off debts. However, when Francis Ford Coppola adapted it into a film, the story was shifted to focus on the relationship between Vito and Michael Corleone. The resulting movie has been acclaimed as a masterpiece ever since.

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Originally a technically dense Tom Clancy novel about a rogue Soviet captain, The Hunt for Red October, directed by John McTiernan, became a nerve-wracking film starring a magnetic Sean Connery in the lead role. It’s a great read, but arguably an even better movie.

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Anyone who has read Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange knows how tiresome it can be to constantly look up the made-up words in the included glossary. The book is compelling, and the story is strong, but it became something entirely different when Stanley Kubrick got hold of it. The addition of classical music to violent scenes, Malcolm McDowell’s performance as Little Alex, and the retro-futuristic setting created a visual experience that arguably surpassed the novel.

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No one can deny that Tom Wolfe is an exquisite writer, and The Bonfire of the Vanities is a fine example of his talent. However, when the novel was adapted into a 1980s yuppie film, the result was mediocre at best. The shift in the story’s focus, combined with poor casting decisions, led to a critically panned adaptation.

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Nick Hornby wrote a great, insightful novel about a music-obsessed man who breaks up with his girlfriend and confronts a midlife crisis. Director Stephen Frears managed to create an arguably even more compelling film, aided by a brilliant cast spearheaded by an inspired John Cusack in what is perhaps his best performance.

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As great as it is, the Trainspotting book can be a challenging read, particularly for non-Scottish readers, as the novel is heavily written in Scottish vernacular that can be difficult to follow. Danny Boyle’s film adaptation doesn’t face that hurdle. It features phenomenal casting, a memorable soundtrack, and gripping storytelling that makes the gritty material more accessible to a wider audience.

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Sometimes, a great book can translate into a pretty good movie—and for many, Interview with the Vampire is one of those cases. Anne Rice’s novel about sophisticated, introspective vampires was adapted into a star-studded film featuring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater, and more. While the movie may not be considered a masterpiece, it remains an atmospheric and entertaining film, perfect for a moody Friday night.

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Bret Easton Ellis’ books can be intense, and American Psycho is no exception. The lengthy, gory descriptions of violence found in the novel are largely absent from the film, which helps to emphasize the darkly comedic nature of the story. Christian Bale’s outstanding performance as Patrick Bateman only adds to the movie’s impact.

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Before becoming the cult favorite movie it is today, Fight Club was a novel written by Chuck Palahniuk. While the book is a decent read, the film version is where the story shows its true potential, aided in no small part by the performances of Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.

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An amazing book can translate into an amazing movie—or three. This is certainly true of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and its film adaptation directed by Peter Jackson. From the moment the production was announced, legions of rabid Tolkien fans were ready to tear it apart. However, as the three installments were released, many of those fans became Peter Jackson fans as well. While the book is often considered superior, the movies are masterpieces in their own right.

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Stephen King is known as a master of horror, but some of his non-horror stories are just as fascinating. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption was originally published as part of Different Seasons, a collection of novellas that also includes Apt Pupil. However, it was Frank Darabont’s film, The Shawshank Redemption, that best captured the essence of the story. The Morgan Freeman-narrated tale of a convicted prisoner, his friendship, and his reluctance to lose hope, coupled with a brilliant soundtrack by Thomas Newman, created a true cinematic masterpiece.

The language of armed forces

Attention! Discover 10 words that come from the military!

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Throughout human history, one profession has stood the passage of time and remained constant even in our modern days: Most nations, kingdoms, or empires in history have taken great pride in the strength and honor of their military. In that sense, it seems only logical that something as valuable for any society has a profound and direct impact on the way we communicate with each other. However, this influence can sometimes be overlooked, so we have decided to select a few words we use every day that have military origins. We guarantee you’ll be surprised by more than a few of these entries! Enjoy!

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Considering its meaning and silly-sounding nature, you might find it surprising to learn that the slang word "skedaddle", which means to hurriedly run away from a situation, rose to prominence during the American Civil War. While the exact origins of this word are unclear, it was first printed and popularized in 1861 by Northern newspapers, referring to the advancement and withdrawal of opposing troops.

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Just like "skedaddle", the word "ginormous" seems more akin to a Dr. Seuss book than to the severity and discipline of the British army. And yet, that’s exactly where "ginormous" comes from: It was a slang term originated by British soldiers during WW2, naturally used to describe something extremely (and ridiculously) large, resulting from the combination of the words "gigantic" and "enormous".

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Nowadays, almost all forms of the word "picket" are associated with protesting: It can be used to refer to the act of protesting, to a group of protesters, or to a structure raised as a sign of protest. In fact, the meaning less linked to this word is its original definition: In the 17th century, the word "picket" described a post or fence with a sharp point, which was used as a defense against cavalry soldiers. In fact, this word comes from the French term piquet, which literally means "pointed stake".

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"Jamoke" is a rather interesting term. Nowadays, this word is considered an insult, used to refer to someone uninteresting and dull. However, that wasn’t always the case: You probably already know that "jamoke" is originally a slang word used for coffee. It wasn’t until WW1 that soldiers started using this word as a derogatory term, used to insult someone as boring and plain as a cup of coffee.

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The word "raunchy" might be used to describe both a joke in bad taste or a messy and filthy place: It’s basically used to describe something dirty or in bad shape. While the etymology of the word remains unclear, we do know that it is a common slang term in the U.S. Air Corp, and some believe that it comes from cadets comparing an unkept place with a filthy "ranch".

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The origins of the word "skosh", which is used to describe a small amount or a pinch of something, are truly fascinating. It was brought back to the United States by American soldiers deployed to the Korean War. Interestingly, this word comes from the Japanese word sukoshi, which means "a little", so although the word has changed when brought to an American audience, the meaning of both terms is basically the same.

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The word "clobber" means to hit something or someone particularly hard: You might be familiar with the term from the Fantastic Four member "The Thing", whose iconic catchphrase is "It’s clobberin’ time!". In any case, most etymologists believe that the origins of this word come from the British Air Force, since "clobbering" was once used as a synonym for bombing.

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In our days, the word "hotshot" is usually used to describe someone of great importance, or of outstanding success in a particular field: For instance, you might employ the services of a hotshot lawyer or doctor. However, there’s also a derogatory side to this word, since a hotshot might be someone who recklessly jumps into action. Regardless, some historians believe that the origins of this word date back to the times of old naval battles, when sailors who loaded heated cannonballs (the titular "hot shots") were usually regarded as people with great skill for battle.

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This entry doesn’t refer to the etymology of the word itself, but rather to the military origins of the fireworks you might enjoy on a 4th of July. You might be surprised to learn that fireworks date back to Ancient China, since the earliest evidence of recreational fireworks can be dated back to the Song dynasty which ruled between 960 and 1279. However, the bright lights of fireworks were developed from early military rockets and explosive missiles, which employed the same kind of gunpowder.

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Think back on your first day at a new school or a new job, and focus on both the excitement and nervousness that you probably felt: With any luck, you had a more experienced friend or coworker who "knew the ropes" and was able to show you how everything worked in that new environment. As you probably guessed, the expression "to know the ropes" comes from the world of sailing, where sailors had to be extremely familiar with the ropes of their ships: Any sailor worth its salt knew which rope raised which sail, and how to properly tie them.