Based on...
Books and films are two closely-related forms of art and entertainment. Since the science of film was first established in the late 1800s filmmakers have been using it to tell stories, and they soon began utilising the existing narratives and characters of novels. These films have succeeded (or not) to varying degrees in the transition, some accurately portraying the writer's intention, some building on it and some disappointing the original readers. No matter how well the adaptation is done however, it is still nice to be reminded that yes, happily, there is more to read than Harry Potter.
For screen translations of Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Stephen King and many other notable authors click their links under this category, left. For adaptations of plays and Shakespeare, use the 'Alice's Playhouse' link.
Right: Kubrick's adaptation of Thackeray's novel 'Barry Lyndon'.
Das Boot ( aka The Boat ) (1981)
8.4/10
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Herbert Gronemeyer, Jurgen Prochnow, Klaus Wennemann
A.k.a. 'The Boat.' Totally restored and with over an hour of never-before-seen footage, Das Boot: The Director's Cut is Wolfgang Petersen's acclaimed... Read more
Daughters of Darkness (1971)
6.7/10
Director: Harry Kumel
Starring: John Karlen, Delphine Seyrig, Andrea Rau, Daniele Quimet, Paul Esser
Delphine Seyrig (Stolen Kisses), is an Hungarian countess and present-day vampiress who, in order to continue her daily blood baths, must continually... Read more
David Icke: The Freedom Road (2004)
6.6/10
Starring: David Icke
Charismatic author and 'conspiracy theorist', David Icke, offers a different perspective on many recent events, including Princess Diana's death and 9... Read more
Day Watch (2006)
6.5/10
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Mariya Poroshin, Vladimir Menshov, Dmitry Martynov, Alekse...
The long-awaited sequel to Russian fantasy flick, 'Night Watch', this bombastic goth-horror is equally entertaining and illuminates many of the myster... Read more
Day Watch ( Blu-ray ) (2006)
6.5/10
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Mariya Poroshin, Vladimir Menshov, Dmitry Martynov, Alekse...
The long-awaited sequel to Russian fantasy flick, 'Night Watch', this bombastic goth-horror is equally entertaining and illuminates many of the myster... Read more
Dean Spanley (2008)
7.2/10
Director: Toa Fraser
Starring: Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill, Bryan Brown, Peter O'Toole, Art Malik, Judy Parfitt,...
A whimsical and hypnotic tale, set in Edwardian England, and starring Peter O'Toole as the cantankerous father of an exasperated Jeremy Northam. Their... Read more
Death in Venice (1971)
7.5/10
Director: Luchino Visconti
Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Marisa Berenson, Mark Burns, Silvana Mangano
Author Thomas Mann's classic is splendidly brought to the screen in this study of an artist, his loves, his homosexuality and continuous search for be... Read more
Death Sentence (2007)
6.8/10
Director: James Wan
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Garrett Hedlund, Kelly Preston, Jordan Garrett, Stuart Lafferty, Ai...
Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) becomes a man on a grisly mission after his family is attacked in a sadistic gang initiation ritual. Hell-bent on cold-bloode... Read more
Death Train (1993)
4.3/10
Director: David S Jackson
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Patrick Stewart, Alexandra Paul, Ted Levine, Christopher Lee
Based on Alistair MacLean's best-seller, a Russian dissident intent on re-igniting the Cold War hijacks a train an dheads for Iraq. The UN quickly mo... Read more
December Boys (2007)
6.6/10
Director: Rod Hardy
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Lee Cormie, Christian Byers, James Fraser, Jack Thompson, Tere...
Daniel Radcliffe proves he's not just a boy wizard in this coming-of-age film about best friends from an orphanage spending summer by the sea. Against... Read more