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'.
First Blood ( Rambo ) ( Blu-ray ) (1982)
7.7/10
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy
John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is an ex-Green Beret haunted by his memories of Vietnam. Harassed and jailed by the locals in a Northwest town, he mak... Read more
Five Children and It (2005)
5.6/10
Director: John Stephenson
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Izzard, Freddie Highmore, Tara Fitzgerald, Zoe Wanamaker,...
It's World War I and five children are sent to live with their eccentric uncle (Kenneth Branagh) in the countryside. There are plenty of rules but th... Read more
Flags of our Fathers (2006)
7.1/10
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, John Slattery, Barry Pepper, John Be...
Clint Eastwood's World War II film offers a brutal grunts-eye-view of the battle on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. It centres on the lives of three... Read more
Flags of our Fathers ( Blu-ray ) (2006)
7.1/10
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, John Slattery, Barry Pepper, John Be...
Clint Eastwood's World War II film offers a brutal grunts-eye-view of the battle on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. It centres on the lives of three... Read more
FlashForward: The Complete Series (2009)
7.6/10
Director: Various
Starring: Courtney B Vance, Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Peyton List, Sonya Walger, Jack Dave...
Based on the sci-fi novel by Robert J. Sawyer, this series follows the repercussions of a cataclysmic event that knocks out the entire population of t... Read more
Flicka (2006)
6.2/10
Director: Michael Mayer
Starring: Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Alison Lohman, Dallas Roberts, Ryan Kwanten, Daniel Pin...
Based on the classic novel by Mary O'Hara, Katy (Alison Lohman), is the daughter of a horse rancher (Tim McGraw), and desperate to prove to her father... Read more
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)
6.1/10
Director: John Moore
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, Tyrese Gibson, Miranda Otto, Hugh Laurie
Based on a novel by Elleston Trevor, this is also a remake of the 1965 film. Captain Frank Towns (Dennis Quaid) is ferrying oil workers when his cargo... Read more
Flight of the Phoenix ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
6.1/10
Director: John Moore
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, Hugh Laurie, Miranda Otto, Tyrese Gibson
Based on a novel by Elleston Trevor, this is also a remake of the 1965 film. Captain Frank Towns (Dennis Quaid) is ferrying oil workers when his cargo... Read more
Follyfoot: Series 1 (1971)
8.3/10
Director: Michael Apted, Stephen Frears, Vic Hughes
Starring: Gillian Blake, Steve Hodson, Arthur English, Christian Rodska, Desmond Llewelyn
Based on Monica Dickens' 1963 novel 'Cobbler's Dream', the series was set in a horse sanctuary and often dealt with the way horses were poorly treated... Read more
Force 10 From Navarone (1978)
6.4/10
Director: Guy Hamilton
Starring: Barbara Bach, Harrison Ford, Edward Fox, Robert Shaw, Franco Nero, Carl Weathers...
An attempt to create a sequel to 'The Guns of Navarone' in which the target this time is a bridge and dam in Yugoslavia. Robert Shaw steps into the Gr... Read more