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'.
Starship Troopers ( Blu-ray ) (1997)
7.2/10
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Michael Ironside, Jake Busey, Patr...
From the bridge of the Fleet Battlestation Ticonderoga, with its sweeping galactic views, to the desolate terrain of planet Klendathu, teeming with sh... Read more
Starting Out in the Evening (2007)
7/10
Director: Andrew Wagner
Starring: Frank Langella, Lauren Ambrose, Lili Taylor, Adrian Lester
An adaptation of Brian Morton's best-seller about an aging author whose success is long behind him when a young grad student convinces him to let her... Read more
Stiff (2004)
Director: John Clarke
Starring: David Wenham, Sam Neill, Mick Molloy
John Clarke takes the director's horn for this offering based on the novel by Shane Maloney that focuses on the Union shenanigans and sexual politics... Read more
Stone of Destiny (2008)
6.8/10
Director: Charles Martin Smith
Starring: Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Ciaron Kelly
In 1950, Ian Hamilton, a student and dedicated nationalist, reignited Scottish national pride with his daring raid on Westminster Abbey to bring back... Read more
Storm Boy (2019)
7/10
Director: Shawn Seet
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney, Erik Thomson
‘Storm Boy' has grown up to be Michael Kingley, a successful retired businessman and grandfather. When Kingley starts to see images from his past that... Read more
Storm Boy (1976)
7.2/10
Director: Henri Safran
Starring: Peter Cummins, Greg Rowe, David Gulpilil
A wonderful Australian film dealing with the relationships between a boy, his pelican, his Aboriginal friend and his dour father who disapproves of bo... Read more
Storm Boy (Blu-Ray) (2019)
7.2/10
Director: Shawn Seet
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney, Erik Thomson
‘Storm Boy' has grown up to be Michael Kingley, a successful retired businessman and grandfather. When Kingley starts to see images from his past that... Read more
Stormbreaker ( aka Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker ) (2006)
5.1/10
Director: Geoffrey Sax
Starring: Sarah Bolger, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry, Damian Lewis, Ewan McGregor, Bill Ni...
Deadly martial artist, skilled linguist, steady-handed mountaineer and dead-eye marksman, Alex Rider realises that he's been secretly trained in the a... Read more
Strumpet City (1979)
8.7/10
Starring: Angela Harding, Cyril Cusack, Donal McCann, David Kelly, Frank Grimes, Peter O'T...
A panoramic saga of Dublin life during one of the city's most turbulent eras in the early 1900s, based on the novels of James Plunkett, which are in t... Read more
Survivors: Series 1 (2008)
7.6/10
Director: Various
Starring: Zoe Tapper, Phillip Rhys, Paterson Joseph, Max Beesley, Julie Graham
Based on the cult 1970s show of the same name (in turn based on Terry Nation's novel), this re-imagining of post-apocalyptic Britain is a more action-... Read more