Thursday Movie Picks - TV Edition - Book to TV Adaptations

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Keeping up with last year's tradition, Wanderer is saving the last Thursday of every month for TV picks. This week it's about books that have been adapted into TV shows. 

 1) Game of Thrones

 Of course I'm including one of my all time favorite TV shows, based off one of my all time favorite book series. I love Game of Thrones. I'm not ready for it to to end. 

 2) Big Little Lies

This is the only one of my picks where I didn't read the source material but I'm sure I will some day. This series was amazing. Beautifully acted and paced. I'm interested in what they do with season two. 

 3) The Handmaid's Tale

 This is an instance where I think the show is far better than the novel. It just expanded on so much and answered nearly every question the novel didn't. The show is better by a long shot. 

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 25, 2018 at 6:36 AM

    I can't believe GoT is ending already!

    Loved both Big Little Lies and The Handmaid's Tale, but I didn't read either book. I'm still curious about Atwood's novel but honestly I'm more excited to read Alias Grace!

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 25, 2018 at 8:01 AM

      Atwood's novel is really dull compared to the show, to be honest. It's not bad, I was just surprised at how much better the series was because that rarely happens.

      I'm not ready to say goodbye to Game of Thrones

      Delete
  2. Sonia CercaJanuary 25, 2018 at 7:13 AM

    I can't believe I didn't think of Big Little Lies! It's so brilliant! I read both Game of Thrones (only the first book) and Big Little Lies and they are good adaptations. I haven't seen or read The Handmaid's Tale yet but I'm planning to.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 25, 2018 at 7:59 AM

      I actually had something else there when I initially wrote this post, then I remembered BLL this week. You've got to keep reading ASOIAF. A Storm of Swords is my favorite of the books.

      Delete
  3. joel65913January 25, 2018 at 7:22 AM

    I wanted to love Game of Thrones so much, I was so excited when I read it was coming imagining, having not read the books, something close to Excalibur and several people telling me it was great but I just couldn't get into it. I tried again when Diana Rigg joined the show since I adore her and I still couldn't.

    I haven't seen Big Little Lies yet, it's HBO I believe which I don't have but even with Kidman, who I have no fondness for, I still want to check it out.

    I didn't care for either the book nor the 90's movie version with Natasha Richardson & Faye Dunaway of The Handmaid's Tale so I'm not terribly drawn to this new one.

    So many choices for this so I plucked three of my favorite adaptations, the first two I own and watch frequently.

    East of Eden (1981)-Comprehensive telling of the John Steinbeck masterpiece itself a twist of the Cain and Abel parable is effectively rendered if slightly weakened by a mushy performance by Timothy Bottoms as main protagonist Adam Trask. But it is entirely worth seeking out for Jane Seymour’s virtuoso turn as one of the most venal females in literature. Her work as the soulless Cathy/Kate is a revelation-she is by turns vindictive, coy, feral, enchanting and chilling. It is one of THE best pieces of acting in television history. For her work alone this is a must see but it is a very effectively told tale with many other fine performances especially Lloyd Bridges as a version of the author’s own grandfather Samuel Hamilton.

    Tales of the City (1993)-Based on Armistead Maupin’s first book in his Tales series this is a bittersweet look at the denizens of the bohemian apartments of 28 Barbary Lane in swingin’ 70’s San Francisco whose owner Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) is the freest of spirits. Full of wonderful period detail and fine acting from at the time rising performers such as Laura Linney as naïve new girl in town Mary Ann Singleton and Chloe Webb as nonconformist Mona Ramsey as well as Parker Posey, Paul Gross, Thomas Gibson and a wealth of others. Followed by several sequels.

    The Stand (1994)-Solid rendering of Stephen King’s chronicle of a nearly annihilating plague followed by a battle of good versus evil features an excellent cast (Gary Sinise, Laura San Giacomo, Ruby Dee etc.) and involving story telling though it does have some ill-conceived special effects even for the time. Outside of that misstep this is about as good a version of the story as can be had.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 25, 2018 at 7:58 AM

      I haven't seen any of your picks. I'd like to read The Stand but that book is so long. I need to have time set aside for that.

      The Handmaids Tale series is so far superior to the book that I think you should give it a try. you might like it.

      Delete
  4. GetterJanuary 25, 2018 at 7:54 AM

    Well, I thought about going with GOT but then I figured, since I had sort of a theme going, that it wouldn't fit in. And the rest, I haven't watched. I KNOW!! I'm like 4 episodes into Big Little Lies, and then I stopped so I need to watch it soon. And The Handmaid's Tale.. I need to be in a mood to watch that one. Haven't been in that mood so far.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 25, 2018 at 7:57 AM

      The Handmaid's Tale is heavy, but I actually watched the full series twice because I convinced my husband to watch after I finished. It's just so good.

      Delete
  5. DanielJanuary 25, 2018 at 8:26 AM

    I LOOOOOOVE Game of Thrones. Such a brilliant show. haven't read the books and probably won't until the show's over and done with so I don't get them confused lol.

    I watched the first episode of The Handmaid's Tale and just couldn't bring myself to watch the rest - it was TOO good lol, it made me sick watching it.

    GOD Big Little Lies is so GREAT.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 25, 2018 at 8:43 AM

      You should finish The Handmaid's Tale! It's way too real but it's so good. lol

      Delete
  6. Big Screen Small WordsJanuary 25, 2018 at 8:30 AM

    I never got past the second season of Game of Thrones, and despite the show being good I don't think I'll catch up even before it ends. I loved Big Little Lies and I'm looking forward for the second season.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 25, 2018 at 8:43 AM

      Season 3 is my favorite season of GoT to date. You're missing the goods lol

      Delete
  7. thevoid99January 25, 2018 at 2:38 PM

    I've seen bits of Big Little Lies as I liked what I saw and I can't believe Meryl is going to be in the next one and helmed by Andrea Arnold. That's going to be FUCKIN' SICK!!!!!!

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 25, 2018 at 2:50 PM

      I bet Meryl is only in a few small scenes, but that's going to be interesting, whatever she does.

      Delete
  8. BirgitJanuary 30, 2018 at 9:41 PM

    I don’t know why but I couldn’t care less about The Handmaid’s Tale and I haven’t seen the other 2 because I don’t have Netflix or HBO or Zulu or CRAVE TV or......the list goes on

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    1. Brittani BurnhamJanuary 31, 2018 at 6:33 AM

      The Handmaid's Tale is very good if you ever muster a fuck about it. lol

      Delete
  9. WandererFebruary 1, 2018 at 12:11 PM

    I love The Handmaids Tale - the book. And the only reason I haven't see the series is because we don't get HULU here and noone else is picking the series up which I am not happy about.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 1, 2018 at 1:38 PM

      That's a shame, I hope someone does soon so you can watch it.

      Delete

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