Your thoughts on the films that outshine their sources

It’s been quite a day for Late Reviewer, with an incredible response to our social media experiment – thanks so much to everyone who took part!

Following our Quick Read on movie adaptations that improved on their source novels, we took to Twitter to ask anyone who felt like taking part which films they’d add to the list.

The suggestions are below and in no particular order, but if nothing else, maybe they’ll help steer you towards some reading or viewing in future.

• Blade Runner (1982)
• Rollerball (1975)
• Apocalypse Now (1979)
• A Beautiful Mind (2001)
• Ghost In The Shell (1995)
• American Psycho (2000)
• One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
• Stand By Me (1986)
• A Tale Of Two Cities (1935)
• No Way Out (1987)
• LA Confidential (1997)
• Watchmen (2009)
• Jaws (1975)
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
• My Sister’s Keeper (2009)
• The Bourne Identity (2002)
• Fight Club (1997)
• The Bridges Of Madison County (1995)
• Die Hard (1988)
• Good Vibrations (2012)
• Day Of The Jackal (1973)
• Road To Perdition (2002)
• The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1959)
• The Hobbit (2012 – 2014)
• War And Peace (1967)
• Trainspotting (1996)
• Jurassic Park (1993)
• The Snowman (1982)

There was a lot of love for Blade Runner, Stand By Me, Jaws and Apocalypse Now, some great discussion about the various merits of Lord Of The Rings novels versus films (but general agreement about Tom Bombadil), and overall it was the closest to a good-natured pub discussion I’ve been since All This started.

That’s the point of the Quick Reads – they’re not meant to be in-depth explorations of cinema, just a bit of fun, offering some positivity and friendly debate.

There are definitely a few titles on there I’ve never read and a couple of films I haven’t seen too.

Maybe one or two of them will make a Late Review in future (spoiler – a 5-disc edition of a certain dystopian masterpiece has been gathering dust on my shelf for a few years).

Until then, thanks again to everyone who entered into the spirit of this by joining in, and to @johnfeath for all his hard work and support.