Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is one of the best book series in the entire world. I would say it is the best, but for some reason other people have a different opinion on that subject. Anyways, with a series as amazing as Harry Potter, you would think the directors would take the time to make the movies as close to the books as possible, so the hard-core “books are better” people might not have as much of an argument. If you thought that, you would be wrong. Though the Half-Blood Prince does provide a lot of humor throughout the movie, from the awkward moments of Dumbledore being overly invested in the love-lives of his students, to Ron’s Keeper outfit, this movie also leaves out major plot holes and scenes that were very important to the book. This is just a classic example of the book being way better than the movie.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

To most people, a story about growing up in the South, writing books and house cleaning columns sounds like a recipe for boredom. In most cases, I would have agreed with you. The first time I tried to read The Help, I was so bored, I only made it through 20 pages. The second time I tried to read The Help, I made it through the whole book in two days. When the movie came out, I was so excited to see it. I was not disappointed. Sure, the script left out a few scenes here and there, but in general, they nailed the storyline, and the casting was so close to perfection, I certainly didn’t have any complaints. This movie had me laughing and crying throughout, and though I am a firm believer in always reading the book first, this might be one movie where the film could take precedence.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

To most high school sophomores, anything to do with A Tale of Two Cities must be torture, because it has the name Charles Dickens attached to it. In some cases, students think they can watch the movie version of the book, and make it just fine in class, without ever reading a page. I hate to break it to you sophomores, but in this case, the movie is not going to help you at all. This movie switches things around, takes out important sections of plot, and makes my favorite character completely different. Madame DeFarge, portrayed not as a total knitting psycho? Obviously, this movie has some problems. Though the movie might be good to get a general outline of the book, if you are looking for the complete classic of romance, danger, and French Revolution, try the book. I promise you, you’ll be glad you did.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Ok. This movie could be an outlier. Suzanne Collins wrote a thrilling book that appealed to many audiences in 2008. Then, in 2012, Lionsgate Entertainment created a movie that matched, if not surpassed, the book in appeal to audiences. A cast that looked like what was expected, and a thrilling plotline and action sequence that matched the book created a blockbuster in the U.S., and the rest of the world. I’m not saying you shouldn’t read the book in this case, but I am saying that this book-to-movie adaptation was phenomenal. Sure, they might have left out a little bit, but it’s not enough to make the movie too different from the book. In general, Lionsgate Entertainment created a movie that might be the best book to movie adaptation I have ever seen.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Honestly, I loved this movie.  David O. Selznick, the producer of Gone With the Wind created a smashing movie hit of the classic novel by Margaret Mitchell.  Vivien Leigh was a fabulous Scarlett, where the actress who played Mammy, Hattie McDaniel, gave such a great performance she won herself an Oscar, the first actress or actor of African-American descent to earn that award. Yes, this movie was a really good adaptation from the book, which stayed pretty close to the storyline.  Even though this 3 hour and 58 minute movie is a very good adaptation, I would still definitely recommend reading the book first, as though the movie is good, the book is still better. Although, frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.