Sequoyah Students’ Thoughts on Movie Adaptations
Image Credit: Wes Candela
There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a really good book—imagining the characters, the world, and all the little details exactly how the author wrote them. But when that same book gets turned into a movie, things can get complicated. Some adaptations perfectly capture the essence of the book, while others change so much that fans barely recognize the story. Whether it has to do with changes to the plot, the removal of characters, or a completely different tone, readers often have strong opinions about how their favorite stories are adapted for the big screen. So, what makes a good adaptation, and what completely ruins one?
Zoe Sanchez ’28, who watches a lot of movies, shared her opinion on whether movies do books justice. She said that The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Little Women, and Maurice were great film adaptations because “[they] perfectly capture the way characters are [in the books].” She believes that a good adaptation should stay true to the original plot, as changing too much creates an entirely different story that could leave viewers disappointed. One of her biggest concerns with adaptations is the alteration or removal of characters, as it changes the way the story unfolds. For her, a character’s personality is what draws her in, so changing it would take away a big part of what made the book special. Given the chance to see one of her favorite books adapted, Sanchez would love to see The Program by Suzanne Young brought to life on screen.
Violet Robinson ’28, who reads a lot, also shared her thoughts on book-to-movie adaptations. She believes that The Hunger Games and Harry Potter were well-done adaptations that successfully translated the stories onto the big screen. Like Sanchez, she thinks it’s important for a movie to stick to the book’s plot because “if you’re trying to make a movie based off the book, it should be like the book.” When it comes to removing characters, she doesn’t mind as much, but she dislikes when filmmakers alter them because it can change key parts of the story. As for a book she’d love to see adapted, she picked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Lastly, Lila Reynolds ’25, who doesn’t watch a lot of movies, praised The Hunger Games and To Kill a Mockingbird, noting “To Kill a Mockingbird was really well done,” even when “it was different from [her] imagination.” She believes that staying true to the original plot depends on how the adaptation is presented, explaining that if it is advertised as “exactly like the book,” but then the story is altered and the plot is shifted around, it can be misleading. But if they’re saying it’s an adaptation, they can change a few things.
When it comes to removing characters, Reynolds acknowledged that changes are sometimes unnecessary, unless they’re “focusing on [the main] character and they don’t really cross paths” or have relation to the removable character. As for altering the tone, she says, “if you’re taking the adaptation, maybe you’ll change it a little bit, but the viewers have probably read the book and are expecting a certain attitude.” She notes that movie producers and writers “can change little bits to fit the way [the movie is shown], because books and movies are different mediums.” A movie adaptation she would love to see is Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson.
Thus, the debate over book-to-movie adaptations remains a hot topic, especially with upcoming movie adaptations of books, such as How To Train Your Dragon (Live-Action) by Cressida Cowell and Regretting You by Colleen Hoover. While some people appreciate seeing their favorite stories being adapted, others prefer a faithful retelling that captures the essence of the original story. Whether it’s changes to the plot, character alterations, or the challenge of bringing a book’s depth to the screen, book-to-movie adaptations continue to stir conversation as fans eagerly await accurate portrayals of beloved literary works.