There’s a set of people who enjoy reading classic literature to get extra credit out of it, and others just want the CliffNotes. Thankfully, movies have been a medium to act out this literature since its inception. There have been several movie adaptations of different classical pieces of literature, and more are being produced.
However, the problem is that only a few of these classic books are popular enough to find their way into cinema adaptations. So these stories are tweaked now and then, fresh paint coats are added, and it comes off as a new idea. In reality, it is the same old concept. This is why we tend to see lots of reboots of classical literature being released every year.
Several movies are based on classical literature that you probably have no idea about. Some of them have their premise change so much that they become almost unrecognizable, except for a few sets of people that know what they are supposed to look out for. You could be one of those few that are quick to discover that a movie is based on classical literature you read in high school, or you probably have no idea like every other person. If the former is the case, it’s better you allow people to enjoy the movie without burdening them with tales about the literature and how it is supposedly better than the movie.
Don’t be one of those that care more about comparing the literature and the movie than enjoying both. In reality, both are different media, and each is unique in its language of expression. So you may prefer the book while someone else prefers the movie. The important thing is everyone is being entertained.
In this article, we will discuss seven of the best movies based on classical literature that you may or may not know about.
Cruel intentions
This movie is based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a classic French novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. The movie plot has a lot of similarities to the book and sees a wealthy aristocrat promising another aristocrat a night together as a reward for seducing the innocent Cecile. The latter, she claims, “stole” her boyfriend. The movie ends similarly to the novel, with Kathryn Marteuil’s involvement in the scheme revealed. The big differences are the high school and modern setting of the film.
Les Miserables
The movie is an adaptation of a novel by Victor Hugo in 1862 with the same title. The film itself is for people that love musicals, and the performances of Russel Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and Eddie Redmayne gave more light to the movie. The story is set in 19th century France with Jean Valjean saving Fantine’s daughter and agreeing to look after her. This movie combines the power and high emotion of classic literature.
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is an excellent book by Jane Austen that you can read repeatedly. However, this classic novel also has an interesting British movie adaptation made in 2005, which is a must-watch for you, especially if you’ve read the novel. The movie helps to understand the book better. The movie starred Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden, and is well-loved in many circles, including fans and critics. It also has several Oscar nominations.
Little Women
The Little Women movie may have been overlooked for Oscar nominations. Still, there’s no doubt that this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic “Little Women” novel is an impressive piece of work by Greta Gerwig.
Gerwig added her twist to the movie, making it so that Jo is the novel’s author, transforming it into a story of achievement and creative passion. This adds more freshness to the classical novel without betraying its essence.
The Color Purple
This movie is the story of a character Celie that you are bound to be stuck on. It is based on the classical novel by Alice Walker with the same name as the movie. The movie shows the many problems that black women faced in the early years of the 20th century, such as racism, domestic violence, sexism, and poverty. Celie’s journey, as portrayed here, spans 40 years.
10 Things I Hate About You
This movie is based on the “Taming of the Shrew” novel by William Shakespeare. It is a rom-com from the 90s that you should revisit. Starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, it takes one of the most famous comedies by William Shakespeare in a modern high school setting and adds a flawless soundtrack to complete it.
Sherlock Holmes
The classical novel “Sherlock Holmes” was created by Arthur Conan Doyle and has attained fame in the history of private detective stories. It has many adaptations, and the most recent one, a TV series starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the main character, is the most famous version. However, two other movie adaptations of the same story are also deemed iconic, one with Robert Downey Jr. and another with Basil Rathbone (who played the role in fourteen other movies).
In conclusion, many of these movies whose storyline is premised on classical literature that you probably don’t know. Some of them are officially recognized and used in students’ essays by proessaywriting, but others aren’t. Whatever the case is, these movies have proven to be enjoyable, and some of them have received multiple awards and nominations. This article only mentions seven films based on classical literature, but there are a hundred of them in reality. So you shouldn’t burden yourself and others by comparing the book and the movie and just enjoy it.
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