Book to Film Week: Classic(ish) Novels

Today was my Waiting on Wednesday post. So instead of skipping Book to Film week entirely, I thought I'd showcase a few of my favorite classic novel to film adaptions.

I mean, sure, for the most part these have nothing to do with young adult fiction or the young adult world - well, except for Tuck Everlasting being a young adult book. And Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare, which almost everybody has to study at some point. And North and South has hot guys. Which is relevant to any age ever. Oh, and Jane Eyre is studied sometimes in school. And...

... never mind, they are relevant.

North & South
Book By: Elizabeth Gaskell
Starring: Daniela Denby-Ashe & Richard Armitage
Director: Brian Percival
Companies Involved: BBC
Year Released: 2005
IMDB: link

North and South is a four part adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's love story of Margaret Hale, a middle class southerner who is forced to move to the northern town of Milton.

I adore this movie. Er, mini-series. It's one of the most basic things you'll ever learn about me. I'm also an Armitage fangirl, and this helped with that.

Honestly, though, I think it's one of the best adaptions I've ever seen, and it doesn't focus exclusively on romance, which makes it so much better.

Jane Eyre
Book By: Charlotte Bronte
Starring: Ruth Wilson & Toby Stephens
Director: Susanna White
Companies Involved: BBC
Year Released: 2006
IMDB: link

A young governess falls in love with her brooding and complex master. However, his dark past may destroy their relationship forever.

If I could merge this version with this year's version, we'd have the perfect movie. Definitely watch it if you're a fan of the book; it's bloody fantastic.

Tuck Everlasting
Book By: Natalie Babbitt
Starring: Alexis Bledel & Jonathan Jackson
Director: Jay Russell
Companies Involved: Walt Disney
Year Released: 2005
IMDB: link

A young woman meets and falls in love with a young man who is part of a family of immortals.

It's cute. It's one of those things that you watch and you giggle a little bit and then you forget about it. But it is, I think, worth watching.


Much Ado About Nothing
Book By: William Shakespeare
Starring: Kenneth Branagh & Emma Thompson
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Companies Involved: BBC
Year Released: 1993
IMDB: link

Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick and Beatrice to wed as well.

I adore this movie and not just because I love Shakespeare. It's fun to watch some old fashioned verbal sparring - and to make fun of Keanu Reeves' wooden acting. It's horribly fantastic.

Oh, and Wilson from House MD is in it, which also entertains me to no end.

Bridge to Terabithia
Book By: Katherine Paterson
Starring: Josh Hutcherson & AnnaSophia Robb
Director: Gabor Csupo
Companies Involved: Hal Lieberman Company, Lauren Levine Productions, Walden Media
Year Released: 1993
IMDB: link

A preteen's life is changed after befriending the new girl at school.

I'll admit it. I teared up at the end. But I thought it was fantastically done.



What do you think? Are there other fantastic classic adaptions, of either 'classic' books or YA classics? Should Because Of Winn Dixie have been on the list? What do YOU think?