How many times have you spoken to someone about a movie and they reply "the book was better"? Happens to me a lot. I'm sure that sometimes that is true, but other times, people favor the one they experience, which is usually the book.

So I wanted to see what movies others consider clearly better than the book.

The Godfather is Exhibit A in this topic. There is merit to the book of course, but it is highly superfluous and pulpy. I am glad nothing regarding Lucy Mancini after Sonny's death made the film, or most of the tedious Johnny Fontaine exploits.

My other starting points are Get Shorty and Little Children, both of which changed/streamlined the endings to make for more satisfying conclusions.

Any others? And does anyone disagree with any of my assessments?