Recommended Reads: Books That Have Been Made Into Movies

Never judge a book by its movie. - J.W. Eagan

It seems that many of our patrons love the movies as well as reading audio books, large print, electronic and braille.  Since 2000, there have been 391 books that have magically turned into movies.  Of those books, some have been lucky enough to be turned into audio described videos. Is the movie ever as good as the book?  To each his own! Check the list and see if your favorite book has been turned into an audio described movie. 

DV (VHS Described Videotape), DVD (Described Video on DVD), Recorded Cassette (RC), Braille (BR), and Large Print (LT) copies of these movies and books are available from the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library. Please contact the library to order any of these materials.

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar
DV 428, BR 13881, RC 47595
Dramatic biography of John Nash, a mathematical genius, who made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery. After many years of struggle, he eventually triumphed over his schizophrenia, and finally, late in life, received the Nobel Prize. Starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Adam Goldberg, Paul Bettany. Directed by Ron Howard. MPAA Rating: PG13-Parental guidance, suitable for audiences 13 and above. 135 min.

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
DV 430, LT 1123, RC 46267
In her mid-thirties, still single and still being set up with dates by her mom, Bridget decides she needs to make a change in her life. She falls for her boss who uses her and then dumps her. In the meantime, Bridget keeps running into the divorced guy her mom tried to set her up with, and he happens to be ex-friends with her boss. She uses her diary as a confessional and she begins to wonder if she will ever find true love. Starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, James Callis. Directed by Sharon Maguire. MPAA Rating: R-Restricted viewing to audiences 17 and above. 94 min.

Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
DV 912, LT 2208, RC 48726
It's 1963, a time in the United States when life was simple, straightforward and the lines between the sexes and sex roles were crisply drawn and severely delineated. Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist find themselves thrown together when they are hired to tend sheep in the remote area of Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming. Because of the job, the two are forced to spend many hours together alone in the wild. Ennis and Jack are inexorably drawn to each other through their proximity, loneliness and through a shared lack of tenderness in their lives and are emotionally, physically and psychically bonded to each other almost from the start. The book on which the film was based is entitled Close Range: Wyoming Stories. MPAA Rating: R-Restricted viewing for audiences 17 and above. 134 min.

Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
DV 499, BR 16724, RC 33062
Conrad and Sally Walden are home alone with their pet fish. It is raining outside, and there is nothing to do. The Cat in the Hat walks in the front door. He introduces them to their imagination, and at first it's all fun and games, until things get out of hand, and The Cat must go, go, go, before their parents get back. Animated film with the voices of Dakota Fanning, Mike Myers and Spencer Bresline. Directed by Bo Welch. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance suggested. 82 min.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
DV 907, BR 11466, RC 33498
This is a story of a poor young boy who finds one of only a few golden tickets that wins him a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world. The tour is led by a most unusual candy maker, Willy Wonka (played by the great Johnny Depp). Charlie watches as one by one, the other ticket-winners fall victim to their own vices. Tim Burton directs this visually stunning box-office blockbuster. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance suggested. 115 min.

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth
DV 522, BR 353, LT 6673, RC 23282
The Bakers, a family of 12, move from small-town Illinois to the big city after Tom Baker (Steve Martin) gets his dream job to coach his alma mater's football team. Meanwhile, his wife (Bonnie Hunt) also gets her dream of getting her book published. While she's away promoting the book, Tom has a hard time keeping the house in order while at the same time coaching his football team, as the once happy family starts falling apart. Directed by Shawn Levy. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance suggested. 98 min. 2003.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
DV 911, BR 11912, LT 1593, RC 50083
Lucy Pevenise, along with her older brothers Edmund and Peter, and her older sister, Susan, are in London during the initial bombing raids of World War II. Like many families, their parents decide to send them to the country for safe-keeping. Peter, the oldest, is told to watch over the children and make sure they stay safe. This simple request will test Peter's ability to protect his siblings, especially after Lucy discovers an amazing secret. The children decide to play hide-and-seek, and during the game Lucy discovers a mysterious wardrobe. She tucks herself inside and backs to the rear of the cabinet; there she discovers herself in an entirely different world. The place is called Narnia, and it's been locked in winter for over 100 years by someone known as "The White Witch." Lucy rushes back to tell her brothers and sister, but they don't believe her. That is until they all get into the wardrobe one day and find out she's been telling the truth. Soon a prophecy is revealed. It is said that when Aslan returns, two daughters of Eve and two sons of Adam will come back and reclaim the four thrones of Narnia. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance suggested. 135 min.

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
DV 577, RC 44762
Inman, a young Confederate soldier, who is injured during the explosive 1864 battle of Petersburg, Virginia, is struggling to make his way home to Cold Mountain, NC, where his beloved Ada awaits him. In Inman's absence, Ada befriends Ruby, who helps her keep up her late father's farm. Meanwhile, in his travels, Inman encounters a menagerie of interesting and colorful characters. Starring Nicole Kidman, Rene Zellweger and Jude Law.  Directed by Anthony Minghella. MPAA Rating: R-Restricted viewing for audiences 17 and above. 152 min

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
DV 435, BR 14189, LT 1022, RC 45768
Like mother, like daughter. Neither a hard-as-nails New York playwright nor her flaky Louisiana mother will take the necessary steps to mend their long-time rift. No, this is a job for the Sisterhood, sworn life-long friends who stage an outlandish "intervention" to bring daughter and mother back together again. Starring Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn and Ashley Judd. Directed by Callie Khouri. MPAA Rating: PG-13, suitable for audiences 13 and above. 116 min.

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
DV 880, DVD 880, BR 13360, RC 50258
Delft, Holland; 1665. Griet becomes a maid in the household of Johannes Vermeer. The young girl's beauty and intuitive understanding of art lead the master painter to make her the subject of his most famous portrait. This riveting film earned 3 Oscar and 2 Golden Globe nominations. Directed by Peter Webber. Starring Scarlett Joansson, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson and Judy Parfitt. MPAA Rating: PG13- Parental guidance, suitable for audiences 13 and above. 102 min.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
DV 431, BR 11879, LT 621, RC 47260
Based on J.K. Rowlings' best-seling novel of the same name. Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Wizards and Witches. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, and John Cleese. Directed by Chris Columbus. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance suggested. 152 min.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
DV 474, BR 12276, LT 619, RC 48437
This film finds young wizard Harry and his friends Ron and Hermoine facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they try to uncover a dark force that is terrorizing the school.  Starring Kenneth Branagh, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters.  Directed by Chris Columbus.  MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance suggested. 161 min.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
DV 582, BR 12390, LT 618, RC 48772
Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts. There they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a great threat to Harry. In addition to new experiences, Harry must overcome the threats of Dementors, outsmart a werewolf and finally deal with the truth about Sirius and his relationship with his parents. Harry and friends master advanced magic classes, cross time barriers and change the course of more than one life. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance suggested. 141 min.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
DV 908, BR 12764, LT 620, RC 50228
Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts is marked by the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament, in which student representatives from three different wizarding schools compete in a series of increasingly challenging contests. However, Voldemort's Death Eaters are gaining strength and create the Dark Mark - giving evidence that the Dark Lord is ready to rise again. In the unsuspecting lives of the students at Hogwarts, the competitors are selected by the goblet of fire, which this year makes a very surprising announcement: Hogwarts will have two representatives in the tournament, including Harry. Now Harry has to rise to the challenge for the Tri Wizard Tournament while keeping up with school. MPAA Rating: PG13-Parental guidance, suitable for audiences 13 and above. 157 min.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
DV 419, DVD 419, BR 16316, RC 47536
Why is the Grinch such a grouch? No one seems to know, until little Cindy Lou Who takes matters into her own hands and turns both Whoville and the Grinch's world upside down, inside out ... and funny side up in her search for the true meaning of Christmas. Starring Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, and Molly Shannon. Directed by Ron Howard. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance. 105 min.

Jarhead by Anthony Swofford
DV 918, RC 55726
Follows "Swoff," a third-generation Marine enlistee, from a sobering stint in boot camp to active duty, sporting a sniper's rifle and a hundred-pound ruck on his back through the Middle East deserts. There is no cover from intolerable heat or from the Iraqi soldiers, who are always potentially just over the next horizon. Swoff and his fellow Marines sustain themselves with sardonic humanity and wicked comedy on blazing desert fields in a country they don't understand, against an enemy they can't see, for a cause they don't fully understand. Sergeant Sykes, a Marine lifer, heads up the scout/sniper platoon, while Troy, Swoff's friend and mentor, is a die-hard member of STA - the elite Marine Unit. MPAA Rating: R-Restricted viewing for audiences 17 and above. 123 min.

The King and I by Margaret Landon
DV 172, BR 11480, RC 46020
Musical remake of Anna and the King of Siam, from the Broadway production by Rogers and Hammerstein, based on the novel by Margaret Landon. It tells the true story of an Englishwoman, Anna Leonowens, who comes to Siam as schoolteacher to the Royal Court in the 1860s. Though she soon finds herself at odds with the stubborn monarch, over time, Anna and the King stop trying to change each other and begin to understand one another. Starring Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Rosita Moreno, Martin Benson and Terry Saunders. Directed by Walter Lang and Ernest Lehman. MPAA Rating: G-General audiences. 133 min.

Million Dollar Baby by F.X. Toole
DV 602, RC 52182
Frankie is a former boxing manager, who initially refuses to train Maggie due to her gender and age. With her talent and his coaching, the spirited young fighter rises through the ranks of women's boxing and the pair form a touching bond in the process. Starring Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood. Directed by Clint Eastwood. The book on which the film was based is entitled Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner. MPAA Rating: PG13-Parental guidance, suitable for audiences 13 and above. 132 min.

Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
DV 530, LT 570, RC 51758
Boston childhood friends Jimmy, Sean and Dave are reunited after a brutal murder. Reformed convict Jimmy and his devoted wife Annabeth find out that their teenage daughter Katie has been beaten and killed. Jimmy's old friend Sean is the homicide detective assigned to the case. Jimmy gets his relatives, the Savage brothers, to conduct their own investigation. Jimmy and Sean soon suspect their old pal Dave, who now lives a quiet life, but harbors some disturbing secrets of his own. MPAA Rating: R-Restricted viewing for audiences 17 and above. 137 min.

Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
DV 312, BR 9281, LT 8336, RC 56794
One afternoon, handsome young Dorian Gray makes a fervent wish: that his newly painted portrait might age while he remains forever youthful and unblemished. "I would give my soul for that." Influenced by the cynical Lord Henry, he embraces a life of selfish sensuality. Then he discovers his wish has been granted. While the picture of Dorian Gray ages and reflects the true extent of his depravity, Dorian himself remains unchanged on the outside. Based on the story by Oscar Wilde. Starring George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed, Angela Lansbury, Peter Lawford and Lowell Gilmore. Directed by Albert Lewin. MPAA Rating: NR-Not Rated. 111 min.

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
DV 900, BR 12001, RC 23625
Animated film. Destined to become a perennial holiday favorite, The Polar Express is an instant classic that captures the visual splendor and evocative innocence of Chris Van Allsburg's popular children's book. The story is a kind-hearted celebration of the yuletide spirit, especially for kids who have almost outgrown their need to believe in Santa Claus. Featuring the voice of Tom Hanks. Robert Zemeckis directs this visually stunning film for all ages. MPAA Rating: G-General audiences. 99 min.

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
DV 492, BR 14930, LT 2434, RC 51968
Based on a true story. A half-blind ex-prizefighter and mustang breaker team up with a millionaire and his rough-hewn, undersized horse, Seabiscuit. The men bring Seabiscuit to incredible heights, helping to turn a long shot into a legend. Eventually, Seabiscuit earns Horse of the Year honors in 1938. Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Tobey Maguire, William H. Macy. Directed by Gary Ross. MPAA Rating: PG13- Parental guidance, suitable for audiences 13 and above. 141 minutes.

Shrek by William Steig
DV 426, RC 32667
Animated film. Shrek is a big ogre who lives alone in the woods, feared by all the people in the land of Duloc. When Lord Farquaad, the ruler of Duloc, exiles all the fairy tale beings in the woods, Shrek looses his peaceful life and his home becomes a refugees camp. So, he sets out to find Lord Farquaad and convince him to take the fairy tale beings back where they belong and leave him alone. Lord Farquaad accepts, under one condition. Shrek must first go and find the beautiful young princess Fiona, who will become Farquaad's bride. So, the big Ogre begins his quest, along with his newfound donkey friend. Voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson. MPAA Rating: PG-Parental guidance. 90 min.

Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs
DV 248, LT 5188, RC 50056
Animated film. Raised by a family of gorillas, including the loving Kala and the wisecracking Terk, Tarzan develops all the instincts and prowess of a jungle animal. But with the sudden appearance of Tarzan's own kind, including the beautiful Jane, two very different worlds are about to become one. Driven by five powerful songs from pop superstar Phil Collins, and starring the voice talents of Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, and Rosie O'Donnell, Disney's Tarzan delivers incredible adventure as well as important reminders about acceptance and family! Directed by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima. The book on which the film was based is entitled Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. MPAA Rating: G-General audiences. 88 min.