This thread is about a topic that I've had discussions with others about before.
It's true to the point of cliche that most adaptations fail to live up to the original. This is especially true when a book is adapted for other media. However, I've found that there are some adaptations that, in my opinion, actually do a better job telling the story than the original.
1) Lord of the Rings. Yes, the books are good, but I tend to enjoy them more for the scope and mythology than the actual writing. Tolkein's writing tends to tell rather than show, and I feel the story suffers for it. Additionally, I feel that Tolkein was WAY too proud of his poems; the number of times the characters burst into random song or poetry only serve as a distraction in my opinion.
2) Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis, like Tolkein, tends to tell his stories rather than show them. This is especially egregious in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", where the climactic battle is only told in flashback. I understand that he was aiming for a younger audience, but even as a child I found the stories boring because of this weakness.
Anyone else have any they'd like to contribute?