The Golden Compass (2007)
The Adaptation: About A Boy director Chris Weitz is given the reins to this expensive gamble from Warner Bros, as they attempt to birth a new fantasy franchise using Philip Pullman’s stellar trilogy.
What They Got Most Wrong: Gone are the allegories and religious undertones, instead we get a hodgepodge of action sequences. No wonder it sank like a brick.
Animal Farm (1954)
The Adaptation: A distinctly Disney-looking adaptation of George Orwell’s influential 1945 page-turner, which played out Stalin’s regime in a farmyard.
What They Got Most Wrong: That tacked-on happy ending, which entirely ruins Orwell’s intended message.
Daredevil (2003)
The Adaptation: The blind superhero jumps from the Marvel pages onto the big screen courtesy of writer/director Mark Steven Johnson. Since then, he’s made, uh, Ghost Rider and When In Rome . Oh dear…
What They Got Most Wrong: Doing nothing to make Daredevil stand out from the comic book movie crowd.
The Great Gatsby (1974)
The Adaptation: Transferring F. Scott Fitzgerald’s glitzy classic to the big screen, with Mia Farrow in the role of Daisy Buchanan.
What They Got Most Wrong: Worst, though, is Robert Redford as Gatsby – he’s far to amiable to even partially resemble the original character.
The Beach (2000)
The Adaptation: Danny Boyle’s reworking of Alex Garland’s debut novel, with Leonardo DiCaprio as back-packer Richard.
What They Got Most Wrong: The videogame sequence is pure book butchery at its worst.
The Dukes Of Hazzard (2005)
The Adaptation: According to super-critic Roger Ebert, a “lame-brained, outdated wheeze” of a movie, that attempts to bring the ‘70s TV series screeching into modern day. Burt Reynolds, what were you thinking?
What They Got Most Wrong: Giving Jessica Simpson an opportunity to act in a feature film – and then letting her make the tie-in music video.
Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005)
The Adaptation: Chicago director Rob Marshall takes on Arthur Golden’s tome about Nitta Sayuri’s transformation from fishing-village nobody to celebrated geisha.
What They Got Most Wrong: Everything’s glammed up to ridiculous levels, as Marshall shepherds in super-sexy kimonos and some fancy choreography. Geishas probably wish they were like this.
Land Of The Lost (2009)
The Adaptation: Will Ferrell and Anna Friel attempt to update the ‘70s TV series by injecting a little nutty humour into the premise of a family getting trapped in an alternate universe.
What They Got Most Wrong: Making it to begin with.
Pokemon 3 (2000)
The Adaptation: Another round of gibbering Japanese animated 'fun', as Ash and his friends continue their search for the best little pocket monsters. Or something.
What They Got Most Wrong: The animation; it’s absolutely dire. Like, our kids could draw better.
The Cat In The Hat (2003)
The Adaptation: Based on Dr Seuss’ 1957 book, and featuring Mike Myers in cat make-up - and a very big hat.
What They Got Most Wrong: Foregoing Dr Seuss’ witticisms in favour of broad, criminally unfunny slapstick. Yeah, it’s for kids, but there’s a limit.
