The Green Mile. Poster of the 1999 movie and cover of the 1996 book
VS3
The Green Mile
Stephen King, 1996
movie vs book
Frank Darabont, 1999

At a Louisiana assisted-living home in 1999, elderly retiree Paul Edgecomb becomes emotional while viewing the film Top Hat. His companion Elaine becomes concerned, and Paul explains to her that the film reminded him of events that he witnessed in 1935, when he was a correctional officer at Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death row, nicknamed The Green Mile.


Saving Private Ryan. Poster of the 1998 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Saving Private Ryan
Max Allan Collins, 1998
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Steven Spielberg, 1998

On the morning of June 6, 1944, American soldiers land at Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy invasion. Captain John H. Miller of the 2nd Ranger Battalion leads a breakout from the beach. Three days after D-Day, Miller receives orders to go behind enemy lines to retrieve James Francis Ryan, from the 101st Airborne Division, whose brothers have been killed in action.


True Grit. Poster of the 2010 movie and cover of the 1968 book
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True Grit
Charles Portis, 1968
movie vs book
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, 2010

The father of 14-year old Mattie Ross is murdered by hired hand Tom Chaney while on a trip to Fort Smith, Arkansas to purchase horses. He tells her that Chaney has, likely, fled with Lucky Ned Pepper and his gang into Indian Territory, where the sheriff has no authority, so she inquires about hiring a Deputy U.S.


25th Hour. Poster of the 2002 movie and cover of the 2000 book, The 25th Hour
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The 25th Hour
David Benioff, 2000
movie vs book
Spike Lee, 2002

A car pulls up short on a New York City street, and Montgomery #Monty# Brogan gets out with his buddy Kostya to look at a dog lying in the road. Monty decides to take the dog to a nearby clinic instead. Frank is a hotshot trader on Wall Street; Jacob is an introverted high school teacher with a crush on 17-year-old Mary, one of his students.


We Were Soldiers. Poster of the 2002 movie and cover of the 1991 book, We Were Soldiers Once... and Young
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We Were Soldiers Once... and Young
Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway, 1991
movie vs book
Randall Wallace, 2002

In 1954 a French unit on patrol during the First Indochina War is ambushed by Viet Minh forces. After arriving in Vietnam, he learns that an American base has been attacked and is ordered to take his 400 men after the enemy and eliminate the North Vietnamese attackers although intelligence has no idea of the number of enemy troops.


Flags of Our Fathers. Poster of the 2006 movie and cover of the 2000 book
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Flags of Our Fathers
James D. Bradley, Ron Powers, 2000
movie vs book
Clint Eastwood, 2006

As three US servicemen – Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes, Private First Class Rene Gagnon, and Navy Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd Class John Doc Bradley – are feted as heroes in a war bond drive, they reflect on their experiences via flashback. The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in World War II.


Like Dandelion Dust. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the 2006 book
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Like Dandelion Dust
Karen Kingsbury, 2006
movie vs book
Jon Gunn, 2009

A gripping drama that contrasts the hardscrabble, realistic lifestyles of a wealthy family and a suffering family to explore the various meanings of parenting. Their paths cross, entwine, and collide for the sake of a young boy. This movie fearlessly shows the humanity in each character, reminding us that we can all be either our best or worst selves at any given moment.


Kill the Messenger. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 2006 book
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Kill the Messenger
Nick Schou, 2006
movie vs book
Michael Cuesta, 2014

San Jose Mercury News reporter Gary Webb becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA’s role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb.


Kill the Messenger. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 1998 book, Dark Alliance
VS3
Dark Alliance
Gary Webb, 1998
movie vs book
Michael Cuesta, 2014

San Jose Mercury News reporter Gary Webb becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA’s role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb.


Ripley Under Ground. Poster of the 2005 movie and cover of the 1970 book
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Ripley Under Ground
Patricia Highsmith, 1970
movie vs book
Roger Spottiswoode, 2005

After his friend, a successful young artist, is killed in a car accident, Tom Ripley and his friends hide his body and concoct a scheme in which they forge his paintings, eventually making a great deal of money. When an art collector complains that a painting he bought from the gallery is a fake, Ripley must use his inimitable talents to defuse the problem by whatever means necessary.


Battlefield Earth. Poster of the 2000 movie and cover of the 1982 book, Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000
VS3
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000
L. Ron Hubbard, 1982
movie vs book
Roger Christian, 2000

The Psychlos, a brutal race of giant humanoid aliens, have ruled the planet for 1,000 years, and use human slave labor to strip its minerals and other resources, with a special desire for gold. A few primitive hunter-gatherer tribes of humans live in freedom in remote, hidden areas, but after ten centuries of Psychlo oppression they have abandoned any hope of regaining control of their planet.