The Book Is Better - Book to Film Adaptation Reviews

Welcome to season three, baby listeners — and we’re diving straight into the weird with Annihilation. Think body horror, shimmer rainbows, and an alien bear that screams like your dead teammate (yep, nightmare fuel). In true Book Is Better fashion, we break down how VanderMeer’s trippy, nameless expedition turned into Hollywood’s neon fever dream, complete with Oscar Isaac flashbacks and a finale that left us all wondering if anyone’s really themselves.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

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Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-054-annihilation/

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The book is a magical island-hopping journey with deep spiritual moments, dragon transformations, and just the right amount of sea serpent chaos. The movie? A glowy, green fog mess that tries to force a plot where there wasn’t one—and somehow makes Eustace less annoying and more interesting than anyone else.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-053-the-voyage-of-the-dawn-treader/

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We’re back in Narnia—where centuries have passed, trees are silent, and Caspian suddenly has a jawline and unresolved feelings for Susan. The book meanders with deep themes minus our favorite talking beavers; the movie says “what if Aragorn, but teenaged?” We’ve got opinions, laughs, and one big question: did anyone actually want that castle raid scene?

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-052-prince-caspian/

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We opened the wardrobe and walked straight into a world of epic battles, deep magic, and one extremely dramatic witch. The book gave us cozy allegory and Turkish Delight; the movie gave us slow-mo action and a fur coat budget for days. Join us as we unpack what worked, what didn't, and why Lucy Pevensie deserves more respect.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-051-the-lion-the-witch-amp-the-wardrobe/

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Welcome to the magical trainwreck that is Artemis Fowl, where the book gave us a cold-blooded boy genius and the movie handed us a confused surfer in designer sunglasses. We’re breaking down fairy kidnappings, missing character arcs, and a plot so scrambled it might’ve been written by a troll with a head injury. From unhinged jaw moments (literally) to “Did they even read the book?” energy, this episode is part therapy, part roast, and 100% proof that the book was better. Bring snacks. We’re going in.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-050-artemis-fowl/

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We made them an offer they couldn’t refuse—and then debated whether the book or the movie actually delivered. We’re talking horse heads, gender politics, and why Michael might be the least charismatic protagonist of all time. Spoiler: it’s a crime saga, but the real drama is in the pacing.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/category/bibpod-episodes/

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Turns out, the How to Train Your Dragon book and movie are about as similar as a Viking and a housecat. We dove into the wildly different plots, questionable dragon names, and yes, the infamous “breast hat” made a comeback. The live action remake gave us feelings, but the animated original still holds the dragon crown.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page:https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-049-how-to-train-your-dragon/

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We re-enter the silo armed with wild theories, questionable tech knowledge, and zero chill. Will Juliette crack the code or just break another server? Tune in for bold predictions, reluctant IT villains, and the strong possibility that Bernard’s about to lose his last marble.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-047-silo-season-2/

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What do you get when you mix post-apocalyptic drama, endless stairs, and a strict “no questions asked” policy? A book we couldn’t put down and a show that made us yell “just read the manual!” at the screen. We’re talking secrets, sabotage, and whether we’d survive five minutes in a silo (spoiler: probably not).

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-046-silo-season-1/

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Get ready to enter Flatland, where everyone’s a shape, women are literal lines, and political satire stabs as sharp as a triangle’s point. We’re breaking down the wildest novella you didn’t know you needed and the bizarre animated movie that tried (and sort of failed?) to bring it to life. Come for the Victorian shade, stay for the math jokes and CGI chaos.

Featuring hosts Tim Haynes, Donna Haynes, Rebekah Edwards, and T. Josiah Haynes.

Support us on Patreon >> https://patreon.com/bookisbetterpod

Find us everywhere at @bookisbetterpod.

Episode page: https://bookisbetterpod.com/bibpod-episodes/ep-045-flatland/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.