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25 book adaptations that surprisingly lived up to the books they’re based on

By Amanda Mullen

From left to right: Natalie Dormer (“Cressida,” left) and Jennifer Lawrence (“Katniss Everdeen,” right) star in Lionsgate Home Entertainment’s THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2.. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate
From left to right: Natalie Dormer (“Cressida,” left) and Jennifer Lawrence (“Katniss Everdeen,” right) star in Lionsgate Home Entertainment’s THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2.. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate /
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Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a classic dystopian novel, and it’s one that’s as relevant in modern society as it was when Bradbury first published it in 1953. It’s set in a world where literature has become illegal and nearly extinct, and firemen are tasked with starting fires to burn illegal contraband, instead of with putting them out. The book’s main character, Guy Montag, is a fireman, but he soon begins to question why books are outlawed in the first place.

HBO recently adapted Fahrenheit 451, casting Black Panther‘s Michael B. Jordan in the leading role. And not only does the more modernized take on the story deliver a more tangible vision of the world Bradbury created, but it also dives deeper into the political themes of Bradbury’s story. While Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 focuses on those themes primarily through Montag’s struggles, HBO’s adaptation also explores the other side of the political sphere—using what it calls “eels” to represent the resistance to the firemen.

On top of focusing more on the resistance, HBO’s Fahrenheit 451 also gives many nods to classic literature over the course of the film, something that adds to the story and makes it more fun for bibliophiles to watch. While both versions of the story give a nod to the importance of books, the film mentions specific titles and authors that most book-savvy viewers will recognize immediately.

And of course, as with any onscreen adaptation, the actors in Fahrenheit 451 really bring life to Bradbury’s characters. While Guy Montag is an interesting and conflicted character in the book, Jordan gives him a certain amount of style, making him even more compelling to those watching. And Michael Shannon’s rendition of Captain Beatty makes for a far more menacing antagonist, if only because his acting makes the character’s attributes seem that much more real.

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