When Adaptations Get It Right (and Really, Really Wrong)

Author: Srishti Chhabria & Amber Payne
Published: Wed 07 May 2025
Episode Link: https://cinematic-alchemy.captivate.fm

In this episode, we're diving into the magical - and often chaotic - world of book-to-screen adaptations.

From the faithful beauty of The Lord of the Rings to the… loosely inspired World War Z, we’re breaking down what makes an adaptation shine or flop.

We also touch on video game adaptations like The Last of Us, Super Mario Bros, and Arcane, and discuss how some shows and films have outshined their original source material entirely.

Here are the highlights:

Faithful vs. Interpretative Adaptations (2:11)

Video Game Adaptations (10:17)

Super Mario Bros. Film: A Mixed Reception (13:59)

Films More Popular Than the Books (24:23)

Disney's Live-Action Adaptations (34:23)

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