10 Great Books That Made Utterly Terrible Movies

9. The Scarlet Letter (1995)

Scarlet Letter If you're like me, Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic was probably required reading in high school. For others, their only exposure to it has been its influence on the teen comedy film Easy A. For the few of you who still don't know what I'm talking about, here's a brief synopsis. In Puritan Boston, Hester Prynn is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her clothing to signify her shame as an adulterer. Raising her daughter Pearl by herself, Hester must do whatever it takes to keep her daughter in her custody. We also watch as the mystery of Pearl's father is revealed over the course of the novel. While there have been several adaptations of the novel, the 1995 movie featuring Demin Moore and Gary Oldman was panned critically upon its release. The film's major criticism was its deviation from the book's ending, as well as other liberties with the story. To further back people's hatred of the film, it was nominated for seven Golden Rasberry Awards, including "Worst Remake or Sequel," as two nominations for Demi Moore and co-star Robert Duvall. I'm going to have to agree with Emma Stone's character from Easy A on this one: if you absolutely feel the need to watch a movie version of the story, stick with the old black and white film. This one is not, and never will be, worth your time.
Contributor
Contributor

Adam Holmes is a writer who loves a good story whether it's fact or fiction. When he's not day-dreaming about time travel, he's usually immersing himself in all things film, television and comic books. He hopes to one day break into the entertainment journalism industry. Yes, he is aware of his resemblance to Clark Kent and McLovin. Keep up on the latest geek news by following his articles at Unleash The Fanboy: http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/author/adam-holmes