re: Movies that are better than the book it's based on?

Chronicles of Narnia- I guess this depends on what you are looking for in a movie. And it isn't like the movies are spectacular. The books are big on dialogue and personal battles, but short on action and actual battle depections. The battles are just talked about after they happen.

Count of Monte Cristo- Same with above. The book as is just would not be a great movie. Very little action. There were some unbelievable sequences that would not have held up on a movie screen.