Movies That Are Better Than The Book

So often here I see comments such as "the book was better". (I make them too.) Its rare that Hollywood can take a story in print and translate it effectively to the screen. So lets talk about times when Hollywood gets it right.

The Godfather is probably going to be a popular choice, but I can't comment because I've never read it.

Mine by far is The Natural. I loved baseball as a kid, and The Natural is arguably one of the greatest baseball movies ever made. Roy running the bases after hitting the homerun as the sparks rain down. (The music is playing through your head right now, isn't it?)

About 10 years ago, I picked up the book by Bernard Malamud. Spoilers below.

The movie follows the first half of the book almost word for word. Then, right after Roy becomes the starter after Bump dies, the movie deviates completely. In the book, Roy uses his success to get the Judge to give him more money. When the Judge refuses, Max prints a story about it and the fans hate the Judge for it. Iris is not Roy's childhood girlfriend, he meets her much later when she stands up during his slump. But the worst part of all: Roy accepts the bribe, even asking for more money. He's in the process of throwing the game until he fouls off the pitch that breaks Wonderboy and hits Iris. She tells him shes pregnant. Roy has a change of heart, only to strike out during the final at bat. Max learns of Roys past, and the bribe, prints it, and Roy is banned from baseball forever.

No offense, but that movie would've sucked had it ended like that.

What say you, M/TV Board?