Featured

Study Guide compares the book Animal Farm by George Orwell to the movie Animal Farm (1954). An animated British film by John Halas and Joy Batchlor. Voices by Gordon Heath and Maurice Denham. This animated version of Animal Farm is fairly accurate except for the ending which is not like the ending in the book. Oddly, most of the nurturing female characters in the book are omitted from the movie, including: Clover the mare, Mollie the horse, Muriel the goat, and Mrs. Jones. This movie version of Animal Farm made history as the first cartoon that showed blood. Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak to the movie The Book Thief (2013) starring Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, and Ben Schnetzer. Directed by Brian Percival. Fox 2000 Pictures. The movie version accurately covers the main plot and themes of the book even though the movie omits 49 chapters.  The movie was filmed in Germany and uses some of the dialogue from the book. The film deviates from the book a few times, but the changes do not alter the basic plot.

Study Guide compares the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne to the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) starring Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis and Rupert Friend. Directed by Mark Herman. Miramax Films. This is the ONLY film of the book. Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the novel Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson to the movie Bridge to Terabithia (2007) starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb and Zooey Deschanel. Directed by Gabor Csupo. Walt Disney Pictures. Many plot points are accurate in this movie version of Bridge to Terabithia. The movie adds plots, characters, and themes that are not in the book, but the general story sticks to the book. It’s worth watching if you keep in mind that in the book Jess and Leslie are 10-years-old, not teenagers, and the book does not have a giant troll and flying monsters. Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the novel A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens to the movie A Christmas Carol (1984) starring George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence, Edward Woodward, David Warner, and Susannah York. Directed by Clive Donner. A made for TV movie originally aired on CBS December 17, 1984. This is an outstanding movie version that is fairly accurate. A plus is the setting. The film was shot on location in Shrewsbury, England.

Study Guide compares the novel Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine to the movie Ella Enchanted (2004) starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Minnie Driver, and Vivica A. Fox. The main plot line and characters survive this film even though 18 chapters of the book are omitted from the movie.

Study Guide compares the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton to the movie Ethan Frome (1993) starring Liam Neeson, Joan Allen, and Patricia Arquette. This is the ONLY film of the book. The movie adds some characters and changes the plot a little, but Liam Neeson is perfect as Frome. Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury to the movie Fahrenheit 451 (1966) starring Julie Christie and Oskar Werner. Screenplay by Francois Truffaut and Jeannn-Louis Richard. Directed by Francois Truffaut. Produced by Lewis M. Allen. An Enterprise Vineyard Film Production. This is the ONLY film of the book. The movie version adds and leaves out some characters, but overall is fairly accurate and worth watching because it’s Truffaut. Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley to the movie Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) starring Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Helena Bonham Carter, and Aidan Quinn. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola. A TriStar Picture. The movie changes the plot in places, but this is the most reliable movie version. Robert De Niro as the 8-foot-tall creature is fantastic! Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry to the movie The Giver (2014) The movie version of The Giver is loosely based on the book. The bare bones of the plot are accurate and the themes and symbols in the book remain intact. The main differences are that in the book there is no romance between Jonas and Fiona, the Chief Elder is not a main character, there are no drones, Asher is not a pilot, and the Giver does not live in a house on the edge of the community. Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald to the movie The Great Gatsby (1974) starring Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, and Karen Black, Scott Wilson, Sam Waterston, Lois Chiles, and Bruce Dern. Screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola. Directed by Jack Clayton. A Paramount Picture. This is the first Gatsby movie and still the best. The movie adds and subtracts from the plot of the book, but it’s still worth watching. Party scenes of the Roaring 20s are fantastic! Quiz and Answer Key Included.

Study Guide compares the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad to the movie Heart of Darkness (1993 TV movie) This is the only movie of Heart of Darkness. The screenplay is fairly accurate until Kurtz is introduced. Some characters and plot points are added to the film and others from the book are omitted. The tone, settings, and main themes of the book remain intact, including racism, colonialism, moral corruption, and the question of who is more civilized – the European or the African?