"I adored Pasolini's The Decameron, Canterbury Tales and Arabian Nights."
Could't agree more though
both the novels and the films have their separate merits but Pasolini captured a vibrancy that a book never really could.
The use of field recordings on the soundtracks was a stroke of sheer genius.
I think Hardy much better read than watched - the pictures are better!!.
Not novels, but Michael Cacoyanis' adaptation of the Greek tragedies brought to life the stories - particularly Iphigenya.
I always had trouble with the somewhat turgid writing style of Nikos Kazantzakis (bought it on holiday once)
I may have got a crappy translation, but I thought the film infinitely better
Jim Carroll