Best The Book was Better than the Movie Podcasts (2025)

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Jungle Tales of Tarzan By: Edgar Rice Burroughs 7:33:43

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23h ago7:33:43

7:33:43

Before Disney's 1999 Tarzan won the Oscar and Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song and picked up nine Annie Awards nominations —before Phil Collins made you cry with "You'll Be in My Heart"—there was this collection of twelve breathtaking stories that capture the EXACT moments Disney animated. These twelve archetypal coming-of-age tales tell …

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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar By: Edgar Rice Burroughs 6:44:39

24h ago6:44:39

6:44:39

Remember Disney's stunning animated masterpiece that made you fall in love with the jungle? The sweeping vistas of hidden temples, the dangerous mysteries lurking beneath ancient canopies, the epic romance between civilization and the wild? This is where those cinematic elements were born—in Edgar Rice Burroughs' dazzling tale of the lost city of O…

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The Son of Tarzan By: Edgar Rice Burroughs 9:46:36

1d ago9:46:36

9:46:36

Before Disney gave us the iconic father-son dynamic in their beloved animated classic, before Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan Finds a Son! introduced audiences to the character of Boy in 1939, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the ultimate coming-of-age jungle epic that would shape every Tarzan adventure that followed. When Tarzan and Jane's pre-teen son Jack…

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The Beasts of Tarzan By: Edgar Rice Burroughs 5:14:11

2d ago5:14:11

5:14:11

Think you know Tarzan from Disney's 1999 animated masterpiece that won an Academy Award and grossed millions worldwide? This audiobook takes you deeper into the savage heart of the legend—the raw, primal adventure that inspired every Disney frame, every Phil Collins anthem, every vine-swinging moment you've ever loved. After Tarzan and Jane settle …

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The Return of Tarzan By: Edgar Rice Burroughs 9:06:41

2d ago9:06:41

9:06:41

Remember the Disney magic? The 1999 animated Tarzan became a box office phenomenon, grossing over $448 million worldwide and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart". Disney's version introduced modern audiences to Edgar Rice Burroughs' jungle legend, becoming many viewers' definitive interpretation of…

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The Lost World By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 8:23:23

2d ago8:23:23

8:23:23

Before Chris Pratt ran from raptors. Before The Lost World: Jurassic Park had T-Rexes terrorizing San Diego. Before Michael Crichton ever typed a single line—there was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 masterpiece that invented the entire "humans meet dinosaurs" genre. This is the book that launched a thousand Hollywood adventures. This groundbreaking …

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Carry On, Jeeves By: P. G. Wodehouse 7:29:50

3d ago7:29:50

7:29:50

Yes, that Jeeves! Before you were asking an algorithm for answers, the iconic Ask Jeeves search engine took its name from P.G. Wodehouse's brilliant fictional valet —the unflappable gentleman's gentleman who could solve any problem with wit, wisdom, and impeccable timing. Now discover the original Jeeves in this delightfully hilarious audiobook tha…

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button By: F. Scott Fitzgerald 1:03:19

4d ago1:03:19

1:03:19

You’ve seen Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in the stunning, Oscar-winning film—now discover the fascinating original story that captured Hollywood's imagination. From F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the most glamorous and iconic writers of the Jazz Age, comes the curious and satirical tale that became a blockbuster sensation. Dive into the world of lavis…

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462. Canon Confundus - What if the Marauders Never Became Animagi? 2:03:44

5d ago2:03:44

2:03:44

Joe, Alex, and Brent discuss how the story would change if the Marauders never ended up becoming Animagi! Open Butterbeer or Butterbeer Not News You Can Use Giveaway Canon Confundus - What if the Marauders Never Became Animagi? Bossengamot Potterwatch Community Emails Joe - @CustomVinylLush Alex - @AtariAlex Brent - @BrentAllenLive Show - @TalesFro…

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The Velveteen Rabbit By: Margery Williams 28:12

7d ago28:12

28:12

While it may not be a dark wizard from Harry Potter or a royal from The Crown, Helena Bonham Carter's acclaimed performance in the Apple TV+ adaptation proves the cinematic power of this classic tale. For fans of modern blockbuster storytelling and timeless emotional drama, Margery Williams's The Velveteen Rabbit is the surprising, Hollywood-calibe…

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His Last Bow, Some Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 6:47:51

8d ago6:47:51

6:47:51

Don't let the title fool you. This isn't just a quiet curtain call for the great detective; it's a collection of high-octane mysteries leading to a thrilling, blockbuster-worthy finale. While not part of the Robert Downey Jr. films, His Last Bow delivers all the cinematic suspense, sharp dialogue, and explosive action you've come to expect from a H…

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The Return of Sherlock Holmes By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 10:15:01

8d ago10:15:01

10:15:01

In the Robert Downey Jr. films, you witnessed Sherlock Holmes's daring, near-superhuman escape from his arch-nemesis. But the greatest magic trick of all belongs to the original source material. After being presumed dead, the world's most famous detective returns with an electrifying bang in The Return of Sherlock Holmes. This audiobook is the puls…

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The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 8:51:31

8d ago8:51:31

8:51:31

Forget everything you thought you knew about the end of the game. For fans of the explosive, conspiracy-fueled adventures of Robert Downey Jr.'s cinematic Holmes, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is the gripping and surprisingly emotional origin story of his greatest, most cinematic rivalry. This audiobook delivers the story of the one villain big en…

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The Valley of Fear (Sherlock Holmes) By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 5:38:04

8d ago5:38:04

5:38:04

Don't miss a beat of the action-packed mystery that inspired the Guy Ritchie films. While not a direct source for the Robert Downey Jr. cinematic universe, The Valley of Fear is filled with the same kind of high-stakes conspiracy and explosive twists you love. This isn't just a classic story; it's a Hollywood-grade thriller delivered straight to yo…

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The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes) By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 5:38:04

8d ago5:38:04

5:38:04

Forget what you know about the prim and proper London detective. This isn't the Robert Downey Jr. cinematic universe you’re used to, but it packs all the same thrills, suspense, and Hollywood-level chills. Experience the mystery that inspired decades of movie magic with the original audiobook for The Hound of the Baskervilles. Step onto the fog-shr…

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Doctor Dolittle in the Moon By: Hugh Lofting 4:31:20

8d ago4:31:20

4:31:20

You've seen the Eddie Murphy movies, but you haven't seen anything yet! Prepare for a blockbuster-level audio adventure that goes far beyond any movie adaptation. The beloved, animal-communicating Doctor Dolittle is back in his grandest adventure ever, and this time, the stakes are cosmic. In this epic audiobook, Hugh Lofting’s classic tale takes o…

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461. Major Moments BOOK 6 - The Cave 1:51:26

12d ago1:51:26

1:51:26

Joe, Alex, and Brent deep dive into a great chapter and Major Moment of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince entitled "The Cave"! Open/Family Business Giveaway Major Moment - The Cave Potterwatch Spellio Revelio - Lovebird to Love Note Spell Truth or Lies Community Emails Joe - @CustomVinylLush Alex - @AtariAlex Brent - @BrentAllenLive Show - @Ta…

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Doctor Dolittle's Zoo By: Hugh Lofting 5:29:26

15d ago5:29:26

5:29:26

By The Book was Better than the Movie

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The magical system of Middle Earth is Bizarre... 10:11

17d ago10:11

10:11

One of the things I hear over and over is how Tolkien is creating a soft magic system. I think in my mind I define that just as an ambiguous magic system…one where you don’t see magic all that often and then one that also doesn’t go into detail about some of the things that are happening. So I don’t know if some of you have any answers to these que…

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Doctor Dolittle's Post Office By: Hugh Lofting 6:40:56

18d ago6:40:56

6:40:56

Long before Robert Downey Jr. brought the legendary animal-talking doctor to life on the big screen, Hugh Lofting's Doctor Dolittle's Post Office was enchanting readers with its cinematic storytelling and unforgettable characters. This is the tale that helped cement Doctor Dolittle as one of literature's most beloved heroes - a story so visually ri…

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JRR Tolkien is the best perspective shift writer I've ever read. 10:36

18d ago10:36

10:36

When I was in college, I took a writing class. In that class one of the very first things that they taught was to never, ever, under any circumstances, switch the perspective of your writing. Now, there was a reason for why they forced us into this, because they wanted us to stick to either first person or third person for our writing, and they bel…

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460. Top 5 Times the Books Were Better Than The Movies...and Not Because the Movies Just Got It Wrong 2:05:59

19d ago2:05:59

2:05:59

Brent and Alex go rogue! Joe is out sick, so Brent and Alex discuss their Top 5 Times the Books were Better Than The Movies...and Not Because The Movies Just Got It Wrong! Open News You Can Use Giveaways Top 5 Times the Books were Better Than The Movies...and Not Because The Movies Just Got It Wrong Bossengamot Potterwatch Spellio Revelio - Jelly F…

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This was the moment Pippin became a man...or a hobbit 10:02

19d ago10:02

10:02

I think you can only really know the measure of a man by how they handle adversity and challenges. In this case, you can only really know the measure of a hobbit by how they handle adversity. None of us like to be in those situations, but how we handle them is the thing that matters the most. I think that’s a huge theme of Tolkien’s writing right n…

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Why the world needs more men like Éomer 20:35

20d ago20:35

20:35

What happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force? And then both of those things meet Gimli? It’s a question that the philosophers have debated for ages, and it was a question that was settled by JRR Tolkien in the chapter The Riders of Rohan, when Eomer meets Aragorn, and then Gimli steps in after something ticks him off.…

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Peter Jackson left out all the tension that JRR Tolkien built... 17:23

22d ago17:23

17:23

The Riders of Rohan chapter of The Two Towers is one of the most tense chapters of literature that I have read in a long time. I’m a movie fan, so I know Merry and Pippen are alive, but if you were reading this with no knowledge of the movies or the fate or Merry and Pippen I don’t know if I’ve ever read a chapter that plays with your emotions more…

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This was the moment I fell in love with Aragorn 18:48

22d ago18:48

18:48

It’s time. I feel like it’s that moment in Lion King when Simba ascends Pride Rock…I am FINALLY going to talk about how in one simple chapter…one of the shortest in the whole series so far…Aragorn became one of my favorite characters.By Jonathan Minnema

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The Beginning of the Two Towers is a MASTERCLASS in how to start a story 14:40

24d ago14:40

14:40

If you’ve read The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien, you know that this book starts off guns a blazing. It is drastically different from it’s film adaptation in that Boromir dies at the beginning of this book rather than at the end of the Fellowship. And the whole Company is in chaos at the end of the last book rather than the movie has, where there’s cha…

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Why you should read the Fellowship of the Ring 17:13

24d ago17:13

17:13

Having just finished reading Lord of the Rings for the first time and publishing over 10 hours of video essays on the work, I think I am not a certified expert in this text…I am just kidding, please don’t come after me. But I do think I have something to offer to people who have yet to read this book. And for those of you who have, you just get to …

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The Patchwork Girl of Oz By: L. Frank Baum 6:38:41

25d ago6:38:41

6:38:41

Step into the enchanting world that captivated filmmakers and audiences alike! L. Frank Baum's The Patchwork Girl of Oz is a spectacular audio journey that brings to life the colorful, whimsical tale that would later dazzle on the silver screen. Meet Scraps, the most unforgettable character to ever spring from Baum's imagination - a patchwork girl …

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Who is the greatest writer of all time? 16:44

25d ago16:44

16:44

Who is the greatest writer of all time. It’s an impossible question…why would I even ask it…no one can answer that one in any kind of objective way…well Im gunna do just that.By Jonathan Minnema

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Is the Fellowship of the Ring a better movie than book? 32:56

26d ago32:56

32:56

So I just finished reading the Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the Ring for the first time in my life. And it was incredible. I will dote on it this essay. And so I did the only rational thing you do after you read an incredible book like that, I rewatched the movie…for maybe the 50th time in my life.…

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459. Recasting Harry Potter with NFL Teams 2:29:41

26d ago2:29:41

2:29:41

Fandoms collide when Joe, Alex, and Brent try their hand at Recasting Harry Potter using the teams from the NFL! They also discuss this weeks recent news and rumors and dive deep into the Imperius Curse! Open PSA News You Can Use Giveaway Recasting Harry Potter with NFL Teams Bossengamot Spellio Revelio - The Imperius Curse Community Emails Joe - @…

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Samwise Gamgee is EVEN BETTER in the Books 16:00

27d ago16:00

16:00

So yesterday I talked about Boromir being the most relatable character in the whole of the fellowship because of his flaws…I take that back. I think Sam isBy Jonathan Minnema

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The Two Towers: Bk 4 - Ch 7-9 1:53:37

27d ago1:53:37

1:53:37

Jon, Danny, and Lizzy talk about the incredible ending of book 4, and the one point where JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis shed a tear over.By Jenn, Jon, Danny, Lizzy

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Did the Fellowship Fail Boromir? (YES...and no) 25:18

28d ago25:18

25:18

Did the fellowship fail Boromir? It’s a question someone asked in a comment a few videos ago and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head for the last few days. I think the answer is no…but also yes…absolutely yes.By Jonathan Minnema

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How Aragorn being "erect" makes Tolkien an absolute MASTER of the English Language... 9:28

30d ago9:28

9:28

Alright. So this is the weirdest, but the absolute funniest moment in the entirety of the Fellowship of the Ring. And what might sound like the start to a really immature essay on the Aragorn son of Arathorn, the well endowed, is actually going to really be about the mastery of Tolkien’s language…but give me a little bit of time to get there.…

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Three WILD EVENTS that happened on the River in Fellowship of the Ring 14:23

1M ago14:23

14:23

It took them 10 days to get from Lothlorien to the waterfall Tol Brandir. It’s a full chapter in the books and in the 10 days there is a whole heap of stuff that happens that…from Legolas seeing an Eagle hunting an eagle…which feels weirdly prophetic…to Sam being deeply uncomfortable in the boats. But I want to talk about three things that really c…

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I just want to talk about Galadriel giving Gimli three hairs from her golden head... 14:12

1M ago14:12

14:12

I just feel, even though I have barely scratched the surface of the legendarium, that Galadriel and Gimli are doing something here VITALLY more important that I know or understand.By Jonathan Minnema

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The Gifts of Galadriel are SO INCREDIBLE in the Books... 15:48

1M ago15:48

15:48

Rope…you’re telling me that we go from the books, where Galadriel gives Sam Gamgee maybe the coolest gift known to Middle Earth, and all we get in the movies is that sam got rope? ROPE?By Jonathan Minnema

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This is the Reason why Tolkien "intensely disliked" Dune 15:29

1M ago15:29

15:29

I’m going to start this video off with a very very hot take. Since the Lord of the Rings films came out, in the early 2000s, there hasn’t been another movie that handles the storytelling of a fantasy or sci fi book, or has the beautiful visuals in the same way that the Dune series does.By Jonathan Minnema

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458. Major Moments BOOK 6 - SectumSempra 1:51:35

1M ago1:51:35

1:51:35

Joe, Alex, and Brent dive into another Major Moment from Book 6, Chapter 24 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince entitled "SectumSempra"! Open Butterbeer or Butterbeer Not Giveaway Major Moment - SectumSempra Potterwatch! Community Emails Joe - @CustomVinylLush Alex - @AtariAlex Brent - @BrentAllenLive Show - @TalesFromGH TikTok- @TFGHshow Ema…

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The Emerald City of Oz By: L. Frank Baum 5:52:53

1M ago5:52:53

5:52:53

Discover the Sixth Oz Epic That Perfected the World "Wicked" Made Legendary Remember how "Wicked" showcased the magnificent Emerald City as the ultimate seat of power, where political intrigue and magical authority collide in spectacular fashion? Now experience L. Frank Baum's "The Emerald City of Oz"—the sixth book in the Wizard of Oz series that …

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The Road to Oz By L. Frank Baum 4:17:45

1M ago4:17:45

4:17:45

Discover the Fifth Oz Epic That Celebrates the World "Wicked" Made Iconic Remember how "Wicked" transformed our understanding of Oz's complex relationships, showcasing the deep bonds between characters and the grand celebrations that unite this magical kingdom? Now experience L. Frank Baum's "The Road to Oz"—the fifth book in the Wizard of Oz serie…

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The Mirror of Galadriel is so BIZARRE to me... 20:41

1M ago20:41

20:41

I have to say, for maybe the first time in this entire series I am confused. I just don’t know what really happened at the Mirror of Galadriel. Maybe I’m over-analyising it and it’s really much simpler than I’m making it out to be, or maybe it’s way more complicated and I need to have a better understanding of language in order to do it. But there …

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Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz By: L. Frank Baum 4:22:20

1M ago4:22:20

4:22:20

Discover the Fourth Oz Adventure That Expanded the World "Wicked" Made Famous Remember how "Wicked" revealed the complex backstory and hidden depths behind the Wizard of Oz, transforming our understanding of his true nature and relationship with the magical land? Now experience L. Frank Baum's "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz"—the fourth book in the W…

The Book Was Better Than The Movie Podcasts