Just because a book series or novel is fantastic doesn’t mean a film adaptation is the way to go. Sure, The Hunger Games movie series and the Harry Potter saga buck this trend. However, it’s an unfortunate fact that most book adaptations pale in comparison to the success of the original material. Let’s check out a few.

Eragon (2006)

Christopher Paolini wrote “Eragon” when he was barely a teenager. The book was a huge international success, spawning three sequels that finished the “Inheritance Cycle”. However, the 2006 film based on the first book is simply awful. While a sequel film was planned, the studio cancelled pre-production plans after seeing how bad the first film did.

The Dark Tower (2017)

Based on Stephen King’s novel, “The Dark Tower” had all the right pieces to make a great film. It had great actors – Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba in the leading roles, and a sizeable budget of over $60 million. However, the film bombed with critics and didn’t make a whole lot of money either, with both audiences and critics labelling the movie as rushed and unfaithful to the source material.

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief (2010)

The Percy Jackson series was written by Rick Riordan between 2005 and 2009. The books were wildly popular with young adults; however, the films were the exact opposite. The first film was released in 2010 to average reviews; however, it grossed over $226 million at the box office. This encouraged Fox Studios to produce a second film in 2013. However, reviews for the film continued to deteriorate, and its box office returns were less than favourable. Consequently, all future films were cancelled.

Inferno (2016)

Dan Brown’s most recent Robert Langdon novel, “Origin”, was released in the latter half of 2017. However, in 2016, Brown’s fourth novel in the series, “Inferno” was adapted for a film. Like the rest of the film series, “Inferno” was very bad, but they keep making money. Expect more mediocre adaptations in the future.

With a plethora of streaming services available (Netflix, Stan, Binge, Amazon Prime and Disney+), it’s easy to see why bingeing has become the new norm in how we watch television. Whether it be drama, comedy, thriller, romance or horror, there are heaps of excellent tv shows out there. If you’re looking for a new show, check out some of the most “bingeable” options below:

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Breaking Bad premiered on AMC in 2008. Its first season was well-received; however, it certainly didn’t set the world on fire. It wasn’t until season 3 that the show took hold and became a critical phenomenon. Adored by fans and critics alike, Breaking Bad finished its run in 2013 as one of the greatest shows of all time.

Stranger Things (2016-)

As of 2020, Stranger Things has become one of Netflix’s flagship programs. It has a huge cult following, and a broad fanbase, which has helped launch the careers of both its child and adult stars/ The creators of the show have forecasted that it will end after its fifth season, likely in 2021 or 2022.

The Office (2005-2013)

Known for launching Steve Carrell’s career, “The Office” is the US version of the acclaimed British series, created and starring Ricky Gervais. There’s nine seasons worth of content and some awesome moments and storylines, making it one of the easiest mockumentaries or sitcom-style comedies going around.

House (2004-2012)

In the mid to late 2000s, House was one of the most-watched shows in the world. It was well-received by audiences and critics, primarily because of its exciting premise and Hugh Laurie’s lead performance. If you’re looking for something different and unique, with interesting characters and storylines, House should undoubtedly be at the top of your list.

Celebrity divorces are usually huge entertainment news and gossip. This is because they are often so public and can get quite ugly and aggressive. Who wouldn’t get a little feisty when there were multi-million-dollar estates at play? Nonetheless, here are some of the nastiest celebrity divorces the entertainment scene has witnessed.

Tiger Woods and Ellen Nordegren

In one of the sporting world’s most controversial scandals, Tiger Woods was exposed as a serial cheater and womaniser, having engaged in infidelity with multiple partners. His then-wife, Ellen Nordegren, didn’t take the news particularly well. In a physical altercation with the famous golfer, Nordegren threw her mobile phone at Woods, chipping his tooth, before going after his prized Escalade with his golf clubs. Bit of irony there.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

The “Brangelina” split is probably the celebrity divorce of the decade. They became Hollywood’s cutest couple, then emerged a power couple. In September 2016, Jolie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. In 2019, their divorce was finalised, and both were confirmed single again. They have six children from the marriage, three of whom were adopted.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp were in a relationship between 2015 and 2017. In 2016, Heard filed for divorce and took out a restraining order against Depp, claiming that Depp verbally and physically assaulted her. In 2017, their divorce was finalised, and Depp was ordered to pay Heard a settlement of $7 million, which she donated to charity.

In 2019, however, their split reared itself again, with Depp suing Heard for defamation, specifically an op-ed piece for The Washington Post. In the article, Heard claimed that Depp consistently perpetrated domestic violence against her. In early 2020, Depp submitted documents alleging that heard had physically assaulted him, backed up by audio recordings that apparent support his argument.