Movie verse Book Discussion
With the release of Crazy Rich Asians around the corner, a common heated discussion among my more movie-loving friends and book-loving friends arises. Which is better: the movie or the book? Each has their strengths and weakness, but can we really decide which is better?
So, with that in mind, I thought why not write out my thoughts on the matter and be done with it.
You should read the book first and then watch the movie to be able to compare the two!
So, as I have written this before, but a lot of the time, I would rather read the book first and then watch the movie. However, there have been times when I have seen the movie first and then read the book. Does doing one before the other spoil the twist and the plot? Well, for me? Nope. Not really. I am able to enjoy a book, despite knowing that a character may die or that a location is going to be destroyed. It's my gift really to just live in the moment of the book or movie.
Why waste your time reading the book when the movie is easier to process?
If you don't like reading, then, by all means, skip reading the book. But, may I suggest at least listening to someone who has a unbias opinion of the book retell you the plot? I am a bit of an oddball because, if the book or movie is something I don't think I will like, I usually listen to someone retell the plot to me, even if it is a bit vague, to see if I will like it. This may spoil the book or movie but read above for my opinion of spoilers and me. However, if you are a reader, don't always skip the book. There are times when the movie is a name only adaptation of the book. Sometimes the story in the book is actually a lot better than the story on the screen. Or, as in the case of "The Godfather", the book adds some background to beloved characters. After reading the book, I understood why Micheal went to Italy to that particular Don and why that Don was so scared to have Micheal walking around without having to rewatch the second movie to put the names together. This was something that all my rewatching of the Godfather trilogy, I didn't put together
Why waste your time watching the movie when it's nothing like the book? So many characters and scenes are cut for time!
Well, here's the thing, a good director and writer know what to add and what not to add. There are things that, in book form, are not a big deal and maybe beloved. However, that same scene or character interaction doesn't move the plot forward. A good example is Percy Jackson's version of Lord of the Rings. There are a lot of scenes cut, reworked, or mish-mashed to make the movie under three hours long. Also, he still got flack for the ending of the "Return of the King" because of the "too many endings". Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh all worked hard to stay true to the spirit of the books, even if some things had to get cut. At the end of the day, filmmakers want to be able to produce something that everyone can enjoy, not just a small fan base.
Overall, this debate/discussion is purely subjective and it's up to you as a person to know yourself. If you like to read and watch movies, then grab a book, pop in the movie, and enjoy.
So, with that in mind, I thought why not write out my thoughts on the matter and be done with it.
You should read the book first and then watch the movie to be able to compare the two!
So, as I have written this before, but a lot of the time, I would rather read the book first and then watch the movie. However, there have been times when I have seen the movie first and then read the book. Does doing one before the other spoil the twist and the plot? Well, for me? Nope. Not really. I am able to enjoy a book, despite knowing that a character may die or that a location is going to be destroyed. It's my gift really to just live in the moment of the book or movie.
Why waste your time reading the book when the movie is easier to process?
If you don't like reading, then, by all means, skip reading the book. But, may I suggest at least listening to someone who has a unbias opinion of the book retell you the plot? I am a bit of an oddball because, if the book or movie is something I don't think I will like, I usually listen to someone retell the plot to me, even if it is a bit vague, to see if I will like it. This may spoil the book or movie but read above for my opinion of spoilers and me. However, if you are a reader, don't always skip the book. There are times when the movie is a name only adaptation of the book. Sometimes the story in the book is actually a lot better than the story on the screen. Or, as in the case of "The Godfather", the book adds some background to beloved characters. After reading the book, I understood why Micheal went to Italy to that particular Don and why that Don was so scared to have Micheal walking around without having to rewatch the second movie to put the names together. This was something that all my rewatching of the Godfather trilogy, I didn't put together
Why waste your time watching the movie when it's nothing like the book? So many characters and scenes are cut for time!
Well, here's the thing, a good director and writer know what to add and what not to add. There are things that, in book form, are not a big deal and maybe beloved. However, that same scene or character interaction doesn't move the plot forward. A good example is Percy Jackson's version of Lord of the Rings. There are a lot of scenes cut, reworked, or mish-mashed to make the movie under three hours long. Also, he still got flack for the ending of the "Return of the King" because of the "too many endings". Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh all worked hard to stay true to the spirit of the books, even if some things had to get cut. At the end of the day, filmmakers want to be able to produce something that everyone can enjoy, not just a small fan base.
Overall, this debate/discussion is purely subjective and it's up to you as a person to know yourself. If you like to read and watch movies, then grab a book, pop in the movie, and enjoy.
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