Comments on: Books vs Movies

By: Seasonal Plume »

Seasonal Plume » — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:22:16 +0000

[...] watched Prince Caspian with friends last Thursday at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard. Like previously mentioned, I’m not a book purist, but there is that line that mustn’t be crossed when we’re [...]

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 26 May 2008 02:05:03 +0000

Kya, I totally agree with you. Our receptions of books and movies are largely fueled by our own personal takes and reactions to the books/movies. I know I have found a couple of my favorites via movies too, like Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing–I’m certain that Ken Branagh’s performance made the book wonderful for me while reading it. :)

By: Kya

Kya — Sun, 25 May 2008 07:25:49 +0000

It’s interesting to read other peoples opinions on this. I enjoy movies and reading both a great deal and to me it really depends. Sometimes I have loved a book so much more, because my imagination has run wild and that has seemed so real, only to watch the movie and it be totally different and out of sync with how it was in my own world. But other times, I have been more entertained and enthralled by the movie, and sometimes watching a movie has made reading the book more interesting because I can see the characters and watch them do things from the book not in the movie, in a mini-movie in my mind.

It really just depends on what it is, and how well the medium has been crafted. If it’s good, I’m not going to put it down simply because it’s a book or movie and that ‘isn’t cool’. XP

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:54:23 +0000

@Judy: That’s always an annoyance, I have to agree with you there. Or taking their characters to the extreme, ala Bingley in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. It’s annoying!

@pussreboots: Interesting name! Austen is one of those authors whose work always gets adapted to the screen ;) and I agree that some of her work is more enjoyable on-screen (like I mentioned above). :)

By: pussreboots

pussreboots — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:05:06 +0000

Although I never managed to make it through a complete Jane Austen book, I have seen a number of adaptations of her work that I’ve enjoyed. Happy BTT.

By: Judy

Judy — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:23:49 +0000

My main problem with movie adaptations is when they change the characters to be someone they are not. I can live with the fact the characters aren’t the way I pictured them physically (esp. if it’s been a while since I’ve read the book) but to change who they basically are? Why bother even claiming it’s the same story in that case?

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:43:38 +0000

@Jennifer: entirely too true. Although for episodes, I find I prefer watching TV eps one after another versus waiting for the next installment the next week :D

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:40:08 +0000

@Gautami: well, I wouldn’t expect adaptations to follow the books to the letter, nor do I want them to, actually. I do expect that they follow major plot points, that characters stay true to their spirit — but other than that, I believe it’s fair game. Movies and TV shows are a different medium altogether, having its own strengths and weaknesses, and if I wanted the book exactly as it is, I’d prefer to read, or get an audio book (which is also open to the reader’s interpretation).

I wish I had the time to read four books on average per week! I can only manage one nowadays, on average, maybe two to three if they’re books like Coelho’s or YA fantasy/adventure books.

@Ann: Eragon the movie? After my attempt to watch it, I went looking at reviews, and that does seem the norm! Jeremy Irons was pretty interesting as Brom, but all the rest seemed rather… meh. :P

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:30:58 +0000

I like your point about movies having the power to convey more in less time. Books are more intense and informative overall, I think, but for information-per-second, movies would win! I agree about the length issue - I find it easier to start a movie than a book, and even easier to watch an episode of tv.

By: Ann Darnton (Table Talk)

Ann Darnton (Table Talk) — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:35:26 +0000

‘Eragon’ was so bad as to be almost laughable (on the ‘if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry’ basis). What was an actor like Jeremy Irons doing agreeing to have anything to do with such a farce?