books vs. movies

Put me on the side of books, so much better detail than can possibly be done in movies. Too often movies try to fill in the gaps with flash back scenes. I know many people who hate to watch a movie with flash backs, my husband is one of them. And I don't think this ploy actually does as much for filling in the details as it could/should. Another important thing for me is to visualize the characters as I want, rather than with the face and manner of some actor.

Good thing about movies is that it gives fair idea about the plot or the story in less time.So it has less strain upon the eyes. However, books are much more in detail. And things which can be described cannot be shown in the movies. But if I am asked to choose between books and movies I would generally prefer books. Books contain far more items of information than movies generally.

I agree with you usually the book is much better then the movie verison of it. The book just gives you more of the details. I find I can usually picture in my head better what is going on then the movie seems to put out. But like you too I usually like the movie too, just not as much as the book.

A lot of times, the movies are not allowed to portray certain aspects of the book due to copyright issues or the author not being a part of the project, but a movie director. Also, because the author has the original vision and version, the story is almost always more detailed, but not only that, the story seems more intimate. You're reading by yourself, whereas you usually watch a movie with others, even if you go to the theatre by yourself.

The two of them play to different abilities. In books, the writer has the ability to tell you exactly what the characters are thinking, or feeling through words. The down side is if you don't have the ability to actually visualize what is going on in the book, all it is, is a bunch of words. In movies, the director has the benefit of showing you what is going on, and you can hear whats going on. On the other hand, most movies lose a lot of content because it takes time to explain the small details. They tend to get creative in showing/telling the small details, which are sometimes missed by the unobservant, but in a lot of situations small details are completely lost when transferring a story book into a movie. Sometimes, it is the small stuff that makes a story/movie good.

I agree that books are often better than movies. But I think its liek this because they add stuff or take away stuff from the movie that the book had. I think that if whoever made the movie followed a book exactly how it is, then the movies would be much better. After every book i read I think "i wish they would make a movie from this book." but in order for me to enjoy that movie it would have to be almost exactly like the book.

I too think that books are better. For one thing you get to use your imagination a little more. For another, like you said - movies cut out so many things and it takes away from the story a lot of times. And other times I don't like the actor or actress they chose to play the characters. It's really disappointing especially when you feel strongly about a character.

The book is almost always better. Besides character development being lost in the movies, sometimes the way language is used is important to a book, and the movie just doesn't deal with that at all. I'm thinking of The English Patient, in which the language is very complex and sometimes poetic. The one book that was improved by being turned into a movie (in some ways) is Lord of the Rings. Tolkien had no talent for developing his characters, and the only ones that were fairly well developed at all were Frodo and Sam. Of course, the movie created a lot of scenes that didn't even exist in the book, and left some that would have been nice to keep, but everything's a trade off when you're trying to convert print to a visual medium.

without a doubt...books are better. I have never prefered a movie over the book. Unfortunatley I didn't read "The Notebook" so in my opinion the movie was amazing! I enjoy reading books but I don't have time these days. The other bonus to watching a movie is your friends and family can watch too...with a book, you have to narrate.

I definitely enjoy books better. I love all the details and descriptions and the fact that I get to really use my imagination. If there is a movie based on a book, I do like to see it though.

I so totally agree with you. Its kind of a disapointment after youve read a book and the movie isnt as good.

I not yet found a movie that was better than the book it was based on. A book lets you get lost in the words, and you imagine your own characters, the mystery is gone when we have to put an actual actor in the spot, usually doesnt match the image in my head at all. I've gotten to the point where i often dont even watch the movie, cuz i get too annoyed by the differences to even enjoy it.

movies may talk with our mind but books only can talk with our soul

yah, your right a books can give us more information or detail than movie.. but it all depends to you to choose which one is better,, but for me, a movie is the simplest way to gather information, but books can give much detailed information,, but the question is,, which do you prefer most? reading or watching???

Um, it is ture that books had lots more details.And most people prefer to reading books rather than watching movies of them. But for me, honestly tell you, I prefer to choose the movies. Because I'm not good at reading, especially those long and think books. Or you can say, I don't like to read. It takes me a long time to finish reading a book, and when I'm reading, I just hardly can put my heart in it. It sounds terrible for me,lol. And the movies can attract me to watch, and they are colorful and interesting, so that I can keep on watching. I know, the books are never out-date, if I can, I hope I can read more books in future.

I too believe this. I like reading the books better. Usually the movie version is cut to pieces or the quality just isn't there. I don't even bother watching Stephen King movies anymore, they always dissapoint me. The movie versions of the book usually stray from the book and just doesn't do the book justice.

well, sure enough movies are a better way of communicating with people, cause yeah, people are much more into watching movies than reading books. so if you want to get a message across the public, movies would be a better choice, cause one gets to understand much better and in an easeier manner from them. but from a personal point of view, i go for books over movies. one point would surely be, as already mentioned by you, that each and every detail of the book cannot be incorporated in movies, so it's better reading books. another reason is, that i personally, don't like watching movies. so yeah, i would prefer books.

ya you are absolutely right books contain a lot more matter when compared to movies...when you see some movies like harry potter series and lord of the rings series u can find easily dat u cannot enjoy the movie after reading the book first as they cant show the fulll story in 2 hrs they minimize and we lose intrest in seeing the movie.

I like reading the BOOK first before watching the MOVIE. I agree that books are more detailed that's why it is more interesting. But I still like watching the movie. If I am able to watch the movie first before reading the book, I lose interest reading it because I alresy Know what will happen.

i think reading book is better than movies..because there is nothing in wathing movies.. when you are reading books or magazine we can develop our knowledge..