Movies based on books
By foxyfire33
@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
December 13, 2007 9:43pm CST
I wasn't sure if I should put this under "watching movies" or "reading" but here it is. When a movie is based on a book, do you read the book and then watch the movie or watch the movie and then read the book?
I've done both and have noticed how it affected my opinion of the book or movie. Take "The Notebook" for example. I saw the movie first and thought it was just wonderful. I watched it over and over and always cried at the end even though I knew what happened. Then I read the book. I admit it was a sweet story and had I not seen the movie I probably would have enjoyed it but it didn't "touch" me like the movie did.
But then there have been times when I read the book first and then watched the movie and found that the movie didn't compare to the book.
So which way do you prefer?
7 people like this
31 responses
@fobiness (60)
• Philippines
14 Dec 07
now that you have this subject out, i am actually waiting for the movie version of Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones." i liked the book very very much and it had touched a lot of people. i sincerely hope the movie will have the same level of effectivity when it comes out hopefully in 2008. if not, i'd really hate the people behind the movie. heeh :)
2 people like this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
14 Dec 07
I have never heard of that book...of course my reading time has been really limited lately! If it's at all touching I'll have to look into it. Those are the kind of books I like the most. I also hate it when movie producer butcher a really good book. I can't think of any off the top of my head but I know I have been disappointed with a few movies in the past because of this.
1 person likes this
@friendship (2084)
• Canada
14 Dec 07
Yes, I did watch movies based on books. Some of Sidney Sheldon's books were made into movies. When I saw the movie, I didn't feel thrilled. I was more thrilled when reading the books. I don't know why.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
14 Dec 07
Probably because you could use your imagination while reading the book but during the movie it was all laid out for you.
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
14 Dec 07
I think both are different in their aspects. I like both reading the books and watching the movies. Sherlock Holmes is one of the book I have read and watched the movie. I also like some of the comic heroes turned into movie heroes and loved watching it in the big screen. Batman, Superman, Phantom, Spiderman, etc are some of the comic heroes that I loved watching in the movie theater.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
14 Dec 07
They definitely are very different! I was never much into comic books but I did enjoy the Spiderman movies.
@jitinchaudhary (77)
• India
14 Dec 07
when you are reading a book you can imagine anything it can be as grand as you want
you can imagine anything what you see is all you imagination and no director or producer who may ever he be cannot show what your imagination can make you see
so i think reading a book is always more interesting and exciting provided the subject of the books interests you
i'll give a simple example you see a harry potter movie and read the book
either you read the book first or see the movie first you will enjoy the book more
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
14 Dec 07
I completely agree about Harry Potter. I haven't read all the books (and not the last one so no spoilers) or seen all the movies but the movies I did see seemed kind of cheesy compared to my imaginations version from reading the books.
@makatas (1098)
• Greece
14 Dec 07
There is only one way for me.If the writer is someone i like, its simple.I never watch the movie first!Never!Even if all i can do is watch the news or the commercial break, i will do this instead of watching the movie.Not a single movie based on book is better than the book.Ok, maybe only The Green Mile, of Stephen King. So, if theres a movie based on book written by writer i like, i will try to read the book and then watch the movie.
1 person likes this
@jewel76 (2305)
• Canada
20 Dec 07
I usually see the movie first and then if I enjoyed it, read the book. Like for the Notebook, i saw the movie, fell in love with it,and then purchased the book, which i still haven't read though. And in some other cases, i read the book before, which i don't necessarily find that good, but then the movie is awesome..i just can't remember which one that was though, sorry. So i'm guessing it all depends, who writes the books, and who makes the movies.
@Lightlord (378)
• Greece
15 Dec 07
There are many things left out when making movies based on books. I prefer reading the book first than watching the movie because I enjoy the events more while reading.
@jean0827 (306)
• Malaysia
17 Dec 07
I have never watch any movie which is based on a book before I'd read the book~
Don't know, those based on book movie, I usually had read the book before it come out with the movie..
Next time I should see, if I found a movie based on book but I have not read the book yet...what will I do..XD
I think I'll read the book first~
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
17 Dec 07
I agree with you. When I read a book first then watch the movie, I always feel like the movie wasn't very accurate. When I watch the movie first, it's wonderful to see so sometimes I don't even want to take the time to read the book since I've already seen what it's about!
I've seen The Notebook and found the book at a garage sale, so I'm going to have to do this experiment myself.
In the past, I've preferred to read the book first then watch the movie. If the movie isn't very accurate, I just have to remind myself that film makers can't possibly pack all that content from a book into a movie or viewers would be sitting there watching it for days!
@blademaiden (734)
• Romania
22 Mar 08
I don't read a lot so I don't go to movies based on books either. :P I've seen three of the four Harry Potter movies and read the first two books. I think that the movie was pretty good.
@alexwander (170)
• Canada
22 Mar 08
Usually I read the book then watch the movies. Most of time I am disappointed by the movies. The movies versions are often incomplete, missing a lot of interesting details and plots.
It is always a challenge to make movies based on a book. Most time directors interpretation may not win the approval of most readers.
@soumodeep (944)
• India
15 Dec 07
I don't enjoy reading books that much, I just go straight to watch the movie, i actually only watch movies. That is way better. I don't read much books. It is expressed better in the movies.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
15 Dec 07
For things like Harry Potter, I prefer reading the books first. For one, you can't get all the details unless you read the books. Without the books, the movies can sometimes be misleading. I saw Girl, Interrupted before even knowing it was a book, and I loved the movie, but I didn't feel that the book was so great. I mean, it was interesting, but the movie was an actual storyline, the book jumped around way too much. I read The Notebook because the movie looked awesome, but it just didn't reach the level that I thought the movie did. As a result, I have not brought myself to be able to watch the movie because I'm afraid of how bad the movie will be. So, really, for me it all depends on what I get ahold of first.
@liera0 (280)
• Philippines
14 Dec 07
I have read books that are made into movies. I usually see the movie first then had read the book. On some I feel disappointed since the movies isn't complete or some had been altered. But of course movie has good visualization than picturing out things from the book through imagination.
@Clickie (15)
• United States
15 Dec 07
If you have a vivid imagination, favor your own visualizations, and can devote the time to read a 300 page book, then I think books would be a better option for you. Otherwise, if your like me, who doesn't have the time, falls asleep when reading books, and enjoy seeing others' representations of the story, then i guess movies are for you. Nonetheless, I believe that it would be best to read the book and watch the movie to compare the similarities and differences.
