books versus the movies

I loved the books and the movies. While I'm no purist, I still get upset when movies don't follow the book they are based on well enough. But there's something that must be understood... movies and books are different mediums. There are things that can be done in a book that can't be done in a movie (and vis versa). For instance, books can portray internal conflict and a character's thoughts and feelings without being awkward. Seen much of this in movies? Nope. Then on the other hand, if you read a book that described camera angles I think you'd put it down pretty quick. If you understand that movies and books are different, you'll be able to appreciate film adaptations more. Movies, no matter how long, are always on a time crunch. What a book can take several hundred pages describing, a movie can only take a couple of minutes. Anyone can pick up a book and have their own vision for the characters and scenery, but a movie can only show one vision (And people still expect it to please them all for some reason). (I NEVER have my own personal vision for characters. I don't know why this is. I guess I just don't think about them with any one specific face. Since I never have my own images, I'm never disappointed that they don't look like I expect them to in the movie.) That being said... a lot gets cut from Lord of the Rings to get it to fit into nine hours. (Twelve if you watch the extended editions) While there are some changes I feel were unnecessary (Elves at Helms deep for instance), I still have to say that the Lord of the Rings trilogy is awesome in every way. While things did get cut and changed around from the books, the heart of the story is still there and it's every bit as good as the books.

I like the book as i read the book first before the movies. Its also a great movie, and i like all the 3 especially the return of kings!

Never in the past has there been an example of an epic legenday tale being succesfully depicted by a movie in all its worth, and never in the future will there be. Besides, the Lord of the Rings is a masterpiece by its own right, and as is quite evident, it was impossible to fit all the details of the book in the movie. So said, it is important to add that the the 3 films in the LOTR series were some of the longest running motion pictures in recent history. Asked for my opinion, I have to say that no one can enjoy either the book or the movie keeping the other in perspective. One needs to be completely open, because each builds up "expectations" for the other. The books makes us expect the minutest detail: from facial expressions to - as you have aptly mentioned - the weed the hobbits smoke, which the movies fail to deliver. The movies, on the other hand makes us think of a fast paced "action" story, which obviously the book of LOTR is not. Personally, I like the book much*much* better. Do tell me what you think about this.

Every movies that was released based on Novel was a hit. The directors should handle it more careful while they are filming a book or novel. if it is then it will do well. All is on Director itself. He should welll talented to direct a film based on book

Of course it didn't live up to the book, but it was a really well done adaptation. And that's all you can ask from a film based on a book.

I know what you mean, but the books and the movies each have their own set of very dfferent virtues. The movies were great movies. And the books great books. Imagine your favorite food dish. Now your favorite drink. Compare them. One doesn't really translate well into the other. Food and drink are two separate media as are books and movies. Movies have limitations that books don't, such as what you already mentioned: the time limit. Unlike a book, a movie is to be consumed in one sitting. And, for obvious reasons, that one sitting can't be more than a few hours. So they cut things out. They rearrange things. They speed thins up. Kind of how a food dish (depending on what you chose as your favorite) is meant to be enjoyed with eating utensils while sitting at a table, but a drink can be carried around a cocktail party with you in one hand. I guess what I'm saying is, you can't successfully translate a good book, perfectly and word for word, into a good film, like you can't translate spaghetti with vodka sauce into an amaretto sour. But i'll be darned if both aren't delicious :)