Do you try to read the book before seeing the movie?
By cmauthe1
@cmauthe1 (267)
Canada
January 14, 2010 2:00pm CST
I recently finished reading The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. I saw the movie advertised a while back and thought I would check to see if the library had it. I had expected the book to be written some years ago, but it was actually written in 2006.
It was pretty well written. A little different as there are no chapters. I quite enjoyed it as it was a dark book but with humanity thrown in. I have a tendency to like apocolyptic stories as I am always curious to see what someone else's vision of the future is. I read it in a couple hours one morning and then my husband, who doesn't usually read books, read it that afternoon.
I always try to read the book before I see the movie because there is so much in a book that can't be filmed for a movie. I can do my own imagining and then it is usually quite fascinating and entertaining to see how the film makers imagine what the book is about.
Do you enjoy reading the book prior to seeing the movie? I sometimes find that the movie is so far away from the book that I can't even finish the movie.
I am going to try to find "The Book of Eli" next. It's a new movie (apocolyptic of course)and stars Denzel Washington.
4 people like this
24 responses
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
14 Jan 10
I always try to read the book first too. After seeing previews for 'The Road' I immediately ordered the book so I could read it before we went to see it too. I was really not nuts about it. I liked the writing style and I liked that it was different than the sort of thing I usually read but I did not like how almost NOTHING happened! It was an interesting and thought provoking read (plus it was a really quick read) but I'm not sure how it's going to translate to the big screen. I didn't realize 'The Book of Eli' was a book, I may have to check that one out too (I'm also a nut for post apocalyptic stuff).
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hi Jess. I have a confession to make... I think that Viggo Mortenson is hot! I love his acting and have loved every movie that he was in. So... maybe that's part of why I really liked The Road, because it was easy to picture him when I was reading.
I don't think if it was 700 pages, it would have held my interest either. It probably would have been a huge disappointment!
@AShraderJr (156)
• United States
15 Jan 10
No WAY!! Always watch the movie first. The movie's historically have a lot less information than the books. So it's like watching the theater version before watching the unrated uncut version. You get the enjoyment of answering your own questions. Not to mention, I can't stand the "The Book was better" people. No *$%@ the book was better. The movies are dumbed down for cinematic purposes. Would you have went to the movies to watch a 9 hour version of The Fellowship of The Ring? The answer is no. It might sound like a fun idea. But that would be the most boring movie ever.
So in my opinion if you read the book AFTER you see the movie, you will gain a lot more enjoyment out of the movie. And you won't annoy your non-reading friends :o)
-Tony
I would definitely NOT read The Book of Eli before seeing the movie.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
You're welcome, Tony! As you can see from most of the responses, a lot of people are like me and like to read the book first.
It is such a personal thing, probably kind of liking seafood or not... I have just always enjoyed reading so much. I am able to "take a trip and never leave the farm" as the saying goes. Also, I have had some very bad times in my life and it is a great way to escape life when it all becomes too much to handle.
I have traded books in the past but... then not have them returned or returned damaged so I don't often do that anymore. To me, a book is such a treasure and some people don't care for treasures, if you know what I mean.
I think that most of my friends, and definitely most of my family, are readers. We can discuss different authors and recommend too. I sometimes have a hard time voicing my opinion, so I probably don't talk too much about books unless I am asked outright. Will have to check to see if I am a pain in the a$$ about this!
And some people, no matter what we think or say, are just not interested in reading.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hi! I really enjoyed your response! Your explanation of how you feel was well worded and honestly, I had never thought about it that way before. I do agree that a 9 hr movie would not be any fun, probably regardless of the content.
I enjoy losing myself in a book, love to imagine things for myself and prefer the singular pursuit of reading.
I will have to check to see if I annoy my non-reading friends... not sure if I have any non-reading friends, other than my husband (I have a post going about that right now too, lol).
@AShraderJr (156)
• United States
15 Jan 10
Well thank you! I have only a few friends that actually enjoy the act of reading. We trade books and introduce new Authors to one another all the time. But I try not to talk to my Non-Reading friends about books and it's content compared to the films that portray them. It's just easier. :o) I have tried to entice them to read before. Worthless Effort...
:o) -Tony
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
14 Jan 10
I suppose it depends on how closely I've been following the progress from book to Movie..Some Movies that I'd like to see or have seen or heard enough positive things about will be in the cinema before I've even realised they were derived from a book..Other times,I'll have read the book way back,and it definitely would pique my interest to find out it's in production as a movie..
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
14 Jan 10
I don't use TV much myself nowadays..I hardly watched anything over Christmas,and none of it at home. I'd mostly keep up with Movie News with IMDB and other movie related websites.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
14 Jan 10
As we don't have television, I don't often know about new movies coming out. I usually find out about movies from my daughter who is 15 and very up on what's the latest.
I can't think of any instances where I would prefer to see the movie prior to reading the book.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
We do have a tv, but it's not connected to cable or satellite. We live in a very narrow valley and can't get reception for satellite. We do watch movies on dvd and have some friends that record the news for us too.
I don't know of any movie related sites and have never been on one. I do sometimes look at the movies available on the Columbia House website, but that's it. Will have to check out the site you've mentioned.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
14 Jan 10
I usually read the book first. I'm an avid reader who soundly believes books are better than movies. I like reading the book first because the book is usually better. Movies and books are two entirely different mediums and adapting one from the other is often very difficult. I've liked some movie adaptations like the Lord of the Rings and the first Chronicles of Narnia, but there are quite a few that have really disappointed me.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
14 Jan 10
Two of the ones that really disappointed me were Ella Enchanted and Eragon. Both film adaptations made changes to the plot and characters that were unnecessary and did not add to the quality of the movie. I was also somewhat disappointed in the second Chronicles of Narnia movie for the same reason, though not so much that I didn't enjoy it.
I don't care if the characters or settings don't look how I pictured them and I don't mind minor changes or changes that help the adaptation better fit the format. However, if an adaptation is nothing like the book or only a little like the book, I'm disappointed.
I'm glad there are more books being made into movies these days. I like checking up on the developing movie news too.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
14 Jan 10
Hi Ally! I'm an avid reader also, and I truly believe that in the majority of cases, the book is better than the movie.
I agree with you about the Lord of the Rings series. I have seen the Chronicles of Narnia movie, but never read the book.
I like being able to read the book, imagine it all myself (what people look like, what places look like) and then see the movie if they make one.
I really enjoy hearing about new movies and checking it out at the library or online to see if it was developed from a book.
Which ones have disappointed you? I know that there have been a few for me too, but can't think of any right now :)
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
I have never seen Ella Enchanted, or read the book. I did read Eragon with my 8 year old nephew, but haven't seen the movie.
I wonder why they would do that? Make changes to the plot, add/delete characters that change the whole story or feeling of the story. I'm sure they have their reasons and maybe the changes make it easier to make the movie. Again, it could all be about interpretation?
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
14 Jan 10
Yes, I'd normally go for book first, movie later, unless I can't find the book or don't have time to read it. I think it is better to have my own images of the book too, and not let them be too influenced by the film. Whether I like the book or the movie best varies, I didn't like The Da Vinci code book at all, but the film was quite good.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
14 Jan 10
Hello Torunn! I enjoy seeing how movie makers intrepret books. I most often like the book over the movie. I have read quite a few of Dan Brown's books and I have enjoyed every one, even the Da Vinci code which is the first of his books of his that I read.
May I ask why you didn't like the Da Vinci code? Have you read any of his other books? Was it the religious connotations in the plot? I have some friends who absolutely hated his books merely because it questions the church.
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
15 Jan 10
I didn't mind the religious connections, neither there nor in the latest film. I didn't read the book to the latest film, I just didn't find the first one I read very good. Every chapter ends with a cliff hanger, and the language was too simple. I prefer books with less panicky action and better language. Thomas Manns books for example, nothing really happens but in a very well written way :-)
I liked the last film too, the one with Evan McGregor, but it was maybe a bit obvious what was going to happen. I think the first one was better.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
I will have to check out Thomas Mann's books - any title suggestions?
I found the religious content to Brown's books interesting. Somewhat of a new take on different subjects. My mother in law refused to read them, but then she also refused to read or see the movie "The Golden Compass". If it's all fiction, what's the big deal?
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
15 Jan 10
I do try to read the book first. however, I find when I do this I often don't enjoy the movie - or just decide to skip the movie - because the book is so much better.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello Sedel1027! I agree that the book is generally better than the movie but there are some exceptions or even some where the movie is better than the book, or just as good as the book.
I am sure it is a matter of personal choice, just like whether you prefer to read or watch tv.
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
15 Jan 10
What I have found as a general rule is that whenever you read the book first and then watch the movie it turns out to be a complete disappointment because it either misses out parts or changes things that appear in the book.
So personally I prefer to watch the movie first and then if I really enjoyed it I will read the book so that I can get the full story. A perfect example of which is "The Pursuit of Happyness" which is a great movie that inspired me to read the book which covers so much more than the movie covers. I am sure if I had done it the other way the movie would have been a bit disappointing.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello. You make a good point. Maybe because I enjoy reading so much, I have usually found it to be the opposite. Perhaps I need to adjust my thinking and try it, even if it's just once.
I haven't seen the movie or read the book that you've mentioned. I do like Will Smith though, so I will check it out.
@checkmail (2039)
• India
15 Jan 10
Hello cmauthe1 me to often have watched some movies that also have an story of it in books.Yeah it depends upon the subject also, whether the book is written first or the movie is prepared first, but both have a lot of diff in each of them.Well have watched many epic movies after going through some epic books, considered as divine books in our religions.Even have some super hero movies which later have introduced its books.Well boht the ways are of spending good time, and enjoy it, whether we watch the movie first or read out the book first.Anyways keep it up with your movies and books, Happy mylotting.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello checkmail! I agree that the subject matter is important. I have read quite a few books that if they made a movie out of it, I probably wouldn't watch the movie.
For myself, I just love to read and prefer reading over watching tv. It all comes down to personal choice. I know that my husband prefers to watch the movie as he doesn't really like to read...
@karthi_88 (299)
• India
15 Jan 10
hi friend,i don't have the habit of reading book first.
i watch movies but i have never read those stories from book.
what you said is really different friend,sure next time i will try it.
i think you are very much interested in historic things.
have a nice day :)
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
I have always loved books and spend alot of time reading. I prefer reading over watching tv anyday.
As a matter of fact, I have read many historic type books. I really enjoy James A. Michener books and have learned more about history from his writings than I ever did in school!
I hope you have a nice day too and Happy myLotting!
@akhilgupta26 (103)
• India
15 Jan 10
Yeah...i really love reading books .
I prefer reading more than viewing a movie.But it seems too interesting..
The movie based on the book will have less information than the book and some things might even be changed to make the movie more interesting..
Don't you think so??
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello! I definitely agree with you! I prefer to read the book as I can take my time, put it down, think about it for awhile, pick it up again, etc. With a movie, it is so frustrating when I don't understand what the H is going on.
I really like that a book can be savoured... a movie is a 2 hour bonanza and then it's over.
@raju1971 (11)
• India
15 Jan 10
Everyone should should read the book before watching the Movie. It is the best way to enjoy the movie at the 1st time. At the same time, people could know the difference of thought (if any) between the Writer of the book and the Director of the movie. But sometime it also happened that you inspired to read the book after watching the movie.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello Raju! I happen to agree with you, but then I love to read and find that in doing so, I usually enjoy the movie more.
You make a great point about the differences in thought between the writer of the book and the director of the movie. I can imagine that it gets pretty heated between the two sometimes as everyone's vision can be so different.
I will probably always try to read the book if there is one, whether it happens before I see the movie first or not. It just gives a different perspective, or more information than just watching the movie.
Welcome to myLot and Happy myLotting!
@jamiezhong (21)
• China
15 Jan 10
I never do, i usually watch movies. But i think this is a very good idea, because when you finished a book, you must have many scene pictures of the novel in your imagination. And when you watch this novel or story in the from of movie, you will discovere a total new and different scene comparing with your own imagination. It is really an amazing thing!
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello Jamie! I have usually read the book prior to seeing the movie and if the movie is based on a book, I will usually try to find the book after I have seen the movie. It just depends. If the movie was not that good, I may not bother to read the book.
As I've stated in previous responses, I personally like to read the book first so I understand the movie better.
Happy myLotting!
@carrapa (11)
•
15 Jan 10
I love watching a movie when I read the book before, I think that it becomes easier to understand the movie and some little points that might escape if I didn't know the story already. But I think that reading the book is always better than watching the movie. For example, Eragon. He praticed a lot with Brom before he was able to fight and do magic, but in the movie he pratices just for a few times.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello Carrapa! I agree with you wholeheartedly! There is so much more that is in a book that can't be reproduced in a movie.
I have read the book Eragon, but haven't seen the movie. Someone else made a very valid point in a previous response that a lot of stuff in a book is not included in a movie because it would make the movie long, drawn out and boring.
Welcome to myLot and Happy myLotting!
@balacancer22 (1148)
• India
15 Jan 10
ya i try to read the book before seeing the movie as when you try to read the book after seeing the movie you wouldnt have that much intrest in reading a whole book for which you be spending a couple of days..i made a mistake by seeing the da vinci code movie before reading the book and after seeing the movie.. i really was not intrested in reading the book..so i advice all you guys to read the book and then see the movie of the book..
Happy Mylotting
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hello! I have had the same thing happen to me... there have been a few movies that were adapted from a book that I saw prior to reading the book and then I had no interest in reading the book either.
I think it would be safe to say that this topic is a personal choice and really depends on whether the person likes to read.
Happy myLotting to you too!
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
15 Jan 10
Hi cmauthe1,
I read an awful lot and almost always prefer the book to the movie. If it is a really good book then I may watch the movie to see how closely it follows the book. Even in a great book it is rare that the movie does the book justice. a couple of months ago I read "My sister's Keeper". What a great book. I have yet to watch the movie but I have heard that it is as good as the book. I know it has a good cast and I will eventually watch it and compare. Another one, I'm curious to see is "The lovely bones." I read the book a couple of years ago and it was excellent.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
14 Jan 10
I much prefer to read the book first also. I have found some movies end up being such a disappointment though because I read the book first. Some books, like the Lord of the Rings series turned out pretty good though! I read the books when I was a young teenager and actually didn't watch the movies until the last year. I was pretty impressed with the way the movies told the stories.
@andrilena (7)
• United States
14 Jan 10
I've recently discovered that if I watch the movie adaption first and then read the book, I enjoy the film version a lot more but still like the book, as well. In the past, especially with the Harry Potter films, I would read the books first and then see the movies, only to be very disappointed. I'm too picky and compare book and movie too much, even though I know I shouldn't, lol. But I realized that if I watched the movies first I can get a sense of the plot and such, and then read the books after to fill in the invisible details and unanswered questions. But I always enjoy the books better, so I probably won't adopt this method for every book-to-movie that comes along, probably just the ones in which I hear about the movie first and then learn it's based on a book.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
I find that if I read the book first, I do enjoy the movie more. Sometimes though I am like you and it does disappoint.
I have been looking on the internet lately when I hear of an interesting movie to see if it is based on a book so that I can read the book first.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
14 Jan 10
In most cases, I end up reading the books first, although not usually intentionally. It just so happens that after I read a book, it seems to come out in the theaters a few years after the fact. This happened with me for Twilight (which I read right when I came out.. I didn't necessarily love it, but that's regardless), Confessions of a Shopaholic, the Harry Potter books, the Da Vinci Code, the Devil Wears Prada, the Lovely Bones, and the list goes on.. It seems like a lot of the books that I read end up going to the theaters. I can't say why that is. But I'm an avid reader, and while movies aren't bad..I'd prefer 99.9% of the time to read the book first, even if it's not a choice I try to make. The books, like you said, include more detail and usually have better, more elaborate storylines, and unless the movies have really amazing directors, chances are the movie isn't going to have as great of an effect on you as a book with a good author. Know what I mean? I can't explain it.
@cmauthe1 (267)
• Canada
15 Jan 10
Hi Maezee! Hope all is well with you! Haven't been on here in quite a while but I see that you've been busy!
I guess I usually read the books first too, mostly because I read a huge number of books every year. I have read most of the ones that you've mentioned (just finished The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella, which was fairly entertaining). I remember reading about The Lovely Bones a couple years ago, but never read it and now I see it's come out in a movie.
I know exactly what you mean... Some of us just would prefer to read books and there is nothing wrong with that.
@vycess (1588)
• Saudi Arabia
15 Jan 10
Yes... But sometimes when you have read the book and seen the movies you get disappointed or unsatisfied because your comparing what you have read to what you have watched. For example the new moon movie, I felt that way. But It helps us to understand more the story when we read it first before watching.
