Which comes first, the book or the movie...

I always want that i read the book first before i see the movie. Sometimes, in the movie the actors speak in such a way that the words being said are unclear. Hence, i always prefer that i read the book version first before watching the movie. But some movies don't have the book versions yet, before they are out for viewing. So, i am sometimes disappointed when i watch it and the conversations are not clearly spoken or sometimes they pronounce the words in a too slang manner that it's hard to comprehend.

I like more first to wath the movie then to read the book.

Dear friend, I love to watch movies, than books. Moreover it is much creative in movies, which is ended withing a specific time allotted.

Hi commonground! I agree with you and I have noticed that as well. It does tickle my curiosity especially when I hear of a movie based on a book or a novel. It's interesting enough if you did enjoy watching the movie but then when you try to find and read the book, it's quite different isn't it? I mean most of the time I don't really want to try to compare the movie to the original story from the book/novel because it is just the script writer's own interpretation of the story. And to answer your question, it is always the book/novel that comes before the movie. Writers/script writers, producers or directors just happen to have (most likely) read the novel and find it interesting enough (or have been inspired) to make it into a movie. So far I haven't seen a movie that is 99% exactly like the one in the books although some may say otherwise. I love reading books but I haven't really come across all the books that were turned into a movie. It does interest me though, after watching a movie adaptation of a novel, to look for and read it.

I prefer to watch the movie first generally because movies are never as good as the book and I am usually let down if I am expecting things to happen that don't.

i have always loved reading so for me it will always be the book! even like you if i watch a film and find its a book will read it. but i do also like to watch the film if i read the book 1st cos like you said watching the film is watchin it thru someone else's imagintion so its good to get someone else's view of how they saw the book. i think its great when you watch a film and parts of it are just how you thought it would be while you were reading the book. i also watched the tv show dexter and when i found out it was based on books i got them all. so being able to watch films that comes from a book are great! but still the book will always win the fight for me!

It used to be they wrote the book and made the movie. Then it got to be sometimes they made a movie and wrote the book afterwards. I prefer reading the book first then watching the movie if the book was written first. But if written after then watching the movie I have found to be better than reading the book.

I hate when I read a book and it comes out as a movie! I have seen movies that started as books and I don't like it! The book is usually so differnet then the book and vice versa! So now if I read a book and it becomes am movie I won't watch it! I get to disappointed otherwise!

I also prefer reading the book first. If I know there's a book, I'd hold off on watching the movie. If I like a movie and then find out it;s based on a book, then I'd more likely try to find that book and read it too. You're right, while reading it's our own imagination that lets us envision what's happening. It sure is nice to see the stories in full color though like in movies :)

I prefer to watch the movie rather to read it in a book because I like to see characters moving and talking instead of imagining them while reading. I love reading but I still prefer to watch it. I hope I could watch movies based on the book of Sidney Sheldon.

I have seen it happen alot. The movie comes out and before you kno it the book is on the shelves. i like to read the book first if i can. i like to put my own spin on what the movie gives.

Generally I read the book first, if I know there's a book, because the movie is a bit too "fast forward" for me... In a couple of hours I see the whole plot and the ending. With the book, I take things slowly, and, since I already know the main lines of the plot, I can be more careful with the movie and look for other things - like how the actors interpret, how the costumes look, what the director did with certain scenes and so on.

I prefer to read the book rather than the movie. Because book is written in a vast manner and it is elaborative too. And take my word...when from the same story the movie will be made, lot of interesting things will be cut off. Thats why I dont like watching those movies. Like Angels and demons...the book is awesome. but when I see the movie, I dont feel that much charm. The only thing I like about the movie is "Tom Hanks"!!! Very little no. of movies are good as the book they have followed. Like Shawshank redemption, which I feel the book and the movie both are same way interesting.

If I really want to see the movie, I'll watch it first then I will read the book. I think reading it first will really make me bored watching it..:)..I mean we all have different preferences right..:)

I've done both - read the book before seeing the movie and seen the movie and then read the book. I was just thinking about this the other day and here's my theory, at least for myself: it seems that whichever I get to first turns out to be my personal favorite. I agree about how when you read a book you can use your own imagination, which may be why the movie can sometimes be a disappointment. I've already read a book and had a very vivid picture in my mind of what the main characters looked and sounded like and then when I've seen the movie the actors playing the part have sometimes been the total opposite of what I'd imagined them to be. That isn't to say they weren't good, they just didn't match my imagination. Also, a book often goes into much more detail than the movie does, due to time constraints, and there's often quite a bit of artistic license taken with a movie adaptation. I'd like to add there have been quite a few books through the years I've read after seeing the movie and actually BECAUSE of the movie. When that's occurred I've found myself picturing the stars of the movie as I read the book, even if they don't fit the author's description. Annie

Whichever comes first, there are times when I hear about the book first or maybe the movie first. But I have a different way to do things. I mean if Ive read the book, I dont mind watching the movie. However, if Ive seen the movie, I will never read its book. You are right that books make you use your imagination. You would read the insights of the characters and some information that only a book can give. You also imagine your own settings, clothes, characters, etc. After reading the book, it would be nice to watch a movie based on the book. It would be like watching another person's point of view of the same book. The director would have a different perspective and interpretation on it. Movies are also limited because of its time, and more often than not, the movie is an incomplete version of a book. This may be the reason why most movies dont own up to its book counterparts. As for movies, if you've seen the movie, then you take what you have watched as it is. You dont have any inside information as to the characters so you wouldnt dispute/argue over the plot and the characters. If you like to know more, then reading the book would be best. For me, however, I just leave the book be. I take the movie just the way it is cause that's how Ive known the movie for. So I have read the book then maybe watch the movie. But I never read the book once Ive seen the movie. That's just me anyways.^_^ Happy New Year!

I prefer also to read the book than watch the movie. I think the book is much more comprehensive and detailed, many time s the movie is just a watered down version of the book.

I prefer to read the book first and compare the movie to the original. I think it's because when I am reading I imagine the book and it kinda gets spoiled when I see the movie first since it puts its own interpretation and pictures in my mind first! Definitely the book first!

Personally I prefer to see the movie first. I have come to notice that when I read the books first, the movie tends to be a bit of a disappointment because of all the details they tend to cut. So I prefer to see the movie and then read the book so that I can comprehend and make more understanding of the movie. The book always explains why things are occurring, since a movie can only be so long the producers have no choice but to cut most of the scenes.

hi commonground, For me i prefer to watch the movie first becoz sometimes the original story did not come up as like in the book so will just get disappointed about it. happy posting