The Book or the Movie?

Dru Edwards · #1 10-25-2020, 11:48 AM

What do you prefer - a good movie or a good book? Another twist, if you saw the movie first would you still read the book?

I read all 7 Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz over the past year+. Great series! I watched the movie of the first book yesterday. I enjoyed the movie - it was very good but not great. It felt rushed compared to the book.

Shocker for me... the movie was identical to the book. Nothing was different, not a plot twist or a change to the ending. Usually the movie changes things to keep it fresh.

How about you?

Kerbie · #2 10-25-2020, 12:26 PM

The book... any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

AX17609 · #3 10-25-2020, 01:17 PM

Audio book.

bfm612 · #4 10-25-2020, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerbie

The book... any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

While I’ve most often found the book version to be superior to the film version, there are definitely surprises when the reverse feels true. I think David Fincher‘s version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was far superior to the book. The movie Let The Right One In was likewise superior to the book. Ted Chiang’s novella Arrival was interesting, but Denis Villeneuve’s movie starring Amy Adams was pretty sublime and really elevated the material. And Ted Chiang’s no slouch. His fiction is pretty incredible but Arrival the movie stayed in my head for a long time.

Conomor · #5 10-25-2020, 02:14 PM

I'd have to say the book, but I haven't been to the cinema since 2012 so I'm not exactly a movie buff. I do enjoy other forms of media - film, tv, games etc - but none are as engaging as a good book.

reeve21 · #6 10-25-2020, 02:25 PM

The book. I have trouble sitting still for a movie. With a book you can move the action in your mind as fast or as slow as you want to go. And you can imagine your version of the story, not someone else’s.

Lkristians · #7 10-25-2020, 02:32 PM

The book. Very few movies compare well with the book. "To Kill a Mockingbird" might be one. Can't think of many more.

KevWind · #8 10-25-2020, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

What do you prefer - a good movie or a good book? Another twist, if you saw the movie first would you still read the book?

I read all 7 Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz over the past year+. Great series! I watched the movie of the first book yesterday. I enjoyed the movie - it was very good but not great. It felt rushed compared to the book.

Shocker for me... the movie was identical to the book. Nothing was different, not a plot twist or a change to the ending. Usually the movie changes things to keep it fresh.

How about you?

Perhaps contrary to common practice in the case of both , I prefer to see the movie first. Simply because I am seldom disappointed in the book after the movie, but as often as not I am disappointed in the movie after the book .
For example I am now reading "Game Of Thrones" after watching the entire series on CD from Netflix .

Heroditus · #9 10-25-2020, 02:55 PM

Almost always the book. I really don’t watch many movies but I’m a voracious reader.

Coop47 · #10 10-25-2020, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lkristians

The book. Very few movies compare well with the book. "To Kill a Mockingbird" might be one. Can't think of many more.

"The Godfather" and "Jaws" are a couple more.

RedJoker · #11 10-25-2020, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevWind

Perhaps contrary to common practice in the case of both , I prefer to see the movie first. Simply because I am seldom disappointed in the book after the movie, but as often as not I am disappointed in the movie after the book .
For example I am now reading "Game Of Thrones" after watching the entire series on CD from Netflix .

I'm currently reading the Game of Thrones books. I enjoy them but they are taking me FOREVER.

KevWind · #12 10-25-2020, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedJoker

I'm currently reading the Game of Thrones books. I enjoy them but they are taking me FOREVER.

Me too.

Dru Edwards · #13 10-25-2020, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AX17609

Audio book.

Thumbs up - I didn't think about the audio book. I've never listened to one but for long drives I'd be up for one. Gotta have a great voice to listen to though.

Bob Womack · #14 10-25-2020, 04:23 PM

Almost always the book. Exception: I ran out and grabbed the book behind Tom Hanks' Greyhound movie, The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forrester. I think I liked the Greyhound movie better. There were maudlin details in the book that didn't drive the plot as quickly along as the movie was driven.

Bob

Brucebubs · #15 10-25-2020, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfm612

While I’ve most often found the book version to be superior to the film version, there are definitely surprises when the reverse feels true. I think David Fincher‘s version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was far superior to the book. The movie Let The Right One In was likewise superior to the book. Ted Chiang’s novella Arrival was interesting, but Denis Villeneuve’s movie starring Amy Adams was pretty sublime and really elevated the material. And Ted Chiang’s no slouch. His fiction is pretty incredible but Arrival the movie stayed in my heads for a long time.

I saw the original Swedish movie before I read the book and I thought 'Let The Right One In' was an exceptional film however there were little details in the book that I missed in the movie.

The US made movie version 'Let Me In' was also very good but skipped over the 'gender related' scene.