Are Books Better Than their Movie Adaptations?
Hello Hivers and Bibliophiles!
This is a question I have encountered quite a few times. The general agreement seems to be that, yes books are better than their movies. I've thought about it and compared the books that I have read with their movies and here is what I think.
I agree 100% that books are better than their movie counterparts and these days I see more reasons. I watched Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie recently and I was surprised by what I watched. I expected a whole lot more from a movie that was trying to depict its novel. Like c'mon I was addicted to the Adventures of captain underpants by Dave pikely, that book was really interesting.
Uhm Maybe, Because There is No Time
Honestly, I'm a fan of prolonged stories. That's one reason I would probably not enjoy a movie that has a book better. Movies don't have time, they have to finish quickly, while books, on the other hand, take their time. This is one reason why I find myself watching long Tv shows.
Take Netflix for example, There is no popular Tv show I haven't seen there!
Imaginations
Have you ever read a book for 30 minutes and due to some reasons, you couldn't complete it at that point? Let's say, it gets dark while reading and you can't strain your eyes anymore..... Your imaginations are always ready to help you. It's one thing that makes books special because it gives us that superpower to create different scenes and scripts with our imagination. A movie can't make what your imagination can create.
Even during conversations with my friends, I end up picturing and creating things with their words. Imagination is powerful and would always give books an edge over their movie counterpart
Acting Can Be Better or Worse
Truth is, sometimes Actors can make movies look a lot better than their books especially when they put so much energy into the character. An example is a novel. ” The Godfather" by Mario Puzo - It's a very detailed book explaining the stories of Vito Corleone, A drug lord, and his gangsters. It's a very good fictional story however, it's really difficult to compare it with director Francis Ford Coppola’s film which is widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in cinematic history. One of the standout reasons was the performance of Marlon Brando who acted Vito Corleone better than I could imagine.
Yes, I know. It's subjective and some people will say they enjoyed the book better. My point is, that sometimes the acting changes everything.
Now what happens with Bad Acting?
Take for instance the Harry porter series... I feel they never acted it as well as I imagined. The kid used was cute but it failed to live up to the expectations already in my head.
Does It Depend on The one you see first?
I think so. It is difficult to enjoy a movie depiction of a well-written book. I find it difficult personally because some books are just out of the world and give a different mindset when you approach the movie.
In reverse, I'm always curious to see a book after I watch the movie however, I never complete those books. It's always a bit difficult because of the knowledge at hand.
In Conclusion...
What do you think? Are books better than their film adaptations? What does it depend on?
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I stopped watching movies adapted from books because they often mess up my imaginations.... Lol
But if I had seen the movie before knowing it has a book... I won't dare read that book because I know it will be so different and I of course know what's going to happen 😆😆
Have you Mario Puzo's Godfather? I won't dare see the movie. Cos I have read that book for three times already and each time, it touches me differently. I'll like my experience to stay that way, so, the movie version is off the table for me.
Yeah I get you totally, the one I watch first how I think basically. Thanks for stopping by, how are you doing?
Let me get back to this later. Back in the days when I studied film in Uni, 2000-2007, I actually followed a course titled "adaptations", studying this topic. I could probably write a book about this. In fact, now I think of it, I might one day write (a) book(s) about movies ;^)
Ah, That means you will have a lot of knowledge on this. If you ever write one, I'd love to see it.
Thanks for stopping by & I hope all is well with you
It's too rare when movies actually show the whole same plot as in books - and messing up the whole thing you've read in book is far better the most of cases like 90℅ time
But on the other hand some movie adaptation from books came out masterpiece
Like recently i watched "Lupin" the whole series was a masterpiece in itself from book.
Tho it's a digital era and i believe people came to know about books through the movie and later they just don't read it.
I have seen lupin, I felt it was a great series and I can't wait for the remaining parts. You are right, I get to know about some books through their movie adaptations.
I just feel reading a whole movie is really different to me... It's a two-way thing sometimes.
I think so too that books are far better than their movie adaptations. One thing is that we imagine the world of that book with our unique minds. And I believe that nothing can top what I have created in my head. But it happens in some rare occasions. For instance, All the bright places by Jennifer Niven. The movie was short-lived, yes. But the acting and world-building was great that I was satisfied for the first time after watching the movie adaptation of a book I read. (But this is just my personal opinion teehee)
Tho sometimes I choose to watch the series or movie beforehand for the sake of having no expectations as I have not read the book yet. 😂
I totally agree with you and I understand you. You sound like you watch a lot of movies.. Do you?
Yes, I do watch a lot of movies.
I would disagree here. Depends on the movie we’re talking about. Is it a series, just a single or something. Movies like SmallVille(Series) or Naruto(Anime) will change your mind.
One thing I’ll agree with you about is that books allow you use your imaginations. Your imaginations run wild when you read. Your mind constructs the scenes and actions and everything as opposed to a movie that might poorly build the scenes that don’t meet your standards.
Generally, I’d say movies are for us lazy people who don’t have time to read the books or don’t like reading. The books however, give you details of the story that the story missed. In my opinion, for the best experience, do both. Watch the movie and read the story.
I would say it depends on the genre. My favorite genre is romance, especially steamy romance. So I would always choose the book before the movie. But action or anything else, I prefer the movies. It's not my thing to read such books. But I know that the books are always better than the movies.
Recently I've read all the books from the Twilight Saga. After reading I watched the movies and they have changed so many things 😱 And there were so many things missing. I was so glad I'd read the books before.
I know that it will be the same with the Shades of Grey series. If they would put everything in the movie it would be a porn 😂 That's the thing with steamy romance books 🙈
Books > Movie when it comes to romance. It's not even a debate. You can literally write anything in a book.
Yes :) I just followed you, thanks for stopping by.
Oh yes, most of the authors really do this. Write everything in the book. And I love it. I don't know, but without the steamy parts, the books are too boring for me 🙈
If I want to read clean books, then I read children's books or cozy mysteries. And I really like both 😊
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I have always said that the format of the books allows the authors to be more extensive in terms of the development of certain situations that when they are transferred to the audiovisual format of the movies, they end up being cut because they can't put everything, otherwise the movie would last a week.
But it is also true that in certain genres such as science fiction and fantasy, where sometimes there are extraordinary situations, film resources are better used to show just that. Suppose it is a book where there is magic, in a movie this could be better appreciated because of the special effects.
I would say that in general the books are better, but it depends.
Very interesting debate.
This brings back some bad memories. 😅😂😑
These days, I tend to avoid movie adaptations of books that I've read, or I intend reading.
I recently watched the movie adaptation of one of Dan Brown's books and it was just so different from the book. I hated it.
One can hardly come by movies with quality like that of The Godfather these days.
True including movies adapted from video games was a total mess for example Resident Evil and Monster 👹 hunter
Both game was a masterpiece but the movies was so bad I could cry 🥺
Movies from video games are usually not so nice too. But Uncharted the movie was really nice
I played the game uncharted especially uncharted 4 such a beautiful game the movie did a good job but I feel like its underwhelming compare to the game. But if we compare to all the other game to movie I guess uncharted the movie is the best so far. You got a point there
books are better than their movie adaptations. that's a period. movie productions mostly messed up fantasy books adaptation