Which is better: watching a movie or reading the book the movie was based?

Question

And if you do both, do you watch the movie first or read the book first?

Answer 1

Reading the book. Movies often change things: sometimes they are less important, sometimes more so. How many know that in the book version of the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy wore silver shoes, not ruby slippers? The reason for doing it in the movie was because silver didn't show up as well in color. This is pretty much a minor thing, but the reasoning for why water melted the Wicked Witch of the West at the end is completely ignored in the movie, though explained earlier in the book.

Answer 2

I read the book first. Then I watch the movie to see the differences from the book and the movie then read the book again. Then you can picture things much better. Especially those parts which were left out from the movies. You know the characters movements and you can picture him acting in the scene much better even though there was never actually a scene created for it.

You createw it in your mind. You should try it sometime and you'll know what I mean. But i would say reading the book is better. Its more time but you understand the details more when its at your own pace.

Answer 3

The book always has more detail and can go into more depth as far as character and plot development. These details can save a mediocre story when placed in the hands of a talented writer. For example, I wasn't as aware of how bad "Star Wars: Episode I" was because I'd already read the excellent Terry Brooks novelization.

Whether I read and watch depends on the movie. If the book has a well-established reputation in advance of the movie, I'll often read it first just to see what the hype is all about. This can either make me very excited for the movie (as with "Eragon") or make it so I couldn't care less (as with "The Da Vinci Code"). However, I very rarely read the book if it is coming out with the movie.

Answer 4

I am always disappointed when I see the movie first I read the book Fried green tomatoes and then saw the movie so many important parts were left out. It was a wonderful book the movie was so so made the women sound as if they were gay in the movie which was not the case in the book.

Another movie I was very upset with was Not without my daughter they took way to many liberties The book was a take to the potty book because you couldn't put it down True story of a women and her family trying to get out of Iran .
If I can I aways try to read the book first .
This has not been the case with the james bond books as they are hard to find nowadays I would love to read them after seeing the movie if It works out I bet they would be better than the movie too.

Answer 5

First read the book then watch the movie

Answer 6

99% of the time, it's reading the book. On rare occassions the movie is better (e.g. Forrest Gump).

I like to read the book first and then go see the movie. The problem with movies based on books is that there's not enough time to get all the fun details (unless they break it up into parts or the book is short). The book "Holes" was short enough that the movie is almost identical and well done. The BBC 3-part version of Pride and Prejudice is very good too but it took 6 hours. Two hours just can't do good books justice.

Answer 7

I like to read the book before I watch the movie, that way I can see if they screwed the story up or not. Usually, (9 times out of 10, anyway) the book will be better.

Answer 8

Reading the book is better than watching a movie based from that book. It is because The movie is just the summary of the given book. The book gives more detailed informations about the story. Sometimes the movie changes the original story of the book. For example, they changes the names, etc.Reading a book will also enhance your imagination.

Answer 9

I like to read the book first. But if I find a movie that I didn't know was based on a book and I like it I will read the book.

Answer 10

I have yet to see a movie that is as good as the book it was based on. Books give you a chance to use your imagination. You get to be the director. You decide what the settings and people look like. Movies never have enough time to put in all the details and plots that are in the book. Read a book first and then see the movie. Decide for yourself what is better.