Do you prefer the written or filmed version of a story?

Question

Or, do you prefer movies or books. I personally prefer books because they allow me to visualize the story for myself, rather than being subjected to another person's viewpoint. I will usually watch a movie after having read the book.

Tom Hung, I agree. But did you know that Stephen King himself actually wrote the screenplay for The Shining? Most of the changes made were made by the author himself.

Answer 1

It really depends. I usually love watching a movie after reading the book, but some have ruined it for me.

Answer 2

I agree with you - the book over the movie. I find that not everything is in the movie, and I realise that it would be boring to include all the descriptive elements of a story, or where there are extracts where the author explains something and there's not as much action or dialogue. Also, as you say, we're watching someone else's viewpoint - usually at least three: the producer, director and screenwriter who decide what scenes will entice audiences and carry on the plot. At least with reading the books, I can imagine the characters and scenery as I think they should be (for example, Dobby in "Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets" was nothing like I visualised and this put me off completely) rather than to have it almost forced upon me that how they've been filmed is the way that I should expect to visualise them.

Answer 3

So long as it's a movie I haven't read in a book I tend to like the movie, but books are just so much more descriptive then a movie. Even though you see someone in tears in a movie you don't always know why but in a book you can get into the characters head and find out what motivates the character.

When I read a book the book is only truly limited by the amount of pages that the writer is willing to write where as a movie tends to be limited to how long your willing to stare at a screen which for most tends to be 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Also books are much more portable and you can always skim the parts you don't like or aren't in to even if it's just released.

Answer 4

I usually prefer the book as well, but because the story can develop so much more fully in a book than a movie. Movies have time contraints, technology constraints, and general studio contraints of what will sell.

There are many books that I read and then saw the movie and felt completely let down because so much more could have been done (like Memoirs of a Geisha). But, there are some movies that have led me to read the book and discover the fuller story (like The Prestige)

Answer 5

It depends on the movie's director. Directors that are truthful to the book usually do a good job. Directors that completely change the story (a good example is Kubrick's version of the Shining - basically the only similarity to the book was the title and some of the characters). Therefore, I usually prefer the book.

Answer 6

I agree with u i like to read the book first and then see the movie just because the book usually has a more distinct way of telling the story rather than a movie but one movie i saw was just as good as the book and that was memoirs of a geisha great book and great movie if you haven't read it yet i totally recommend it

Answer 7

I prefer the book over the movie for several reasons
reason 1. The books are usually always more detailed and descriptive. I like being able to read all the descriptive pasages.
reason 2. When was the last time your teacher let you bring a portable dvd player to school or assigned a movie report? I like books because for me it's like bringing a gameboy to class and being complimented by my teacher for my literary skills.
reason 3. it's very very hard to explain mental turmoil in a movie whereas in a book all it takes is a few wellplaced sentances. Also, imagining the descriptions for yourself allows you to mold the characters so that next time you read the story, they are already there and it's ALREADY like a movie in your head.

Answer 8

This replaced into somewhat complicated.. i ought to trust Psycho, on the Waterfront and obviously A Clockwork Orange yet i ought to replace the latter for The Shining (1980) of route not truly a score as such, Tarantino works a similar wonders of association with Pulp Fiction (1994) of route not classical interior the least ideas yet really a standard. i do not comprehend what the guidelines be ? city lighting fixtures (1931) magical, i'm a huge Chaplin fan ( : Morricone's once Upon a Time in u . s . a . of america (1984) and Bernard Hermann's score to Taxi driving force (1976) are probably my 2 standard rankings. the skinny pink Line (1998), Schindler's record (1993), Mulholland stress (2001), Alien (1979). i truly can not ensure on a 10th.

Answer 9

Books are usually more elaborate in the way they tell the story, but thet's because a movie only has 2 hours to tell the whole story. I like to see the movie after I read the book to see how much they differ.

Answer 10

Usually, I prefer to read the book. Gives you more of a chance to visualize and immerse yourself.

Movies tend to leave out a lot...bounce back and forth too much and lose much of the details the book offers.

Often, after I have read a book and they make a film out of it...I don't wan't to really see it..since most of the time...it is a disappointment....but some are protrayed rather well. It just depends.