books before movies, or movies before books?

Question

when a movie based on a book comes out, do you like to
A) read the book before you see the movie
B) see the movie before reading the book

I usually like to read the book because if the movie is based on it, it only seems natural to take in what came first. I like to think what the characters would look like before I see the person playing the character and I'm stuck with that image.
but, I read Eragon way before the movie came out, and I was very diapointed with the movie because of how outstanding the book was and I just wanted to know what order everyone else likes to do it in.

I also like to read the book first because I like to hear the thoughts of the characters. also: to the someone that said something about series of unfortunate events, well I agree. The
closest movie to the book I've seen is the outsiders.

Answer 1

I prefer to read the book first. I find the book has much more detail and things are explained easier in books However, by actually seeing the movie first, you get to picture the characters, hear the characters, and see the places that are mentioned in the book, so you actually visualise the book better when you've seen the movie.

Eragon, was a very poor movie. Fair enough I know now how to say some of the names, but the whole sereis of events just didn't fall as nicely as they did in the book. There was too much missing, and things were just wrong.

Answer 2

I used to read the books before I saw the movie, but after being disappointed in so many movies made from books I loved, I have changed up. Now, when I go back and read the book, I still like it, but am not as disappointed in the movie. Only the movies that stay true to the book are the ones that are awesome. A couple of examples are The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption. The Godfather is one of the few where I read the book first, but the movie was still awesome. Dune was a disaster to me because one didn't get all the thought nuances in the movie, yet other people who hadn't read the book first loved the movie.

Answer 3

Your mistaken because the De Venci Code was spot on. Now Angels and Demons was the shittiest attempt of a movie as I have ever seen. It was horrible and rubbish. And yes I try and read the book first unless I find out a movie is based off a book and then I'll go and read the book after the movie. Books are always better than the movie, but when a book and movie are similar (De Vinci Code) it makes for an awesome movie

Answer 4

I much prefer to see the movie first for two reasons:
1. When you see a movie after the book, naturally the filmakers can't put everything into the movie thats in the book, so you are usually disappointed. See the movie first and you don't have any preconcieved notions, therefore no disappointment.
2. I find that the book adds to your understanding of the movie, things that may not have been able to be explained otherwise, making you appreciate both more, where as because of the nature of film, the movie takes away from the book, because it can't be as good, or as in depth.

Answer 5

Book before movie. I like to get the background info prior to seeing the film.

Thing is, I think you're always setting yourself up for some disappointment because everything in the book won't end up in the film (Unfortunate Series of Events is one that sticks out. I haven't seen Eragon, but seems to be a universal feeling it didn't do the book justice.)

Still, I think most of us like the book before the movie because we have a connection to the characters and the main story line. And if you're talking about a story with a lot of different people and locales, it's helpful to know some of that ahead of time, too.

Answer 6

I like to read the book first because then i can see the movie and then afterwards complain to everyone that the movie could have been ten times better and that the book is awlsome and that they should read it because most of the time the movies along way of from the book.

Answer 7

If I've never heard of book or author before, and the trailer looks pretty good or the movie has good reviews, I might go see the movie first and if I like the movie, read the book.

If it's a book where I'm familiar with the author or someone I know recommends the book, I might read the book first.

Answer 8

I like to read the book first, because it's a lot more exciting to see a movie you already know the plot of than it is to read the book you already know the plot of. Unfortunately, I usually end up seeing the movies first. But I love having a way to visualize certain parts of the books, which is a huge perk no matter which comes first.

Answer 9

I like to see the movie first, that way I'm not as disappointed in the movie since the book is almost always better than the movie and I like going to the movies a lot.

Answer 10

I like reading the book first because I like to create my own vision of what the author is describing. I feel like if I see the movie first it sort of infects my perception of the book and then I am haunted by the directors view of things. I like my own view.