The Book or the Movie?
We all know there just ain't enough hours in the day. So the question is, how do you use that precious time?
I love books. Reading can be such an absolute joy, and it makes your brain work! A well-written book lights up neurons you never knew you had and transports you to a completely different place.
... but so can movies. And I really love movies. A good movie can suck you in before you can say, 'suck you in,' tie you up in knots like a dexterous tongue with a cherry stem, and spit you out a changed person.
So here's the rub: Some great books make terrible movies. Other times, a mediocre book translates surprisingly well to screen. So when faced with both options, the book or the movie, what do you do? Which do you choose?
I'd love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments how YOU decide to spend your precious time. Do you read the book, or see the movie?
I love books. Reading can be such an absolute joy, and it makes your brain work! A well-written book lights up neurons you never knew you had and transports you to a completely different place.
... but so can movies. And I really love movies. A good movie can suck you in before you can say, 'suck you in,' tie you up in knots like a dexterous tongue with a cherry stem, and spit you out a changed person.
So here's the rub: Some great books make terrible movies. Other times, a mediocre book translates surprisingly well to screen. So when faced with both options, the book or the movie, what do you do? Which do you choose?
I'd love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments how YOU decide to spend your precious time. Do you read the book, or see the movie?
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Dean
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Sep 06, 2016 04:53AM
Book almost every time. Movies by rule are not normally good, especially these days were it seems 0% writing effort goes into movies. The exception to the movie v book rule is Jaws. Jaws the book is not a great book and even Benchley himself admits it. Jaws the movie takes the whole concept to a new level. It's almost the exact reverse of what you'd expect a movie adaptation to be. You have MORE backstory for the characters in the movie than the book. In the book, Quint is just a miserable old guy who hunts sharks. There's no Indianapolis speech to explain his hatred for sharks (a collaboration between Robert Shaw who was himself a play-write and the script writers). Nor is there the scar comparison bonding between the three characters. Watching the movie was far more entertaining and far more of an education than reading the book. Due to my age, I saw the film many years before reading the book and the book was SUCH a disappointment, I cannot tell you.
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Dean wrote: "Book almost every time. Movies by rule are not normally good, especially these days were it seems 0% writing effort goes into movies. The exception to the movie v book rule is Jaws. Jaws the book i..."Completely agree. Even the 'good' film writing now feels like regurgitated Rushmore.
And yes, Jaws the movie was awesome. Jaws the book... Meh.
I wonder how Sharknado the book is? Because that was totally a book first, right?
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