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Weekly topic for discussion - Can you read the book after seeing the movie?
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I've found the same thing. In fact I have a couple books to read that were purchased before I knew a movie was in the works, so I won't go to those movies. Every time I've read a book and then watched a movie made from the book it was very disappointing, because the movie left out what I felt were important parts of the book and even at times added additional plots.
I usually watch the movie first before the book, so my expectations for the movie would be minimal and I won't be disappointed. It's hard to do that for series books nowadays like Harry Potter when it came out and now the Hunger Games. They're making a movie for The Fault in Our Stars, I'm not too sure if I want to see it. To me that book was perfection so seeing a Hollywood version might somehow ruin the images I already have of the characters.
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Catching Fire is my favorite in the trilogy. I'm looking forward to the movie as we'll.
I can do both but prefer to read the book 1st. I guess I always go into a movie expecting that it won't be nearly as detailed as the book.
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Same here and am pleasantly surprised when it is.
Jonetta wrote: "I saw The Hunger Games about two or three days after finishing the book and it was a GREAT experience, primarily because it followed the book so very closely. I plan to read the next book in time ..."Jonetta wrote: "I saw The Hunger Games about two or three days after finishing the book and it was a GREAT experience, primarily because it followed the book so very closely. I plan to read the next book in time ..."
It did follow the book very closely...a nice surprise. This was one of the better done book to movies that I've seen. I loved all 3 books and am anxiously waiting for Nov. 22 to see the 2nd one.
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1. A Time for a Kill
2. Godfather I & II
3. Where the Heart Is
Oh, I had forgotten about Godfather...it was pretty well done too! I haven't seen the other two.Just in general, the movies never hold up to the book for me. But there are a few exceptions like The Hunger Games & Godfather.
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1. The Lovely Bones
2. The Firm (I liked the movie but hated what they changed)
Oh the Lovely Bones was definitely a disappointment. This type of book to movie genre makes me think they should turn Gillian Flynn's books into movies too. Could be interesting to see the suspense, mystery to it.
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They are currently filming Gone Girl. It is directed by David Fincher and the script is written by Flynn. The film stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Tyler Perry, and Neil Patrick Harris.
Ooh awesome! I look forward to that then. Which means I need to get on with that book too!
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Gone Girl is one of the books I have here to read. I should say that it has been 20 years or more since I've read a book and then watched a movie made from the book. Maybe I should give it a try again, with the changes in technology and writers working with the film makers things may be better.
Oh boy, saying 20+ years makes me feel old.
I saw the movie Jane Austin Book Club LOTS of times and loved it! Hated the book when I finally read it
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One of the constants I've noticed with movies that represented the books well is the author is involved with writing the screenplay. It seems to be the element needed for success.
I feel the same way when it comes to readin' the books from Nora Roberts that she had made into movies,I had tried to read those books like:Carolina Moon,Sanctuary,High Noon,Angels Fall,Tribute,Blue Smoke,Northern Lights,Montana Sky, Midnight Bayou and Carnal Innocence...but I just couldn't seem to get myself into those books. The books just felt more and more like an actual script bein' read out loud than an actual story to me. So,that's y I only read the books/novals and trilogies of hers that were not made into movies,much less the movies that were made for Lifetime and LMN tv. It just felt...weird and it took the spark that I had once had for those books away. Y is it that the book verus the actual movie r totally different from each other? It drives me crazy just to know that they're both not the same together,they're so different and I just can't seem to understand y. I don't know, maybe it's me,but it just don't sound like the same story when ur watchin' the same movie and when u have the actual book in ur hands or u have it n ur ipad,iphone,kindle or whatever kinda device that u have....makes no sense to me.LOL!
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I absolutely agree with u,Jonetta,lol! What u just said...it just hit the spot..and ur absolutely right!
If the movie is a genre I don't normally read, I'll see movie first and forget reading the book. Movies based on actual literature are almost always better. Some books are really hard to make good movies. After all, it takes more than two hours to read a book. You just can't get the depth of character or plot in a movie based on a good book.
Anita~Girrl, ur absolutely right about that! I totally feel the same way that u do when it comes to movies written from books veruses books made for movies....the movies are almost always better than the actual books...duh! Lol! Yeah,I agree with ya! If it's a movie thats based on a movie,then I probably don't read the book first,I'll usually just watch the movie first bfore ever readin' the book. Now, I didn't do that with Safe Haven, I read the book first just to get the basic info on both of the characters,but now that I've read the actual book...I totally wanna watch the movie!! LOL! Yeah, some books are totally hard to "get into" bcause it does take 2 hours or more to get into it and stick with it. Sometimes it's easy to do and sometimes its not, it just depends on how good the characters actually are and it also depends on if the characters are relateable or not,too. Yeah, it just depends on how good the book is depends on if theres enough character depth or a good plot in the actually movie to see if u can get into it or not...To me, it really depends on who actually wrote the book, ya know? I mean, it depends on if it was written by a book author that I'm familiar with or somebody that I've never even heard of bfore...it totally depends.
One author who has managed to be turned into really good movies is Tom Clancy. Although, they only use about 60% of his stuff, the movies are really good. Way back when, I read the book Jaws and to this day I refuse to see the movie.
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Don't ever see Jaws unless you want your relationship with the ocean to forever be altered.
One of the Jaws books happened to be why I quit watching movies made from books I had read . The movie never showed or referred to the reason the shark was attacking. Very disappointed.
Jonetta wrote: "Big misses for me:1. The Lovely Bones
2. The Firm (I liked the movie but hated what they changed)"
I 100% agree about The Firm. That book was AMAZING and then they changed the end completely.
Another horrible adaptation was the Bourne Series. They changed the first one so much that it threw off the entire series.
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1. The Lovely Bones
2. The Firm (I liked the movie but hated what they changed)"
I 100% agree about The Firm. That book was AMAZING and then they changed the end..."
I was lucky that I'd read the book so long ago I couldn't see the differences with the movie. But, I do remember thinking as I watched the movie that I remembered nothing.
Really big miss for me was the Janet Evanovich book One for the Money. I could have cried at the hack job they did to a really good funny book - from casting all the way through.
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It was that bad. It was so bad that Hollywood will probably never make another one from this series - which is a real shame.
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I was in Las Vegas with girlfriends and on my suggestion we saw it. I was mortified. All I could say was you really need to read the book and not hold this movie against the series.
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Any others out there?
Jonetta wrote: "Lol! We should start a list...movies you should NEVER see before reading the book.
Any others out there?"
I absolutely agree with ya,Jonetta! We all should totally start a list of all of the movies that u should never ever watch bfore u get to read the actuall books....that's a great idea! I wish I had thought of that one myself. I just love that idea,lol!
Any others out there?"
I absolutely agree with ya,Jonetta! We all should totally start a list of all of the movies that u should never ever watch bfore u get to read the actuall books....that's a great idea! I wish I had thought of that one myself. I just love that idea,lol!
I prefer reading books first, then seeing the movie. Except with The Hunger Games. I wasn't a fan until I watched the movie first, then read the books. Now it's my latest obsession. I'm ready for the 3rd movie. lolHmm....I'm surprised nobody hasn't mention Nicholas Sparks yet. I love his books and the movies are good just as well!
Anita wrote: "Really big miss for me was the Janet Evanovich book One for the Money. I could have cried at the hack job they did to a really good funny book - from casting all the way through."I've never read the book, but I do remember the movie. I wasn't that impressed with it.
Kelsey, please read the book. One for the Money is really funny with mystery and romance on the side.
Nora Roberts Groupies
Books mentioned in this topic
The Hunger Games (other topics)The Devil Wears Prada (other topics)
Jurassic Park (other topics)
In a recent discussion elsewhere, I found some of my friends feel the exact opposite. They love seeing the movie first as it helps them visualize the scenes in the book.
So, what way works for you? Can you read the book after seeing the movie? Do you have any examples where it didn't turn out well or where it did?