Horror Aficionados discussion
Movies & Television
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Which do you acquire first the book or the movie?
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Depends on if I know a book exists first or not.
I generally like to read the book first. If I watch the movie first it makes it so I don't want to read the book. I'm not really sure why.
As long as the movie makes sense as an adaptation, I don't care. There are so many adaptations of Dracula that I love but I also love the book. The Hammer Horror adaptations are pretty loose adaptations but they're awesome.Then, there's things like I Am Legend, which has had three adaptations since it came out and only the first one got anywhere near the mark. And then, there's the things that Peter Jackson did in the Tolkien adaptations that drive me crazy.
And then there's comic book movies which are such a hugely mixed back. The first Blade movie actually influenced the comics. The Crow is the same but different in movie and comic form (I could say a lot about that). V for Vendetta is VASTLY different from its source material, save for some of the visuals and the whole section about the gay woman.
Usually, if I find out a movie I like has a literary source, I will at the very least check into it, if not outright buy and devour it.
Book if I can help it. I'll even postpone viewing a film or TV series to read the book first, if the chance arises. And if not, I do try to read the book as soon as possible if I enjoyed the adaptation.I think there are two reasons for this:
Firstly, any film or show based on a book will always feel like a 'second-hand' retelling - you're getting the producer's/director's/script-writer's/actor's versions of events - which, when it works well, is no bad thing - but you're only usually going to get the pure, 'un-distilled' version of the story from the original text.
Secondly, the book will always enable you to get closer to the characters. You can't really even begin to express a character's thoughts, feelings and motivations in the same way on film.
Saying that, there are plenty of movie-adaptations out there that are fantastic, and I have no problem with directorial decisions to approach a story differently to the way it was originally written, as long as it makes sense in the context of the retelling.
Interestingly, you mention Game of Thrones - I hadn't read any of the A Song of Ice and Fire books when I saw the first season of the show. I loved it and picked up the first book straight after the first season ended. I was astounded at how well the producers of the show had translated the book into just ten episodes. I ravenously devoured all of the following books before season two started, because I just couldn't wait!
Same story here, Jon. I started GOT because of the excellent quality of the HBO series. I've given up on Hollywood. When I got to the end of season 3 (I don't have HBO, so I am waiting for the DVD release of season 4) I just had to know what happened next, so I picked up the first book and have been reading furiously ever since.I prefer seeing a film version of a book first, because I am never disappointed in the book if I read it later. If I read the book first, the film version is usually a disappointment.
The only drawback with film first is that the physical appearance of the characters is tied to the actor/actress who portrays them, whereas with a book I get to picture the characters.
GOT is full of themes that horror fans enjoy and I always suspected there were a lot of people in this group who read this series. Nice to get some feedback in group.
My steps have always been:1. Get book.
2. Read book.
3. Watch movie.
4. Judge movie for not being as good as the book.
I drive my friends and family mad with this.
Mod
I usually find out about the movie before the book. Sometimes I don't even realize a movie is based on a book until after I have seen it. So I don't really have a preference but if the movie is one I enjoyed I would probably purchase the book at some point. Same goes with if a TV series is based on a book.
I almost always watch the movie (or tv show) first. I can get very aggravated if they leave out an entire plot device, subplot, or character I think is important. This happened to me with the mini-series of Noble House by James Clavell. Of course, sometime the tv show or movie inspires me to read the book. But, all things being equal, it's the movie/tv show first.
Adrian wrote: "My steps have always been:1. Get book.
2. Read book.
3. Watch movie.
4. Judge movie for not being as good as the book.
I drive my friends and family mad with this."
That pretty much describes my process as well!
As someone else already said, it generally depends on if I actually knew it was a book first because sometimes I have no idea so in those cases I've probably watched the movie or TV series first. Usually I'll try and read the book before seeing the movie/TV show but sometimes it just doesn't happen for one reason or another. Although, even if I've already watched it, I'll still tend to read the book anyway and vice versa. The book or the movie doesn't ruin my enjoyment for the other.
Definitely the book first with the notable exception of the Exorcist. Film first a hundred times and then book by Blaty and "Real Event" book called Possessed. Trouble is though Hollywood have turned some excellent books - House of Darkness House of Light and Deliver us from Evil into truly awful films - The Conjuring - first half great staying true to the book and second half a pile of poo and Deliver us from Evil would have made an amazing film. It was awful and nothing to do with any Gulf War. If they stayed true to the book - To Kill a Mockingbird for example, then it makes an amazing movie.
The movie first, if possible, otherwise im nearly always disappointed in the movie.
Books are obviously a big influence on the movie industry. Personally I prefer to read the book and then see the movie. My friend though says this ruins the movie. You're more likely to enjoy the movie because you can't compare it to such an in-depth media.
So it got me thinking on what other people think on the topic.
An example for me is - I'm currently reading the first book of Game of Thrones. I've owned it since 2002 but was never interested enough to keep with it. The show got popular and everything and The show certainly interests me and now that I'm further in the book I like it more (except Catelyn shes so dull and annoying). I have been watching the first season as I read the book but I always make sure to stay behind where I am in the book. WHAT I"M GETTING AT is the show is like a lil treat for getting through the dull parts and it's also nice seeing all the major events play out and comparing how much has changed or stayed the same. It gives the movie/show time more thought which for me makes it more likely that I won't get up part way and wander around my house haha.
So the book or movie first? and why?