Books -or- Movies

[Limabean]

I like books. I don't really get to watch television often...so I'm more personally drawn to books. XD

[sanctuary6]

Books are so much better than movies.

An example being Eragon.

Perfect book but when they gave it over to Fox for a movie, they completely messed it over.


Books own movies any day.

[Corwin]

yes that's a very good example, but once in a while it does trend the other way, it just seems to me that a lot of the ppl responding to this thread happen to be bibliophile's where if you ask the majority of america I think we'd end up w/ a vastly different response to this question

[silkshadow]

i agree some movies are better like kings "it" i found the book to be a lil to wordy but the movie covered the most inportant parts of the book. plus for some reason before seeing the movie i could never imagine an evil clown.

[Corwin]

I could, clowns are evil, I really don't like them and in fact on more than one occasion I have acted in a violent manner towards both clowns and persistent amusement park mascots, and I've learned that no matter how pushy and annoying the mascot the park's frown on that and kick you out, sometimes w/ a lifetime ban

[silkshadow]

omg lol thats a good one ive had a problem with geese attacking me at an animal park but never clowns or amusment park mascots lol

[Aikes]

Are books or movies better is the question, but to me this is a pretty broad question. Since I have spare time..... (sorry, no short film interpretation for this).

In order to honestly answer this question, you need it to first be more precise in what you want an answer to. The question should be something with more clarity or maybe the question is just too vague and asking more than one question will fill in the gaps.

Books and movies both have advantages in different situations.

Things that I feel the answer should to be based on:

#1 The mind's eye (your imagination, insight, and mental vision).
#2 Time available compared to time required.
#3 viewer vs reader interpretation (do details and original significance matter)
#4 Cost (this would be consumer cost of one vs the other)
#5 Type of movie (live actors, CGI, or animation)

I personally don't think Movies and Books are in the same class of entertainment and are compared as equals only because both convey a story. For me, it is like comparing boxing to scripted wrestling.

When you pick out a movie to watch you know in advance that the movie will be over within a set time frame and you also know that almost every movie you can watch will run for about the same amount of time.

Books.... well the amount of time you spend reading a book will be up to several factors like how many pages, how many words per page, how much you spread out your reading sessions and how long they are.

Cost for both can vary, but lets split this into two categories, ownership and the occasion for a single review. Nearly every book I have purchased has cost me far more than any movie I have bought, but this is purchase of a newly released item. If you don't mind waiting or if experiencing what has been recently advertised then a library card and the books it makes available look cheaper than movie rentals will ever be.

As for the minds eye, can anyone honestly say that a movie can be better than a book? The only advantage a movie has here is if you don't want to use your mind, then a movie is the ticket.

Viewer vs reader interpretations are also based on how well the author or director present their material. Authors do this with words, directors with visual and auditory effect. You take what the author/director gives you and your comprehension of the material will either be correct and fluid or you will simply be lost in the fog. Some people don't do well at reading. Some people may find movies too simple and shallow. Also if a movie is a converted book then you have a situation where you are trying to comprehend the interpretation a director has given you based on his or his staff's understanding of the original material.

The most important point for me is this, what kind of movie is it. With live actors and real life production you have a whole host of situational problems such as:

A) Do the actors fit the roles.

B) Will the budget supply what is needed to produce the vision of the director. (This will effect every aspect of the movie from time spent getting an actors part in a scene right to whether or not some cheap crappy CGI will be used instead of real props and special effects).

C) Is the movie a sequel. (Every movie that becomes a "hit" also becomes a point for guaranteed future income. The movie industry knows that a majority of original viewers will watch the next in the series so they don't have to invest as much to get the same result. That is why "Part 2" rarely lives up to the first.)

With CGI and with animation the visuals depend heavily on the ability and artistry of the people creating the image.

As for myself..........

Books are better when I need a vacation but don't have the time to get away.

Films (live actors) are better when I have a few hours and have no where else I want to be but have little or no more time then that.

I have to say though that anime is at the top of my list for entertainment to sit down to. I tend to spend more time watching anime series than I do reading or watching movies. I do enjoy anime movies, but I haven't found many of them that I really get into.

I suppose I made quite a bit out of a question made up of so few words. For that, I apologize.

[Thoza]

ok short post.....
better movie ( you can see effect from the story )
you more enjoy.... just listen and see it....

[SmallLady0]

I don't see the fairness in the question. Books have move freedom in the way that there is no budget for the number of pages. Only in marketing the author. Movies on the other hand if they have a good script (meaning rewrite of the novel) they can be quite good.

But to be fair it's like comparing oranges to apples. No matter how good the novel movies rarely compare because of budgets and stuff. Sometimes a company (director) can have a vision and it not come to fruition because of all the outside influences.

Think about it when your writing a paper there is no pressure from the teacher to make it marketable you don't rent the locations, or pay any actors and crew. It just you and the paper. But when it comes to movies they have to account for all of that. I just doesn't seem fair to me to compare the two.

[Awakening]

i like both but if i have to choose its books either way you have to look at it from both sides cos some ppl like books others like the movies then you have the ppl in between who like both