Question: What do Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Cold Mountain, The Notebook, Gone With The Wind & The English Patient have in common?
Before we get to the answer, let me explain. Rare is the novel I have read (that’s actually a true statement in and of itself) – but, rare is the novel I’ve read where the movie version is hailed as “much better” by fans.
The book vs. movie debate rages on. No matter how good a movie is, no matter how popular, how fan-crazed a film (and that includes Twihards) – there’s always a sizable segment of the population that says the book is better. Why is that? I have no idea. To me, they’re quiet simply two different mediums, which are experienced differently and therefore, should be judged differently. Precisely why I find people who become territorial about adaptations nothing short of ridiculous. We can love both reading and viewing – but shouldn’t we appreciate their uniqueness?
For example, there are two movies currently in theaters based on bestsellers (well, more than two, but I was never one for the Conan graphic novellas/Marvel stuff so I can’t really speak to those guys). They are The Help and One Day. In my opinion, one movie is brilliant and the other is light, fluffy fun. Both books have ultra-passionate fan bases whose members hoped for the best, but I know plenty of folks who admitted they were expecting the worst. Before they even set foot in the theater. What’s that about? The Help, while the # 1 movie in America (a singular fact that delights me) is still being held up to the withering standards of readers who thought the book was better. One Day, which is doing just okay at the box office despite being a very popular read, has actors who admitted being terrified that they would not hold up to the book. Inevitable, sure — but no less unfortunate.
At the end of the day no matter how good a film is, there will always be that crowd that thinks, well, you know, if you’d read the book you’d understand the difference — you’d know just how much better it was overall – experientially. I hear this all the time. (I need also to point out that besides the Twilight books I tend to read only espionage books about spies and the governments who pursue them).
Let’s look at the very process by which we experience each. (For me at least, it’s much easier to watch a movie than to read a book). A book is by definition a solitary venture. Books were made to be enjoyed by people who are by themselves, and even if they’re in a train station or on a plane or about to fall asleep, and there are others around, there’s that solitary me-and-my-text thing. Movies, on the other hand, are meant to be enjoyed with others around and if you ask me, a sizable portion of the moviegoing experience is that collective energy inside a theater. When you walk out having loved a movie isn’t it all made even better by the fact that you’re surrounded by people you don’t know who kinda feel the same way? When I finish a book however, I’m invariably all by myself, and the first thing I want is a pat on the back. I want to be told I’ve done something sensible and wise – that’ll pay off – like when I buy a roll of stamps.
In fact, the two experiences are so different that I have to ask – why do we even compare the two? Don’t they serve different purposes entirely? Can’t they do stuff in movies that they can’t do in books – and vice versa – which is why we love them both? What do you think? Is your viewing affected by your reading?
By the way, if you’re wondering about the question I posed:
Answer: They’re all movies made from wildly popular bestselling books.
Today’s poll:
Voice your choice and let us know which of these movies-from-bestsellers you’re most excited about:
1) The Hobbit
2) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
3) The Great Gatsby
4) Life Of Pi
It depends… I don’t like what Hollywood has done to the adaptations of books like “The House Of Spirits” and “Gossip Girl”, in which case the books were definitely better; but love what they’ve done with the adaptations of books like “Like Water For Chocolate” and “The Notebook”, in which case I feel the did the books justice!
“When I finish a book however, I’m invariably all by myself, and the first thing I want is a pat on the back. I want to be told I’ve done something sensible and wise – that’ll pay off – like when I buy a roll of stamps.”
People that love reading don’t read expecting a pat on the back or any type of validation from anyone else. While the actual act of reading is solitary for the most part there are book clubs. There is also a culture around popular books. I’ve had many discussions with other fans of series like The Dark Tower, Harry Potter, The Sword of Truth, etc. Reading is only as solitary as you want it to be.
A book gives so much more texture and depth that’s not possible in a two hour movie. For me the movie that came closest to being as good as the book was the Color Purple. I think it succeeded because the movie focused on a couple of plot points and explored those deeply instead of attempting to address everything in the book.
I just accept that the movie is probably won’t be as good as the book and enjoy the movie on its’ own merits. I have to agree with your general point that it’s kind of a pointless argument.
I read all the Conan stories in books and comics when I was very young and I absolutely HATE what those illiterate neanderthalls in Hollywood have done to the story!! I’d love to SEE “The Treasure of Tranicos” and “Beyond the Black River” if the idiots would READ the books and do it right!