Books: Why bother?
- Thread starter goldengirl
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Because not all books, the majority of books are not made into movies.
Because some movies cut out interesting parts of the book.
Because movies don’t always make the entire book series and you can find out more about your favourite characters you saw in the one movie they made.
Should I go on?
Because some movies cut out interesting parts of the book.
Because movies don’t always make the entire book series and you can find out more about your favourite characters you saw in the one movie they made.
Should I go on?
For one thing, movies have a time limit. Thus the movie can only show the most important parts of the plot.
Also, movies are what the director and the producer(s) envisioned.
The movies are not always faithful to the book. Who has seen The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy? In the movie, Zaphod Beeblebrox has two heads, one on top of the other. This is wrong. The book made it ultra clear his heads were beside each other, and thus they occasionally disagreed. In the movie, his lower head was more of a neck, an add on. And many of the adventures in the stolen spacecraft never made it to the big screen. Also the robot Marvin was not how I envisioned him. There was also a whole host of other minor characters that did not get any movie time.
Green screens and computer graphics have come a long way, but they still reflect the directors & producers vision. In the movie 2001, Stanley Kubrick consulted with Marvin Minsky, a computer guru of the time. Minsky convinced Kubrick that HAL should be represented by a single item, not a wall of blinking lights. But even so, the audience is being told how to imagine HAL.
In a book, people can always go back a few pages to confirm the events in the plot.
These are some of the reasons books win. Also, reading a book takes some mental effort. It is not served up for the audience to consume.
Also, movies are what the director and the producer(s) envisioned.
The movies are not always faithful to the book. Who has seen The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy? In the movie, Zaphod Beeblebrox has two heads, one on top of the other. This is wrong. The book made it ultra clear his heads were beside each other, and thus they occasionally disagreed. In the movie, his lower head was more of a neck, an add on. And many of the adventures in the stolen spacecraft never made it to the big screen. Also the robot Marvin was not how I envisioned him. There was also a whole host of other minor characters that did not get any movie time.
Green screens and computer graphics have come a long way, but they still reflect the directors & producers vision. In the movie 2001, Stanley Kubrick consulted with Marvin Minsky, a computer guru of the time. Minsky convinced Kubrick that HAL should be represented by a single item, not a wall of blinking lights. But even so, the audience is being told how to imagine HAL.
In a book, people can always go back a few pages to confirm the events in the plot.
These are some of the reasons books win. Also, reading a book takes some mental effort. It is not served up for the audience to consume.
If books are the real story why would you deny yourself the pleasure? Movies can be very good but nothing matches the book. A great example is A Prayer for Owen Meanie. Everyone conjures a different voice for Owen and thus adds to the story.
An Actor's voice will only capture it for a small minority. The rest will be disappointed.
Add in the layers and depths. The actual thoughts of the characters on the page. There is no comparison.
I read mostly history and finance books. As for fiction, the exceptions that the film is better than the book are rare. The most obvious exception is LA Confidential.
I read The Name of the Rose in both English and Italian, it is a flawed film. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to watch Sean Connery and F Murray Abraham work together, it was also Ron Perlman's break out role. The first half was good but the second half devolved into a typical Hollywood revenge fantasy...I was pissed.
I read The Name of the Rose in both English and Italian, it is a flawed film. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to watch Sean Connery and F Murray Abraham work together, it was also Ron Perlman's break out role. The first half was good but the second half devolved into a typical Hollywood revenge fantasy...I was pissed.
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Most movies are two hours.
Most books take me 2 or 3 days to read.
Therefore only two hours of my life is wasted, as opposed to 20.
Most books take me 2 or 3 days to read.
Therefore only two hours of my life is wasted, as opposed to 20.
When I was a kid I read these three books and later watched the movies.
Book: 2001. Not so interesting.
Movie 2001. Kinda trippy at the end. One of my favourite movies ( except the end part ).
Book 2010. I liked this book better then book 2001. As a kid I read it twice.
Movie 2010. I also liked this movie. Not the best movie, but I remember watching it at least three times.
There was a third book by Arthur Clarke but I only read it once and forgot what happened. Must have sucked.
Book: Hitchhikers. I remember having this book but never opening it.
Movie: I was surprised that Zooey chick was in it, when Malhovich showed up I lost all interest and stopped trying to follow the plot. I kept it on for noise only. It sucked.
Here's your definitive answer: Books!
Read "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, then watch the John Ford directed movie of the same name starring Henry Fonda.
Both excellent, but the book has way more texture. The ending stunned me and could never have been included in the 1940 movie.
Read "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, then watch the John Ford directed movie of the same name starring Henry Fonda.
Both excellent, but the book has way more texture. The ending stunned me and could never have been included in the 1940 movie.
Troll or someone who finds reading a challenge. Discuss!!!
I was about to argue against this but then I realized all the book based movies I've liked were simply because they didn't do a bad job.
Only exception I'd make is Princess Bride. The book is great but the cast in the movie was amazing.
You can take as much or as little time to read a book
Books can have multiple branding storylines and endings. Anyone remember Choose Your Own Adventure books?
No batteries or charging required
No operating system to keep updated
Books can have multiple branding storylines and endings. Anyone remember Choose Your Own Adventure books?
No batteries or charging required
No operating system to keep updated
If you think reading is a waste of time, we can't help you.
I liked those books as a kid. The best ones were the Fighting Fantasy series.
Reading this wasted 4 seconds of my life. Thanks.
