Tuesday, 20 September 2011
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Which is better, the book or the movie?
The book is always better than the movie. Except when it isn't.
Shawshank Redemption
Alright, let's start by riling up all the Stephen King fans out there. I don't think I've ever finished a Stephen King novel (not even a novella). I lose interest long before he stops writing. But I will admit he's come up with some good story ideas. And in the hands of a talented filmmaker... Which is better? The movie.To Kill a Mockingbird
When it pops up on the movie channel, I'll always watch. But how do you pick against one of the most popular American books of all-time? You don't. Which is better? The book.One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
A movie masterpiece. Great cast. Outstanding direction. Won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Lead Actor, Lead Actress, Direction and Screenplay. As good as the movie is, Ken Kesey's novel is even better. A must read. Which is better? The book.Jaws
Would anyone remember Peter Benchley's book if not for the movie? Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider. Which is better? The movie.The Maltese Falcon
Dashiell Hammett's 1930 book epitomizes the hardboiled detective story. And the film? Not Bogart's best, but good enough. Which is better? The movie.The Manchurian Candidate
A 1959 novel by Richard Condon. Condemned by the American Legion. Chilling. Perhaps the quintessential political thriller. The movie, starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Angela Lansbury, was released in 1962 at the height of the Cuban missile crisis. The right movie at the right moment in time. Which is better? The movie.The Lord of the Rings
There is something extraordinary about Peter Jackson's movie trilogy. Compelling. Powerful. Visually stunning. True to the books notwithstanding the additions, deletions and modifications that have been fiercely debated by fans. A remarkable achievement. Which is better? The books.The DaVinci Code
The Ten Commandments
Didn't read the book. Didn't watch the movie. Which is better? Don't care.
The book certainly has built an audience but the 1956 Cecil B. DeMille movie is a masterpiece. Charlton Heston is Moses. Which is better? The movie.Okay. Let the arguments begin.
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Comments (6)
I usually prefer the book to the movie, if I've read the book. Mind you, I'm not a real movie fan, so I don't know how much my opinions would count here.
Stephen King. Now, I love him. There was a time when I read whatever he spat out. Then, somewhere after Misery, his endings... it was like he'd write something really captivating, and then give up. I read Rose Madder and got pissed off, because it was just ridiculous and not fun or scary anymore. I even stopped reading his Dark Tower series - even though I liked it - because as it got closer to what was to be the end of the series, it stopped being interesting, fun, spooky and weird. I'm rambling. I'm sorry. I hope you are able to understand what I am trying to say. As far as turning his books into movie? Shawshank was the only one that was any good. They RUINED The Shining, Carrie was BAD, I wouldn't even bother with Needful Things... and what he did to the Stand (by far, his best book) for a tv miniseries was just... unnecessary.
Okay. I'm going to stop now. LOL I'm getting crazy over nothing.
P.S.: Da Vinci Code... won't read it, won't watch it. Seems dumb. Not a Hammett fan, either, but I like Bogey. 10 Commandments? C'mon... Charlton Heston... Yul Brenner... Awesomeness!
I haven't seen the Maltese Falcon or the Manchurian candidate. But your choice for the book or the movie is exactly like mine for all the others.
One more thing, I know many consider this movie ( Out Of Africa ) as a chick flick, but I loved it and always watch it. I couldn't do even twenty pages of that book.
Most of the time the books are better. But there are a few exceptions as you've noted. The only two on your list where I've read the book and seen the movier were One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The DaVinci Code. The books were both better.
This was fun to read! I usually prefer books over movies...almost 100% of the time. Ha. The last one made me laugh!
TKaM is my all time fav book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I love the movie, too.
I read The Help twice last year and saw the movie twice this summer. They did a good job with the movie.
HUGS! And you always come up with interesting topics! Keep it up, would ya'!
Oh sure... but what are your thoughts on novelizations of movies?
No question on Lord of the Rings or To Kill A Mockingbird.
I suspect the movies based on Tom Clancy novels are more appealing than the books, but I've never been able to get very far in a Tom Clancy novel; way too long-winded.
Some of the earlier Harry Potter movies have parts that are better written than the books. Not so with the later ones.