I Think The Book's Better Than The Movie...

Man, how many times have you heard this? I'm not much of a reader myself, but literally every single person who's ever read and watched the movie and book to something will always say the book's better. While maybe the book is better sometimes, surely, I've never heard anyone say they preferred the movie in these scenarios.

Is this just hipsters being hip, or are books really that good? If so, why do movies even exist then?

Well, books allow you to form and create the universe of the book as you imagine it, while a movie gives them a set form not everybody might like.

I read the Lord of The Ring before it came into the cinemas in a big 3 part trilogy and also saw it and own the DVD's...and I like both, both have their ups and downs, for example, the movie left out some nice side stories and characters of the book, but then again, a book doesn't have awesome epic music and beautiful screenplay.

Sometimes the book may really be better, but I think most of the time, it's just the hipster thing to say. And people want you to know they're readers.

Well, books allow you to form and create the universe of the book as you imagine it, while a movie gives them a set form not everybody might like.

Justforvisit

Sometimes the book may really be better, but I think most of the time, it's just the hipster thing to say. And people want you to know they're readers.

Pirate700

This is how I feel. Obviously sometimes I imagine the book's better as more often than not it's the source material, but sometimes I feel people only say it's better to try and stand out from the crowd as movies are much more popular.

Every time I say it I mean it. Also, usually its probably true. Words have a limitless budget, so what can be put on paper is often much more epic and complex than what can be put on screen.

However, I do think there are many instances in the Harry Potter series where the movies outclass the books.

Yeah....couldn't read Lord of the Rings.Wilfred_Owen

I adctually tried reading The Hobbit as LoTR is easily my favourite film series of all time. I just couldn't though. I got so bored while reading it, and I pride myself on being able to use my imagination well. Books just aren't for me, but that's besides the topic point now.

[QUOTE="Justforvisit"]

Well, books allow you to form and create the universe of the book as you imagine it, while a movie gives them a set form not everybody might like.

Aljosa23

They are always very different, and that's a good thing, as the movies that try to just put everything from the book into the movie invariably end up being movies that are bloated, filled with cheesy narration, and are wholly uninteresting.

I don't think most people are being "hipster" when they say they like the book better, because if the book is something you really liked it's entirely possible you're just not going to like the movie as much, but I do think people are being unfair when they say that the movie is bad BECAUSE it is different from the book. I mean holy **** I can't even imagine how much additional standing around and talking there would be added into the Harry Potter movies if they wanted to get ALL of the background info that is in the books into the movies.

I generally like to view them as two separate things in terms of quality. Often times, books are better realisations of the world and tell the story better such as with Game of Thrones but I never tell anyone they have to read the books if they like the show.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

Sometimes the book may really be better, but I think most of the time, it's just the hipster thing to say. And people want you to know they're readers.

sune_Gem

This is how I feel. Obviously sometimes I imagine the book's better as more often than not it's the source material, but sometimes I feel people only say it's better to try and stand out from the crowd as movies are much more popular.

Hmmm...

The original, fully fleshed-out story in the book?

or

A truncated version of that story that's often been further re-written to appeal to what Hollywood studios think the audience wants to see, and that strips away much of the context and meanng of the story?

Yeah, clearly preferring the book is just the hipster thing to do.

I liked True Blood a while back and so picked up the first few books it was based on. The show is way better. I think most people say the book is better because it's a way of bragging that they read basically. I bet that in general, the book is better though.

Usually the book will be better than the movie if you like reading. They tend to go way more in depth and really tell the whole story while the movie tries to tell everything in a short amount of time. If the writer is good the book will usually be better than the movie.

Hmmm...The original, fully fleshed-out story in the book?

or

A truncated version of that story that's often been further re-written to appeal to what Hollywood studios think the audience wants to see, and that strips away much of the context and meanng of the story?

 

Yeah, clearly preferring the book is just the hipster thing to do.

worlock77

[QUOTE="sune_Gem"]

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

Sometimes the book may really be better, but I think most of the time, it's just the hipster thing to say. And people want you to know they're readers.

worlock77

This is how I feel. Obviously sometimes I imagine the book's better as more often than not it's the source material, but sometimes I feel people only say it's better to try and stand out from the crowd as movies are much more popular.

Hmmm...

The original, fully fleshed-out story in the book?

or

A truncated version of that story that's often been further re-written to appeal to what Hollywood studios think the audience wants to see, and that strips away much of the context and meanng of the story?

Yeah, clearly preferring the book is just the hipster thing to do.

Sometimes the book may really be better, but I think most of the time, it's just the hipster thing to say. And people want you to know they're readers.

Pirate700

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

Sometimes the book may really be better, but I think most of the time, it's just the hipster thing to say. And people want you to know they're readers.

dave123321

[QUOTE="dave123321"][QUOTE="Pirate700"]

Sometimes the book may really be better, but I think most of the time, it's just the hipster thing to say. And people want you to know they're readers.

Pirate700

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

[QUOTE="dave123321"] I just have to shake my head at this stuffdave123321

Really the only reason anyone does anything is to be cool and hipster. I am glad I have realized this, thank you OP

Most of the time the movies are just made to sell, and I usually like the books better. I haven't read the fight club book, but I can't imagine that being better than the movie, or at least it would be very different.0Hamburgher

[QUOTE="dave123321"][QUOTE="Pirate700"]You're not better than us because you read, Dave. :x

Pirate700

Most of the time the movies are just made to sell, and I usually like the books better. I haven't read the fight club book, but I can't imagine that being better than the movie, or at least it would be very different.0Hamburgher

The same goes for books. The difference is books can be as long as the author wants. Movies can't.

Pirate700

Really? Someone bring this news to Peter Jackson :P

Most of the time the movies are just made to sell, and I usually like the books better. I haven't read the fight club book, but I can't imagine that being better than the movie, or at least it would be very different.0Hamburgher

The film version of The Godfather is better than the book.

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

The same goes for books. The difference is books can be as long as the author wants. Movies can't.

MetroidPrimePwn

Really? Someone bring this news to Peter Jackson :P

[QUOTE="0Hamburgher"]Most of the time the movies are just made to sell, and I usually like the books better. I haven't read the fight club book, but I can't imagine that being better than the movie, or at least it would be very different.dave123321

[QUOTE="dave123321"][QUOTE="0Hamburgher"]Most of the time the movies are just made to sell, and I usually like the books better. I haven't read the fight club book, but I can't imagine that being better than the movie, or at least it would be very different.mattykovax

Man, how many times have you heard this? I'm not much of a reader myself, but literally every single person who's ever read and watched the movie and book to something will always say the book's better. While maybe the book is better sometimes, surely, I've never heard anyone say they preferred the movie in these scenarios.

Is this just hipsters being hip, or are books really that good? If so, why do movies even exist then?

sune_Gem

Edit: I wanted to add this as well - Movies also excel as social entertainment, which is something that books generally lack (discounting book clubs and the like).

Well, books allow you to form and create the universe of the book as you imagine it, while a movie gives them a set form not everybody might like.
Justforvisit

There is a bit of truth to this. And when the movie is put into a form I don't like, I say: "The book was better."

Though, I really do think that The Lord of the Rings film series truly excelled in its translation into film. That's a good thing, too, because I would have raged to no end otherwise.

Books are better. Your own imagination will always infinitly better than someone elses. It's just a matter if you want to invest the time it takes to read a book as opposed to a movie

My Literature teacher said that Fight Club is the one instance he's seen where the movie is better than the book.

Often the film is watered down and an injustice to the book. The author may feel insulted over what was done to their work while people are often hard to please when aspects they enjoyed have been altered or removed entirely. Maybe read more books then see the films, then you'd understand why they care so much.

The film version of The Godfather is better than the book.

DharmaMember77

[QUOTE="DharmaMember77"]

The film version of The Godfather is better than the book.

Aljosa23