Post by nailea on Nov 13, 2006 22:27:24 GMT -5
Laurana
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Location: South of Heaven
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:19 pm
The topic this month is Books vs. Movie Version
I'll start with a couple of questions and then it'd be nice if you all could answer them
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
It totally depends. Usually I'd prefer to read the book because it has more details and usually some scenes from the book are removed when the movie is made. So I suppose reading the book gives you a more complete idea of what's the whole thing about. On the other hand if the book is boring, then I'd prefer to watch the movie. I have to read Don Quixotte for my Bulgarian class next week and I'd certainly watch the movie instead of reading 800-something pages (for those who like the book: sorry ). As I said it depends.
What do you think of books based on movies?
If the movie is first and then comes the book, then no thanks. I mean, come on if you're going to write a book based on a movie, then what more do you want to reveal? We've seen everything in the movie, so if we're going to make-up new situations and treats of the characters, then we're going away from the original.
_________________
[Mentor to Arya, Nailea, Eve and Dah'mir][Red Sitter]
Pictures taken from Staashed
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Raena
Joined: 17 May 2006
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:33 pm
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
I like to read the book before I watch the movie, so that I can have my own opinions about characters and events. If I for some reason find the book boring, then I don't know if I'd bother to watch the movie, though that depends of course.
What do you think of books based on movies?
I've never read a book based on a movie, and I don't know if I would. I totally agree with what you have already said.
_________________
Aiel initiate
Novice, mentee to Chaelca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tessandra
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:18 pm
1. I love to read the book first and sometimes refuse to watch the movie even if all my friends are just because I haven't read the book first R:P However, once I've read the book and if it was good, I like to see what Hollywood makes of it. Sometimes the movie is really great and totally true to the book and sometimes the movie just takes the book and destroys everything you love about it
2. I'm not against books based on movies. In fact if you look at Star Wars, they have -tons- of books based off of 6 movies. I've read one and it was actually very very good. Right now I'm about to start a book that was based off of a movie but I haven't seen the movie yet... *lol* So I'd like to see it after I read it and see if the book was true to the movie (is there anyway it couldn't be? *lol*)
_________________
Aiel Friend to Myrelle & Nailea | Mentor to Magic-Fanatic & Jhaelarra
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nailea
Joined: 30 Aug 2006
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:36 pm
I much prefer books to movies. I get a better sense of who the characters really are and why they are that way. (I love psychology so I always like to know what's going on in peoples' heads).
Whether I enjoy a movie based on a book depends on how well the movie was made but it also depends on how recently I have read the book. If I just read the book and remember all the details then all the little differences between the book and movie bother me. If it's been awhile and I only remember the major parts of the book I enjoy the movie a lot more.
I don't think I've ever read a book based on a movie. It could be interesting though depending on the type of movie.
_________________
Aiel befriended to Tessandra, mentee of Laur
bonded to Tar Ganld
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alarwyn Liande
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:35 pm
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
I prefer books, absolutely. I very seldom watch movies based on books I've read, and usually prefer to read the book first (or at least at some point) if I know that the movie is based on a book.
In books, the author can develop the story and the characters a lot more than in a movie, even if it's a good movie and faithful to the story/theme. (Sometimes it's more important to be faithful to the thme than to the story, some horrendous movies have been done because the director's intent was to capture the events but not the spirit of the book.)
On the other hand, a good movie based on a book can be a wonderful addition to the book. Sometimes good movies have been able to picture the meaning and the essential of the book so well, that even if it's your favourite book you know by heart, you still wouldn't add anything (like my favourite filming of a book, BBC series of Pride & Prejudice, I know both the book AND the series by heart... :lol:).
And of course, a movie is always a director's point of view of the book. Often, it doesn't match with what I had thought, but if the movie is well done (and the 'artist's freedom' with the plot, for example, is well justified) it can be an eye-opening experience to watch a movie based on a book you've read yourself. I remember watching Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle and thinking how amazing it is that the author has been able to take that very simple but lovely story and change it to match his own world, and add even more mystery and wonder to it. I love both the book and the movie, just because they are so different, and they have different purposes as well.
What do you think of books based on movies?
Unfortunately more often than not books based on movies are not as elaborate and even near as good as the 'normal' books. But then, there are some exceptions. One of my favourite Finnish TV series, Hovimäki (tells about life in Finland in the 18th century) started as a series made into books, but as their funding was cut off, the writers decide to keep writing the books. And while the first book was still clearly a film script made into a book, the next ones were very good and the last two books that were never filmed are probably the best ones in character development.
[/ramble]
I'd missed Monthly Discussions *g*
_________________
Adaira Tamrinin - WT Novice (DRPSW)
Shainan - ex-Sailmistress
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaznen
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Location: Everywhere, yet nowhere, at the same time.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 2:48 am
I saw this John Cusack movie call High Fidelety. Great movie. It was based on a book by British writer, Nick Hornby. So I bought the book.
High Fidelety is one of the few times when I liked the movie better then the book.
_________________
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Alarwyn Liande
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:55 am
*nods* Exactly. Sometimes a good director can take take the idea of an awful book and make it into a good movie. Though, more often than not, they just ruin a good book. :/
_________________
Adaira Tamrinin - WT Novice (DRPSW)
Shainan - ex-Sailmistress
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaznen
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Location: Everywhere, yet nowhere, at the same time.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:20 am
High Fidelity isn't awful. It's just....well....British. It seems like most British novels published in the last 15 years or so just end. HF had a great story but a crappy ending. The ending for Hornby's next book, About a Boy, was better, but still not as good as the movie version.
Now Fight Club, I would put the book and movie at about equal, both awesome. But some things with the story made more sense in the movie, like how the main character first met Tyler, others it made sense in the book, like the guy's Multiple Personality Disorder.
Even the books for the Star Wars movies had insights and scenes that were not in the movie. But appartently George Lucas likes having the authors put original material in the books.
_________________
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ravenworldmaker
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:28 am
i am a fan of graphic novels, i like the fact you can get the depth of plot usual in a book but with imagery and visual impact too. I am currently reading "The dark knight returns" and recently read "the black dragon".
Alan moore is my favorite, his "V for vendetta" is a masterpiece I have not seen the movie but expect to be dissapointed. He also wrote "watchmen" another classic. An attempt has been made to make a movie of it but it was not completed as the directors found it too complex a plot
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Cleopatra
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Location: So Cal
PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:45 pm
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
I prefer to read the book first, but I am always interested in seeing other's perceptions of the book's meaning and neuances via movie. But, I always go knowing that the movie version will more than likely be changed in length, almost always. Also, that the meaning might be changed as the movie script writer or the director might have his/her own spin on what it means. So, that is the order is how I like them.
What do you think of books based on movies?
Wow, I sorta answered that in my first question *lol* I know in advance, that the movie version will not hold a candle to the written version, as far as complete story. I also know that there will be creative adaptation so I am expecting some changes. I have not been super disappointed in nearly every movie because I know in advance and expect changes.
I suppose the only disappointment I might have is when a favorite character might be left out.
_________________
Cleopatra
Heart of the Green Ajah
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ravenworldmaker
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:10 am
such as tom bombadil
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Cleopatra
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Location: So Cal
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:19 pm
Yup... just such an incident. *nods* But you have to know that if a book is rather lengthy, it will indeed be cut down, via movie.
:roll:
_________________
Cleopatra
Heart of the Green Ajah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Myrelle
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Location: Worcester, UK
PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:33 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
i prefer to read the book first as it gives a better pciture of what happens. for example, the da vinci code i read the book before the film an i understood it easily (thoughh was slightly annoyed some scenes from teh book werent in the film :lol: ) but my friends who hadn't read the book first didnt get it.
though confusing things its easier to watch the film first. like shakespear(i know its a play not a book really) i dont get it when i read it, but i can understand it better seeing it.
i suppose it depends on the book/film.
What do you think of books based on movies?
i dont think ive read a book based on a film do i cant say.
_________________
.:Myrelle:.
Wise One Initiate. Aiel Friend of Tess.
Novice of the White Tower. Mentee to Leane Sedai.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Laurana
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Location: South of Heaven
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:32 am
The scenes with Tom Bombadil were nice but they didn't have much to do with the rest of the story so I understand why the crew cut them. Most of the times the directors cut the scenes which are not that important or entertaining, but there are always people who like some of the cuts so it's hard to please everyone. Though I have to admit that there are scenes which I'd love to see in the movie but they were never shot. Of course, sometimes the director is stupid and cuts really nice parts but there is not much we can do about it.
_________________
[Mentor to Arya, Nailea, Eve and Dah'mir][Red Sitter]
Pictures taken from Staashed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ravenworldmaker
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:24 am
the scenes may have not had that much to do with the ongoing story true but I think tom is an ultre significant character. He can touch the ring and be un affected. To me he represents the enlightened master archytype, some how not prone to the weaknesses and isms of others.
Quite often when a movie comes out there is an official book of the movie that reads word for word the scenes and dialouge they are most often poor.
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Location: South of Heaven
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:19 pm
The topic this month is Books vs. Movie Version
I'll start with a couple of questions and then it'd be nice if you all could answer them
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
It totally depends. Usually I'd prefer to read the book because it has more details and usually some scenes from the book are removed when the movie is made. So I suppose reading the book gives you a more complete idea of what's the whole thing about. On the other hand if the book is boring, then I'd prefer to watch the movie. I have to read Don Quixotte for my Bulgarian class next week and I'd certainly watch the movie instead of reading 800-something pages (for those who like the book: sorry
). As I said it depends.What do you think of books based on movies?
If the movie is first and then comes the book, then no thanks. I mean, come on if you're going to write a book based on a movie, then what more do you want to reveal? We've seen everything in the movie, so if we're going to make-up new situations and treats of the characters, then we're going away from the original.
_________________
[Mentor to Arya, Nailea, Eve and Dah'mir][Red Sitter]
Pictures taken from Staashed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raena
Joined: 17 May 2006
Location: Sweden
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:33 pm
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
I like to read the book before I watch the movie, so that I can have my own opinions about characters and events. If I for some reason find the book boring, then I don't know if I'd bother to watch the movie, though that depends of course.
What do you think of books based on movies?
I've never read a book based on a movie, and I don't know if I would. I totally agree with what you have already said.
_________________
Aiel initiate
Novice, mentee to Chaelca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tessandra
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:18 pm
1. I love to read the book first and sometimes refuse to watch the movie even if all my friends are just because I haven't read the book first R:P However, once I've read the book and if it was good, I like to see what Hollywood makes of it. Sometimes the movie is really great and totally true to the book and sometimes the movie just takes the book and destroys everything you love about it
2. I'm not against books based on movies. In fact if you look at Star Wars, they have -tons- of books based off of 6 movies. I've read one and it was actually very very good. Right now I'm about to start a book that was based off of a movie but I haven't seen the movie yet... *lol* So I'd like to see it after I read it and see if the book was true to the movie (is there anyway it couldn't be? *lol*)
_________________
Aiel Friend to Myrelle & Nailea | Mentor to Magic-Fanatic & Jhaelarra
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nailea
Joined: 30 Aug 2006
PostPosted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:36 pm
I much prefer books to movies. I get a better sense of who the characters really are and why they are that way. (I love psychology so I always like to know what's going on in peoples' heads).
Whether I enjoy a movie based on a book depends on how well the movie was made but it also depends on how recently I have read the book. If I just read the book and remember all the details then all the little differences between the book and movie bother me. If it's been awhile and I only remember the major parts of the book I enjoy the movie a lot more.
I don't think I've ever read a book based on a movie. It could be interesting though depending on the type of movie.
_________________
Aiel befriended to Tessandra, mentee of Laur
bonded to Tar Ganld
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alarwyn Liande
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:35 pm
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
I prefer books, absolutely. I very seldom watch movies based on books I've read, and usually prefer to read the book first (or at least at some point) if I know that the movie is based on a book.
In books, the author can develop the story and the characters a lot more than in a movie, even if it's a good movie and faithful to the story/theme. (Sometimes it's more important to be faithful to the thme than to the story, some horrendous movies have been done because the director's intent was to capture the events but not the spirit of the book.
) On the other hand, a good movie based on a book can be a wonderful addition to the book. Sometimes good movies have been able to picture the meaning and the essential of the book so well, that even if it's your favourite book you know by heart, you still wouldn't add anything (like my favourite filming of a book, BBC series of Pride & Prejudice, I know both the book AND the series by heart... :lol:).
And of course, a movie is always a director's point of view of the book. Often, it doesn't match with what I had thought, but if the movie is well done (and the 'artist's freedom' with the plot, for example, is well justified) it can be an eye-opening experience to watch a movie based on a book you've read yourself. I remember watching Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle and thinking how amazing it is that the author has been able to take that very simple but lovely story and change it to match his own world, and add even more mystery and wonder to it. I love both the book and the movie, just because they are so different, and they have different purposes as well.
What do you think of books based on movies?
Unfortunately more often than not books based on movies are not as elaborate and even near as good as the 'normal' books. But then, there are some exceptions. One of my favourite Finnish TV series, Hovimäki (tells about life in Finland in the 18th century) started as a series made into books, but as their funding was cut off, the writers decide to keep writing the books. And while the first book was still clearly a film script made into a book, the next ones were very good and the last two books that were never filmed are probably the best ones in character development.
[/ramble]
I'd missed Monthly Discussions *g*
_________________
Adaira Tamrinin - WT Novice (DRPSW)
Shainan - ex-Sailmistress
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaznen
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Location: Everywhere, yet nowhere, at the same time.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 2:48 am
I saw this John Cusack movie call High Fidelety. Great movie. It was based on a book by British writer, Nick Hornby. So I bought the book.
High Fidelety is one of the few times when I liked the movie better then the book.
_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alarwyn Liande
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Location: Finland
PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:55 am
*nods* Exactly. Sometimes a good director can take take the idea of an awful book and make it into a good movie. Though, more often than not, they just ruin a good book. :/
_________________
Adaira Tamrinin - WT Novice (DRPSW)
Shainan - ex-Sailmistress
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaznen
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Location: Everywhere, yet nowhere, at the same time.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:20 am
High Fidelity isn't awful. It's just....well....British. It seems like most British novels published in the last 15 years or so just end. HF had a great story but a crappy ending. The ending for Hornby's next book, About a Boy, was better, but still not as good as the movie version.
Now Fight Club, I would put the book and movie at about equal, both awesome. But some things with the story made more sense in the movie, like how the main character first met Tyler, others it made sense in the book, like the guy's Multiple Personality Disorder.
Even the books for the Star Wars movies had insights and scenes that were not in the movie. But appartently George Lucas likes having the authors put original material in the books.
_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ravenworldmaker
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:28 am
i am a fan of graphic novels, i like the fact you can get the depth of plot usual in a book but with imagery and visual impact too. I am currently reading "The dark knight returns" and recently read "the black dragon".
Alan moore is my favorite, his "V for vendetta" is a masterpiece I have not seen the movie but expect to be dissapointed. He also wrote "watchmen" another classic. An attempt has been made to make a movie of it but it was not completed as the directors found it too complex a plot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cleopatra
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Location: So Cal
PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:45 pm
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
I prefer to read the book first, but I am always interested in seeing other's perceptions of the book's meaning and neuances via movie. But, I always go knowing that the movie version will more than likely be changed in length, almost always. Also, that the meaning might be changed as the movie script writer or the director might have his/her own spin on what it means. So, that is the order is how I like them.
What do you think of books based on movies?
Wow, I sorta answered that in my first question *lol* I know in advance, that the movie version will not hold a candle to the written version, as far as complete story. I also know that there will be creative adaptation so I am expecting some changes. I have not been super disappointed in nearly every movie because I know in advance and expect changes.
I suppose the only disappointment I might have is when a favorite character might be left out.
_________________
Cleopatra
Heart of the Green Ajah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ravenworldmaker
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:10 am
such as tom bombadil
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Cleopatra
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Location: So Cal
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:19 pm
Yup... just such an incident. *nods* But you have to know that if a book is rather lengthy, it will indeed be cut down, via movie.
:roll:
_________________
Cleopatra
Heart of the Green Ajah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Myrelle
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Location: Worcester, UK
PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:33 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
What do you prefer: to read a book or to watch the movie based on the book?
i prefer to read the book first as it gives a better pciture of what happens. for example, the da vinci code i read the book before the film an i understood it easily (thoughh was slightly annoyed some scenes from teh book werent in the film :lol: ) but my friends who hadn't read the book first didnt get it.
though confusing things its easier to watch the film first. like shakespear(i know its a play not a book really) i dont get it when i read it, but i can understand it better seeing it.
i suppose it depends on the book/film.
What do you think of books based on movies?
i dont think ive read a book based on a film do i cant say.
_________________
.:Myrelle:.
Wise One Initiate. Aiel Friend of Tess.
Novice of the White Tower. Mentee to Leane Sedai.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Laurana
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Location: South of Heaven
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:32 am
The scenes with Tom Bombadil were nice but they didn't have much to do with the rest of the story so I understand why the crew cut them. Most of the times the directors cut the scenes which are not that important or entertaining, but there are always people who like some of the cuts so it's hard to please everyone. Though I have to admit that there are scenes which I'd love to see in the movie but they were never shot. Of course, sometimes the director is stupid and cuts really nice parts but there is not much we can do about it.
_________________
[Mentor to Arya, Nailea, Eve and Dah'mir][Red Sitter]
Pictures taken from Staashed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ravenworldmaker
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:24 am
the scenes may have not had that much to do with the ongoing story true but I think tom is an ultre significant character. He can touch the ring and be un affected. To me he represents the enlightened master archytype, some how not prone to the weaknesses and isms of others.
Quite often when a movie comes out there is an official book of the movie that reads word for word the scenes and dialouge they are most often poor.