Thursday, May 22, 2008

Booking Through Thursday - Books vs Movies



This weeks Booking Through Thursday combines two of my favorite topics, Books and Movies.Let's delve right in.

Books and films both tell stories, but what we want from a book can be different from what we want from a movie. Is this true for you? If so, what’s the difference between a book and a movie?



In a sense I have the same expectations from a movie than I do from a book. Entertainment. A picture of a fantasy come to life. A Suspense that makes me hold my breath. A thriller that has me tapping my feet with nerves. A Happy Ever After.

The difference between a book and a movie is that with the movie I rely on someone elses imagination to bring things to life and I can sit back and just enjoy their efforts. With a book, it's all on me. There are times when I do a better job in the imagination arena and when a book moves to film, I am sooo disapointed I don't follow any more of the series in that media (ie. Eragon) but then you have a time when the film is so well done, you will never pick up the book again (ie Jane Austen Book Club & Lord of the Ring Trilogy). And then you have those films that come from a screenplay and not an adaptation. You are completely at the mercy of the creative team and you go to be swept away (ie, X-files, Ironman, Sex and the City).

I was watching Oprah yesterday and she was saying how we, as individuals, find oursleves happy but not doing things that make us Happy. My sister and I originally agreed with the statement. Then on further thought I realized that I do things that make me happy just not based on some archaic definintion of 'Happy'. Reading makes me happy. I laugh and cry and invest myself emotionally in my reading. Movies give me the same sensation.

I will walk into a movie and (if it's a good movie) I will walk out with endorphines running rampant. I don't have to go skiing or go to a concert or go on a vacation to a far off land to be happy. I can do all that from the warmth of my home with a book in hand or a good movie on the TV. Wow, I've just diverge from this week's topic.

Do I want something different from a movie than from a book? No. I want to walk out of the movie with the same smile I get after turning the last page on a great book.


What about you? Do you expect something different from a Movie than from a Book?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

5 comments:

jlshall said...

Yes, I think "happy ever after" is really what I expect of books and films, too. Or at least what I hope for.

So you liked the film of "Jane Austen Book Club"? I'm sort of nervous about it - I've got the DVD but haven't been brave enough to watch yet. I really enjoyed the book and don't know if I'm ready to have my imaginary movie version messed with.

Strlady said...

Definitely better than the book. i know, hard to believe but the book was just OKay for me, but the movie was wonderful!

John (@bookdreamer) said...

Some great books and films are unhappy!

Strlady said...

I avoid the 'unhappy' books/movies like the plague!! LOL1

Brenda said...

No, I don't expect the same things from a book than from a movie. My expectations for a movie can be summed up in two hours of distraction and mindlessness. My expectations for a book are really much higher. I expect it to really keep my mind busy. To make me guess who the bad guy is, how those characters are going to overcome their differences and mend a relationship...who is going to end up with who...who is going to get the ax and so forth. I look for movies to provide candy for the eyes. In books I look for "mind" candy. =)

 
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