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Book vs. Movie: Which Was Better?
Books or movies? The books are undoubtedly classics, studied by aficionados as closely as the Bible. But Jackson’s films, which combine excellent performances with amazing special effects, bring the books to life in a way that probably not even Tolkien could have imagined. They’re majestic, funny and full of indelible images. Verdict: Movies. This isn’t a slight of Tolkien, but a compliment to Jackson and all involved.The Harry Potter series: J.K. Rowling’s seven-book chronicle of a boy wizard, his life at a British boarding school and his battle against the evil Lord Vol — uh, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named — has enraptured children and adults since the first volume came out in the late ’90s. The movie series, which earned a combined $7.7 billion worldwide, gave pretty much every actor in Britain a juicy role and made stars of its young leads, including Daniel Radcliffe.Books or movies? The early books benefit from Rowling’s Pythonesque sense of humor and incredible imagination, but the last four — all 600-plus-page doorstops — could have used a stronger editor. On the other hand, the early films are dragged down by Chris Columbus’ ham-handed directing, while the later ones briskly streamline plot and benefit from the growing confidence of its performers. Verdict: Early books, later movies.‘The Mortal Instruments’: The first adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s ‘The Mortal Instruments,’ 2013’s ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,’ seemed to have all the elements of a successful movie franchise: a fantastical story revolving around demon hunters that also made room for a little romance. But when the film, which starred Jamie Campbell Bower and Lily Collins, opened in August 2013, it performed poorly.Book or movie? So far, the books are better. While Clare’s work has landed on the New York Times best-seller list, ‘Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ had a rating of just 12% fresh on RottenTomatoes.com.Gone Girl: was considered surefire movie material practically from the moment Gillian Flynn’s book came out in 2012. The movie stars Ben Affleck as a man in a troubled marriage who may — or may not — have killed his wife, inviting a media frenzy.Book or movie? The book is ‘ice-pick-sharp,’ raved The New York Times’ Janet Maslin. The movie? As of midday Thursday, it was getting a healthy 87% approval rating on RottenTomatoes.com. Verdict: The jury’s still out.The Great Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic Jazz Age novel is about a wealthy bootlegger, his old flame, her caddish husband and the trouble caused by their destructive relationships. It’s been made into a movie several times, most recently a 1974 film starring Robert Redford and a 2013 film with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.Book or movie? Almost 90 years after it was published, Fitzgerald’s 1925 book remains one of the most powerful works of American literature, revered for its lyrical language and ability to capture its distinct time and place. The movies haven’t fared as well: The 1974 film was criticized as stiff, and the 2013 version, though a box-office hit, polarized audiences and critics with Baz Luhrmann’s feverish direction. Verdict: Book. It beats on, bearing us ceaselessly into the past. The Da Vinci Code: Dan Brown’s puzzle- and trivia-filled novel, a race against time with revelations about a religious conspiracy at its center, was a phenomenon when it was published in 2003: a huge best-seller that spawned a number of offshoot editions and copycat works. Ron Howard’s 2006 film starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou was also a major hit.Book or movie? Brown’s breathless prose — ‘Code’ has more than 100 brief chapters — and fondness for cliffhangers led to some dismissive reviews. But even the critics admired his storytelling skill: ‘the worst book I ever loved,’ one person said in Salon. The almost three-hour movie, on the other hand, loses Brown’s cheekiness. Only Ian McKellen as a Holy Grail scholar seems to be having any fun. Verdict: Book. You can read it faster, too.
Conclusion: The ongoing debate of books versus their film adaptations continues to captivate audiences. Each has its unique strengths and appeals to different preferences. While films can bring stories to life visually, books often provide depth and introspection that is hard to replicate on screen. Therefore, the choice often boils down to personal taste and individual experiences with the narratives.
