Do you usually read the book first and then watch the movie, or do you prefer the other way around? Which approach do you enjoy more, and which feels more satisfying? According to my Goodreads app, I’ve read nearly 1,100 books and my IMDb account says I’ve watched over 1,550 movies (I love keeping lists!). My passion for these hobbies started in my 20s. I began reading while in the service, where I had plenty of downtime when not on duty. With little else to distract me beyond endless blue skies, water, and a gray ship, reading became my go-to pastime.
My love for movies began when I bought my first VHS player and a copy of Star Wars—or as they call it now, Star Wars: A New Hope. (To me, it’s still just Star Wars.)
Have you ever read a great book only to be let down by its movie adaptation? Sometimes filmmakers change or simplify parts of the story to keep audiences engaged, especially when they need to fit hundreds—or even thousands—of pages into a movie that’s only about 90 minutes to a few hours long.
For instance, my wife and I recently talked about Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Her paperback copy has 1,024 pages and over 418,000 words. The 1940 film adaptation by MGM is just under four hours long. It made me wonder—did the film manage to do the novel justice? Could it include all the scenes from such a lengthy book? Probably not. They likely condensed the story to what I’d call a “Reader’s Digest version.” (Does that magazine still exist? I have no idea!) I might never find out for myself, though—I have too much else I want to read!
I remember reading my first Stephen King novel, Carrie, in 1986, and it’s still my favorite. It’s an incredible story, and King’s writing makes it all feel so plausible as if you’re reading about real events. I want to reread it soon to refresh my memory and learn from it again. When I watched the movie later, I thought it was an excellent and faithful adaptation. Even so, I’m sure the film couldn’t include all the little details that made the book so gripping, almost like a documentary of her life.
That’s why I fall into the camp of watching the movie first. I used to read a lot of movie tie-ins, but always after watching the film. I enjoyed how the books offered more information and better explanations for what happened in the movie. Films rarely give insight into what the characters are thinking, but books always flesh that out. These days, I still enjoy seeking out the book behind a movie I love, though I don’t do it as often as I used to.
Have you read any good movie tie-ins recently? Do you have a favorite, or do you avoid them altogether? I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have a moment!
Take care.