Reading or Watching?

[fruiity]

Would you prefer to read a book on something or read a book about it? It depends what kind of thing it is for me, but when I read I can imagine things how I want, so when I watch a film of it, which usually comes out later, I'm like 'I didn't think it'd be like that!' lol

I prefered the books for Harry Potter, and for A Series of Unfortunate Events.

[Mrs_Heathcliff]

I personally have a guilty pleasure of reading classic novels and then watching the films of it. The problem with that is is that there isn't enough time for them to put everything in. In conclusion the movie ends up being crud next to the book. Seriously horrible. It also makes it difficult to decipher after a while what actually happened as you forget. I dont reccomend doing this. The only one I've found agreeable was THe 6hour A&E Pride and Prejudice. This is simply because it is 6 hours, so they have enough time to develop it, but still leave some things out.

[Monique]

It has been my expereince that all books are better than the movies that are created! I'm rather picky though when it comes to the movie, they never seem to be quite good enough. Though aside from the script, I do enjoy watching how others pictured that same novel and comparing it to what I thought it would be like. It's still not the same though as reading it for youself though, never will be.

[Wolven Spirits]

I generally think that it's better to read the book, because you know the true emotions that the character is going through, and personally, I think it brings me in deeper with the story, but also enjoy watching the movies, if just for fun, heh.
But say, for LOTR, in the movies, it's hard to portray what Frodo is REALLY going through, although I must say that Elijah Woods did a really good job, even if he's not my favourite actor.
I don't mind them both, but books are generally easier to attain and read, rather than borrow/rent a movie, and find the time to watch it.

[Igg]

I prefer books.

[Alex]

I prefer books, because you can imagine the character in your own way. With movies, it takes the imagination away from it.

I've also found that movies aren't always true to the books - or they leave things out.

[Cassi]

I much prefer books.

[Paul]

It depends.

[Xandra]

What xerai said. It really depends.

For example, I loathe the HP movies (though I'm starting to warm up to PoA, if only for the cool factor of how it looks). I love the books. Love, love, love, <b><i>love</i></b> the books.

I love the LotR movies. I also like the books. I don't know which I prefer, books or movies.

Eh.

[fzun]

The movies don't have enough time to pack in everything from the book (a great example would be the HP or LotR movies), so I definitely prefer the books. But I like reading the book then watching the movie anyways.

[AFI_Sorrow]

The books tend to be so much better. But if you just forget about the books and pretend they don't exist, sometimes the movies can be good. But they leave a lot out! You figure an average movie is what, 2 hours? And sometimes a book is just too long to put into a movie. I'll stick with my paperbacks.

[Shifty]

Usually books...

Although when it comes to Lotr, I liked the movies much more... The book(s) was a bore for me.

[_jade_em_]

Being a bookroom and literacy freak who hates being dragged out to the cinema to waste a couple of hours when I can be reading or writing, I prefer the books.

But if I had to watch it, I'd read the book first. That way everything is open for me to imagine myself. If I watch the film first, it gets planted into my head that "Oh, that person looks like this" and "The river's a mucky green colour" and ... I just don't like that

[Twinkle]

Books for definate. I have a weird, kooky imagination so the way I see characters are nothing like the actors in films. I even imagine how they talk.

I was seriously disappointed with the Harry Potter films as the actor who plays Ron is nothing like my Ron. What happened to the big, gangly, clumsy Ron?? Sorry but my Ron doesn't look like he has a wire coat hanger implanted permanently in his mouth.

[Qanda]

I like both, reading because you can apply your imagination in shaping the characters while watching because there are colours, scenery and special effects to look at.

However, I don't really like reading a book which film I have watched, because I will already know the storyline and I hate that. I prefer to be surprised. I don't mind watching a movie based on a book I've read, though, since it is interesting to see how the characters and scenes in the book are portrayed.