Does reading the book ruin a movie?

jacksie66

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Agricola

Depends on the person. Personally Im glad I went into the LOTR trilogy of films knowing nothing. I mean, I assumed as you always do, that things would work out ok in the end for the characters and everyone would live happily ever after, but it didnt quite finish like that, and Im glad I had that suspense every year as I watched each new film. I found the books very dry and plodding and Im glad I didnt wade through them before seeing these films. The films had a far greater impact on me. Obviously others will say the opposite, the books fill out the story etc etc, thats fine, but they werent for me.

You've already watched the trilogy so you have nothing to lose. If you are a really big Tolkien head, they may add a lot for you, or if like me you don't get on with them, then what harm.

krudler

No but since reading anything like LOTR after the movie it's nearly impossible to not picture the movie actors saying the lines in your head reading the book. Same with Game of Thrones, I'm catching up on the books and only see the actors from the show when I read it.

Mickeroo

I had read LOTR before the films and still thought they were brilliant. I re-read them all after seeing Fellowship for the first time, and having them more fresh in the head made me a bit more nitpicky when TTT came out but most of the stuff i found annoying was rectified in the extended edition.

Long story short, I don't think reading LOTR will taint the films for you at all.

poundapunnet

krudler wrote: »

No but since reading anything like LOTR after the movie it's nearly impossible to not picture the movie actors saying the lines in your head reading the book. Same with Game of Thrones, I'm catching up on the books and only see the actors from the show when I read it.

In that way I think it can be better to see the films first, better to hear the actors reading in your head than be watching the film and distracted because you don't agree with the casting. As a kid I never could get on board with the Harry Potter films because of that, but honestly I think that worked out for the best in the long run :P Game of Thrones by and large has been well cast, I haven't found anyone too jarring.

Read the books OP, well worth a read anyway and I'd say it'd be great to read them in NZ.

losthorizon

Books and Movies have nothing to do with each other. The movie company is just buying the rights. Thats it. Full stop. Judge the book as you would any other by. Judge the Film as you would if it were an original film on its own merits.

Sometimes the two might only share a title. The Film could still be really good though.

Eeden

I always read the book before seeing the movie, if I can. I find it annoying to have a film director's pictures in my head instead of my own.

Kiith

I was thinking of reading Enders Game before the movie comes out, but haven't gotten around to it. Not sure if i want to do it though, as it will inevitably be make the movie seem worse.

jacksie66

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endacl

Kiith wrote: »

I was thinking of reading Enders Game before the movie comes out, but haven't gotten around to it. Not sure if i want to do it though, as it will inevitably be make the movie seem worse.

Written by Orson Scott Card. Don't bother with either.

Bacchus

Depends on the person and the book/film. Personally, reading a book is a more labour intense but enjoyable experience, building an image of the characters and setting in your minds eye. However, movies assault all your senses in a condensed 90-180 minute sitting. Two very different ways to enjoy the same material.

There's not that many books that I've read before watching the cinema version. Usually it's the other way around. If I enjoy a movie and it's based off a book, I enjoy reading it. You get a fuller sense of the characters and story that movie just can't cover in it's short time (you'll definitely get that with LOTRs anyway :P). Having read the book you'll probably want to watch the movie again and find you've a whole new appreciation for what was left in/out, how things were portrayed or the occasional easter egg from the book that you never noticed before.

Mickeroo

jacksie66 wrote: »

Ya I'm going to read them so. Actually looking forward to them now. Since moving to NZ a few weeks ago my love affair with LOTR has been reignited. Plus seeing the spectacular scenery of Rohan and Edoras was unbelievable..

If you find it tough going at first just skip the birthday party chapter.

Sad Professor

I would always read the book first. Films are first and foremost visual experiences and the good ones won't suffer from knowing the plot in advance. Where as a lot of popular literature has little else going for it except the page-turning plot. I found reading through the first Game of Thrones book quite painful after watching the first season.

As for LOTR, I think you'd be mad to watch the films first. Jackson's take on Tolkien is his own and it would be a shame to read the books with the films stuck in your head.

Beruthiel

I had read LOTR donkeys years before the films.
In fact, I had read that book 3 times (you could say it's one of my fav books.... )
I was equally excited and scared when I heard that a film was proposed.
I was predisposed to liking it if a good attempt was made.
I was not disappointed.

In general, I much prefer to have read the book before seeing something on screen.
I believe, if it's done well, you can get a lot more out of it with prior knowledge of the book.
Your favourite characters come to life and are how you imagined them is a wonderful thing and can add to the over all enjoyment of a film.