Books vs Film Adaptations

Many people usually talk about how a book is always better than the film, however, is this really true? You may watch the film adaptations too, but in the end, which did you enjoy more? If you watched the film adaptations first, did you go to read the books? If your answer is no, why not?

If you are a book lover, then there is no doubt you would prefer the book version better than the film version. Although, some people argue that a compatible and great director with the right vision can get the film adaptations to either be as good as the book, or even better than the book.

A good example of this is Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare. The most popular film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is the 1996 one, which everyone knows and loves. However, the 1968 version used to be the previous well-liked adaptation. It is now a classic but not an astounding film anymore, according to the general public, due to the more recent 1996 one, as well as the change of vision and standards over the years in terms of the romance genre and drama.

However, there are strong arguments as to why some great books cannot be translated into great films. The first one is the fact that the use of figurative language and other word play is often lost or altered when demonstrated on the screen. Irony, sarcasm and subtle emotions can be missed, as usually the plot and the dialogue as a whole are conveyed in films, not metaphors or some symbolisms. Choice of language is not seen; it can only be read.

Another argument for books is that you can visualise something while reading, but then you are not able to appreciate it the same way through the film version. Imagery and visuals can be lost as well when transferring a story from a book to a film. A perfect example of this is the Harry Potter films, where we see a lot of magical elements in the films, but it is nothing compared to what we read about in the book versions.

Some action or drama can be changed when adapting a book too. The reason for this is so that the film can flow better and there will be better drama. In the book The Wizard of Oz, there are characters that did not make an appearance in the film, as they were cut out in order to streamline the characters and the action. However, the additional characters, like the Queen of the Feld Mice, add something extra to the books, making it more interesting to read.

Harry Potter is yet another good example of this as well, especially in book 4, when we find characters and a complete plot when reading but find those things missing when watching the film. In fact, there were some plot holes that were never explained or filled in, due to the fact that there was too much to take from the books, and it was difficult to go from cover to cover for the films.

On the other hand, film adaptations have their own charm and advantages, which is appreciated by a lot of the public. One of these is the film’s ability to show you, rather than tell you. The experience of watching is very different to the experience of imagining a scene in your head. Although, watching a story that you may have read about already is another completely different experience. You are able to visualise what you already know, like the settings and the characters, and you are immersed into the story in a different way.

Moreover, films have the benefit of having music and pleasing visuals or designs. This enhances the experiencing of watching a story unfold, rather than reading it all. For example, during an emotional scene, the background music helps us all to focus on feeling the emotions as the characters feel, and the tension rises amongst us, just the same as in the film when something happens.

After all these arguments, a quote by Stephen King comes to mind: “Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.” This perfectly describes books and films, as they are both forms of entertainment, but each individual enjoys them differently.

The pros and cons for both do not cancel each other out either, so it is a matter of being up to the person themselves on whether they prefer a book or the film adaptation, depending on what kind of experience they are looking for.