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Which is better: The Book or the Movie?

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I recently read Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass" and am anticipating its arrival in the local dollar theater in a month or two. The one thing bothering me is the age old question, "which will be better; the book or the movie?"

I've experienced the same worry with a few pairs of books and feature-length films.

Book Winners:
-The Bible (Prince of Egypt)
-All Quiet on the Western Front
-Catch-22
-The Great Gatsby
-The Grapes of Wrath
-Of Mice and Men
-The Time Machine
-Charlotte's Web

(Classics)
-Jurrasic Park
-Timeline
-Misery


Movie Winners:
-The Borne Identity
-Dune
-The Princess Bride

(Classics)
-The Count of Monte Cristo
-Pride and Prejudice (I am akin to both the newer Kiera Knightley and Provo Remakes)


I'm sure I've seen more movies based on books I've read, but this is a suitable list to examine. What I see here is that I exhibit an affinity for classics in literature form. Apparently, the silver screen can never do justice to a book with such high expectations. I suppose if the movie came out first, it would be a differnt story. I can't think of any examples of this can you?

Comments

  1. NoelleThu Dec 13, 07:56:00 AM MST

    I also think it depends on which one you experience first/grow up with. When Phil and I went to see the play "Wait Until Dark" he liked the actress in the play far better than Audrey Hepburn. I couldn't stand her because she was far too brash and I loved Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of the blind woman in the movie. It's what I grew up with!!!

    I think P.Bride movie was better than the book.
    I also REALLY loved the movie adaptation of Much Ado (I think I saw it before I read the book and so those characters were in my brain when I read it.)

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  2. HeatherThu Dec 13, 01:02:00 PM MST

    I cannot think of a time when they wrote the movie after the book, except maybe Star Wars?
    Movies are def. better in that instance. I agree with Belle on Princess Bride movie being superior, as well as Much Ado - but that's because READING and INTERPRETING Shakespeare is much harder than enjoying somebody else's genius at doing it. I don't even count Pr & Prej as the same as the movie, and therefore can't decide which is better.
    Rick and I read all three of the Philip Pullman books and really enjoyed them. I don't anticipate the movie will do it justice.

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