At first thought when considering why people often times prefer
to watch movies instead of read the book I would say laziness is the largest
culprit. On second thought, I think about myself and not wanting to seem lazy,
I can derive at some other reasons why I watch some movies instead of reading
the books behind them. Take for example any of the Nicholas Sparks’ book, it is
only on the rarest occasion that I am in the mood for the long and romantic
love stories he always presents in his literature and by time it would require
me to read one of his books, I would certainly be out of that mood. However, in
a matter of only roughly two hours, I can watch one of the movies formed from
his novels and receive the essential parts of the story. There are many similar
reasons to when a movie is much more practical than is a book that come to mind
when I take the time to consider. Time magazine wrote an article in November
2005 that also outlines some reasons why movies can be better than books and
then gave examples of comparisons in which some books are better than movies
and others where the movies are better than the books.
The article does a good job creating a strong argument and
backing it up with solid examples. In my opinion, the most interesting thing
contained in the article is the reasoning it gives for why many readers are disappointed
with movies – that they have already created a perfect movie in their mind
while reading the book and any deviation from their personal imaginative
creation simply serves as a disappointment. This is a statement that I totally
agree with and can attest to out of many instances of experiences. The latest
of such experiences occurred this weekend as I watched One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest after recently finishing the novel.
The moment I saw Jack Nicholson (acting as R.P. McMurphy) did not have red
hair, the movie was ruined for me. I have no idea why McMurphy having red hair seemed
to serve as such a crucial part of his character for me, but that is the way I
had imagined him from the book and the fact that it was not that way ruined the
entire movie for me.
I feel the real benefit that movies can offer that books
simply cannot is the instantaneous social factor. I seldom meet a group of
people who spend their weekend nights reading together (not saying it never
happens, but it is a more rare occurrence); however, movies are always a serve
as a good time for friends or acquaintances to spend some time together. Some may
argue that book clubs are social gathering that focus their entertainment
around the reading of a single book; this is to not be argued but people must
spend some amount of time beforehand reading the book to discuss it. On the
other hand, movies require no prerequisites and serve as an immediate source of
social entertainment; thus, their true value in the American culture.
Do you have any movies you prefer over the books it is based
on? If so why?
The red hair was a big thing for me too!! Crazy. And I'd have to say (like you) the Nicholas Sparks books. When I read those I feel as though I'm wasting time and brain cells. Watching the movies is just a social thing to do.
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