Book vs Movie - Part 3
'The book is always better than the movie'
But is that always true?
The Lorax
This is a great text to do a text-to-text comparison with. The book, by Dr Seuss, is short enough to read in one session, and the movie can be covered in a couple of hours. They both cover important environmental issues... although it's worth noting that the movie has a song that will be stuck in your head for months.
Verdict: Both the book and the film are enjoyable
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1)
I, perhaps fortunately, read the second book in Phillip Pullman's series first - The Subtle Knife. The first book, The Golden Compass, was not my favourite but it was a shame to see the movie fail in the box office and therefore the series not continue. Lyra is a brilliant character who, although very young in the first book, continues to grow and learn throughout the series. If you had any interest at all in The Golden Compass, please pick up the rest of the series in books. They're worth the trouble of number one! The third novel, The Amber Spyglass was the first book to make me properly cry while reading it!
Verdict: Ignore the movie, but read the whole series, not just the first book!
A Series of Unfortunate Events
It took me too many years too pick up these books by Lemony Snicket. I had some very full book shelves when these were first popular. I'd seen the movie with Jim Carey and quite enjoyed it (despite, in general, despising Jim Carey). I haven't watched the Neil Patrick Harris series on Netflix yet, as I committed to reading the series when it was released. I've read the first three books. They are almost word-for-word the first movie! Although it's important to note that something creepy to read is much easier than watching something creepy!
Verdict: This is a tough one, but I think I enjoyed the books more.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
I distinctly remember having this book read to me as a child. In my Roald Dahl Roundup I said that this is like a kid-friendly version of George Orwell's Animal Farm. I really enjoy it still as an adult. I was excited about the movie when it was released, but I just found it really weird. I know there are people who love it, though, so it's worth a watch to make up your own mind!
Verdict: The book is most certainly my favourite!
Holes
I wonder how many people have had to read this book at school? There haven't been many books that I've been assigned to read that I've enjoyed, There's something so engaging about Camp Green Lake, the mystery of the areas past, and yellow-spotted lizards. I wouldn't recommend this to kids under 10, but it's definitely worth a read! The movie follows the book pretty closely as far as film adaptations go. It has a great cast, Sigourney Weaver & Shia LaBeouf, and did a great job at capturing the world that Louis Sachar created.
Verdict: I really enjoyed both the book and the movie
Has there ever been a movie you prefer to a book? Let me know down in the comments!