Ever since movie or show adaptations of literature have been introduced, there has been a debate about whether the books or the films are better. Various series and movies are based on books and many of the films’ viewers prefer the books. On the other hand, some argue that movie and show variations are better. Visualizing a book can be difficult and having the ability to watch it could be extremely helpful; however, that does not necessarily mean that the films are better.
Authors put a large amount of effort and detail into their novels and sometimes these details can be overlooked. For instance, an author could strategically plan out the clothes a character is wearing, their hair and hints in the description of the setting that foreshadows much bigger outcomes. There are certain details that could be very important for the story. Many directors who create the movie or show adaptations of books leave out factors that make or break the storyline. Other times, the directors add in new features to the film that enhance the plot in a positive way. Although it is important to include these specific elements, the film version of books will not be exactly the same. If directors are making film adaptations, they only have a limited amount of resources and time to lay out the entire story; meanwhile, a book can use as many words, pages and sentences as the author pleases. There is also an abundance of limitations film makers have including money, time, resources and actors. Therefore, it is very difficult to include every tiny piece of the book into the show or movie adaptations.
Certain movies or shows can be made poorly so that it ruins the book version for readers because it changes their perspective. There can be specific features added into films that alter the storyline like new characters and even plots. While filmmakers do not intend to disrespect the books, their ways of trying to make the plot more interesting could clash with the original storyline and disrupt the arrangement of the story being told. Fans could easily lose interest in the series if details in the plot or storyline are changed.
Furthermore, reading the books can provide a deeper, more personal connection to the story. The author can give readers more character attributes than directors can by creating a better description and analysis of the character and their thoughts, leaving readers with a stronger bond to characters than movie watchers. Having that deeper relationship with the characters could also make the book more engaging than the film.
The argument between literature and film has many compelling factors. The characteristics of a book versus a movie are significantly different due to the many limitations that directors have in comparison to authors. With these restrictions in place, filmmakers could leave out details, add in new ones and change major plot points. Additionally, directors will not be able to create as meaningful of a connection to their viewers as authors do. Although there are numerous pros and cons to movie or show adaptations, the books have proven to be better than the films.
