The movie is better than the book?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by ERCougar

LOTR books were much better. I liked the movies, but like Barbara said, they were painfully long. With The Fellowship especially, it just seemed like he was trying to cram too much into the movie.

The movies were too long and the books weren't? I think the books could have been much shorter without losing anything. Cut the elfin language crap for example (with apologies to Archaea).

Of course, the easy answer is to go with the books since that is the general rule of thumb. And I am not saying that the books weren't good. But you at least have to admit that Peter Jackson did a great job with the movies.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by creekster

asking whether the Pride and Prejudice movie is better than the book is like asking if you prefer to have your eyes put out with a red hot poker or by a wild animal.

Having your eyes put out isn't a very good analogy here, Creekster.

Neither scenario you painted captures the pain of being forced to read or watch that atrocity. I do give the nod to the movie, though. At least if you fall asleep (believe me, it is the only response you can have while watching that movie that doesn't lead to permanent physical harm), the movie will finish on its own (and when it is over, you can at least enjoy the delightful static noise and salt and pepper screen). If you fall asleep with the book, when you wake up, you realize you still have progressed no further than the first sentence.

[Indy Coug]

Horton Hears a Who

[TripletDaddy]

Godfather 1 and 2 are on my all-time list.

But Puzo's book is better...slightly. The book actually gives you some background on the whole Cosa Nostra, as well as more texture around characters.....Don Vito and his mom, Johhny Fontane, how the Corleone's came to adopt Tom Hagen, etc...

Of note is that in the book, Michael realizes his ruthlessness early on. The movie implies this full realization only at the very end of G2. In the book, Michael realizes his thirst for vengeance/violence after Vito is shot and Michael volunteers to kill McCluskey and Solozzo.

What the film has over the book is the ridiculously awful street fight scene between Carlo and Sonny, where you can clearly see that Sonny isn't even coming close to making contact with Carlo's face.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

The movies were too long and the books weren't? I think the books could have been much shorter without losing anything. Cut the elfin language crap for example (with apologies to Archaea).

Of course, the easy answer is to go with the books since that is the general rule of thumb. And I am not saying that the books weren't good. But you at least have to admit that Peter Jackson did a great job with the movies.

I don't like how he portrayed Frodo. It was completely gay. And apologies to Barbara, but changing the female characters felt weird, as very unTolkien.

I didn't find the movies too long, but rather not as crisp as I would have liked. The battle scenes were well-done.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

The old saying is the book is better than the movie. But not always. On rare occasions the movie is better.

Here are some:

The Godfather

Ben-Hur

The Maltese Falcon (just barely; it's close but the movie noses out the book)

Bladerunner

Lord of the Rings? (blasphemy I know but I bet a case could be made)

Others?

Yeah, like you've ever really read a book cover to cover.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by creekster

asking whether the Pride and Prejudice movie is better than the book is like asking if you prefer to have your eyes put out with a red hot poker or by a wild animal.

Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by YOhio

Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.

But I apparently laughed you out of your font.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by creekster

But I apparently laughed you out of your font.

Be careful, YOhio is a master at Pride and Prejudice smack. Steer clear of that tall grass.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by myboynoah

Be careful, YOhio is a master at Pride and Prejudice smack. Steer clear of that tall grass.

creeksters' P/P angst derives from Austins' treatment of his literary counterpart Collins.