Books vs. Movies -- Watch the movie or read the book first?

we definately gt more idea of the characterisations n hav a firm grip over the story if we read the books were as in a movie we just hav a glimpse of the story n characters..but movie has gt its own importance we definatley njoy more watching movie than studyin it

Personally both do me fine, but a film-maker must do something special to put a new spin on something which already exists in another form, something which you haven't done by just copying the topic created a few days ago by another person

Well normally I'll watch the movie first. That way I won't be judging it by the book. Often times the book is better or has different details. I find that if I see the movie first then when I read the book I can enjoy both still, usually. There are a few exceptions to that. There are a few were they were so different that I had to judge one of them better then another. There are a few I did read the books first, Harry Potter is one of them and I agree the 4th movie did leave a lot out.

I like both... I really think that if I see the movie first it ruins the book, and if I read the book it ruins the movie! Especially when it's a mystery type of movie/book that you keep guessing what's going to happen or who did what, and it's lost if you have prior kowledge before viewing/reading either! All in all, I guess I don't care which way I see/read it, because atleast I'll know what people are talking about lol!

Most of the time there's a big difference in the story and presentation of story in the book and in the movie. I am a visual person so i like watching movie. But there are books that I like reading because the adjectives are great. You can visualize everything as if you the writer can bring you to the scene. well in the movie you can finish the whole story in 1 to 3 hours in a book you can finish it in 1 to 7 days.

Rarely have I found a movie more interesting than a well-written book. "The Godfather" is that rare exception where a film-going experience supersedes the reading experience. For the most part though, I would definitely read the book before I watch the film version. Characters are simply etched out in more detail not to mention the story is much more precise and thorough when you read the book.

I love reading and would definetely like to read the book before I see the movie. The one time i did watch the movie first (i watched Dirk Pitts - Sahara) I was soo disappointed when I read the book as I realised the movie left out a lot of important parts of the book. I just love to see a book being turned into a movie. So, i'd prefer to read the book and then watch the movie

I prefer to read the book first as I can use my own imagination in understanding the things and there are many things which are not shown in the movie as was written in the book so I try to find the mistakes or the misses in the movie more particularly Harry Potter.

I have a bad habit of reading the book first. I guess my view on it is that I want to see how the author protrays the story. I would rather read the book and picture it in my head uing my imagination and the authors words. Then, I like to watch the movie to see if they producers were able to capture what I was able to imagine through the same words. Sadly, I found many movies take out parts of the book that I me, made the book more enjoyable. Such as, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It was a really good book AND a really good movie. But I was really disappointed that they took Dobby out of the movie! Dobby was the one that gave Harry the Gillyweed. Dobby is the one that overheard the conversation about the effects of the gillyweed. Also, in the book, Harry and his friends went into the kitchen and it showed how all the food appeared in the dinning hall. I loved it! It answered questions that I always wondered. Do people actually cook he meal or was it magickally prepared? Or what about Series of Unfortunate Events...my kids were reading the books and my daughter wanted me to read them too before the movie came out. But sure enough, I really hated the movie! The movie was created from the first three books and the whole darn thing was mixed up out of order! How could they take thre books and mix it up like that? AND give it a different ending? *sigh* But I still prefer the books over the movies. I guess I would rather see the book in my mind the way the author intended it. The author put so much hard work into writing the words and story, I think it then deserves to know how it was written. And if he movie is disappointing, that is the producers and production company. Oh! And I agree with you about the DaVinci Code also. I was sooooo disappointed in the movie!

always read the book first than the movie. i believe the book has more depth, since it is indeed what the movie is based on.

for me i would like to watch tv then read books if i have not enough time . and i think if you read books first then you will get more funny in it. because you can inmagine it by yourself at first

i prefer to read the book first , , because , , it's more detailed rather than what they are in the movie , , i don't know , , but i enjoy the story more when i have read it from the book , , plus , , there are some movies that you won't be able to understand except if you already read the book , , :-) reading is so fun!

I usually tend to read the movie then watch the movie, but then I get disappointed so now I watch the movie first and see what the books has to say. Generally the books are more detailed and create a vivid imagination in your mind than watching a block of pictures that moves and tell a story. Books has insights to what the person feels, smells, hears, touches and you can imagine unlinke movies.

The book is easily better.I won't spoil it for you by telling you the differences if you haven't read it, but generally all books are better than the movies because you have more time to develop characters. The readers imagination plays more of a role in the story so there's a personal investment by the reader, and you don't have the problem of actors, who are good sometimes but many times don't truly reflect the author's intent. The thing that bothers me about this series as a movie is that the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe was the best book out of a seven book series.Where do the filmmakers go from here? I don't think it's going to end up being as good of a franchise as Harry Potter (which seemed to be made for the movies).

The book is always more exciting then the movie. In the movie you don't get to use your imagination like you do with a book. Movies are limited on how much time you get to know the characters, where with a book the author can take as long as he or she wants to introduce the characters as long as they keep it interesting.

I watch the movie before I read the book. That way I understand the characters more.

I think the movie, Sometimes if you read the book first,they say the book has extra as well, But if read the book first, you might like the characters, but you might not have interest in the scenes, And get bored in the movie knowing that in you imagine how the characters look. The movie turns out different, and you say what? he or she dosn't look like that? If you watch the movie first you might have more fun in the book. depends on you seems the same. But the movie seems better to me, I mean you and your friends can see it together

I rather read the book first than watch the movie. Books and movies has their own ways how to show you the story. I love books because it gives me more details about the plot, characters, etc. while movies are more on visuals.

Watching a movie we rely on how other people see the plot and the characters. When reading, we use our imagination and it can be much more rich in details and colourful. A book and a movie can be like two different things - depending on the script and emphases a writer or a film director want to make.

I would read the book first because it lets you use your imagination more than watching a movie which is more visual. Unless it's a book that is something long and boring like Harry Potter, then I would want to just watch the movie.