The Perennial Debate Of Books Versus Movies
When a reader makes a case for pictures over words.
As someone who loves to read, there’s nothing I enjoy more than cozying up with a book and hearing firsthand what the author has to say. I always read the book first when I know a movie is coming out, and for films which released while I was too young for the books, I’ve been catching up on my reading over the years. I staunchly support literature and how movies can never do enough justice to the writer’s words. Nevertheless, there are times when movies adapted from books deserve all the accolades coming their way. As much as I love my books, here are eight reasons why I would support the case of cinema.
1) When the movie is equally good as the book
Neil Gaiman is one-of-a-kind when it comes to fantasy fiction, and he’s a reader’s delight with his power over prose. While he takes us into a magical land with Stardust (2006), the 2007 film transports us to Wall and Fairie and Heaven and Earth and all in between, with elements of romance and adventure intermingling with fantasy, spectacular cinematography, regal scores, and costumes.
Stephen King is a class apart, whether he writes horror or other genres. The Green Mile (1996) originally released as a serialized novel comprising six books, all bestsellers in their own right. Old Sparky, Paul Edgecombe, John Coffey, Mr. Jingles — high on supernatural elements and human emotions, it’s a book I pick up every now and then for its superior writing. Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan made the movie more than memorable, and The Green Mile (1999) is truly outstanding.
2) When the movie charts a different path from the book but is still good to watch
Christine Leunen's historical fiction account in Caging Skies (2008) is an atmospheric WWII novel, delving into passion, obsession, dependence, and indifference against the backdrop of the Holocaust. It isn’t an easy book to read and is dark albeit masterful. In contrast, Taika Waititi’s cinematic interpretation is a completely satirical outlook as Jojo Rabbit (2019) navigates the path of children in War. Waititi won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his comedy-drama with its stellar cast (including the child actors), and German renderings of popular English songs.
Similarly, while William Wharton based his Birdy around WWII, the 1984 movie of the same name was set during the Vietnam war, in keeping with the time of its release. Wharton was nominated for a Pulitzer for his debut novel of 1978, and Birdy is one of those movies that rank low on the Cage-o-meter (that’s right, there’s a ranking of Nicolas Cage movies based on the eccentricities of his characters), both book and movie spectacular in their own way, which I would recommend separately as must-read and must-watch.
3) When movies are adapted from books of foreign languages
Foreign language books are hard to come by and can be exorbitantly priced depending on where you’re importing them from. Translations might not be easily available in local bookstores. Movie adaptations make these stories accessible with their wider reach. Ryosuke Takeuchi’s All You Need is Kill (2014) is a Manga comic based on Hiroshi Sakurazakas’s story of an alien Mimic invasion. I might have never read Japanese graphic novels if not for Edge of Tomorrow (2014), Tom Cruise caught in a time loop, and Emily Blunt playing an action hero. I found out about the book after watching the movie and enjoyed both in different ways.
The Malayalam movie Jallikattu (2019) was based on S. Hareesh’s story Maoist — a metaphorical outlook towards humanity, our place in the world, and what drives us to do the things we do, narrated through the lens of a bull escaping from a slaughterhouse. The story isn’t available in English, but the movie has subtitles which make viewing more accessible than reading. Jallikattu was India’s official entry to the Oscars for 2021. Sometimes, movies lead us to books, instead of the other way round, and you never know what gems you’ll find on the way.
4) When mediocre writing is pitted against great acting
Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada (2006) is a contemporary romance, often relegated to the genre of chick-lit. In terms of writing style and quality of prose, there’s not much happening here. It’s not a book I would recommend. Compare this with what Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci bring to the forefront in the 2006 film— a well-made movie, with a stellar cast doing full justice to their roles.
Ditto for Amanda Brown’s Legally Blonde (2001), about a jewelry designer turned lawyer, trying to prove how brainy blondes can be. A drab storyline and pedestrian prose fail to bring the writing to life as Reese Witherspoon does in the 2001 adaptation. Another book I would not recommend, although the movie is extremely likable.
Matthew Quick’s The Silver Linings Playbook (2012)— a novel on mental health that falls severely short in the writing department — almost feels like a YA book with its amateurish and repetitive dialogues. In a tremendous cinematic improvement in the 2012 adaptation, Bradley Cooper understands OCD without portraying the character as a caricature, and Jennifer Lawrence is a standout, as always. Watch the movie. Avoid the book.
5) When non-fiction accounts are adapted into films
Fiction has a narrative structure that makes it easier to read as you flow with the story. Academic and technical books often make for dry reading, while memoirs and biographies can portray a narcissistic account by overdosing on one character. A movie makes such stories easier to absorb holistically.
Mickey Rapkin’s Pitch Perfect (2008) is a journalistic account of college a capella, as he covers camaraderie and competition. As a book, it does not make for very interesting reading, its information overload drowning the reader with details. The 2012 movie, in contrast, is fun to watch, as the musical comedy entertains with song and dance. When something needs to be heard and watched to be enjoyed, reading lists of people and places fails to provide the same effect. Anna Kendrick’s rendition and performance of Cups, and Rebel Wilson’s humor far surpass the book.
6) When books are on subjects one hasn’t specialized in or isn’t interested in
Similar to the previous point on genre, this one focuses on subject matter in non-fiction books. I’m a nutritionist by profession. I don’t work in the stock market and might not ordinarily pick up a book on finance or economics for leisure reading.
Jordan Belfort’s The Wolf of Wall Street (2007) wouldn’t feature on my to-read list if not for Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of the same name. At three hours long, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) moves beyond a generic biopic and keeps the viewer entertained throughout the length of the black comedy crime film.
7) When movies add new dimensions
However great a book might be, certain descriptions are lent a boost through visual and aural stimuli. It’s one of those situations where the book is better than the movie because it tells you so much. And the movie is better than the book because it shows you so much. They’re equally good, but one is better than the other depending on which way you look.
Michael Punke’s The Revenant (2015) is a stellar biography of Hugh Glass, written as a thriller novel instead of a hardcore non-fiction book, which it is. It’s a remarkable tale that makes for wonderful reading, with a detailed bibliography to dive further into frontier life. I can’t recommend this enough for a well-written, excellently researched, and a thoroughly engaging non-fiction book. But one also can’t dismiss Leonardo Dicaprio’s Oscar-winning performance as he brings Glass to life in his quest for retribution. In addition, the 2015 movie had stunning cinematography and haunting background scores, painting a complete picture for the viewer as it transports you to another time and place.
8) When movies are based on short stories
The wonderful thing about short stories is how impactful they can be in few words. Short stories are a wonderful way to explore new writers, and also to practice reading when learning new languages. The downside is how quickly they get done, leaving you wanting more of the enchanting little world created by the writer. Movies adapted from short stories fulfill that desire of having a good story dragged on for longer entertainment.
George Langelaan wrote The Fly in 1957. His science fiction horror story of an eccentric scientist turning into a fly was portrayed brilliantly by Jeff Goldblum in the 1986 film of the same name. Likewise for John W. Campbell Jr.’s 1938 novella Who Goes There?, about a parasitic organism that imitates organic life. The Kurt Russell movie of 1982 keeps one guessing till the end, and even after, as one can’t seem to leave the desolate Antarctica and The Thing behind. I enjoyed the stories, and I enjoyed the movies, too.
Now-a-days, every other movie seems to be adapted from a book. I used to make mental notes to check out a book when I saw it featured in the movie credits. I started writing down titles. The book-to-movie list has grown exponentially over the years.
In author interviews and book club discussions, a common question for a newly released book is who would be cast for a screen adaptation. Gaining a book-to-movie deal feels more important than having a bestseller book loved by readers. Sometimes I wonder if literary agents pitch books to producers before publishers. Or if authors compose a story with the big screen in mind. For somebody who loves literature, I will always stand by my books. But for people who don’t read, or whose only reading comprises educational books and required texts, movies offer a great alternative to access stories from wonderful writers. And I would love more people to revel in the stories I have enjoyed, as a reader and viewer. There can be many ways for pictures to win over words.
