Movies & Books

Charlotte's Web is in theatres and Camille wants to go see it. We haven't read the book yet so I've been contemplating whether to see it in the theatre before we read the book or read the book and catch it on video. Who am I kidding? We'll probably own this movie.

My indecision comes from wanting to enhance her imagination as much as possible. TV/Movies doesn't utilize the imagination, the work is all done- here it is on the screen. Of course we all know that when we read a book before seeing the movie adaptation we can formulate in our minds (imagination) how the character looks based on the author's description. Movies/TV take that away, an actor's face is in our minds as we read. Can you read Gone With The Wind without picturing Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is another example, when we read this will there be doubt that the book is wrong? Since the movie was seen first, will the book be deemed as boring? This is something I have struggled with as a reader, I prefer to read the book before the movie because I cannot get the actors out of my head! : ) In fact there are very few movies that I've watched that when I read the book first I was satisfied with. For example, An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg was a good book and the tone was important to the story. The movie satisfied my reading experience with the exception of Jennifer Lopez. Although she acted the part wonderfully, I didn't picture HER as Jean. However, movies like Message in the Bottle have me talking to the screen, "You left this and this out!"

I'm currently reading The Iliad and while I have seen the movie Troy before, I didn't fully understand what was happening the whys behind it. I'm within the last chapters of The Iliad and I decided to watch Troy. I haven't pictured Brad Pitt or Orlando Bloom as Achilles or Paris, my imaginary versions are much more grander. I found myself again saying to the screen, "Not only did you leave this and this out, but you changed the plot! This war was 10 years! Helen loved her countrymen! Where is Zeus? Hera? Athena?" The book is so much BETTER! Of course, how could a movie compete with Homer?

The main reason I wanted to watch Troy was to understand a little better the fighting techniques that I'm reading about. I wanted to have a clearer understanding of the armor and the chariots. Now I do have to say that Eric Bana as Hector fits very well how I envision Hector but his character in the movie is a lot different than the book. I can say that this is one movie and book that the characters I envision are stronger than those of the movie, therefore the movie doesn't ruin my reading experience. Movies have politics, the screenwriters and directors manipulate the scenes to evoke feelings, attitudes and prejudices. Books are you and the author- you get to be the screenwriter, the author the director.

Read then screen. Talk about the differences. In fact, there is a book called Talking Pictures- A Parents' Guide to Using Movies to Discuss Ethics, Values, and Everyday Problems with Children. by Ronald Madison, Ed.D. and Corey Schmidt. Read the book, watch the movie adaptation and discuss!