Harry Potter, Books vs Movies

[lazypenguin]

I've read the entire series of novels and found them really quite good, and I just finished watching movies Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix while thinking to myself almost the entire time throughout both - "This was all so much more interesting in my head while reading.."

When I was reading the books, my imagination illustrated visually in my mind so much better than the movies did with film. The movies left me feeling like the story was so cheapened, having left out so many things I'd remembered from reading the books. Now before you start saying how "of course they can't fit everything in two 500+ page books into two and a half hour movies" and I agree, there wouldn't be a logical and presentable way while still being entertaining.

But then I feel the compulsion to say, why bother making such movies if it leaves out half the story? The story which is Harry Potter is interesting, exiting, intriguing, and fun. The movies to me, stand not as the story, but as a tour of the story, stopping at a few key points, and giving a slight explanation on what's going on before briskly moving on.

My question to you is - do you feel the same way? Do you share my views? If so, why? Or if not, why not? I want to know your views and thoughts.

In addendum: should I see the new movie? Or is it on the same track as the other movies?

 

[standokan]

i think that books are better because they have every little detail and information, the book takes longer and that way you can enjoy it longer, but i think that most people who read the book also see the movie sooner or later.

 

[lostclause]

I liked seeing the movies go downhill as the books got longer but their length stayed the same. By the 4th one I'd completely lost interest as it got to the point where you had to have read the book to get the plot. And even then it was still confusing. (no I haven't seen the most recent one so it could well buck the trend, I just doubt it)

 

[Blackadder51]

The books are way better then the movies......

 

[TaborMallory]

Almost all movies these days seem like they're produced with an illiterate audience in mind.

Of course, this is just my opinion. Feel free to hang me if you need.

 

[twistedshadows]

Books are always better, in my opinion. Still, I don't see why you shouldn't see the new movie. I usually just go into such movies expecting not to like them as much as the book - that way, I'm not disappointed if it proves true, but I'm pleasantly surprised if it's better than I expected.

 

[Blow_Pop]

books. I screamed at the screen after seeing the new movie....and order of the phoenix. I enjoy the movies because theres a few things my imagination was shaky on with how something was done but otherwise i prefer my imagination...though the girl who plays ginny is amazingly cute.

 

[Zacharine]

90% of the time the books are way better. This jumps to 95% if the books were written before the movies were made, regardless of the series. A good example is the Alistair MacLean novels. While the movies (such as Guns of Navarone) are good, the books were nothing short of amazing.

This holds true for the Harry Potter series as well, though it began to go downhill around book 5 and I couldn't finish book 7: In my opinion it was such contrived Handwavium when it came to the plot that my eyes began to turn inwards and wanted to trek to my stomach for a kinder fate of dissolving in acid.

That being said, the original concepts and characters were great.

 

[Jo Jo the hobo]

I totally agree with you guys. The books are infinitely better than the movies. There is so much that is left out. One of the things that I miss most is Ron's humour. In the books he is quick witted and downright hilarious. However, in the movies, he is stupid, dull, and acts more like a caveman than a wizard. Also, one of my favorite scenes in the whole series is left out of the movie, the Deathday Party. And on the subject of ghosts, Peeves isn't in the movies. I missed the part where Lupin sticks Peeves' tongue to the roof of his mouth. I have to admit that the movies are entertaining, but they can in no way compare to the books. They are just too different. By the way, Lazypenguin, I would go see the new movie just because I have heard it is interesting, not to mention the best of the bunch, and it will be interesting to see how much they play Draco Malfoy into it. One last thing, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are horrible as Harry and Ron, but Emma Watson actually does a good job playing Hermione in my opinion, though she could be a little more bookish and a little less outgoing as she somewhat seems to be in the movies based on her attitude. Overall, movies, pretty good, books, one of the best series of all time and something that everyone should read at least once, preferably more (i.e. I just reread the entire series in a week). See the movies, but know in your hearts what the completely illiterate masses are missing out on. Revel in the glory that is one of the greatest book series of all time and refuse to give up on that true gift of life that is reading, the one safe haven left in a world dominated by technology and instant gratification, the one place where work and effort is required to quench ones thirst for knowledge, fun, escape, and imagination.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Naturally, I prefer the books to the movies. Still, watching the movies as they come out (and being a Tsukihime fan) has taught me to divorce the concepts of the bookverse and the movieverse.

In other words, I vastly prefer the books, but I eventually figured out how to (mostly) get over that and see how the movies stand on their own merits. And the movies do stand on their own merits. Very well in fact. I was very impressed with the most recent one.

 

[megapenguinx]

I would watch it if you're a fan. If you aren't, then don't bother. Most of the scenes probably looked better in your imagination

 

[the protaginist]

The only HP film i thought was better than the book was the Prisoner of Azkaban, and 75% of that was David Thewlis' acting, He played Lupin EXACTLY how imagined him.

 

[Deathsong17]

Thats why I hate watching films that used to be books; they suck in comparison.

 

[typhado]

I prefer the movies.

I admit the books had more detail and better story and explained things a lot better but the movies had more action seens and you got to see the characters which is what I prefer. tbh I think they are both good and it just comes down to which you like better.... or you could you know watch both and that way get the full story and all the movie goodness.

 

[sky14kemea]

books for the win XD

i loved the books, and since i was a fast reader, it flowed really well ^-^
but the movies...?

oh dear, the first one was iffy, the second was.. well actually the second and third weren't that bad.
then came the 4th O______O
i laughed so much at that one, there was over-acting, plot holes, the whole sha-bang =D

i still watch the movies, just for a laugh, but if i ever wanna "re-live" harry potter, i read the books instead

 

[AlphaOmega]

Books, and its not even close