Movies vs. Books

When it comes to novels and films, most people have the clear and decisive opinion that the book is 'better' than the movie. The book explains more, gives more insight into the main character's head, fleshes out the plot more, etc. It's plain that when comparing the two, the book comes out the winner.

Or does it?

Let me play on the movie's team and stand up for my teammate for a moment. The movie's greatest strength over the book is visuals. I can picture amazing scenes from fiction in my head, to be sure, but to see it projected on the big screen is an unforgettable experience. I never tire of it. "The English Patient" is jaw-droppingly beautiful and so is "Girl with a Pearl Earring," both exquisite novels in their own right.

The second huge strength for movies is their score and soundtrack. Books don't have music, and music can add so much color and emotion to scenes. John Williams' deft score for "Memoirs of a Geisha" brings that world to life, and while I read the book I can hear that score in my head. Same for "Little Women" and "Pride and Prejudice." I can hear the music from the films while I read along.

The third movie strength is length. I'm a fast reader, but I can't get through a novel in less than two or three days. Whereas, I can quickly pop in a movie and even the longest ones are three hours. I can also zip to a scene in the movie and re-watch it if I only want to see that scene.

A fourth movie strength and a definite bonus, is the ability for remakes. New versions of "Pride and Prejudice" and "Jane Eyre" come down the pike at least once a generation. New faces join the cast of "Little Women," new actors become Mrs. Macawber and Oliver Twist, new advances in technology make blood spatters, Victorian London, and opening credits pop off the screen.

I'm standing up for movies because they are an important literary contribution to story-telling. Yes, literary. The best movies, the most heart-breaking films, are not a separate category from their textual counterparts sitting on bookstore shelves. They work together. They complement one another. It takes an extraordinary collaboration between screenwriter, director, producer, actors, composer and crew to put a book on screen. When they do it well, I'm in awe.

I watch far more movies than read new fiction. It's the truth. I'm not ashamed to admit it, either. If the movie is based on a literary work and I love the movie, then I'll put the book on my to-read list. For example, "Water for Elephants" is coming to the theatres in a few weeks. I haven't read the book, but the movie trailer piqued my interest and it definitely looked like something up my alley - romantic love story, retro setting, a stunning and colorful visual look and a dramatic plot. All of those elements hook me and bring me right in. So, I'm more than happy to curl up with the novel.

It may be blasphemous for a novelist to watch the movie version first, but I get so much enjoyment out of films. I also realize that inspiration and good story-telling can come from anywhere. I get inspired by movies, by soundtracks, by people, by things that have happened to me. Heck, my two biggest inspirations are "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables" - both musicals! I am truly a product of a swirling creative multimedia environment, a golden age of storytelling where good stories can come from the page, the stage or the screen.

So, the next time you see the movie version of a book you're interested in is coming to a theatre near you, try not reading the book first. Try the movie out. See the movie as the director did and enjoy it as a writer, not an audience member. Enjoy it as a literary work.

Someday, there will be movie versions of my novels. I won't grump and grouse about script changes or the 'wrong' actor cast. The movie version will stand on its own as its own work. My story was the inspiration but not the final telling.

Let my stories inspire, whatever form they take!