Books vs Films; A Matter of Priority (Or, Which Should I Do First?)

[slumber]

Right, so. The trailer for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is up. I'm not sure when it was shown where you guys are, but anyway, I've NOT read the book yet and now I want to. After Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl, I remembered wanting to read more of Roald Dahl. I often also read books before I see their film adaptations, but.

I'm not sure whether doing one thing or the other first takes away any sort of value from the other. I mean, film adaptations are usually crap, but aren't those only because the book captures a certain wholistic atmosphere that you can't always fit or display in any film's usual two-hour limit? Of course, if we read the books first, at least we're spared from spoilers that'll occur in the film, and they're usually more enjoyable to discover on paper, I've realised. But I don't know. Should I watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory first or should I read the book before anything else?


[Poll #520717]

NEIL GAIMAN is coming here on July 8-11, I'ma go see him on the tenth. 3pm. He's going to do a READING, and they're showing a fifteen-minute clip for Mirrormask, whose illustrated screenplay I have. *beams* I am fretting about which books to make him sign, and what books to purchase.

My reservation slip for Halfblood Prince is missing.

Speaking of which, Line is leaving for a few days. *willmissterribly*

Comments

[natabug.livejournal.com]

I remember reading Charlie & TCF, and being distinctly unimpressed. (Though I'm generally not a fan of Roald, so that may've had something to do with it.) :/

But doesn't the movie look splendid?! :D

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Oh it does. I got goosebumps from the trailer. XD

[wyomingnot.livejournal.com]

It's like this...

Most times when I've read the book first, I'm disappointed by the movie. Movies are very limited. They can't possibly convey a whole book. Okay, Fight Club is a notable exception.

Watching the movie first is like getting a preview of the book... plus a little visual help. Yet another reason to see it first. When you read first, you can end up with specific ideas about what things should look like. and when the movie's not like that... well. Disappointment City, sweetheart.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

I haven't read Fight Club. Only read through Chapter Six. :P

Ooohh, good point. Thanks. :D

[wyomingnot.livejournal.com]

I think Fight Club was one of the best adaptations I've seen of a book. Yeah, it was different. Yeah, the ending was different. But it caught the mood and the characters wonderfully.

Moment of self-pimpitude. Have you read my HP/Fight Club crossover (http://www.livejournal.com/users/wyoming_knott/42008.html)?

:)

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, cool. My friends bought the book and I'd been waiting to borrow it. :P I only read the sixth chapter because they said that's where it all began, and it was brilliant (I even remembered the scene, and the film was from YEARS ago), and the whole book looks generally fabulous, and the film already is. :P

Ooh no, but I shall. :D

[ccharlotte.livejournal.com]

A few? Like, fifteen. *sobs*

[slumber.livejournal.com]

You said it would be ten. That's half a month *clings*.

[ccharlotte.livejournal.com]

It's technically about thirteen. :| I leave the 27th and return around the 9th, possibly the 8th, possibly the 10th, depending on how things shake out. Wah.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

I see. :| I'm, er, out for the whole day on the tenth, I think. Overnight. :| *clings*

[ccharlotte.livejournal.com]

The 11th for you, then. :| *loves*

[slumber.livejournal.com]

*slumps* You'll have fun, though. It'll be cool. *kisses*

[ccharlotte.livejournal.com]

And if they let me into the fucking computer lab, I shall e-mail.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

You better. I will text you.

[ccharlotte.livejournal.com]

You must.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Daily, if need be.

[jimwise.livejournal.com]

Meh. I never read the book, so I'm not answering the poll.. but I do remember watching the older movie when I was younger. I loved it so much and I highly doubt I'll be watching this version.

Not to discourage you from watching this new movie. But I would say maybe read the book and/or watch the older movie. It's sooo good, and a classic. This version, while probably entertaining to most and especially to a younger crowd who has never seen the original movie, seems to be a lot.. weirder, at least from the trailor. Johnny Depp, while brilliant, seems to have taken a personal twist on Charlie. Not sure I like it.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Ooohh, okay. I never saw the first film, though, so maybe it'll be different for me. :P

[sparklychibi.livejournal.com]

Er, sorry to jump in, but - Johnny Depp plays Wonka, and he's sort of like... well, it's like the book is the missing link between GeneWilder!Wonka and JohnnyDepp!Wonka. It's kind of like Wilder!Wonka was the mellow side of book!Wonka and Depp!Wonka is the ridiculous side. Er, sorry, this makes no sense. :P But it's true!

[jetsam-porridge.livejournal.com]

You have been suspiciously absent from my inbox.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

*rectifies*

[sparklychibi.livejournal.com]

I've NOT read the book yet

What is with the Dahl-hate on my flist?! I feel like crying. :( Roald Dahl was such a huge part of my childhood that I'm still not over his death, and he died in 1991. Read. The fucking. Book.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Ack, no, dun cry! I don't hate Roald Dahl. I remember reading one of his works, the one that worked on retelling fairy tales in poetry form, and I adored it, except I never got around to reading the rest of his books. Which is why, you know, I was pondering reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory BEFORE or AFTER watching the film. :|

[sparklychibi.livejournal.com]

Okay, general Dahl-ignorance. But the rest of my flist has Dahl-hate. It's sad. When I was in first grade, my best friend and I made up a religion centered on Roald Dahl, y'know.

And I still say before.

[ensemble.livejournal.com]

I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory years ago, and love the Gene Wilder film, and although I've only seen a short trailer for the Johnny Depp version, I can definitely say that the new adaption is nothing like the book. So really, I would say it wouldn't matter which you do first; read the book or watch the film, as the film won't be like the book anyway! I voted that you should read the book first, though, just because.

And OMGIAMSOJEALOUS. Neil Gaiman?! A reading?! A clip?! *spits with rage* It's so unfair. No one ever comes to Northern Ireland. No one who actually has talent, anyway. *sulks for, like, ever*

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Ooohh, okay. Cool, thanks for that, love. :D

Oh I'd NEVER have thought he would come HERE, so. Don't worry, he might, one day. *snuggles*