There have been debates about which is better, movies or books, for years and years. Some claim that books are superior because they have more details or because they let you use your imagination. The other side argues that movies are the best option because they are more visual, tangible, and can be more engaging. As an avid reader myself, I’ve always believed in books over movies; the original over the adaptation, but should that really be the case? What makes a book or a movie truly good?
To start off, let’s list some of the benefits of movies. They are more environmentally friendly than books, they give more people more jobs, and because of the visuals, it lets you experience the story as if you right among the characters. But those benefits alone don’t make a movie great. To determine that, there are several more aspects to look at. What is the production quality, how talented are the actors, how’s the script, and the length? Did they take away too many of the details from the book or too little, making it redundant? How accurate is the storyline based on the author’s original plan? There are countless variables. But let’s just say a movie is excellent: the acting is spot on, the production quality is seamless, the script is well written, it’s a good length, and it achieves the intentions of the original book. Does this make the movie better than the book? Before we determine that, let’s focus in on the book.
The benefits of books include the fact that you can read it wherever you go, you better understand the characters, and your imagination has no limits when reading. You also have to consider the writing, the plot, the character development, relationships, personal connections, and the use of metaphors and descriptors. Since the book is often the original version of the idea, there is much more to consider. Although a book is excellent in all of these categories, in my opinion nothing can even compare to its physical benefits. The feel of the pages in your fingers, the smell of the binding, and the visualization in your mind as you imagine exactly the world you’re reading about is unbeatable. You feel a connection to the characters and to the story. And reading a book, at least to me, is the best feeling in the world.
I think we can all agree that books and movies are both essential forms of entertainment. It’s hard to compare two things that both have so many benefits and drawbacks. Movies are visual, books are imaginative; movies have great acting, but books give a better understanding of the characters. All in all, both are fantastic and it really comes down to personal preference. As for me, books provide a physical comfort that movies don’t, but for someone else it could be the opposite. Either way, they are both works of art, so take every opportunity you get to experience them!
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