Is the book better?

Last night I finally watched The Hunger Games! I had been wanting to see it, but part of me didn't want to ruin the world I had created in my head from reading the books. Don't get me wrong, the movie was good...just not as good as the book.

Yeah, I know that sounds snooty, and I try to keep comments like, "that's not what happened in the book" or"They left out the part where..." to myself for the sake of others around me...but last night I said out loud, "It looked better in the book", in reference to when Katness and Peeta make there grand entrance in the parade of tributes. (Also, Ryan thought that everyone was saying Peter with a funny accent instead of Peeta...I told him it's Peeta like bread LOL!!!)

I think the best way to approach a movie based on a book or, a series of books, is to think of the film as independent from the books. Sure, they have basically the same plot and cast of characters but, there is no way the film will be the same as the book. It can't be, there is just something that changes when you have the story given to you in a film, as apposed to working for it in a book.

What I mean by that is in a movie someone usually a writer or director or who-ever decides what is the most important thing you should be seeing, you can only take away what is visually in front of you. You don't have to imagine the scenery, or what the leading lady looks like, or an epic battle between the hero and the villain because it is "given" to you.

You might be thinking well, in the book you are given descriptions of all of these things by the author and that's the same thing....except it isn't. Think of it like a painting, the author is giving you the materials to create a painting by giving descriptions of things, and in site into the characters, but ultimately what the painting looks like is up to the reader in how they interpret these descriptions.

So, if you ever ask me if the movie is as good as the book I will probably tell you that it isn't if you are comparing it to the book alone. But if you look at the movie as a separate piece of entertainment/art then I might say yes...depending on if I actually believe it to be good...

Well, I guess I'll get off my soap box now!!!

May the odds be ever in your favor,
Kaitlin


P.S. If you haven't read these books yet, I highly recommend them!!!!