Movies based on books have a long-standing history of becoming blockbusters. From “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games” to “To Kill a Mockingbird,” movies inspired by literature have been popular and have influenced our culture.
But which version is better? With “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films about the prelude to the legendary trilogy Lord of the Rings, being released this December, fans have been speculating about the quality and similarities between the film and the classic prelude.
Hannah James, freshman English major, said she is worried about “The Hobbit” movie not being like the book.
“The book is so long that it would be easy to cut out a lot of the book,” James said.
Because the anticipated hype about movies based on books can become intense and prove to be disappointing, some people choose to read the books before experiencing the movie screenplay.
Kelly Bonner, junior human sciences major, said she does not normally read the book before she sees the movie, but her friends made her read “The Hunger Games” before she saw the movie.
“I’m actually glad they made me because the books are even better,” Bonner said.
While some movies fall short in the eyes of the devoted readers, others have been very successful. For example, the classic film “Gone with the Wind” was released in 1939 – three years after its parent novel was first published. The movie made box office records and became stuff of legend.
More contemporary literature and film pairs exist as well. The cultural phenomenon of the Harry Potter book and movie series swept through the hearts of readers and watchers alike.
Cody Faulkner, sophomore poultry science major, said she liked the books better because they go into more detail, but also liked the Harry Potter movies because they are quicker.
“Some parts of the movies do not match up with the book, so it kind of upsets me,” Faulkner said.
Not only have movies been made from beloved books and literature, television shows have also used inspiration from the written word. Networks such as ABC and NBC have run series such as “Once Upon a Time” and “The Firm,” based on John Grisham’s novel.
Based on famous fairy tales, ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” has given viewers a new perspective on characters such as Snow White and Prince Charming.
Amanda Gilstrap, sophomore kinesiology major, said she likes how the fairy tales and characters interact with each other.
“I like finding out about the characters’ pasts and learning why they developed into who they are,” Gilstrap said.
The major difference between a story line for a book or a screen is one is read and the other is seen. Inconsistencies between the book and the screenplay are unavoidable for writers and directors. People enjoy learning more about their beloved story characters and seeing them embodied in a film. Because of this, people are bound to flock to movie theaters for movie adaptations.
“I am excited (for “The Hobbit”) because of the trailer I saw,” James said. “It looks like the movie is going to be great. I don’t think I will be disappointed because I have loved the other Lord of the Rings movies.”