“Books and movies are like apples and lemons. They both are fruit but taste absolutely different.”, said Stephen King. It is indeed accurate, books and movies have numerous common things and yet have so many differences. When people see movies with names like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, they choose to stop by movie theaters rather than their local libraries. Movies and books both give us the same story but are perceived completely different. But the question still remains- Which is a better source of entertainment? There are multiple opinions on this.
Firstly, one would say that books leave room for the imagination. A person may throw suggestions into one’s head can tell their favorite parts, but in the end, the way that one interprets a book is entirely up to them. However, movies tell people what to think. They use visual and sound effects to make them see and feel a certain way. There is nothing wrong with seeing a movie, but sometimes one may miss out on the opportunity to express their imagination when they favor movies over books.
However, another opinion may be that books are too long. With the packed schedules of many teens and adults these days, books can take days, weeks or even months to read. However, the time span of movies is restricted. A movie normally plays for a minimum of an hour and a half to about three hours at the most. People have the freedom to sit down to watch a movie in one shot, and even catch up on some work while they watch. With the bonus of leaving room for multitasking, movies take much less time and commitment than books.
Secondly, books allow the readers to understand the character better. Internal dialogue is an essential component of reading a book. With all this knowledge innately embedded into the story, understanding the actions and thoughts of the main characters is scarcely a problem. Yet, some of that knowledge can be missed in a film. Many people are distracted by charming actors and fascinating special effects, which causes them to lose sight of the plot and character development that is actually at the heart of the tale. But, there are no such distractions in books, allowing for the readers to believe that they know the characters themselves.
But, as a matter of fact, it is known that movies are said to be more visually appealing than books. In a recent psychological study, it was reported that children were more excited to read the book Alice in Wonderland, after watching its movie adaptation. They were enthusiastic as they could connect the visuals of the movie with the words in the book. Hence, much of our imagination is confined to the limitations of reality, whereas visually appealing movies can go beyond that on their pursuit to bring the fantasy to life. Even music and sound effects can make an observable difference in watching a movie. After all, playing suspenseful music when someone is walking down a corridor can put the audience on the edge of their seats more intensely than can reading about descriptions of the spooky corridor.
Movies mean good business. They are trendy, far-reaching, and entertaining. The movie industry, though, does far more than entertain us—it plays an important role in shaping people’s collective consciousness. Of course, this was not always the case; the written word once dominant in the chief means of shaping public opinion. However, motion pictures are largely becoming the principal modes of spreading knowledge and educating audiences. This phenomenon, despite the accompanying downfall of the dominance of books, is a tremendous boon: It offers the potential to effectively educate society and add to our shared culture.
Reading a book is a private act. It is true that a person can read aloud to their kids, but most people want to read curled up on the couch in front of a fireplace, maybe even sipping a cup of hot chocolate. However, movies have proved to be social acts. One may not be able to talk in theaters, but most people still opt to see movies with family or friends. Rather than reading a book on their own and discussing it with a friend later, most people opt to see a movie with their friends and talk about it as the credits roll.
At the end of the day, it completely depends on the person. Books may be more suitable for some, whereas others may be more inclined towards movie, both being equally entertaining. In conclusion, books and movies both have their benefits, and simply recognizing what each medium does best will lead to a better book reading or movie watching experience.
