On Friday my daughter’s first grade class had an after-school field trip to see the movie, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. A movie which does not bear any resemblance to the book, by the way. The movie is a quasi-cautionary tale about processed foods, a science experiment gone wrong. That went right over my daughter’s head.
She did, however, notice that the movie was very different than the book and it sparked a discussion about books versus movies and which are better. For the most part the kids all agreed that the books are better than the movies with some notable exceptions: Shrek, The Polar Express and Jumanji. Those are three of our all time favorite movies in our family, and like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs the movies are only loosely based on the books.
There are a couple of movies that made me want to scream and throw things at the screen. Stuart Little was one of them, hated that movie. Probably because I had such fond memories of reading that book as a child.
I probably notice it even more often with adult fiction turned into movies. When I read books that I love, I have such vivid pictures in my head of how the characters should look that I am often disappointed and unable to look past the actor. My older kids were sorely disappointed by the movie Eragon. They had loved the book and the movie takes many liberties with the storyline. They had begged me to buy the DVD and I think they watched it once.
When we first started to see the previews for Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs,
my eight year old son said they are going to ruin another good book with a movie.
My four year old is very excited about seeing the movie but based on your
description, I think he is going to be disappointed. I agree with you about Stuart
Little. No one should see that movie before reading the book.
Comment by Sharon — September 22, 2009 @ 8:45 am
I agree completely! For kids movies, Stuart Little was awful. Most Disney movies I expect to be off, but some are just completely silly to supposedly appeal to kids. As a Jane Austen fan, I couldn’t sit through the Hollywood versions of Emma, Pride and Prejudice, or Sense and Sensibility. The BBC versions were fantastic, however, so it IS possible to be true to a book on the big screen. (Did that sound like a rant?) Thanks for the warning on Cloudy. We’ll be prepared!
Love your blog and Handipoints — way to go!
Comment by Stacy — September 22, 2009 @ 10:21 am
An interesting part of that conversation would be to address the difference between the two mediums in the first place. A movie is never a book on screen. It is an interpretation of the book. And there can be many interpretations leading to many movies. (Pride and Prejudice anyone?)
My test for a movie is did it catch the essence of the book? Harry Potter movies have gotten so much flack for not being just like the book, but does anyone really want to sit through a 6-8 hour movie? Because that’s what it would take to even begin to be “just like the book” and even then it wouldn’t make it. But I believe many of the movies (including the last) did a good job of getting the essence of the book even if certain details were left out. Eragon failed that test miserably.
Reading, digesting, interpreting a book is such a personal experience. Just as you said, you have vivid pictures in your head and those pictures will be unique to you. I look forward to my kids being just a tad older so we can have those discussion.
Comment by Lucinda — September 22, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
I do much better if the movie comes out about 20 years after I read the book, when I’ve forgotten most of the detail. But even then, if they actually change a MAJOR plot point, that kills me.
For instance, most people loved “The Shining”. I hated it, because the character that (in the book), saves the day and is huge, is just killed off after a token 2-second appearance in the movie. Or the Plague Dogs. In the book, it appears they miraculously are rescued and live. In the movie, they die. MAJOR plot diffrences!
Comment by Brigitte — September 23, 2009 @ 7:05 am
I ask my kids to read the book before seeing the movie. It has taught my kids that reading is important, and INTERESTING!! After they see the movie we discuss which they liked, how it was different, and why. I feel those movies, particularly the bad ones, give me great opportunities to see what my child has comprehended in the book. Any child can recite a movie, but to hear them say “and it was different in the book because…” means they got the book, and my sneaky teaching tactic worked!
Comment by Claire — September 23, 2009 @ 9:19 am
At what age did you guys start having the kids read the book before seeing the movie. I love this idea but my girl is only 4 years old. Can I start that already? obviosly not with stories like Harry Potter, but maybe with “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball” or “Where the Wild Things Are”?
Comment by alba — September 29, 2009 @ 9:36 am