Many people would never read all those books so the only way for them to see the story is the through the movie. Having that in mind turning good books into movies is a good practice. Also coming up with a good plot is not an easy thing so turning to books makes a lot of sense for this reason alone. Another positive with this trend is that many people see the movie they like and then go and find the book on which it was based.

Some times movie can be good though it has little to do with original book's plot. For instance Starship troopers by Robert Henlien is a great and complex book with little action and a lot of character development and philosophical views by the author. Movie on the other hand is pure non-stop action with a little romance and humor. Now, I'm not the fan of action movies, I don't remember the last time I watched a movie that features Chuck Norris/Steven Sigal/Jean Claude van Damme/Dolf Lundgren but once in a while I like to watch a movie that allows me turn my brain off and just enjoy the action, explosions and special effects. Movie Starship troopers has all that but it also has atmosphere that is required in order swallow it all. After seeing the movie I decided to read the book so for me it's definitely a good movie though it actually has very little to do with original book.

I prefer to watch the movie before reading the book because I agree with most people here about book usually being much better. If I first read the book I'd be very disappointed with the movie, but by watching the movie first I get to enjoy it too and then enjoy the book even more thus getting the enjoyment twice out of one story. I don't have the problem, that several people mentioned, with imagining characters in the book differently after seeing the movie.

One important problem with movies is that very few movies can hold the attention of the casual viewers for more then 2 hours and that's usually not nearly enough to convey all the complexity and depth of the book (everything that makes the book good in the first place).

Finally I wasn't going to bring up Lord of the rings but somebody else mentioned it so I have to comment. First movie is great (not perfect, but great) adaptation of the book. Second movie has little more flaws, but is still very good. I enjoyed watching them both immensely AFTER reading the books, which as I said ealrlier is not my favorite pracitice. Some of the changes made in them even make the story better (Faramir is no longer poor man's Aragorn, but a human with flaws and virtues; Frodo's inner struggle to save Smeagol from Gollum and thus hope for himself is more pronounced; scene when Boromir and Faramir capture Osgiliath adds depth to their characters based on the book's appendixes though it's not actuality in the book etc.). But 3rd movie is so terrible, it's unwatchable after reading the book. It makes major changes in the plot and the characters and none of it is good. At times it's boring and at times it's extremely annoying. Frodo trusting Gollum over Sam, and bringing undead to battle of Pelennor fields negates the core of the book. Denethor looks younger then Boromir and is turned into a mindless pig in stead of powerful and cunning lord etc. I just have no words to describe how disappointed I was with it after loving first 2 movies

 

 

 

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dude! think about harry potter. i love when they turn movies into books. most good movies are from books - lord of the rings, harry potter, the da vinci code. i mean great movies come from books. who likes harry potter and the da vinci code? who's a fan of lord of the rings?

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I love the concept of turning movies into books although there is a big risk of disappointment if what you envisioned yourself isn't what ends up on screen. I guess thats the problem with many of the adaptations because everyone has their own different view, books leave the character/story/setting open to your own imagination whilst movies give less scope for that.
e.g. Narnia was one of my favourite books as a child and I was so excited about the movie, was slightly disappointed as was I with the Davinci Code, although on the other hand Lord of the Rings was an excellent adaptation of the triology

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It irritates me that many of these books have been
turned into movies.
The way I see it,one doesn't even know Lord of the rings
at all until one has read the trilogy.
I mean,I've read a clockwork orange and never have any desire
to see the movie.Reading a book is like having a private,custom movie.
Call me messed up or what, but the best entertainment is still in books.

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I hate it when they turn books into movies.
Most often they fail to interpret the story and it loses a lot the exciting stuff.

just reading and then watching Harry Potter will be such a bore because sometimes they leave out the most gripping of scenes.
One film i thought was well done was The Lord of the Ring trilogy.

All three were so well done and they never lost nothing. I think the director should take over Harry Potter, he know what he does.

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I love movies more than books...I just find that the ability to see people is much better.

I am a very visual person. If I see something, I can remember it forever, but if I just read/hear it, I won't.

So for me, videos and movies are a much better way of commiting things to memory, whether it be about books, or even related to learning/school.

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Yes my dear it is a trend now a days I think. May be due to lack of good stories the movie makers are turning to good books and trying to convert them into a movie. Obviously it depends upon the group of the movie makers as to how successful it will be to convert a good book into a good movie. Obvious if the group lacks in any field like screen play , music, direction, editing etc. Then I think it will be messed up. And the whole flavour of the book will be destroyed. 

 

 

 

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