After seeing the trailers for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (HD teaser trailer here, one of the better teasers I’ve ever seen), I’ve decided to read the book. I’ve always been intrigued by how insanely popular those books are or were, but they never appealed to me all that much. Now I’d like to check them out, and I’ve got time to read the book before the movie comes out.
So my question is (poll forthcoming), do you generally read the book first when a big blockbuster based on a novel is coming out, or do you watch the movie first and then think you should check out the book?
Almost always the book first.
Like you, if I see a movie coming out that looks good, I try to read the book first. I’ve missed a lot of movies in the theater because I wanted to read the book first, and I’m sure there are some I’ll never see, because I put off going, but never had time to read, and ended up forgetting about both the book and the movie entirely. If I do see a movie first for whatever reason, and have heard the book is really good, I’ll still read it. But I really prefer to read it first.
I voted “movie first”. Generally speaking, the movie will only be in theatres for a limited time and the book will be in the library indefinitely. Plus, if there’s a big movie coming out, the waiting list for the library book is usually quite long.
On the other hand, I’d probably prefer reading the book first. But if I haven’t read it by the time the movie comes out, I’m not going to jump up immediately and get the book.
I try to alternate. In general, that means seeing the movie first if it’s already out (and considered good). Because, if there is no movie, and the book is something I’m interested in, my curiosity will eventually overwhelm me.
It’s fun going from the opposite direction.
I’ve usually read the book.
Solomon Kane-Read the books
Hannibal-Read the book
Kings Go Forth-Saw the movie then read the book.
Sometimes the book, sometimes the movie. If I do read the book first, I may go to the movie, but if I see the movie first, it’s rare that I’ll read the book.
I read the books but rarely see the movies.
Usually I only read the book. I’ve seen too many bad movie adaptations of some of my favorite books.
Moved to Cafe Society from IMHO.
I compromise and read the screenplay.
Stranger
Ah, see I read half of the book then watch the movie. Finally, if I liked the movie then I’ll finish the book.
Although, for LOTR I did it backwards - watched the first movie, then red all three books, then watched the last two movies.
I don’t specifically try to do either first.
I don’t delay seeing a movie that interests me because I want to read the book first. And if I saw a book that looked interesting I wouldn’t wait until I’d seen the movie.
A good movie is more likely to make me seek out the book, though, than vice versa. That’s the only reason I’ve read, for example, The Godfather or Let the Right One In.
But I keep movies and books separate enough in my head that a bad movie doesn’t do any damage to the book if I’ve already read that (nor does reading a bad book, such as The Godfather was for me, do any damage to an already seen movie).
I see more movies than I read books, so the answer is obvious.
Mostly I read the book first. Because I read a lot, it usually just works out that way. Sometimes, though, a movie leads me to reading the book it’s based on. After watching the A Game of Thrones series (television, not movie, but still), I read the book. While there are certainly some differences, I’m surprised at how faithful the series was to the book. Now I am conflicted about whether to go ahead and read the second book, or to wait until after the next season of the show. I’m leaning toward watching the show first.
I always read the book first. Otherwise, when I read the book, I’m always picturing the actor from the movie and the sets from the movie. It kind of ruins it.
I find that I rarely like the movie after reading the book first, though. In fact, maybe never. But if I watch the movie first, then I can like it more than the book, e.g. Fight Club and The Hunt for Red October.
I’m like this second part, though with cause. If I see the movie first, it’s probably because I don’t plan on reading the book. And I’m slightly more likely to see a movie based on a book I’ve read, just to see their take.
If I do both it’ll always be the movie first. This is because if I really love (or even merely like) a novel, I generally decline to watch the movie based on it. The things I like about books don’t translate into movies, so the movie tends to, at best, irritate me. And if I don’t like the book, I’m not going to bother with the movie. Thus the movie gets watched only if that’s where I get my introduction to the story (if then).
The poll needs a “it depends” option. It really depends on what I think is more worth it.
It depends.
If it’s a romantic comedy or teen drama or anything else I consider fluff, I won’t bother with the book.
But if it’s science fiction, based on actual events, something dark and moody, or anything I think the author might include something good to read, I’ll read the book first. I may make an exception if I don’t care for the author.
yeah it really depends. for example, i would never have read The Hunger Games trilogy if not for the movie. now i didn’t find the movie all that good, but it got my attention and i added the book to my reading list. unlike Erdosain, i enjoyed picturing Jennifer Lawrence while i read. of course, i have now read all three books so it’s book first for the rest.
on the other hand, for example, i read A Game of Thrones before i watched the series. so many details were skipped onscreen, but i was able to fill those in from memory and i really enjoyed it more than i would have otherwise. the tv series must seem so rushed and thin for those who didn’t read the books. at the same time, it was fun rereading the books with faces to attach to all the different characters and their environments.
so i guess in practise i will watch the movie first, but given a choice, i will prefer reading the book first. all this is with the assumption that both versions are similar.