The argument can be made that in most cases a book's story is much more entertaining than it's movie counterpart. In a book-made-movie the story is usually less detailed and usually has a hard time at recreating the emotion and background story that is contained in the book. I have not come across a case in which a book's story was not better than it's movie version, until today.
Stardust, written by Neil Gaiman is tale of adventure, cat-eared women and fallen stars. It's movie version was released in 2007. I watched the movie before I even had knowledge of a book version. The movie is hands down in my top 5 favorites. Well in reading one of Neil Gaiman's stories, Coraline (which has an animated movie version I haven't seen yet), I discovered he also authored Stardust. I decided I wanted to read it, since I had found up until this point that books are always tremendously more entertaining than a movie. Unfortunately I cannot say so of Stardust. Though the book was not completely disappointing it lacked the emotion and sense of adventure and fun the movie incorporated so well.
This is the first time I would say if you like the book you're going to like the movie much more. The movie did a good job of embellishing the story line and removing that which was not necessary.
So I must admit that a movie can be better than it's book version, but only very rarely.
If you have not seen the movie, go rent it. Definitely a must see in my own meager opinion.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
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I haven't read the book but I LOVED the movie. I even bought the movie, which for me says a lot. I buy a movie once every couple years. I could watch Stardust over and over and over and never get tired of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you posted this because I've had it in my mind that I need to get around to reading Stardust. Maybe I shouldn't...
(I haven't read Coraline either but the movie was SO COOL! Go see it in 3D if you can, it's incredible, especially if you like Tim Burton style movies.)