Why Read the Book Before Seeing the Film

Even when both are great

When I was told to read the Lord of the Rings books before watching the films, I will proudly state I held out for a while.

Then one fateful day felled me, and I quickly consumed the eleven-hour series with popcorn and rapt admiration.

The music was great, set and costumes stunning, and actors incredibly skilled. The series is still one of my favorite adaptations to date. Yet when I eventually turned to the books, I found myself skimming and generally lacking the enjoyment I thought I’d receive — there was so much wandering, and I just wanted to get to the meat of the story. I ended up feeling a little guilty, because the original works of the epic J.R.R. Tolkien are beloved by so many, and here I was drowning in seemingly unnecessary details and tangents. Oddly, I have since enjoyed some of his other works that have not been adapted, and this discovery helped lead me to form the conclusions that follow. I am still disappointed over not having enjoyed the epic series, but I hope this advice helps you decide how to proceed with a prospective franchise.

Have you ever watched a movie with someone who loves to commentate on everything? About how ‘his sword was passed down from so-and-so’, or frequently, ‘that was not in the book!’?

Though at times these spouts grow annoying, such as when the dialogue is drowned out by a lecture grounded in obscurity, it’s interesting to note the real satisfaction and joy that comes from knowing the source material beforehand. There are hints and Easter eggs that only the readers see. If all else fails, and the movie is a flop, they will have the first pickings when it comes to unabashedly critiquing its faults.

A major factor to consider when it comes to a wonderfully written book is whether the movie will replace it in your mind. Once the story is cleanly placed in your possession, much of the motivation you had to read the book melts away. Why take the extra effort to read a…

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