*Included in Issue 2 of The Epic

Nine times out of ten, I think the book is better than the movie after reading it and then watching it. Now, a lot of people will argue that watching movies is easier than reading, and while I somewhat agree, reading the book always gives you so much more than a movie ever could, and it’s worth it to read if it’s something that genuinely interests you. Reading a book gives you more room to perceive the characters, setting, and story in your own way, while watching a movie limits your perception of the characters, because they give the characters faces of conventionally attractive actors, and they’re almost always misinterpreted, or their character is nothing like how you pictured it in the book.

I’ll give movies the benefit of the doubt because I definitely think there are some cases where the movie is better than the book, such as “All The Bright Places,” which I did enjoy the movie more than the book. I will say that even though the book did go more in depth than the movie, I still just really loved and enjoyed the movie more, and I didn’t mind the limited perspective. The cast was wonderful, and I couldn’t imagine the characters being played by anyone else. Maybe I’m biased because I do really love Justice Smith and a lot of the movies he’s in, but he portrayed the character of Finch really well.

One example of a book that I thought was way better than the movie is “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” The movie is so rushed, even though I love it. The book offers a lot more in terms of plot and characters. The movie has gotten really popular especially within the past year, and it saddens me that a lot of people have seen the movie but not read the book, so they don’t get the full story. The movie left out a lot of important details that really shape the story, and I feel like if it were remade, it would need to be much longer and probably feature a less “conventionally attractive” cast, though I do love Logan Lerman’s portrayal of Charlie.

Overall, the book is almost always better than the movie because it offers something no screen can fully capture, the limitless space for interpretation, depth, and personal connection. Books invite the reader to inhabit characters’ thoughts and feelings, linger over meaningful details, and interpret the story in their own unique way. A movie, however, is limited on time, budget, and ratings. While movies can be charming with their visuals and broaden a story’s reach, ultimately, a book gives the reader more than just a story to watch, it gives them a world to live in.