Great! Harry Potter! It's got kids READING again!

[Evapilotone]

I agree, Mignola's art is amazing, but you can't forget that it's Del Toro's vision based on Mignola's art when the film comes into things.

I think (When it comes to adaptations) it basically comes down to which medium you prefer and enjoy more regularly.

I agree, but saying that, speaking about LOTR, I prefer the books for the story, but I wouldn't read the books more than watching the films (which I also enjoy).

[Bunnylingus]

Books take waaay longer to read than a film though.

Unless its A clockwork Orange, or something short.

Can't think of any films I like anywhere near as much as the books they're based on, although LOTR comes close.

[MarkMono]

I prefer the movie of Fight Club, thats about it. Lot of adaptations I enjoy almost as much as the source material (Quite often because I'm familiar with the source material.) but thats the only one I can think of that actually betters the original.

I agree, Mignola's art is amazing, but you can't forget that it's Del Toro's vision based on Mignola's art when the film comes into things.

He was pretty faithful in some things and quite obviously pursued his own vision in others. In the end, apart from the iconic look of the main characters its really not much like the comics.

[LesMTS]

This seems to be only interesting point really worth investigating: Why does television comparitively have so much crap on it in comparison to other mediums if its not a fundamental fault in the medium?

Does it though? I'm not convinced the disparity is as great as one might imagine.
The vast majority of books are garbage too.

[Bunnylingus]

Yeah, look at how different Hellboy was in comparison to, say, the angel of death.

Definte style of his own, Del Toro Which was quite frankly awesome.

[LesMTS]

Nothing that I've ever imagined whilst reading a book has managed to look better on tv.

Im not being pompous, its just that when I get something in my head, that's the way it should look for me, and seeing it never quite matches up.

But, TV gives one an infinitely greater idea of what, for example, a lion stalking and catching an antelope actually looks like than does a natural history book.

A writer can pen beautiful prose to describe an area of outstanding natural beauty, but seeing its reality is a different thing entirely. Not that the prose is somehow worse, it's just different. Serves a different function.

[Hammer]

The vast majority of books are garbage too.

This is true. However, bookshops stock a much wider selection of 'programs' then TV channels do.
You have absolute choice in what to read, however you are limited by the choices of the people in charge of the TV channels as to what you have to watch.

Whither or not something is garbage is all down to personal opinion anyway.

But, TV gives one an infinitely greater idea of what, for example, a lion stalking and catching an antelope actually looks like than does a natural history book.

Photobooks

[Evapilotone]

You can tell it's a Hellboy movie in the same way that Del Toro made it (without reading the title )

Saying that, I wouldn't be suprised to see the Angel of Death in a Hellboy comic, as there was been far more weird and wonderful things in those comics.

I love the comics and the movies for different reasons though, where as LOTR, I love the story of the books but the visuals of the movies, so I feel it depends on the subject.

[MarkMono]

I'd be extremely surprised to see it in a Mignola-drawn Hellboy book. Just not his style, whether its more or less weird or wonderful is an entirely separate issue.

Does it though? I'm not convinced the disparity is as great as one might imagine.
The vast majority of books are garbage too.

Walk into the foyer of Borders and even a cantankerous bugger like me will find almost immediately a dozen things I will enjoy, can this be said of TV, even with the astounding number of channels I own?

Put this alongside the other two compelling examples by myself and PJ.

TV has more dreck on it, its about as self-evident as it gets. I'm more concerned as to why this might be.

[LesMTS]

Photobooks

Might show you what a lion captured in the midst of stalking an antelope might look like, yeah.

[Cat]

I recommend reading a book to anyone who seems to have problems articulating themselves through the written word.

i'd certainly agree with this, although I would argue that it does not extend merely to those who have difficulty articulating themselves. Although I don't know the relevant scientific facts- not that this has held anyone back before- I'd imagine that the process of interpreting material through reading is very different to visual mediums, such as film. I find reading intellectually demanding in very specific ways and when I don't read for an extended period of time, it feels like my brain is atrophying.
It isn't simply a matter of imagination but also processing syntax, nuances of language etc. I'm not even an avid reader outside uni work, although I'm getting into fiction again, but I certainly think that the reading that I do helps not only to articulate my language, but my thoughts as well. There is, I agree, a lot of snobbery attached to reading but I think it's valuable beyond pretentious dinner table chit chat.

[Bunnylingus]

I think what people's problem is the AMOUNT of time some kids devote to tv - watching lots of it as opposed to watching some and reading a little is surely not as good for them?

[Evapilotone]

Could the same then be said for those that read loads, but don't read alot and watches a little?

[Bunnylingus]

Hmmm.

Maybe.

Reading books is kinda like living in a wee bubble.

I read loads of books but I dont watch much tv, and as such have a pretty good imagination but very little grasp of current affairs.

[Hammer]

I read loads of books but I dont watch much tv, and as such have a pretty good imagination but very little grasp of current affairs.

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