"into The WIld"...is the book or movie better ?

howard

This was probably discussed before but I missed it.

I was just wondering if there was an overall feeling as to which one is better and especially more compelling between the two for those who have both seen the movie and read the book.

I saw the movie which I thought was very good. I hardly ever read books(not enough time to) so I'm selective when deciding what to read.

If you chose one over the other overall, were there any parts in the one you didn't coose over the one that you did choose that you thought were better ?

Hinny

The book.

More Wayne.
No pointless meander through the homeless community in LA.
More Wayne.
More background into the family.
More Wayne.
More details of the people he came across.
More Wayne.

Heineken Helen

I think the movie. The book... I dunno... there's something lacking. I think it wanders off too much on other stories and the authors own experiences. And the bits that ARE about Chris just feel like a news article

DeLukin

Heineken Helen wrote:

I think the movie. The book... I dunno... there's something lacking. I think it wanders off too much on other stories and the authors own experiences. And the bits that ARE about Chris just feel like a news article

I definitely agree that there was too much of the author's personal experience/opinion in the book. Not that it was bad, he obviously knew about surviving the elements and had what seemed like good insight into what could've been going through Chris' mind, but it seemed like filler after a while. I still liked the book better though (sorry Ed...)

nfanel

i liked the movie better, too. i'm surprised, thought i'd be the only one.

i didn't feel much empathy for chris in the book...i felt like he didn't care if he died. in the movie i definitely was upset for him.

plus, as others have mentioned...too much jumping around in the book.

PureandEasy

Ha, Nic, that's funny because I was just the opposite. I went back and forth while reading the book as far as my opinion of what Chris did. In the movie, I had no sympathy. I really don't like the way Penn did the movie.

I still pull the book out on a regular basis and just read excerpts.

So I'd have to say the book.

AmentsChick

The book

smithnic

The book.
I absolutely love Krackauer

facepollution

Well I read the book first, and that totally captivated me, Krakauer is a brilliant writer in my view. Seeing Sean Penn's passion for this story, I had no doubt that he would deliver, and I think he did an amazing job. Obviously there are going to be parts that people could live without (in both the book and the film), but all in all, I would highly recommend both.

pjoasisrule

The movie is always better

hoopinman

pjoasisrule wrote:

The movie is always better

the movie is not always better!!!

take The Shining for instance(or just about any Stephen King book vs movie)

I loved Into The Wild book much much much more than the movie....only because the book went into the relationships that Chris had with the people he met on the way..Like Wayne Westerberg and Ron Franz, who you only get a lil snippet in the movie. Yea Krakauer went into some of his own personal stories...but it made the book flow

the book is sooooo much better

AmentsChick

pjoasisrule wrote:

The movie is always better

Um...I'm guessing you aren't much of a reader?

jezebeloria

hoopinman wrote:

the movie is not always better!!!

take The Shining for instance(or just about any Stephen King book vs movie)

I loved Into The Wild book much much much more than the movie....only because the book went into the relationships that Chris had with the people he met on the way..Like Wayne Westerberg and Ron Franz, who you only get a lil snippet in the movie. Yea Krakauer went into some of his own personal stories...but it made the book flow

the book is sooooo much better

Agreed. Especially the statement about Stephen King books vs. movies

Get_Right

hoopinman wrote:

the movie is not always better!!!

take The Shining for instance(or just about any Stephen King book vs movie)

you are right but thats a bad example
the at movie was better than the book
same with carrie and possibly misery.


but generally, the books are better same with ITW

hoopinman

ok...bad example

Christine

or how about The Green Mile

jezebeloria

Get_Right wrote:

you are right but thats a bad example
the at movie was better than the book
same with carrie and possibly misery.


but generally, the books are better same with ITW

You mean the "It" movie? Imo the movie was ridiculous. The book scared the shit out of me though. Misery was also a much better book and Carrie was probably the closest to the book. As I stated my opinion though...

Get_Right

hoopinman wrote:

ok...bad example

Christine

or how about The Green Mile

MUCH better example

howard

Thanks for all the responses so far. I am going to get the book in the next day or so.

I know it depends on each individual reader, but in general, did the book make for a quick, can't put down type of read or not ?

I did really enjoy the movie when it first came out and thought as I watched it that Hal Holbrook's performance, subdued as it was, was worthy of an Oscar nomination.

pjoasisrule

AmentsChick wrote:

Um...I'm guessing you aren't much of a reader?

It was more of a joke than anything. The Natural is much better than the movie. Friday Night Lights is a tough call for me as the book was more accurate but the movie had something magical about it with the music and everything.

gregkitefan

pjoasisrule wrote:

It was more of a joke than anything. The Natural is much better than the movie. Friday Night Lights is a tough call for me as the book was more accurate but the movie had something magical about it with the music and everything.

God I HATED The Natural book.
I thought it was awful.
I couldn't wait to finish that book.
The guy knew nothing about baseball and it showed.

The movie is so much better.

pjoasisrule

gregkitefan wrote:

God I HATED The Natural book.
I thought it was awful.
I couldn't wait to finish that book.
The guy knew nothing about baseball and it showed.

The movie is so much better.

To be honest, I didnt even like the story but at least the book made sense. The ending to the movie was just ridiculous.