You know the age old question- which came first, the chicken or the egg? While that query can be fairly debated, the order of books and movies is generally a fixed one. Author writes book, it garners interest of someone somewhere with connections to show biz, it gets adapted into a version that plays out on the big screen. As both a lover of books and movies, I have my favorites of each, but I’ve yet to come across a movie version of a book that pleased me. Heck, I’m usually pretty irate when I leave the theater.
Until now.
Let me back up a bit for second. I should, in all fairness, point out that I went to see the film Up in the Air before I ever cracked open the book. In fact, I had seen a trailer for the movie before I even realized it was an adaptation of a book. I purchased Up in the Air (the book) for my husband’s stocking just before Christmas, so when we had the opportunity to catch a movie (read: free babysitting by grandparents), we opted for this, knowing that we’d both eventually read the novel.
I never thought I’d say these words, but I vehemently mean them, with every ounce of my being: the movie was WORLDS better than the book. Yes, yes, my first exposure to the characters and story were from the movie makers’ version, but seriously? I absolutely know that even if the reverse order of exposure had been the situation that I still would feel the same way. Or, quite possibly, if I had read the book first, I may not have even chosen to drop ten buckaroos on the movie at all, unless I had the reassurance from a reviewer that I can give to you now.
The only things that these two endeavors share are the title, the main character’s name, and his pursuit of one million frequent flier miles. Nothing else. Nada. None of the same character motivations or mindsets are here… of the three major characters in the movie, only two exist in the book, and both of them have completely different paths in this story. The protagonist of the movie, Ryan Bingham, is a charming, if not a little caddish, man (casting people deserve an A+ for George Clooney) who comes to realize that his way of life may not be what he wants to strive for, after all. Ryan Bingham of the book doesn’t seem to be going anywhere at all, and the changes that seem to be forthcoming don’t really become apparent until the final pages. Where the Ryan Bingham of the movie becomes more reflective and introspective through his experiences, the Ryan Bingham of the book appears more disconnected from reality and paranoid. While I found the story portrayed in the film to be thoughtful, emotional, and touching, the book left me confused about why I should even care about this man’s story at all.
Clearly, the Ryan Bingham that I enjoyed more came via the movie screen, because to be quite honest, I just didn’t understand the book. If it weren’t for the prospect of writing this post, I wouldn’t have pushed myself to even finish reading the book, sadly. So there you have it, there’s a first time for everything apparently, because this is the first time that I am wholeheartedly recommending the book be passed over in favor of the movie.
Dawn is usually not this harsh in her book reviews, although her candidness is a staple on her blog, my thoughts exactly.
edj says
I am well known in my circle of friends for HATING movie adaptions of books, but there have been a few times I liked the movie equally (Unbearable Lightness of Being), or even (gasp!) better. NO, Narnia and the Disney version of Hunchback of Notre Dame were not in that category, and I basically start spewing at the mouth when talking about them. But I actually liked the movie Howard’s End better than the book. Also the first Bourne movie. (Ok, admittedly, those kind of books are practically written to be movies, but still).
So, am I gathering that you’d recommend the movie Up in the Air?
Carrie, Reading to Know says
=D This review was so delightfully entertaining. =D
Yes, I remember edj railing against the movie adaptions of Anne of Green Gables. ;D (Although I’m sympathetic there.)
Anyway, Dawn, I hadn’t heard of either the book OR the movie but I generally like the types of characters George Clooney plays and so I guess if I were to go for either of the options, I’d go the movie route on your recommendation. Thanks for the chuckles this morning.
Jennifer, Snapshot says
I had heard SO much of this movie, but didn’t know what it was about. There are a few movies (Pursuit of Happyness — which I reviewed here is one), where I think that they get a great idea from a book, and create a great story.
I would like to see it, and will definitely skip the book!