With so many adaptations of books having come out or in the process of coming out, the question of book over screen comes back into play. There are two clear cut sides of this argument: Are books, or screen adaptations the better choice? Some people fall in the gray area of loving of both books and films but most fall in the book or film category. So who's right?

A film often has a lot less time to get the same story across. A camping trip that took up six chapters within a book has to be condensed into just ten minutes of screen time in order to keep within the time limit provided. There are also parts of books that translate better onto screen than on books. For instance, a book may not be able to readily present a great description of futuristic technology since some tech can get complicated very quickly. A screen can better adapt to this through the use of props that more easily lend an eye to the potentially confusing tech. A lot of erroneous details get cut in order to make way for the more action packed, plot moving scenes.

However, books include all of the little details that help you to truly know the characters and make your judgement about them. The way the protagonist taps his fingers against his leg while thinking contributes to your love or hate of him. Romantic tensions have a longer span of time to build. It can take an entire book series to finally get the cathartic effect a kiss gives between two love interests. This allows us as the readers to become invested in the love story. A film can often make a love story feel rushed or forced. The characters in films are also subject to bad or good casting choices. A bad casting choice can destroy the entire plot in the film with a lackluster character.

Both sides have their benefits and drawbacks, but neither clearly takes a victory over the other. Book lovers will adamantly express that books have more to offer with all of the details it provides. Film lovers will express their love for the way the actors are able to bring characters to life and directors are able to bring new worlds to life. I personally lay in the middle ground and can appreciate both for the art forms that they are. Even being an avid supporter of books, I can appreciate that the film world does what they can to better bring the stories we love to life. Also, books and films have different audiences so are likely to differ slightly in the content that they offer. So is one better than the other? I guess that's still to be decided.