Books and movies are both big forms of entertainment for humans, if not the two biggest. Books contain many different purposes, such as being used simply for the enjoyment of a curious reader, along with using it to foster reading comprehension and analyzing ability in educational foundations. Movies are nowadays built heavily towards the entertainment field. While they may not be as variable and versatile in function as books, it wouldn’t be quite right to argue that they are incapable of bringing excitement to those who watch it.

Movies specifically made as film adaptations of published books can spark little bouts and springs of argument here and there. It is widely argued that there is no point in seeing the film adaptation if one has no intention of delving into their literary counterparts. However, that is not the case. Movies and books both serve their own functions. Books, while they can be very entertaining and a good method of ticking away time, cannot always do their job to entertain some of the more visually-oriented people. Often, it takes readers with more open minds and bigger imaginations to truly visualize and immerse themselves into the setting and scenarios of a literary work. However, there will be some who require a more simpler form of entertainment, one that literally sets the picture for them in front of their eyes. Therefore, I do not believe that books are inherently superior to the movie in any case whatsoever. Both literature and film have their own positive and negative aspects, and in the aspect of quick and memorable entertainment, sometimes a movie can accomplish that in a quicker manner.

There is more to a film than what is generally assumed. There are those who can argue that a movie is incapable of capturing the same magic and depth that the written word can accomplish. While there is some merit to that, films contain more dimension than what one can notice at first glance. A literary film adaptation is the art of taking the written word and creating visual images out of it, weaving the words together into the canvas and paint that would create a truly wondrous experience for those who gaze upon it.

Films are not inherently directed for those who are too lazy to flip open a book, as books are not inherently written for those who don’t have the commitment to stare at a wordless screen. Both serve their purpose, and they do it well. It can’t be right to immediately deem the film adaptation of a book as a failed attempt to recreate the written magic. Movies have the same entertainment factor and capability as books, and they allow audiences to receive a visually immersive experience.

<Heejae Park OSCA 9th Grade>