Should you read the book or see the movie? Part 4

Now for my semi-annual book/movie comparisons:

A Passage to India (1924) by E. M. Forster vs. A Passage to India (1984 film version):  Maybe because I saw the film first, but I think I actually prefer the film over the book. I liked the book but the film is just beautiful and doesn't really remove much from the book, plus watching the film takes far less time than reading the book. Verdict: See the movie.

The Golden Compass (1995) by Philip Pulman vs. The Golden Compass (2007 film) : The movie is okay but completely cuts out an important part at the end of the book. Verdict : Read the book.

Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Bronte vs. Wuthering Heights (1939 film) and (2011 film) : This wasn't my favorite book but neither of these film versions quite gets it right. The 1939 film is considered a classic but changes a lot from the book and races through only a portion of the novel. The 2011 version is just horrible. It may be one of the most artsy-fartsy movies I've ever seen. There are countless shots of flowers and animals that go in and out of focus and if you aren't familiar with the story it won't make much sense. Verdict : Read the book.

Great Expectations (1861) by Charles Dickens vs. Great Expectations (1998 film) : The 1998 version tries to update the story by setting it in modern New York and for some reason changing Pip's name to Finn. It is kind of interesting but not close to being as good as the book. Verdict : Read the book.

The Silence of the Lambs (1988) by Thomas Harris vs The Silence of the Lambs (1991 film) : Well the movie is a classic (mostly due to the performances for Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster) and the book itself is a fun and fast read with more depth than the book. Verdict : Read the book and see the movie.

And Then There Were None (1939) by Agatha Christie vs. And Then There Were None (1945 film version) : The book was really good and the film was fairly faithful until the last scene which completely alters the mystery and not for the better. Verdict: Read the book.

The Haunting of Hill House (1959) by Shirley Jackson vs. The Haunting (1963 film version): I enjoyed the novel and the film tries its best to remain faithful to the plot and tone of the novel. Both have their qualities. Verdict: Read the book and see the movie.