Are books better than films?

Our society has an unfortunate habit of prioritizing movies over books - when it should be the other way around. Reading a novel ignites our imaginations more than watching its adaptation, and allows us to experience the story exactly as intended by its author. Films can certainly offer new interpretations of works but they often fail to capture readers' original visions; take for instance JK Rowling's Harry Potter series: many fans conjure up cinematic stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in their minds while reading -- whereas they originally imagined quite different characters. 

When you read a book, you can interpret the plot and the story to your liking. Books allow your mind to be creative. Furthermore, books are much more detailed than films. Usually a film lasts approximately two hours while in a book there can be hundreds (maybe thousands) of pages of description. Books also develop their characters much more and add multiple dimensions to them; such as detailing their emotions and thoughts. Books also improve your vocabulary. You may not notice it but while your reading a brilliant novel you are improving your spelling, punctuation and grammar. It is proven that people who read more get better jobs and therefore better pay. At King’s we have an impressive library where there is every book you can imagine. Subsequently, pupils can read for pleasure or study and hopefully secure better jobs in the near future. Books are always the start of great stories. You never watch a film and think that it should be turned into a book – most good films are based on books anyway.

 Movies versus books – it's a longstanding debate! Going to the theater with friends is an enjoyable and social experience, while reading can often lead to disagreements. furthermore, watching a movie offers viewers instant gratification; by contrast, finishing even one book can take days or longer. Additionally, creating films gives way for more job opportunities than publishing does - from producers and actors all the way down to makeup artists and script writers! Ultimately though your preference comes down to how much time you're willing to invest in each form of entertainment. 

In conclusion, I think books are better than films. Books develop your imagination, are much more detailed than films, improve your English writing and are proven to help you get better jobs. Meanwhile films are socially better, quicker to watch and have more job opportunities. But can watching a film get you a better mark on your next English assessment? Can watching a film get you a better job? Can watching a film give you the same depth of the story, then reading a book? I would answer no to all these questions; you may answer yes to a couple. It’s your choice whether to watch a film or read a book. Though maybe think of this report before you choose, and remember; readers are leaders.