Vs
*DISCLAIMER: Opinions are that of my own and I totally respect if you feel differently, we all have different connections to stories, so be cool. Also potential Spoilers ahead*
I decided to do an new series on my blog, where I put the movie and book versions of a story head to head to figure out which is more superior. So for the very first installment I decided to pick The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower was published in 1999 by author Stephen Chbosky and since it's publishing it has been considered a critically acclaimed young adult novel.
Over a decade later it was given it's very own film adaptation starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. The film was also directed by Stephen Chbosky, the original author.
The story follows introverted high school freshman Charlie, who finds the comfort and friendship he'd been looking for from two seniors, Patrick and Sam.
I thought that premise of the story of was great, it was nothing I had ever read or seen before. It didn't remind me of every other teen story out there. Both the book and movie showed the different layers of each character. All the characters had their faults and strengths. I feel in teen movies and books it is so easy to make the characters so linear, without possessing any personality or real purpose. So I thoroughly appreciated that they made the characters more like real high school students
Now onto which one I believe to be better. Personally, I feel the film adaption of the story is the better one. I know, you are probably yelling at me right now but hear me out.
For the most part both the movie and book were really on par with each other but I just felt that the movie version was so much better, for a couple reasons.
One reason I have is because as I was reading the book it barely kept my interest. I don't know if it is because of the way it's written (in a form of letters talking to a friend). Maybe it's just not my thing. I just felt like I was dying for the book to end, it didn't really make me feel a connection like I did with the movie.
Another problem I have is the fact that Charlie is really different in the book than he is in the movie. In the movie he's a shy introverted kid, who tries to stay quiet and invisible. In the book, Charlie is a ... well... for a lack of a better term, he is a cry baby. I swear you couldn't go a chapter without him talking about how he burst into tears recently.
Now I have no problem when a character cries, especially when it's someone like Charlie who is suffering from depression and anxiety and he's a teenager and teenagers are usually more emotional.
But in the book he cried some many times at little problems that it made his emotions seem less genuine when it came to bigger plot points. In the movie, Charlie cried two times (I think) and each time it made you feel his pain and showed the struggle he was feeling in side.
So overall I would definitely recommend the movie The Perks Of Being A Wallflower instead of the book.
Comment and let me know your thoughts and suggest some movies and books for me to review next!
-Sarah :)
