comparative essay movies

Books Vs. Movies: Similarities and Differences Essay

Books vs. movies – introduction, similarities between books and movies, difference between books and movies, works cited.

This paper examines the similarities and differences between books and movies. Although both tell stories and evoke emotions, they also have distinct characteristics. For example, books rely on the reader’s imagination, while movies present a pre-determined visual interpretation. Another difference between books and movies is that books typically offer a more in-depth exploration of characters, while movies may prioritize visual spectacle over character development. Despite these contrasts, both books and movies have the power to entertain, educate, and inspire. This essay compares and contrasts the two products in detail and provides examples from famous works.

Books and movies are two of the most important mediums for communicating ideas to an audience. The two can be used for various purposes, including entertaining and informing. Books make use of written words to communicate with the reader. On the other hand, movies utilize audio-visual technology to communicate with the viewing audience. Books and Movies have several significant similarities and differences.

A major similarity is that both books and movies set out to tell stories that are often fascinating to the audience. Regardless of which medium is being used, efforts are made to create stories that are going to be engaging to the reader or viewer. For both movies and books, the story is a central part, and the authors or directors come up with themes and plotlines that can captivate and entertain the audience (Bordwell and Staiger 262). By using elements such as characters, setting, conflict, and resolution at the end, book authors and movie directors can come up with successful stories.

Another similarity is that both books and movies make great use of characters through whom the story is told. Bordwell and Staiger note that the characters used must be well suited to the story, and they must be clearly distinguished from one another (262). They are given personalities and used to fulfill the key elements of the story being told through the book or the movie. In most cases, it is the characters that make the audience regard a movie or book as superior or inferior.

A significant difference between books and movies is in the manner in which the visual images are created. When reading a book, the reader has to use his/her imagination to create a visual image from the words contained in the book (Mayer 17). For example, in the Harry Potter books, the reader is required to form his/her own image of the various magical creatures. On the other hand, movies present the reader with a ready visual image. In the Harry Potter Movies, the images of creatures such as trolls and goblins are presented to the audience. The imagination of the viewer is not required since the movie makers have already created the image they want the audience to have.

Books and movies differ in the level of detail provided. In books, the author spends a lot of time providing details of characters, events, objects, and places. These lengthy descriptions are necessary to help the reader to create a mental image of the story. With movies, there are no lengthy details used. Movies do not have to engage in detailed descriptions since a complicated image can be shown in a single movie shot. Mayer notes that a movie can, within the span of a few seconds, graphically show a mass of details to the viewer (17).

Books and movies are both adequate means of telling a story. While the two make use of different technologies to communicate with an audience, they have some similarities. These include the use of stories and the reliance on characters to tell the story. However, the two have major differences in terms of the level of imagination required of the audience and the use of details. Overall, books and movies are important communication mediums that play a great role in our society.

Bordwell, David, and Janet Staiger. The Classical Hollywood Cinema: Film Style and Mode of Production to 1960. NY: Routledge, 2003. Print.

Mayer, Robert. Eighteenth-Century Fiction on Screen . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print.

• The New Hollywood Cinema Development
• Melodrama: History and Features
• J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and Its Popularity
• Harry Potter Stories and Impact on Pop Culture
• Concept of Home in "The Odyssey" and "Harry Potter"
• The Creation of Narrative Films: History and Factors
• The Invention of Cinema at the End of the XIX Century
• Filmmaking History of the USA
• Silent Era vs. Modern Cinema Era
• Cinema Development: Synchronized Dialogue in Films
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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How to Write an Essay Comparing Two Movies

The Irish playwright Denis Johnston once claimed that all stories are based on the same eight plots. If his theory is true, filmmakers often create dramatically different films out of similar plots, whether they work from identical source material or original screenplays. Film essays often compare and contrast two films in terms of visuals, dialogue and character interaction, examining the extent to which these elements impact plot and theme.

Brainstorm in Circles

A Venn diagram, which consists of two overlapping circles, is ideal for brainstorming before writing your essay. Name each circle after a film, and then write their similarities in the overlapped portions and their differences in the outer portion of the circles. For example, the films "Inception" and "Paprika" both deal with the idea of invading and changing a dream world. While brainstorming, you might write "dream sequences" in the overlapping portion, then write "animated, bright colors" under "Paprika" and "CGI, dull palette" under "Inception."

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Narrow your brainstorming session to three related yet distinct topics. Categorize them according to essential film elements like plot (the events of the film), cinematography (the visual elements of the film), character (including personality traits and portrayal), diegesis (the world of the film) and theme (the overall message of the film). Reduce the selection down to three interrelated points. Using "Paprika" and "Inception" as an example again, you might compare and contrast the visual styles of the cinematography, the diegesis behind corporate dreams and the characters' approach to love.

Depending on which topics you decided to cover and the length of the essay, you may approach organizing the body in two ways. In the first method, you'd discuss the films separately, according to the three points. In the second method, each of the three points could be analyzed in order, addressing the similarities and differences between the films on each point. When transitioning to a new topic, indicate its relevance to prior discussion. Analyze the ways in which the three topics reflect or impact the respective themes of the films, emphasizing similarities and differences when appropriate.

Thesis and Conclusion

Often, the writing process can help you to modify or refine your central argument. For this reason, writing the introductory and concluding paragraphs can sometimes be easier after you have written the body. The introduction should grab the reader's attention, summarize your argument and offer a thesis statement, a sentence that highlights your main points and their significance. For example, "In creating chaotic worlds of corporate dream invasion, both 'Paprika' and 'Inception' examine potential threats that modern career concerns may pose to mental health and human connectivity." The conclusion should summarize the body of the essay and paraphrase the thesis with a sense of finality and authority.

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Comparing and Contrasting
• The Guardian: Stage and Screen
• Wabash Center: Film Vocabulary

Since 2003, Momi Awana's writing has been featured in "The Hawaii Independent," "Tradewinds" and "Eternal Portraits." She served as a communications specialist at the Hawaii State Legislature and currently teaches writing classes at her library. Awana holds a Master of Arts in English from University of Hawaii, Mānoa.

Posted on March 12, 2019 at 1:33 am

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How to Write an Essay Comparing Two Movies

You may think that writing an essay comparing two movies is a difficult task, but it is not. If you follow the guide given by the Irish playwright Denis Johnston you will find it easier to write your essay in a perfect way . The famous Irish playwright stated that “all stories are based on the same eight plots.” With that statement in mind, you will be able to write your comparative essay outline   on  ‘How to Write an Essay Comparing Two Movies.’ Alternatively, even if you are unable to write an essay by yourself, you can always buy essay online via one of the various services available on the Internet.

          According to essay writing experts on  how to  start a comparative essay and improve academic writing , filmmakers have common things which they look for when they are making movies. In your essay, you are required to focus on what filmmakers focus on. For instance, how issues like, visuals, dialogue and how characters interact in the movies play important roles.

          Those are some of the important issues you have to take into account when you are writing your comparative essay on movies. That will help you compare and contrast the movies you are writing about.

Another important factor to have in mind is to make sure you remember that you are writing about how to write an essay comparing two movies. It’s easy to forget and write about the movies instead of focusing on the topic of your essay. In short, make sure that your writing is based on writing how to write an essay about movies and not writing about essay movies.

          Below are three important areas that movie makers focus on when they are making movies. These areas will help you identify the most important parts of the movie-making process so that you can write your essay with the right information. They are visual effects, dialogue, and characterization.

Visual Effects

          Wikipedia defines  visual effects as “the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of  a live action  shot in film making.” in other words; visual effects are that imagery created once the movie has been shot.

          Visual effects are added later because they cannot be integrated while the movie is being shot. With the help of computer software, this is made possible during when the movie or film is being edited. These effects help enhance the quality of the movie and make them attractive and explain the impression the movie makers want to portray.

Some of the visual effects added are like color, light, shapes etc. These things are added to make the movie produce certain effects. This is the work of movie editors who do this work after the movie has been recorded.

          Dialogue is a conversation between two parties or more. In movies, we see and hear characters dialogue on various issues.  Through dialogue agreement or settlement can be reached in an amicable way.

  When two people or more are having a conversation in a movie there is something they want to accomplish with their exchange. This dialogue helps the viewer to listen and understand what is being conveyed. The exchange of ideas opinions on issues, whether political, social, financial, or social communicate meaning and purpose of the movie. Through these dialogues, it becomes easier to follow the story of the movie.  

          Therefore, in writing your essay, remember to compare and contrast the two movies through the movie dialogues that are taking place in both movies. This will show how movie makers manipulate movies to make them look different and have different results.

          Another important factor in your essay writing on comparing and contrasting two movies is how characters are playing their roles in the chosen movies. A character in a movie is an actor who plays a role that is either fictional or real. The story may be fictional or based or a real story.

          There are movies where there is a main character who the movie is focused on as the main character. He or she normally has an opposing character that often plays the devil’s advocate. And there are many other characters that play major or minor roles but make up the story which is being conveyed in the movie.

          Once you are able to state the main components on what movie makers focus on it will make your work easier. You can now go ahead and make an outline of your essay . Write the introduction to the body and conclusion. I

Essay introductions require that you state briefly what you want to write about. In the body, present argument according to the thesis of the story. Conclusions for compare and contrast essays require that you recapture the whole story in brief, stating the main points of your essay and sum it up.

          How to write an essay about a movie   may look like a difficult task but you can simplify your work by knowing how filmmakers approach their work and what things they focus on. Things like the plot of the story, the visuals used in a movie, and how characters interact with each other will guide you on what to focus on. Make an outline of your essay before you can start and then write the introduction body and conclusion. Comparing writing is a good way to learn from others but make sure you do not copy other people’s works. While writing your essay give credit to the people you quote from and make your copy original.

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Compare and Contrast Books and Movies

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