Whale Rider. Movie and the book, which one is better - Essay Example

Whale Rider Many books have been made into movies, and they are often not at all faithful to the original, other than the and usually the s of the characters. It is easy to name all the recent failings- The Da Vinci Code, Sahara, and many more. Rarely does it go the other way, although few would argue that the book Jurassic Park is as good as the movie! Whale Rider is yet another book that has been taken by the screen industry, and morphed into a movie. Yet, there is little that can be complained about.

While the book itself is powerful, the changes made to create a movie from the story bring it to life, making it a story of power and a happily ever after for those who watch it. Everything comes out right, and everyone learns a powerful lesson. While many would argue that all movies should stay loyal to the text they are inspired by, many are just that, only inspired. The story stays enough the same that people recognize the link, but the story being told is different. In those cases, it does not seem logical or reasonable for the movie to strictly follow the book.

In many cases (such as Jurassic Park) it does not make sense, as the book has scenes and moments that either cannot be portrayed cinematically, or that draw from the primary plot, and damage the story. Movies are limited in both time, and in their ability to accurately portray everything that a book can get across, and the same is true in reverse. Where a movie portrays emotion, a book might share each character's innermost thoughts, which is hard to do on a large screen. So it becomes necessary to change the story enough that it will be successful cinematically, but also still follow the story.

The Whale Rider is an excellent example. To make the book more cinematic, it was necessary to change the perspective from the uncle to the girl. In doing this, the two primary characters are easier to find and follow in the film. The story maintains both its' integrity, and its strength, but is also more pleasing to the audience. By placing the story in the view of a child, the movie becomes more children friendly, and since the story seems aimed at children, this was a logical move. So should movies stay loyal to their cinematic precursor Yes and no.

Yes, in that they need to maintain the integrity of the story that they have chosen to use, an no, because while they draw inspiration from the piece, it is still another form of art, that has its own strengths and weaknesses. While some (those that are meant to be a film portrayal of the story) should remain as loyal as possible, others that are only inspired by the story should be allowed creative freedom to stray from the original story line. Movies and books on the same topic will always incite controversy.

However, at least for the Whale Rider, both have value and strength which they share with their audience, and should continued to be enjoyed, whether or not the movie follows exactly the book.