Book vs Film: The Debate Over Adaptations Continues - Essay Sample

Introduction

Majority of the people have strong views concerning book to film adaptations. Some of them believe that the book being the first version of the original story, it is more reliable and accurate about the message it intends to portray. The other group perceives a film to be a new version of the same story but upgraded in features and technologically wise. Some traditionalists may allege that the book is always the finest merely as it existed first. Therefore, it offers the story-material for any movie that might then attempt to adapt to the said work. However, the article titled "What Novels Can Do That Films Can't (and Vice Versa)" by Seymour Chatman that begins a conversation on the difference in the methods that different mediums can depict narrative. Ultimately summarizes to an argument that dissimilar media should be understood, studied, and eventually judged based on the relative abilities and strengths of each specific medium (Chatman 140). Drawing from Chatman's insights about depiction in the description in novels vs. films, this paper will use various examples that emerge in "Bridge to Terabithia" in both the book and movie to comprehend how each of them presents some stories, although in the abilities of every individual storytelling medium.

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Similarities

The first and foremost relationship that exists between the book and the film, "Bridge to Terabithia" is the similarity in the main plot. The movie version's main plot remained faithful to that of the book chiefly because the part of the screenplay was written by Katherine Peter's son, David Peterson. It is because the story was fundamentally based on something that occurred to him as a kid (Paterson 1). Therefore, it was personally significant to him, and he did not desire to see the book adapted to a film version that does not bear a resemblance to the original story. It is from this assertion that the unique story of the book is retained in the film version (Csupo). Thus, drawing us to the main similarity that exists between the book and film version is the representation of the friendship of Jess and Leslie's and how the death of Leslie changes the life of Jess.

In both versions, it is vivid that Leslie and Jess face problems, especially at school. It all starts with a mean girl who is known as Janice Avery, who made it her goal to be bullying other students (Paterson 22). In defense, both Leslie and Jess make a plan to get the girl back by humiliating her on a secret crush that she possessed. Although they achieved to embarrass her, at the end of the story, Leslie and Janice become friends. She shares with her how her father has been mistreating her through beatings (Csupo).

In both the movie and the book, Jess's first reaction to the death of Leslie is flat out denial, Leslie cannot drown. In both versions, Jess runs away towards the woods, and he is brought by his father back home (Paterson 70). Then, the following morning, he behaves as if nothing occurred since he is nevertheless in denial. The family visits the wake of Leslie, where a tender instant is shared between Jess and Mr. Burke (Csupo). The other scenes which were adapted perfectly from the novel to the film were the decision of Jess to honor the memory of Leslie by making a bridge to Terabithia. Therefore, it is circumstances like these that tend to be touching for the fans of the novel to view acted out and also for the viewers who are enjoying the movie with no prior story knowledge.

It is also evident that the book and movie version portrays the same theme and message. The central theme revealed in the "Bridge to Terabithia" movie and book version is friendship. A good example is a special relationship that develops between Leslie and Jess. The two characters require each other, for instance, Jess to flee from the sufferings of his family and life, and Leslie to get familiarized to a new life within the country. Their relationship gets off to the rocky beginning; their friendship blossoms over their shared interest that is music (Csupo). The two are caring for each other, and this is evident when they exchange Christmas presents (Paterson 33-34). The theme of friendship is witnessed after the death of Leslie, and Jess is exceptionally protective of her and in his anger and sadness, he utters that no one else cared for her as he did. Also, he becomes nervous in the wake since he does not desire anyone to ridicule her dressing style. Therefore, the theme of friendship is well depicted in both the book and film version of "Bridge to Terabithia."

In book and movie version of "Bridge to Terabithia," Jesse gives Leslie a dog. Then, she names the dog Prince Terrien (Paterson 34). The reason to do this is to affirm their friendship and show the care they have for each other. He believed that she deserved something special despite not having any money to spend on Leslie (Csupo). Since the family of Jess needed to watch each penny, and he had no money to spend on her, she went the extra mile and responded to a free puppy advert. The scene of getting a dog for his friend takes place in both the book and movie version; therefore, it makes up the other similarity in them.

Differences

The setting of the story in the film is the first difference. In Peterson's book, the original tale takes place in the time that she wrote it during the 1970s, while the film version the story takes place in more modern times. For instance, in the novel, the 0storyteller describes Lark Creek Elementary to be "short on everything." However, in the film version, the same school still looks rural, though the playground is an enormous, lovely grass field. In the classrooms, there exist many references to things that were absent within a 1970s room, like modern computers. It is evident when Mrs. Myers instructs her students that there is no form of electronic devices that are permitted within the classroom and also that no student should download their term papers from the internet (Csupo). All these are the aspect of modern society, where most students possess smartphones and laptops. It is vivid that this film depicts modern society, while the book itself is set on a traditional environment in which such electronic devices never existed. Therefore, we can confidently allege that the "Bridge to Terabithia" setting of the movie version is more advanced in technology compared to the book.

The second difference that exists between the film and book version of "Bridge to Terabithia" is that the film version involves several minor changes regarding characterization. The only thing that most readers will become aware of automatically is that Jess and Leslie's physical appearance has been switched. For instance, within the novel, Jess has been characterized to have "straw-colored hair," and Leslie possesses "jaggedy brown hair cut close" near her face (Paterson 3). However, the movie depicts a different thing, where the hair colors of the children have been switched. Also, concerning the characters' physical appearance, in the novel, Jess has a tough time even recognizing the gender of Leslie. For instance, there is a point that he calls her an "it" at first. It is because, in the movie of Csupo, Leslie is a lady from the first glimpse with her colorful wardrobe and bright blonde hair (Csupo). Also, the clothing of the children gets an update from the outdated 1970s fashion to a more contemporary 1990s look. In regards to the first school day, Peterson illustrates Leslie as emerging "dressed in the faded cutoffs and the blue undershirt" that astonishes the rest of the students who were "dressed in their spring Sunday best" (Paterson 11). It is clear that in the film, Jess dresses modern school clothes, and Leslie is deck stars in multiple layers, bright colors, elbow pads, and a mass of bracelets plus other jewelry. Therefore, clothing in both the movie and book versions tends to differ on various occasions as addressed. The main reason for this kind of modernization might be to enhance the characters' appearance and appealing to the audience that watches the film version.

The third and significant difference that is witnessed between the book and film version comes from the conflict between Peterson and visions of the studio, and Csupo for the movie corresponds to adding CGI to make lively the imaginary world Leslie and Jess created in Terabithia (Csupo). Weta Digital visualized the special effects, making CG creatures as well as inserting them in the film. In spite of the limited amount of CGI primarily produced for the movie, the results of these attached shots possessed on the press releases before the openings of the film were enormous. Whereas Katherine Paterson left the majority of the Terabithia details to the reader's imagination, the movie's media efforts offered its version of the film's trailer did not represent to latent viewers the actual depth of the film's plot. The filmmakers yet distanced themselves from the marketing campaign uttering that the advertising intentionally misleading and made the movie seem to be on or happen solely within a fantasy world. In general, the other CGI effects to the film were essential steps to make the Terabithia world come alive in the film audiences' eyes. Therefore, it was a positive change to the movie since something visual required to be placed on the screen, not like the Terabithia of the novel that could be whatever imagination of a reader envisioned it to be like (Paterson 24).

Conclusion

It is vivid from the discussion that the story titled "Bridge to Terabithia" is fascinating and educative. It is a must-read book, or a must watch movie that anyone who has not yet taken his or her time to view or read misses a lot. Some of the similarities covered include the main plot of the movie resembles that of the book, both Jess and Leslie faces problem at school, and Jess gives Leslie a dog in both versions. The two versions also communicate the same theme and message of friendship that existed between Jess and Leslie, and his reaction is out of denial after the death of Leslie.

The differences that exist between the film and the book version include the differences in their setting. The novel was set in the 1970s when technology was less advanced, while the movie was produced when the technology was much better. The film version story setting has been modernized in several manners, like the use of electronic devices. The other most automatic difference that every reader can easily is the change of the physical appearance of the characters. Also, the film version, through CGI effects they make Terabithia the world most lively from the book's one that is more of the readers' imagination. It is with a lot of confidence that it can be asserted that these differences and similarities make the two versions unique and attractive to the audience that is targeted.

Works Cited

Chatman, Seymore. "What Novels Can Do That Film Can't (and Vice Versa)." Critical Inquiry, vol. 7, no. 1, 1980, pp. 121-140.

Csupo, Gabor, director. Bridge to Terabithia. 2007.

Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. Noura Books, 2017, www.e-reading.club/bookreader.php/135126/Patterson_-_Bridge_to_Terabithia.pdf.