Which is better, book or film?

[deathwizard]

I, for one, never said the movie was vastly superior because of its visuals. I said it was vastly superior, period. I do not rank the book as one of the great works of sci fi. It's interesting and clever, but short and underdeveloped. But I do rank the movie as one of the great works of sci fi. In my opinion, it's the best sci fi movie ever.

[Robert M. Blevins]

Well, comparing the words on the page of the book to the brilliant film by Ridley Scott is like comparing apples to oranges...

I have to say 'the film'.

[lin robinson]

You've GOT to be kidding.

The "book" wasn't even really a novel as I recall, more like a long short story.
(Then there was novelization of the movie....that's kind of weird comparing to versions of the same story like that...how many stories have ever been made into films, then back into novels?)

It wasn't that great of a story, frankly. Not up to standard of Ubik and such.
And one of the really cool films ever.

[areader]

I saw the film before the book and then watched the film again. The book had extra layers to it and I think they compliment each other well. Logically, the book I guess...or no film would have been made : ) .

[tarifa]

i think (and this is the one an only time) that the film was better than the book) Classic film, mediocre book.

[DeepThought]

IMHO, a rare case in which the film was as good as the novel. Though plot-wise/dialogue, there is little resemblance to PKD's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? the main underlying theme remained the same (what it means to be human), which is depicted quite well.Hmm...hard to decide, since I'm not much of movie person, but in the end I went for the book.

Have to admit though, Bladerunner had some memorable dialogue, I'm sure would have been already posted to death, but I'll go on and do it anyway:

Roy confronting the Chinese scientist.

"if only you could see what I've seen with your eyes"

Roy when he saves Deckard from the fall; funny, he loves life enough to save Deckard at the moment of his own death, such mercy from a "machine". Makes me wonder who is human.

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die."

Cheers, DeepThought

[lin robinson]

The superiority of the film to the Dick story is not just visual and imagintive, it's literary. There's no comparison whatsoever to the depth and movement of the script to the story.

Logically, the book I guess...or no film would have been made : ) .

I think your smilie means your kidding here, because there have been a lot of fine films made from inferior books.

By the way mentioning 2001 and Matrix is odd because I don't think there was a novel of Matrix and I KNOW there wasn't one for 2001.

[CliffHinNJ]

I enjoyed the book years ago for it's thought provoking themes and the not too distant world that it portrayed.
However I love the film. The visually engrossing world that Ridley Scott created was one of the most believable i have ever seen in a Science Fiction movie. The technology had an authenticity and matter of fact quality about it. It seemed as if it was an every day reality and not a film device made to evoke awe and replace good writing. The movie treated the audiance as intelligent beings and not popcorn swilling consumers who are bored if they don't see an explosion every few moments. The acting was also very good for this genre. Harrison Ford did a great job portraying the weary conflicted officer who no longer has a zeal for his duty. Rutger Hauer also does a fine job getting us to question what it is that makes us human. This theme seems too be a pervasive one in Science Fiction. The show Battlestar Gallactica has some of the same themes.
I watch this movie a few times a year and never tire of it. The new Blu-ray version is the best yet. I saw it about 10 years ago at the Zigfield Theater in New York City and believe me you must see it in a large theater if you ever get the chance.

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by lin robinson

By the way mentioning 2001 and Matrix is odd because I don't think there was a novel of Matrix and I KNOW there wasn't one for 2001.

Well, no. But the short story, "The Sentinel" was the source from which the idea for 2001 emerged. And the novel Childhood's End was a more full blown examination of the ideas contained in it.

[Voldemort]

I feel that it's rather silly to compare book to film, for they are usually totally different. However, in this case I shall make an exception. The film was a soon to be cult classic, the effects, pyratechnics, acting, mis-en-scene, dialogue etc was well thought out. I say film. :]