The Entertainment Industry Takes out The Little Mongrels

So it has come to my attention lately that the entertainment industry always has and most likely always will take over the minds of little books. I was walking through Chapters the other day and I was looking for the popular book and now movie I am Number 4. I had watched the movie recently and I absolutely loved it! I thought it was fantastic; so when I found out that it was a best seller on book store shelves I decided that the book must be read. I went to purchase the book and as I was reading the back this kid (okay teenager probably around 16) had come up to me and asked “Ah, have you seen the movie?" When I replied to him that yes in fact I had seen the movie he then simply stated. “Well it was awesome; why do you need to buy the book?" I then thought to myself. Well he does have a point there. I mean I already know what happens I know what the characters are like and the whole plot line would be thrown out the window; because well I already know it. However the more I thought about it in that split second I couldn’t for the life of me justify why I should not read this book. So I said "I need to read the book because often Hollywood leaves out a lot of good parts, plus my own imagination is usually a hundred times better then what they decide to put on the screen." So in my statement and some what matter of fact; I also convinced this kid to buy the book as well. *Happy Dance*

Now when I was on my way home I couldn’t help but think how many great books wouldn’t be read because they are turned into huge blockbuster movies. The list that came into my mind was endless; so I will just give a few examples, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Series by Stieg Larsson, and last but not least the famous Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I have read all of these books, and I have seen all of these movies. The books as usual are a hundred times better, and always will be. The way that I think of this is that Hollywood film producers should not be allowed to turn a great book into a movie unless they are willing to put the time and effort to make it extraordinary! How many books have you read that are turned into movies in which are not very good? I would say you could probably list off at least a handful.


So why is it that we choose to no longer use our imagination of reading a book? Instead most of us choose to say "Oh, I will just watch the movie when it comes out." Could this be why book reading is becoming a dying hobby? There are so many teenagers that I know who don't even bother to pick up a book anymore. They simply choose to let TV, the Box Office, and Public Media become their only source for entertainment. What happened to the days of imagination, and play? I remember as a kid I had to go outside and make up a fake pop band group, and dance around to songs on the radio, or even a cassette tape! I had to use my little toy kitchen and play house and pretend to cook for my fake husband. I remember playing Saylor Moon and always wanting to be Saylor Moon, and if I couldn't there would be hell to pay! My most favorite was playing in the playground. We played grounders, Mortal Kombat, and even X-Men! These were the days when anything was possible.


If you look at anything with kids today; you will see how out of touch with reality they are. They are so absorbed in their video games and social networking that they no longer have imaginations. They would rather sit and play video games for hours on end, or watch TV for extended periods of time; instead of having some sort of actual social interaction with their peers. Now when I look back in time I love the fact that I had an imagination. That I had time to be a real kid and do kid things. Now a day’s, kids are growing up way to fast and I really think it has everything to do with the way our society and technology works together these days. I can tell you this; my kids when I have them will play outside, and will have an imagination. Because to me I think that’s what is most important