I'm one of those people that prefers to read the book(s) before watching the movie or tv show. Although, I have seen quite a few movies that I didn't realize were books first. And in only one case, so far, has the movie been better than the book.

I had the curious spot of being half-way through Fellowship of the Ring before I saw the movie, and that seemed to work for me. I knew what the movie was doing to the material in the first half, and the second half was still new. Didn't really spoil the book too much, though that might have been because I saw the old films repeatedly and therefore knew how the story more-or-less went.

I do applaud how well done the LotR trilogy was. A lot of movies tend to be disappointing when compared to the books, but, despite having to make cuts here and there, they actually kept it pretty close.

I think they did a good job of editing out the superfluous material. For example, I know people who were angry that Tom Bombadil got axed, but really, he never did much for the story. He was more part of the world. The one roll he did play, they gave to Treebeard in the extended edition. Same in Moria. The stuff that happened in the room with Balin's tomb happened in the book over three different rooms. Gotta cut time somewhere.

With all the Harry Potter anniversary stuff going on now, I'm thinking I might need to finish the series. I think I've already encountered the big spoilers.

i have learned to never finish reading the book and then immediately going to see the movie. i spent a LOT of Jurassic Park poking my date (who's now my husband) and whispering at him loudly, "that wasn't in the book!!"

yeah.

Quiet: Ah the Harry Potter series. I have a love/hate relationship with those movies.
As a series, there was a lot that was cut or changed that really shouldn't have been or that really didn't need to be. Some of the movies were better than others, but some of them were really just not that hreat.
BUT they are still entertaining and I don't hate them. Although why the hell did they have to change the Ravenclaw colors from blue and bronze to blue and silver? That never made sense to me.

Trystan: the Jurassic Park movies were awful with all the stuff they changed and cut. The first one was a little closer at least, but still not great.
Although I do enjoy the movies on their own.

I've read the first four books, seen the 5th movie, and bits and pieces of the others. I kind of want to skip Order of the Phoenix because I'd rather not deal with Umbridge and wasn't all that fond of the film.

Haha...personally, I thought Umbridge was a fantastic character. A perfect villian to bring into the series.
And I'll be honest, Order of the Pheonix was the first book in the series to actually make me cry.

changing Ravenclaw colors - i know this! the short answer is when certain colors are paired with other colors, your eyes play tricks on you, and it's like an optical illusion - like that dress where some people saw black and blue and others insisted it was white and gold. apparently, in movies, the same kind of thing happens. and there was also something about the bronze from Ravenclaw appearing the same as the black from Hufflepuff.

so, yeah.

also Jurassic Park wasn't all that awful. XD

Ah. I guess that makes sense. Still was disappointed to see the color change.

And compared to the books, the Jurassic Park movies are pretty awful. Mainly the second one where they changed and/or left out a good 50-60% of the book.
But to watch just for the sake of watching, and not for comparison, they're good.

actually, i like the blue and silver myself. XD

well, there is that. i guess it helps that after long enough time i don't remember the book or the movie. XD

Yeah, I have the first 3 Jurassic Park movies and the second book. So I'm pretty good at catching the changes and missing parts in the second one.

yeah, i don't own any XD

Those are good movies. I only saw the first three.
I read the first two books. I thought they were great.

I didn't realize there was more than one book.

a google search told me there's only two books: Jurassic Park and The Lost World.

i read both, and only saw the movies of the same names. i haven't seen any more movies though.