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Don't re-read the book first! Take the movie for what it is!
It's been 10 years or so since I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I remember really enjoying the book, but I spent the whole movie being like "wait, did this happen? is this new? why don't I remember this? wouldn't it have impacted me enough to remember reading it?". I really thought they must have changed a lot about the story, but eventually I forgot about comparing it to the book and just enjoyed the movie, and it was so good. It was really nice to not get hung up on the details I'd long forgotten anyway.
After looking it up online, I see some things were changed (and I do consider one of these changes to be a pretty substantial one, and it was upsetting to watch but I think it gave depth to one of the main characters and how his experience with accepting himself was different from the other's) but it was apparently a mostly faithful* adaptation. So I guess I just got to experience this beautiful story for the first time all over again! How many times do we find ourselves wishing we could do that?
Anyway some of the smaller supporting actors aren't the greatest but beyond that it's SUCH a good movie. I'd recommend getting your hands on the DVD (I checked it out from my library--that's a separate rec) because it has such a sweet, tender, and beautifully cinematic DELETED scene that I'm honestly hurt that they cut from the main movie. Also, I'm going to see if my library has the book available because I need to refresh myself on that clearly lol
*Okay someone on reddit thinks that the way Ari was impacted by Dante and then fell in love with Dante as a byproduct of that was "lost" in the movie compared to the book? But I definitely disagree, because I picked up on that tonight for sure. And there are some other really minor complaints regarding characterization and even the set dressing? "The big mirror in his room doesn't make sense" bestie it's on screen for 2 seconds and no one ever mentions it, it's not important! You're dinging the movie for that? So despite this person who says "85% of the movie is bad," I think if you read and loved the book as a teenager, you should definitely watch the movie as soon as you can. <3
Jun 17, 2025
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I used to be hardcore book before movie but two recent experiences changed my mind.
1. I finally read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and it is radically different from Blade Runner. Setting, tone, themes—Blade Runner ditched them all and just kept the replicants and the protagonist's name. And its still a fantastic adaptation. One piece of art begat another.
2. I decided to read Poor Things after watching the movie because the characters were so charming. The two works' presentations are different but equally endearing. Reading the book now makes me appreciate the omissions and condensation made for film, and the director's visual choices and additions. It's like I watched a creatively interpreted abridge version and now I'm reading deeper in a textbook.
I think being so staunchly book-first made me approach movie adaptations with a lot of judgement. Now it's like I'm tasting a sample of a story and can choose to dive into the full course if it's compelling enough.
Feb 23, 2024
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I read this one a few weeks ago, but wanted to wait until I saw the movie before diving into my thoughts. Both start extremely similar, down to some exact word-for-word scenes, and the plot points are all the same, but the movie takes some creative license to show what’s going on for the main characters mentally that the book doesn't. This works in favor for both the book and movie. In the book's case you're left guessing, confused, and trying to pick apart every tiny detail til the very end. The author is continuously sneaking small details/hints past you without raising alarm, and at the end I found myself looking back to see a whole different story. This isn't to say I didn't see the twist coming, but it was done in a way that left plenty of good stuff to pick apart after you‘ve finished.
Oct 2, 2020
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Sometimes the book is better.
I watched The Goldfinch movie and, honestly, it wasn’t great. I later read the book, and to this day it’s one of my favourites.
Sometimes the movie is better.
Didn’t even finish reading Call Me By Your Name, but the movie was decent.
Sometimes both are great.
Fight Club!!
My point is that either way it’s difficult to judge something fairly unless you have read the book and watched the film.
Jul 15, 2024
Top Recs from @random-gay-nerd
this photo is from september 2018 and I still haven’t seen anything like it since
May 26, 2025
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That’s just not what we’re doing here
Jun 1, 2025
I got him at a particularly difficult point in my life and I’ve had him for 6.5 years now wow!!! He’s always been big, just much larger dimensions than a normal cat as well as being a little chubby lol. He’s a sweetie pie and is finally coming around to his little sister 💛
Jun 7, 2025