The DVD of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was finally released last Wednesday, November 9. We asked readers of Writing to compare the book to the movie and to tell us what they liked better.

Here's what some of them had to say:

I would have to say the movie is better than the book. I say this because for one, I'm not too crazy about reading. Another thing is I think even though the movie was less detailed than the book, I like the modern twist to it. In the book, the oompa loompas were little dancing midgets, while in the movie they were renamed as rock stars. Another thing that I think made the movie better was that in the movie you actually know how everything was supposed to look and how the characters were supposed to look and how their faces react to certain things. What I mean by this is that a picture can mean 1,000 words. These are my reasons for liking the movie better than the book. -- Bob E., Grade 7

This summer I read Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and also saw the movie. Having already seen the early version of the movie I was looking forward to seeing the new movie. I was really disappointed in what I saw. The oompa loompas were just not they same as they used to be and to me that was the best thing. 
   I also thought that the book was great. As a person who doesn’t like to read that much, I was really impressed by how Roald just made the book seem so real. Every chapter had a new setting. One was in the Chocolate River. The next was in the Television Room. It was one of the best books I’ve read. 
   Although the book was great I thought the old movie was the best out of the three of them. I like movies more than books because I can get a visual of what is happening with a movie that I can’t get with reading the book. I would have to say that the book was better than new movie and I hope they make a movie on the book Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. -- Conor K., Grade 8

I liked the new movie better. This is because I am a visual learner. The movie helped me picture things better and showed me a clearer picture of the characters’ features. Even though I liked the book very much, the factory was so detailed it was hard to picture. When I saw the movie I connected the book and the movie together and I realized what the book was talking about. I also liked the movie better because there were different ideas than the book.  -- Emily L., Grade 8

I liked the movie better. The reason for this is because, I don't really like reading that much. Movies give me a better idea of what the book was talking about. When I read books I don't really see the story playing out in my head. I loved the special effects in the movie. -- Kristine M., Grade 11
 
I would pick the book because it’s a bit different—for example, in the book the young girl brings her dad and in the movie she brings her mother. Also the movie gets boring at points and doesn't explain what is going on, while the book clearly explains the theme and goes into more detail with the story. 
   I prefer the book version because I can get more involved and it makes more sense. Also I could imagine the book better and when I saw the movie I thought it was too fake. -- Carlos E., Grade 11

I personally preferred the book. It lets my imagination run wild but the movie doesn't because I have an image in front of me. The book is also more fun because of its detailed descriptions, but not detailed enough to know what to expect and what everything looks like. 
   I also like that you get what the author wants you to get, not the producers. In the movies they seem to take out stuff and put other things in, and I think that it destroys the story. The movie is too fast, I think, to take everything in and to fantasize about it. When I have the book I can think more about it. -- Stan T.

What do you think?