Tried reading the book before seeing the movie adaptation for Once Upon a Time in Mexico and it made me enjoy the film way less

I read the script online first and then watched the movie and spent the whole time comparing scenes instead of just letting the story unfold naturally, has anyone else found that reading source material ruins the movie experience more than it helps?

2 comments

2 Comments

piper_green14d ago

Honestly I think the real issue here is people treat movies like homework assignments instead of experiences. You read the script first which is basically reading the blueprint and then got mad when the actual building didn't match your mental image. Scripts are meant to change during filming, actors improvise, directors cut scenes, it's a living thing. Ngl you set yourself up for disappointment by spoiling the raw material before letting the movie breathe on its own terms. Tbh the whole book vs movie debate misses the point - they're different art forms that need to stand alone.

david82114d ago

Just a heads up, Once Upon a Time in Mexico wasn't actually based on a book. It's an original movie and a sequel to Desperado. So you might be thinking of another film there.