Book before film or the other way round

Recently having started reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer (catching on very late I know) I wondered to myself whether when taking on a new story is the best option to read the book first or watch the movies first. Remember you can only experience a story for the "first time" once and only once. A trade-off I shall call it. Those initial reactions are priceless. So which way is it best invested to get the most satisfaction from the entertainment? What comes to mind are the pros and cons of each choice.

The book first?

I often find that, and I don't know if you have either but when one finds themselves amidst the time of an explosive literary adaptation (like that of Harry Potter and currently Twilight series) people have the strange tendency to need or is it want to "read the book first...then see the movie." Almost like a disciplinary act to stay in line. So what are these benefits of reading before viewing?

Well for one thing I find that reading it first allows the reader to enjoy the extravagant detail a movie cannot possibly convey. No matter what the script writers do there is no way a novel can be shrunk to fit a movie time frame. And what is left is nothing but a discontent fan that follows the book by chasing after the film.

This leads to the opposing con. How many times have you, yes you the Harry Potter fanatic gone to the cinema with a fresh re-read knowledge of the recent film adapted novel in mind ready to see the long anticipated: 'your favourite parts of the book', word for word portrayed on the big screen? Well maybe the whole six if you haven't already given up (I know I have). This irresistible desire to make comparisons is almost instinct.

So what's the score? One all as it stands.

The movie then?

Well, for one thing if one should find themselves enjoying the film before any knowledge in writing then one will find them self pleasantly happy to do nothing but bask in enjoying the movie with no worries in thy head. One could even go on to read the book after and even finish in delight to catch up on the loose ends. 'Loosen ends'? Yes, again, an entire book can never be a movie in whole. Though I have just finished reading New Moon and like many shall wait in eager to see it as a film, Twilight for me was the other way around; film then book.

To my great surprise the film adaption was...great! So great that I could simply look over the unanswered loose ends. However finding myself amidst the international obsession I was quickly tempted by the literary pursuit. I find that the film before book allows one to not be as harsh and enjoy both with just subtle scrutiny. Then is this the best option? But just a reminder you've just ruined the book, the 'priceless read the book for the first time experience'! You have opted for the compacted, stylised conversion but with the bonus visual. This visual can also be very distracting when going onto pursuing the book where the description of the characters can longer generate freely in your mind but be constantly clouded by the actor's portrayal which can be good or bad depending on what your preferences are.

So what am I getting at?

There is no definitive answer. And most likely I will change my mind every so often. But at this point in time I would count myself in for book before film.