Books Can Run Rings Around Movies

(‘The Hobbit’ is just about to come out at the cinema. We are walking past a poster advertising it.)

Friend #1: “The Hobbit. What is that about?”

Me: “It’s by J.R.R. Tolkien, the same guy that wrote Lord of the Rings.”

Friend #1: “I never realized The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings were written by the same person.”

(A few days later…)

Me: “I want to go see The Hobbit.”

Friend #2: “What’s it about?”

Me: “It’s the prequel to Lord of the Rings.”

Friend #2: “I hate it when people do that. Have a really successful movie or trilogy, and then have to create another one that came first just to get more money. Obviously it’s not going to be as good.”

Me: “You do realize The Hobbit was written before The Lord of the Rings, like a long time ago?”

Friend #2: “They were books?”