Which is better: to read books or to watch movies? During your student days, you know this question has always been the subject of debate between the movie fanatics (stereotyped as the lazy, happy-go-lucky and less diligent students) and the bibliophiles (stereotyped as the serious, geeky and more diligent group). The crux of the matter is that there is of course time for everything, and knowing which activity is “better” really depends on the timing and your purpose for engaging in the activity. Here's a rundown of the situations when watching movies is definitely way much better than reading books.

1. You only have a few hours to do a story review. Luckily, a number of books have already made it to the big screen, and their variations from the written version are not that far-flung: Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Secret Garden and many others. Watching the movie is a good decision if you're pressed for time.

2. You want to start and finish the story in one sitting. Reading 300 pages of a novel can take you days or weeks if you're the average reader. Watching a film on the other hand won't take you more than 3 hours or, on maximum, half a day.

3. You must plan a group activity that everyone can participate in and enjoy. Reading books aloud can be very tiring for the unlucky person assigned with the task, and the lull of hearing someone's voice for a long time can bore the rest of the group to death. Movie marathons are a much exciting and interactive option.

4. You require visuals to fully comprehend the story or a lesson. Visuals are powerful educators. Don't be surprised why cooking shows and cooking DVDs are a bigger hit to newbies than the regular printed cookbooks. The same goes for superb video pans of scenic places over plain postcards. Movies are less on “describing” and more on “showing.”

5. You need music and sounds to get emotional. At most times, even when you're absorbed in the book, you still feel that something is missing to push your emotions to the brink. That “something” is really auditory stimulation. Movies are full of these sounds and music which can either terrify the ghost in you, make your heart burst with joy, or bring you to shed crocodile tears.

6. You want to patronize your stars and the movie industry. Yes, you've heard people complain that stars are overpaid, but if you want to pay tribute to these talented men and women, your most obvious option is to watch their films. Acting is better said than done. Who knows, you might be able to imitate an act or two to help your own acting career.

7. You have to multitask. If you need your hands literally free to do other things, then watching movies is a wise decision. You can help yourself to some popcorn, give a massage to your date, fold some laundry or fix your hair as your eyes remain glued on the boob tube.