Book to Movie: The Giver (Movie Trailer)

Before I got lost with Suzzane Collins’ The Hunger Games series and Veronica Roth’s Divergent series I am already enamoured by Dystopian fiction because of Lois Lowry’s The Giver. But I am not aware of Dystopian as a genre at that time. So I classified the book as fiction no more no less. Now, thinking about it, The Giver is one of the first few dystopian novel I have read and definitely one of the best too. It is thought provoking and simply amazing. If anything else the book makes me appreciate my freedom and memories more. So when I found out that the book is adapted for movie I can’t help but get excited to see the story in big screen.

For those who are not aware about the book, the story follows Jonas, who lives in a Utopian society where there is no disease, poverty, money or divorce. Everyone has a role in this society, and everything is controlled, even their emotions. It’s a life of conformity and contentment for Jonas until he’s given the role of The Giver. As The Giver he is the receiver of memory — every information, histories and secrets of the society will be transferred to him. He will be the repository of all information. And as the secrets unfold in Jonas eyes he starts to discover the dark secrets of his world.

The movie adaptation will star Jeff Bridges as The Giver and Brenton Thwaites as Jonas with other great actors like Meryl Streep, and Katie Holmes. The film is coming to theaters in August 15 but before that watch the trailer below.

Have you read the book? What do you think of the trailer? If you haven’t read the book, I urge you to do so. It’s one of the best dystopian novel out there.

Book to Movie: The Fault In Our Stars (Sneak Peek)

John Green recently uploaded a teaser trailer for the movie adaptation of his book, The Fault In Our Stars. The full trailer will hit the web tomorrow, and will be shown in theaters starting on Valentines Day! I know, we are all excited to see Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus “Gus” Waters on big screen but for now tease yourself with the sneak peak video below.

I’ve heard that there is a video of the movie trailer that already leaked online that’s why they are releasing the full trailer earlier than expected. I have no plans of checking the leaked version but I will surely watch the full trailer once the movie maker officially released it online. Can’t wait to see this film on the big screen!And maybe I do a reread of the novel  while waiting.

Book to Movie: TFioS Movie Poster

The Fault in our Stars is one big movie I am excitedly anticipating! The novel where this film is based is one of my favorite reads and I just love John Green!

As for the movie poster above, I think the film makers or whoever is in charge with that poster nailed it. I like that they make Hazel wear the breathing tube which simply emphasize her sickness without making her look too much  disable. I also like that they didn’t changed the font color (blue and white) of the title which is the same with what the publisher used in the first edition of the book.

On related news, there are fuzz circling online about the movie tagline, “One sick love story” criticizing the film makers or whoever think of the tagline for making joke out of two sick people’s love story, which is a dark topic discussed in the novel where the film is based.  John Green, author of the novel also said his opinion about the tagline through his Tumblr account.

I get it why some find “One sick love story”, tagline as offensive, but mostly because I assume that they haven’t read the book yet. Because if you have read John Green’s novel of the same title where this film is based you know how fitting that tagline is. “One sick love story” is something that characters would say. Possibly something Gus and Hazel would think of as their tagline for their own story. If not, they would certainly approved of it or they would laugh at it if they read the tagline themselves.

The Fault in our Stars  tells an honest and raw story of two cancer patients, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, who find each other in a cancer support group. It is an heartbreaking novel that deals with sickness and death but also a humorous book. Trsut me, it’s so much more than a sad story! Okay? Okay.

As stated from the poster above, the film is due to released on June 6, 2014, which stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort as Hazel Grace and Agustus Waters respectively. I’m really excited to see this heartbreaking & heartwarming story on big screen! 

Book to Movie: Warm Bodies (Movie Trailer)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion is one of the few zombie books that I enjoy reading. Well actually, I listened from an audio book but still same results, it is fun and enjoyable novel. So when I found out that there will be a film adaptation coming out next year I can’t help but get excited. The movie is planned to be release next February 1, 2013 and it stars Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. Basically the story is about a zombie (Nicholas) who rescues a human girl (Teresa) from an attack and ends up falling in love with her.

The film adaptation is directed by Jonathan Levine, the same man behind the movie “50/50“. Which is really an amazing film. I enjoyed it so much even it makes me cry. It is just raw and real and of course it stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and any film that has Joseph Gordon-Levitt for me is a must watch. I’m a fan obviously. I can’t help but be amazed with his so many talents, from acting, to singing, composing, writing and directing. Anyway, before I get totally lost and rave more about Joseph Gordon-Levitt let’s go back to Warm Bodies. I’m expecting another fun and heart warming film from Jonathan Levine in this movie. The trailer is already out and I think it is pretty good. It makes me more excited to see the film. You can watch it below.

As for the film poster there are two version that already comes out. The first one comes out early this year and when I first saw it, I honestly didn’t like it because it reminds me of Twilight. Check the poster below so you can see it yourself why it reminds me of Twilight. The second and latest poster, the one with a red background is much preferable than the first one. But it doesn’t tell much about the stories. I’m still hoping that there will be another poster coming out before the film is  release, something that will match with the dark and comedic part of the story.

Warm Bodies Film Trailer

Have you read the book? What do you think of the trailer? Does the new poster make your heart warm? 🙂 If you haven’t read the book, I urge you to do so. You can also join me as I plan to do a re-read before the movie comes out. We still got a couple of months.

Book to Movie: Beastly by Alex Flinn

I got the chance to attend the advance movie screening of Beastly before I went for holiday vacation last week. I’ve been aiming to post a comparison of the book and the movie since then, but for some reasons I only got to do it now. Beastly is a modern adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Neil Patrick Harris. Like with most adaptations, certain elements from the book are lost when adapted to the screen, but the main plot remains the same.

Kyle from the book is a hairy monster with fangs and claws, while in the movie he was being tattooed all over with fresh wounds and scars. This change is actually a good one. It made the beast more relatable and acceptable. I just can’t imagine how a real beast would actually exist in our modern day and most especially in a crowded place like New York city. The movie made him ugly in a deformed way and not supernatural which still brings the point of the story – bringing his real look outside like what he is inside. This was suppose to be the modern version and I think it was a success.

In the book, Kyle was given two years to break the spell by finding someone to kiss him out of love and he should also love her, while in the movie he was given only a year to find someone who should tell him she love him sincerely. I didn’t mind much about the time span differences or the procedure of breaking the spell, these were minor alterations. Though I think the kiss is more romantic than having someone just tell you they love you. And the execution, that is another thing which I will expand more later.

There’s a chat room where the Beast join from time to time to have a conversation with other creatures who were also cursed. That part wasn’t included in the movie. Though it’s just another minor alteration, it would still add more fun to the movie if added. The other fairy tale creatures like the silent mermaid (Ariel from The Little Mermaid), Froggie (to be transformed from a kiss) and Grizzlyguy were simply adorable. Their conversation about their fairytale transformations were like little funny snipets.

There is no magical mirror in the movie. In the book the magical mirror is Kyles gateway to the world. He can see anyone he wants to see from the mirror. It was his means of communication with Kendra, his way of getting to know Lindy (not by stalking her). It’ is what stayed with Kyle and Lindy at the end to remind them of their journey. When they took out the mirror they also took away the magic that lies beyond the fairy tale story.

Kyle other name in the book is Adrian which means “dark one”, but the movie changed it to “Hunter”. Between hunter and Adrian I like Adrian better because it has meaning. Kyle choose Adrian because it represents the way he feels after his transformation. Adrian had meaning, while Hunter was random.

Kendra and Magda in the book are actually the same person. Kendra is the witch who punished Kyle and stuck with him as a maid (Magda) in return. In the movie, Kendra and Magda ( actually Zola in the movie) were two different characters with no relation at all.

The movie made Will Fratalli (Neil Patrick Harris) the blind tutor ironic and funny which is a good change from the originally serious and wise. It add humor and entertainment to the film. Neil Patrick Harris lightened the mood without taking away the seriousness of the story.

And the last but not the least is the ending. Technically the book and movie ending were the same, a fairy tale ending of “happily ever after”. The differences is how it was executed. The book done it with more action. Kyle took a risk of exposing himself to the world and has people trying to kill him in order to save Lindy. The movie version, Kyle meet Lindy before she takes her trip somewhere, no action scene at all.

Overall, I enjoy the movie even with all the alterations from the book. I think it succeeds in capturing the spirit and the message of the book which is the most important. If you haven’t read the book yet or see the movie, I suggest you try. Sometimes a familiar story is worth a new journey of adventure.

Upcoming Book-to-Movie Adaptations

There are couple of movie adaptation of popular books that are set to release this year. Some of them are already out in cinema. And here are the three upcoming movie that will be available in cinema soon. This doesn’t include those that will be released after March 2011. Such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Hobbit, Water for Elephants, Breaking Dawn, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and a lot more.

I Am Number Four

Based based on the novel I Am Number Four, written by Jobie Hughes and James Frey. This is one of the film I anticipated for 2011 after seeing the trailer last year. I haven’t read the book yet and I have no intention of reading it. The last time I read James Frey’s book I never finished it. But the film looks pretty good.

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre is one of the few classics I’ve read when I was in college. I can’t remember much if I did enjoy the book back then or not. I’m thinking of rereading the book now but not a chance for me. With so much in my to-read-list I don’t have much time for rereading. I’m just glad to discover that there will be an upcoming movie due to released this March 11, 2011. I just watched the trailer and I can’t help but be excited to see the movie soon.

Beastly

Based on Alex Flinn’s 2007 supernatural romance novel of the same name. It was expected to be released on July this year but moved to March 18, 2011. It is a retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast set in modern-day New York City. And since I love the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast, I can’t let this one pass.

Large number of books are also in development for movie adaptation for 2012 and 2013. Such as Fallen by Lauren Kate, The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Matched by Ally Condie and The Mortal Instruments City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare. So much movie releases to watch out.