Movies from Books – Sci Fi & Fantasy

Ella Enchanted — Movie 2004

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A short while ago I watched Ella Enchanted after having finished the book.

If you want to know more about what I thought of the book, check out my book review.

I watched the Ella Enchanted movie before reading the book, so I already knew that I would like the story. Even though I really enjoyed the movie, I was surprised by how much the story had been changed from the book. Ella’s movie father is much, much nicer than in the book. The other major difference is that Char and Ella’s love interest is developed in the movie in a way that it never is in the book. Also, Char’s evil uncle was completely fabricated for the movie, but we were really gratified to see Cary Elwes in the role. He must have had fun hamming it up and it reminded us of his performance in The Princess Bride. The other change which made the movie so much fun was the way it melded modern and old-fashioned, including in costume, dance and singing. Yes, singing! Yes, a Queen song! What more can I say?

Anne Hathaway had a huge part in making this movie the success that it is. As we all know, she is a superb actress and this film showcases her abilities, even at a young-ish age. Just like in the book, Ella is a feisty and opinionated Cinderella-type. Hathaway puts just the right amount of wit, sass and charm into Ella to make her one of the most likable princesses out there.

I recommend Ella Enchanted to everybody who enjoys a good fairy tale. My boys watched it with me, and even they conceded it was a good movie.

Rated: PG

Rating: 4 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – Movie 2012

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Last night I watched Breaking Dawn – Part 2, the movie adaptation of the second part of the book by the same name. And I’m finished with the Twilight movies!!! Thank you Lord, I made it through!

Lucky viewers get to meet Bella–the baby vampire. She takes to her new role like a fish to water and finally gets to meet her baby girl, Renesmee. Unfortunately, the Volturi catch wind of this new super-human child and believe it’s their duty to destroy the danger. The Cullens race to gather witnesses to Renesmee’s human development, hoping it will stop the Volturi from carrying out their swift “justice.” Jacob and the pack side with the Cullens to defend Renesmee, since she has been imprinted on by Jacob. Who will survive in the final showdown? If you want to know more about what I thought of the book, check out my book review.

My thoughts:

I remember enjoying the Twilight movies when they came out, but now that I’m going back and watching them in quick succession, they’ve lost their sparkle for me. First, I’m comparing them to the books, and they just don’t measure up. Second, the movies weren’t that well done. For a fan who isn’t afraid to point out the flaws in a franchise, there is plenty of cannon fodder in these movies.

I feel like this movie could have been really interesting. It features a very tense situation and lots of cool and interesting vampires, but the acting and chemistry of the characters was subpar. I don’t care how dramatic and beautiful you are, you still need to put emotions into your lines and interact with the environment and other characters around you in a believable manner. It seems like Edward, Bella and Jacob actually lost some of their acting ability in this movie. Don’t ask me how. Bad script? Lame lines?

Now let’s talk about the CGI. It was painful to watch. The wolves are just kind of meh, but I can deal with that. The CGI baby was frightening. I think they were just trying to give her more intelligent eyes, but they didn’t look at all natural. Her hair was creepy, too. It’s too bad that baby Renesmee’s CGI was so poorly done because it takes away from your ability to really believe in the story you’re seeing played out in front of you.

As far as the conflict with the Volturi goes, I think that was probably the most satisfying part of the movie. There is a lot of theatricality packed into that snow-covered clearing as two formidable supernatural groups poise for battle. My absolute favorite part of the movie is something that didn’t even happen in the book. –SPOILER ALERT– When they show the battle between the Cullens, etc. and the Volturi–THAT IS THE BOMB! A-MA-ZING fight scene! Unfortunately, it’s a haha–got you moment when you realize it didn’t really happen after all. In reality Aro and company go home and everyone else lives happily ever after.

I’m sorry, but my brain rebels against that kind of conclusive ending. You’re vampires, for goodness’ sake, not librarians! There is danger involved in that kind of lifestyle. Whatever–I guess it was an easy way to wrap up the series. I suppose it’s just difficult to accept such a fairytale ending for a series which has been rather dark throughout the rest of its history.

To sum up, I’d say this movie is on par with the other ones. Just okay. The fight scene at the end is awesome, though. Maybe you should watch it just for that.

I recommend this movie to ladies in their teens and older who enjoy a good paranormal romance. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, I think you will enjoy this movie.

Possible Objections:

Violence, blood & gore
Suggestive sexual content & partial nudity (though you don’t actually see the private bits)

Rated: PG-13

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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September 25, 2017 by Categories: Movies from Books - Sci Fi & FantasyTags: adaptation, bella, book, cullens, edward, fantasy, forks, jacob, movie, quileute, review, romance, romantic, story, teen, twilight, vampires, volturi, werewolves Leave a comment

Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – Movie 2011

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Last night I watched Breaking Dawn – Part 1, the movie adaptation of the first part of the book by the same name. I’m almost to the end of these movies!

Bella and Edward finally wed(!) and jet off to spend a relaxed honeymoon in the tropics. While Edward follows through on his promise of intimacy, it comes with some unintended consequences. Bella becomes pregnant, and the entire Cullen clan scrambles to keep Bella healthy, and do their best to help her survive the birth of the fast-growing fetus. When Jacob and the pack find out that an unknown supernatural being is developing inside of Bella, they feel it is their responsibility to get rid of the abomination. Will Bella and the baby survive? If you want to know more about what I thought of the book, check out my book review.

My thoughts:

I really like that they opened with the wedding scene. It looked absolutely beautiful and felt like the culmination of Edward and Bella’s relationship. Unfortunately, I was rather put off by the emotions displayed by the couple during their wedding. Pattinson did okay, with his subdued emotions possibly indicating nervousness. Bella, on the other hand, looked like she was attending a funeral. Nary a smile crossed her lips as she spotted her true love and walked down the aisle. Dang girl–if it’s that painful, why get married at all? It seemed very unrealistic to me and turned the wedding into just another awkward scene.

Bella’s ubiquitous lack of emotion came through in the rest of the movie, as well. I can’t even complain about it anymore. It’s just so bad and takes away any concern you might have for her character. How can you care about a character who doesn’t excite any compassion in you?

Of the J/E/B trio, I’d have to say that Jacob is my favorite character. He acts in a way that is at least familiar to the rest of us. Which is to say, he displays the emotions of a normal human being. Let’s not mince words though, his imprinting in this movie was slightly creepy. Never mind the fact that he was in love with the mother of his new love, this new love interest is a baby. I know there is an explanation which is supposed to clear the way and make it okay, but I can’t get over the fact that they are showing romantic attachment between adults and children. Too icky.

One of the more disturbing things in this movie is the amount of blood and gore, especially when you compare it to the previous movies. This one blows all the others out of the water. Bella’s nightmare the night before the wedding is very disturbing. Also, the part in which Bella finally goes into labor is very bloody and rather grotesque. I tell you this not to dissuade you from watching the movie, but to warn you that it might not be appropriate for younger viewers or those with a touchy stomach.

There are also some very suggestive scenes between Edward and Bella. While the nudity is tastefully done, it doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination. I wouldn’t be comfortable with my preteen watching those scenes.

While I enjoyed the movie, the plot was a bit simple to make it terribly satisfying. Essentially it’s the conundrum of a girl getting pregnant and how that is dealt with. If you’re not into relationship drama, this movie could quite possibly drive you insane.

I recommend this movie to ladies in their teens and older who enjoy a good paranormal romance. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, I think you will enjoy this movie.

Possible Objections:

Violence & gore
Lots of blood (especially during the delivery)
Suggestive sexual content & partial nudity (though you don’t actually see the private bits)

Rated: PG-13

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

OTHER TWILIGHT POSTS:

September 23, 2017 by Categories: Movies from Books - Sci Fi & FantasyTags: adaptation, bella, book, cullens, edward, fantasy, forks, jacob, love, movie, quileute, romance, romantic, story, teen, twilight, vampires, werewolves Leave a comment

Eclipse — Movie 2010

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Last night I watched Eclipse, the movie adaptation of the book by the same name!

The vampires and werewolves of Forks, Washington form an uneasy alliance when they face a threat from an unknown source in nearby Seattle. Bella is once again in the sights of a malevolent supernatural creature, and both the Cullens and Quileutes put their lives on the line to protect her. Edward and Bella come to a new understanding in their relationship, and Jacob continues to vie for Bella’s hand. If you want to know more about what I thought of the book, check out my book review.

My thoughts:

I can’t believe how long it took me to get my hands on this movie. I wanted to review it when the book was still fresh in my mind. Unfortunately, I probably missed some of the differences between the book and the movie because of the long interim.

The movie jumps right in with the action going on in Seattle. I must say that they amped up the vampire on human violence in this movie. The previous movies have fairly quick and non-gruesome killing scenes, but this one takes it to the next level with the newborn vampires attacking people. I was startled and kind of looked away during the part with the mauling and the burning car.

Edward and Bella seemed to have more of a natural relationship; not quite as sappy as in the two previous movies. That was a relief, however, there really didn’t seem to be a lot of chemistry between them in this movie. Am I the only one who thought that? It was nice to see them come to a concrete decision in their relationship. Bella’s demand for after their marriage seems a bit petty and hormonal, though. Such a teenager!

I really liked Jacob in this movie. He was more mature and intentional in his pursuit of Bella. He genuinely loves her and offers her a life which any woman would prize. It’s too bad she loves Edward more. You can’t help but feel bad for Jacob and root for him as the underdog.

It was also nice to get more of Jasper’s and Rosalie’s backstories. Rosalie’s story was particularly disturbing, and I’m glad that they didn’t get any more explicit in that scene. It was bad enough as it was.

Overall, I enjoyed this movie adaptation, but I still prefer the book. There were some very cool parts–the vamp/wolf chase scene with Victoria, and the Cullen and Quileute training scenes in particular. There were a few scenes which were just okay and I found my mind wandering and a yawn escaping my lips. All in all, it’s not my favorite Twilight movie. Sorry!

I recommend this movie to ladies in their teens and older who enjoy a good paranormal romance. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, I think you will enjoy this movie.

Possible Objections:

Violence (including a strong suggestion of sexual violence)

Rated: PG-13

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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September 23, 2017 by Categories: Movies from Books - Sci Fi & FantasyTags: adaptation, bella, book, cullens, edward, fantasy, forks, jacob, movie, review, romance, romantic, stephenie meyer, story, twilight, vampire, victoria, volturi, werewolf Leave a comment

New Moon — Movie 2009

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Last night I watched New Moon, the movie adaptation of the book by the same name!

After a disastrous birthday party in which Bella is almost killed, Edward decides that it would be safer for her if he were not a part of her life. Abandoned by her true love, Bella is swallowed by depression. Her friend Jacob Black starts to bring a little light back into her life, though he is hiding a secret of his own. And though Edward tried, Bella is still in danger. Will Edward and Bella be reunited, or will Bella fall for her best friend, Jacob? If you want to know more about what I thought of the book, check out my book review.

My thoughts:

Overall, I would say that this movie is on par with the previous one, Twilight. It’s a must-see if you’re a fan of the series, and an okay movie if you like paranormal romance in general.

Let’s just jump right into my criticisms. I really like the look of the Cullen family, but especially in the scenes where the whole family is interacting together, they are way too unnatural. That is rather a disappointment because in the books you get a sense that this is a family that is warm, loving, and really watches out for each member. For some reason that warmth and family atmosphere did not translate through in the movie. That’s too bad.

My second criticism is over the slight changes made to the original story. In the movie they make it seem like Carlisle doubts whether vampires have souls, when in the book he actually does have faith in an afterlife. Also, they manufactured the scene where Victoria is hunting Charlie, and Harry Clearwater saves him by essentially sacrificing himself. Maybe they wanted to make Harry’s death tie into the vampire theme a little more, instead of somebody dying of natural causes? There were several other changes made to the story, most of them seemingly slight, but they add up over time to produce a story which kind of rankles if you’re a big fan of the book. I’m not a huge fan of changing a story when translating it to film, if there doesn’t seem to be a good reason for it.

Finally, my biggest criticism is how they changed the romantic tension between Jacob and Bella. The book is quite clear that Jacob is very interested in Bella in a romantic way, but she never seriously entertains the idea of getting involved with him romantically. All of those almost-kisses in the movie are completely made up, and I think it complicates their relationship in a way that isn’t true to the original story.

There are also some things which I really liked! Edward is still sultry and amazing. I enjoy his acting style and think he really nailed the sexy vampire thing. Jacob is amazing, too! He is warm, intense and down-to-earth–just like Jacob is supposed to be. Finally, the werewolves were very cool! I pictured them a bit larger in my head, but they were still impressive. I love the whole new mystical side which is added to the story with the wolves. Grudgingly, I’ll add that Stewart displayed more convincing emotions in this movie than in the previous one. Perhaps she’s just a very subdued kind of person.

I recommend this movie to ladies in their teens and older who enjoy a good paranormal romance. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, I think you would enjoy this movie.

Possible Objections:

Violence

Rated: PG-13

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

OTHER TWILIGHT POSTS:

August 19, 2017 by Categories: Movies from Books - Sci Fi & FantasyTags: adaptation, bella, book, cullen, edward, fantasy, girls, jacob, love, movie, paranormal, review, romance, romantic, story, teen, vampire, werewolf, women Leave a comment

Twilight — Movie 2008

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Let’s talk about Twilight, the movie adaptation of the book by the same name!

Bella Swan moves in with her dad, starting over in the town of Forks, Washington. There she encounters the enigmatic Edward Cullen and they fall for each other. However, Edward is hiding a dangerous secret that could put their relationship in jeopardy. Will Bella decide to stay with Edward, and if so, will she be safe? If you want to know more about what I thought of the book, check out my book review.

My thoughts:

So I watched Twilight the other night and decided I should review it before moving on to the next movie in the series. Unfortunately, I remembered it as being better than it was. Sad face.

I love the story overall, but there were a few things in the movie that I didn’t care for. The first thing I have to mention is Edward and Bella’s first interaction in Biology class. It was bad. Just bad. They both spoke and acted like they were a bit slow mentally. I get it that this was their first real conversation, so it was bound to be awkward, but why make it downright painful to watch?

This brings me to my second criticism. Robert Pattinson does okay in the displaying-real-emotions department, even sneaking in some humor at times. However, Kristen Stewart did not pull it off at all. Her emotions were flat, and sometimes completely unbelievable (as in her response in the hospital scene when Edward talks about leaving). Stewart’s lack of real emotions grated on me throughout the movie. Also, there were too many “slow stares” between Edward and Bella. Just staring at each other does not a passionate scene make.

On a more positive note, there were some things that I absolutely loved about the movie. It’s fun to see such a fantastical story come to life in front of your eyes. I really enjoyed the scene where the Cullens are playing baseball. It was a nice way to showcase their abilities. Also, Charlie, Billy Black and Jacob all did a fine job in their roles. It really makes a difference when you have good supporting actors. I couldn’t get over how young Jacob looked–like a little boy!

I recommend this movie to ladies in their teens and older who enjoy a good paranormal romance. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, I think you would enjoy this movie.

Possible Objections:

Violence

Rated: PG-13

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

OTHER TWILIGHT POSTS:

August 19, 2017 by Categories: Movies from Books - Sci Fi & FantasyTags: adaptation, bella, book, cullen, edward, fantasy, forks, jacob, love, movie, paranormal, preteen, romance, romantic, story, teen, tween, vampire, werewolf Leave a comment

Inkheart – Movie 2008

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So sad, so sad. Let me shed a tear. I was hoping, hoping, hoping that this would be a good movie. I really, really wanted to like it. I just couldn’t. After mulling it over for a few days, I still can’t.

Inkheart is based on the book by the same name, by Cornelia Funke. I must report that there was some creative license taken with the movie. The characters are not exactly like those in the book, more drama and fantasy are added to the movie, and the plot is changed a bit.

I really hate to say it, but the acting left me feeling like it didn’t quite hit the mark. While I think Andy Serkis is very talented, I was not convinced that he really was Capricorn. Farid, I’m afraid, was quite unbelievable. Even Mo was lacking in the convinceability department. (I do make up words; just get used to it.) Surprisingly, two of the characters I most enjoyed were not big players at all–Fenoglio and Flatnose.

I’m sad that I didn’t enjoy Inkheart more, but overall it wasn’t too bad. It just wasn’t my cup of tea, especially when comparing it to the book.

Rated: PG

Rating: 2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

The Color of Magic – TV Mini-Series 2008

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The hubby and I watched The Color of Magic last night. Having recently read the book, I was better able to compare it to the movie. The movie title is slightly misleading because it actually tells the story of both The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic, though in abbreviated form.

The overall look of the movie is great–fantastic cinematography, great CGI, appropriate costuming, and spot-on settings. You can tell that this is a very professional production.

It also has an all-star cast–Christopher Lee as the voice of Death, Sean Astin as Twoflower, Jeremy Irons as the Patrician, Tim Curry as Trymon, David Jason as Rincewind, and David Bradley (think Argus Filch) as Cohen the Barbarian. I can’t rave enough about how well each part was played. Death’s subtle sense of humor is to die for (pun intended). Jeremy Irons’ role as the Patrician, though brief, is wonderful. Tim Curry is just about the best ‘bad guy’ out there and he delivers yet again in this movie.

The original overall storyline is followed very closely, though a few parts are shortened or changed, and some lesser scenes are left out. Since the plot is so complex, it would be nearly impossible to make any major changes to the story and still have it make sense.

If you love Terry Pratchett’s books, then I am quite certain you will appreciate this movie. It is a well-executed treatment of the Discworld that really brings to life its unique places and enchanting characters. It’s kind of like meeting old friends on the screen–heartwarming and endorphin-releasing. If you haven’t read any Terry Pratchett, then this movie will seem completely fantastical to you, but that is exactly what it’s supposed to be.

Possible Objections:

The d-word is said several times.
One instance of “hell” as an epithet.
A whole lot of violence, some of it rather startling/up close.
A scantily clad dragon rider, and references to things of a sexual nature.
The part where Trymon is possessed could be rather frightening to some.

Rated: NR

Rating: 5 Stars

Until next time…

Lori