The Giver: Movie Review

In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.
-Summary from IMDB

There has been a lot of talk about this movie, good and bad, and I will admit I was one of the skeptics. Every time I would watch the trailer I would get a sense of dread. The Giver was my first dystopian book, I loved it, and like most readers I was looking for a good adaptation and I felt like I could barely recognize the book in the trailer. That being said I knew I would go see it, but I was content to wait until it came into the cheap theater, that was until my friend suggested we go see it the other day and I agreed. To say I was shocked was an understatement. 

Now, I haven’t read the book in a few years but I’d say that The Giver turned out to be an amazing adaptation of the beloved book by Lois Lowry. The way they dealt with the black & white world with the integration of color was brilliantly done. Although the characters were older everything still felt like it worked, it wasn’t too big of a difference just with a little bit of romance thrown in. 

There were a few changes to the story but I felt like they worked and we get to see more of the world outside of Jonas’s view kind of like what they did with the Hunger Games. We saw what they leaders were thinking and how they react to Jonas’s actions. 

As a fan of the book, I enjoyed this movie immensely and would suggest that all fans give it a try no matter what they think of the trailer. Because this was one amazing book adaptation. 

-Sarah

Top 10 Favorite Movies and TV shows (3)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Sarah’s Top 10 Movies (In no particular order.)

1. Much Ado About Nothing (2012)
I have never loved Shakespeare so much. Joss Whedon's Much Ado is amazing, I could understand the characters, their actions and emotions were believable, and I just love all the actors because I've seen most of them on other things. A must see movie for any Shakespeare fan or Whedonite.

2. The Boondock Saints
I really didn't think I'd like this movie. But then before I realized it I had watched it ten times in a week. I love the brothers.  

3. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
P&P was my first intro into Jane Austen and the only reason I read the book was because I heard this movie was coming out and I wanted to read it before I saw it. Kiera Knightley is Elizabeth Bennet. I love this movie so much because it feels so real, lively, and believable.

4. Star Wars Original Trilogy
Do I really need to explain this? 

5. You’ve Got Mail
The main character owns a bookshop. LOVE! This is one of my favorite romantic comedy's. Their path to love is just amazing!

6. The Avengers
A superhero movie done by Joss Whedon. Enough said.

7. Casablanca
 I didn't truly appreciate this movie until I was older but it is one of the few old time black and white movies that I own. I love Rick and the side characters totally make this movie.

8. Pirates of The Caribbean
JACK SPARROW!!!!lol Also Elizabeth Swan is one of my all time favorite female characters. Pirate!

9. Tangled
If I hadn't loved Aladdin for the past 20+ years, this would totally be my favorite Disney movie! Great songs, awesome characters and a well done story. This movie has everything!

10. The Fiddler on the Roof
Awesome movie if you can take the three hours to watch it. I love the music and historical setting. And I always find it amusing watching Tevye shimmy.lol

Christina’s Top 10 TV Shows

1. Dollhouse

This show will always have a special place in my heart because it taught me what character development is. I feel like this show is a study in ethics, philosophy, and psychology. Common questions brought up in the show are: What is a soul, and can it be erased? Can a human really sign away their freedom, or is freedom a right? Can a soul be built upon a blank slate? Is the Dollhouse a blessing or a curse? The show is deep, man. I'd love to write a couple of essays on it.

2. Firefly
Every now and then I'll watch the whole series (it's only 14 episodes) in order and just fall in love with Serenity, the characters, and the world. This show is a masterpiece.

3. Doctor Who
This is just a fun, quirky show that likes to, on occasion, rip my heart out, stomp on it, and then step back and laugh. That being said, it is worth it..

4. Primeval
Dinosaurs coming through a portal and wreaking havoc throughout modern day England. What's not to like? I know it sounds dorky, it is sometimes, but you have to give it a chance to understand the awesomeness. I love all the characters on this show. I wish it hadn't been canceled.

5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
This is the show that shaped my taste of books and movies into what it is today. I was a huge wuss before, I cried through anything scary. I was always told to keep my eyes closed whenever one of the vampires had its "game face" on. During the episode Halloween I decided to keep my eyes open and I fell in love. I watched all 7 seasons, watched some Angel, and became a fan of Supernatural. I still don't like things that scare me, but there's not much that does anymore, so it's not a problem.

6. Person of Interest
 This is one complex mess of a show. It really is amazing how many things are connected. I can't wait for the next season to find out what happens next.

7. Haven
I just finished watching season one and I am in love. I love the creepiness of the show and the characters are awesome. I'm a little worried to see where season two takes us, but I'm sure it'll be weird and interesting.

8. Arrow
I wasn't so sure about this show at first, I almost stopped watching it at the beginning, but it's pretty darn amazing. I'm really looking forward to the next season.

9. Castle
This show is consistently good and fun. I've watched it from the beginning and although I don't watch it as faithfully anymore it still has a place in my heart.

10. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
This show takes a couple of episodes to flesh out the characters, but once it does it is awesome. I have come to care for all of the characters in AoS and just.... gosh. It's so great. I need the next season.

Great Expectations (Movie 2012)

     I have never read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, nor have I seen any other movie versions, so I have nothing to compare this movie to. That being said I really liked this movie.

     Like most Dickens movies they did a really good job at showing the grittier and less romanticized side of Victorian England. The whole movie had a dark tone to it and, like many Dickens stories, there were plenty of plot twists and unknown connections between the characters.

     The thing that really made this movie enjoyable was all of the side characters that revolve around Pip, like his brother-in-law Joe and the creepy Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham is my favorite character. Helena Bonham-Carter did a magnificent job playing this sad and disturbed woman, and it wasn’t over the top crazy like it could have been. Pip was a good main character, but he was annoying at times due to his new found wealth and place in society. I couldn’t completely like him because of it, but it was certainly realistic and in the end he did become a character I could respect.

     It’s hard to fit a complex book into 2 hours of film. While it is a good movie you can tell that there’s plenty missing, whether it be the finer details of the characters and their relationships, or what seems like time gaps. It does the best that it can with the time that it has.

     This movie acts as an introduction to the characters and plot of Great Expectations and I’m looking forward to reading the novel someday.

               -Christina