Monday, August 25, 2014

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

5 comments:

  1. I just saw The Giver last night! Also being someone who loved the original novel, I went into the movie trying to divorce myself from the novel, so as not to compare them. Obviously, I compared them, ahaha. I do think the differences were necessary for a novel adaptation. Like you said, moviegoers got to see the elders' point of views, which was pretty satisfying. And I liked the romance, for romance's sake. Great review :)

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  2. I haven't read The Giver since middle school, it feels like it's been forever! Considering your high expectations and your enjoyment of the movie, and taking in the fact that I have no expectations at all, I really think I'll enjoy this haha. And whoo romance! That's the only word you really need to convince me to give the movie a try XD

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  3. Yay I am so glad that you liked it! I am terrified to see it because I loved the book so much, but your review just swayed me! Thanks for the awesome review!

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  4. I'm so glad you liked it! I've been so nervous to watch it, but I've heard a few people say they loved it, so how I'm definitely going to have to give it a shot!

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  5. If I'm honest, I had no idea what The Giver was about (yikes, I know.) I mean, I've heard of it, but never really took much notice of it, (so I'm going to have to get on that.) But, yay! Glad it surprised you (in the good way) and that they kept to the story, love that they showed it outside of the perspective, I love The Hunger Games books, I do, but I love the movies that little bit more because of that. Totally get your apprehension about going to see it though, there's been so many adaptations the last few years, and most of them have been a disappointment (it's still why I haven't even watched Vampire Academy & Mortal Instruments yet.) :(

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