"Arrival" Film Adaptaton

I am a very visual person so I really enjoyed being able to watch the movie after reading the story. The issue I ran into was that I made an image of what I pictured the story to look like and I'm the move that's not quite how it played out. That always messes with my mind because I had a set image of it being one way and then it wasn't. If I had to choose one, I would prefer the movie. Only because I am such a visual person.

Don't get me wrong the story was good and it really makes you think, but I feel like you can understand the premise more when it was in the form of a film. Then again, I like movies because they only require a short amount of time and you get the whole story in that period. I’m lazy, so naturally, 2 hours of my time versus days tends to win me over. But as I’ve said, I’m trying to learn to love to read.

The additions I really enjoyed in the movie consisted of the ship and the reasoning behind Ian and Louise’s split. I feel like the ship really gave it that spectacular, incredible and unbelievable feeling that they were feeling in the movie when they saw it. It seemed to make the arrival itself a much bigger deal. I liked having a reason for Ian’s leaving because I think that is a major point in which you gain audience. You pull on their heartstrings. Along with Ian’s reason, having Hannah die at a much younger age also plays with people’s emotions. It really hits people hard watching a younger kid die rather than someone in their mid-twenties, so that was a good move on the screenwriters part.

             Overall I think the story and the movie are both really well done and pull strong meaning. I liked the movie particularly due to the visuals. But I really enjoyed the format in the story and the “aha!” moment you have when you reach the end.  

Film Adaptation

               I, being the stereotypical teenage girl, have only seen the film adaptations that almost every other person has seen too. Harry Potter, Twilight, Fifty Shades of Grey, etc. Fun fact: I never even read Twilight or Fifty Shades, and I only read five and a half Harry Potter books. I can tell you why too. I love movies. I like going to see them, and I like…liking movies. And I have always been afraid that if I read the book, it will ruin the movies for me. Not the other way around like most people.

                Now, I did read all of The Hunger Games books. Then I saw all of the movies. I wasn’t disappointed. I think they did really well adapting the movie to the books. In my opinion, all of the actors that played the characters were chosen wisely and I think the screenwriting was done impeccably. That being the only series of books I’ve ever truly completed, I can’t really speak for other series.

              Something people don’t talk about a lot is TV series. My absolute favorite television show to ever exist is The Vampire Diaries. I didn’t know until season 2 that it was based off of a series of books. When I found out, I looked them up and I almost cried. It was like a disgrace to the television show (to me at least, I’m sure to the author it’s the other way around).  Characters had kids that didn’t have kids in the show, they were all described to look completely different than they did in the show, and it was horrifying. Pretty Little Liars is another television series that was based off of a series of books. Just knowing people that have read it and then seen it, it’s also completely different than the books. Mind you, that show has had 10 seasons and NEVER ends. They just keep making new things up and drag it out because it’s popular. It remained true to the books like 10% of the time, from what people have told me.

                Knowing all of that, I think film adaptations are typically well-received more often than TV series, at least for those who read the books first. Honestly I haven’t read enough books that have been adapted to tell you whether or not it works majority of the time. I’ll tell you how American Psycho goes.

Book Review - The Woman In Cabin 10

Imagine this: you are on a cruise, miles from civilization. You think you hear someone thrown overboard. You see blood. You hear a scream. And all of the proof you gather up…leads to someone that does not even exist. At least no thinks they do. Now imagine that your name is Lo. Now you are the main character in The Woman In Cabin 10.

                I say “when you read” and not “if” because I think everyone should read this book at some point. Not only is it thrilling and will keep you on the edge of your seat. But it also deals with everyday struggles like anxiety and relationships. Things readers can really grab on to and relate to. That’s what I think makes this book so great. For some reason, in this book especially, there is a very strong connection between the characters and the readers. It may be the relatability factor of some of the plot, or it could be Ruth’s way of captivating a reader and holding their attention.

                By no means is it a book you pick up when you want a good laugh or to lighten the mood. Nooo, no, no! It is a book full of strife, tears, fear and suspicion. All of which lends itself swimmingly to the plot and the intentions of the author. Leading me to the question: What are the intentions of the author? My answer to that, as a large fan of the work, is that her intentions are to take you on a trip. To pull you so far into the book you can feel the wind and smell the ocean. To show you that anything can happen to anyone, and sometimes…at the worst time possible. Ruth Ware does an amazing job shining a light on Lo’s life and taking us along.

Now I recommend you go get on that boat! You don’t want to miss it. You’re almost late! GO!