Book BFF Melissa: Movies

{Book & Movie Review} The Host

4 Stars

Number of Pgs.: 619

Publication date: May 6, 2008

Publisher: Stephanie Meyer
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian

How I got the copy: Bought (for $6 at B&N!)

Rating: 4 stars

From Goodreads:

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.

Plot: 6/10

Characters: 7/10

Setting: 7/10

Pacing: 5/10

Style: 5/10

Cover: It's typical Stephanie Meyer's black cover with one focal point. It's kind of boring, but I love the reflective eye!

30+50=80 (4 Stars)

Yesterday I saw the movie so this is going to be a joint book & movie review!

Reading this book involved using a lot of imagination because some of the concepts were really out there and if you really thought about them (which after 600 pages--that's a lot of thinking) you'd realize that some of the concepts don't make sense. So there's these Souls that inhabit the species on the planets they take over. And they don't use any force or violence ever yet they've managed to take over 12+ planets? I think she did a great job getting the reader to think about how the human race has really turned violent without making it too obvious like in the Hunger Games. But she also showed how when disaster strikes everyone helps each other like during natural disasters.
The Movie: This world seemed more Sci Fi then in the book and I'm not sure why they did that. I didn't picture it that way at all.

Wanda is such a weak character at first and Melanie is so strong, but over time I grew to love both of them. I was glad Wanda didn't let her emotions rule her and do stupid things (like Nora in Hush Hush), but she was too compassionate which was hard to relate to. Jamie was adorable and pulled at my heart strings.
The Movie: I felt like it was too plot focused and there wasn't enough time to get emotionally attached to the characters. And since they couldn't show Wanda and Mel talking in their head she had to turn around and speak out loud every time they had a conversation. And the voice overs were a little stupid at times. Jamie was hardly in the movie at all which I also hated, but I will say that the movie was well cast.

12:13 AM
5 Comments

The Hunger Games: Age Appropriateness?

Movies

How young is too young?

I read the books and have seen The Hunger Games movie twice already. At the premiere Thursday I noticed a lot of young children/teens in the audience. I didn't think much of it at first. I was 8 when I first saw Titanic and I wasn't upset by the floating mannequins in the ocean then. So why would this be any different for these kids? But as I sat crying during the Rue scene I couldn't help but think that those kids shouldn't be watching it. I know you need parental supervision to see it because it's technically PG13, but should there just be a set limit like no one under 13 can see it at all? And should there be an age limit on who can purchase the book?

I think if a new law was placed to prohibit children under a certain age to see it there would be an uproar like the SOPA incident. Society freaks out when there is any censorship. But if parents aren't doing their job and researching what their kids are seeing before they go to the movies, then should the government act as the parent and decide for them? What about with books? I find it strange that a 13 year old can't rent a rated R movie without being carded, but can borrow any book they want from the library. I'm usually against censorship, but seeing those young kids in the theater really made me think.

For me the actual violence of the movie wasn't too upsetting because it was done very well. The camera shots were quick and slightly shaky since it was from Katniss' point of view so you didn't see everything too clearly. It also didn't show the tributes lying dead for too long. A quick glance at them lying on the ground and then it panned away. There wasn't too much blood either. I felt reading about their deaths was wayyyy worse. I remember almost throwing up while reading because I was so disturbed by the descriptions and how cruel it all was. Somehow it didn't have the same effect on me on the big screen. Maybe it was because my generation has become numb to watching violence (don't get me started...that could be a whole other post lol).

I wonder if the violence was too much for those kids though. And not just the violence, but the emotional rollercoaster Suzanne Collins takes the audience on. When Katniss volunteers for her sister all I could think about was my big sister and how she would have probably done the same. As Prim is being ripped away from her sister's arms I had to remind myself that I was in a public place and forced myself to hold back my tears. And I know I am not the only one. I heard sniffles all through out the theater. So if a 22 year old like me was finding the movie very emotional I can't imagine a 10-15 year old processing it.

What do you all think? Do you have children or siblings who saw it? What age do you think is appropriate for them to read and see materials like this?

Here's what some other people think: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/604080-appropriate-for-what-ages