Fans of The Host have eagerly awaited the movie's release and it is hard to believe it is finally here! Showtimes begin tonight at 9 and I'm sure some fans are already making their way to the theater. I saw the movie twice last month and again this week, but have not really had the chance to discuss it with many people. I am curious to see how fans and general moviegoers react to the movie and would love to hear your opinions.Below are a couple starting points, but feel free to discuss whatever you would like. Obviously there will be spoilers in the comments, so read them at your own risk.
Discussion Questions:
2. Are you a Stephenie Meyer/ Twilight fan?
3. Overall rating on a 5 star scale?
4. Favorite/least favorite character(s) or actor(s)?
5. If you read the book, how successful do you think the movie is as an adaptation?
6. If you read the book, what changes did you like? Anything left out you would have like to see?
7. If you have not read the book, do you think the movie is successful for non-fans?
8. Were the filmmakers/Saoirse Ronan successful in portraying two separate characters?
9. Comments the costumes, sets, cinematography, score, etc.
10. Would you watch a sequel?
These are just starter questions and you do not have to address all of them in your response. Everyone opinions are valued, so please be respectful of each other and keep your language clean.
1. Did you read The Host prior to seeing the movie? Yes I certainly did(but only after seeing the 1st trailer i was hesitant to read it at first IDK but I dont regret it, I Loved the book)
ReplyDelete2. Are you a Stephenie Meyer/ Twilight fan?
Yes I am I started by watching twilight (yeah I know I'm one of those people) But read the book after finishing the 1st movie and Could stop till I finished the series. I think SN is a good writer and great story teller.
3. Overall rating on a 5 star scale?
Book 5 stars movie 4.5 stars
4. Favorite/least favorite character(s) or actor(s)?
Seekers a pain in the but but other then that no one really
5. If you read the book, how successful do you think the movie is as an adaptation?
I loved the Movie I thought it was great very similar emotions throughout, Only issues are it felt rushed and let many things out but it still seemed to work the additions where great I enjoyed some of the extras
6. If you read the book, what changes did you like? Anything left out you would have like to see?
Remove: Walter, Sunny/Jodi Kyle, Many of the relationships Wanda had(Walter, kyle, other cave dwellers), Some quotes, i like the Additions: of the Glow worms scene, and the hole in Wanda's cell
7. If you have not read the book, do you think the movie is successful for non-fans?
I Did go see the movie with My wife who didn't read the book there were also others there who hadn't and they all enjoyed the movie. My wife thought it was very good better then twilight. she loved alot of the quotes of Melanie and Wanda arguing.
8. Were the filmmakers/Saoirse Ronan successful in portraying two separate characters?
Very I personally thought the did a great job Thought some time I thought they could have dubbed both Melanie and Wanda in her head(though it would most likely be very confusing) but she did fabulous.
9. Comments the costumes, sets, cinematography, score, etc.
The Costume where great, Set amazing, Cinematography was awesome, Score was very good help guide the story along and help with emotions as it should. The Characters all stuck true to the source and where great,
10. Would you watch a sequel?
Yes though I just wander how they're going to explain removed characters such as Sunny/Jodi.
Can't wait to read the sequel though I'm a bit nervous as to where shes going to go with the story.
I just got home from seeing it and I LOVED IT! It was amazing, I did not read the book before but I thought it was great. I would have to give it a 4.5 because the plot was amazing but it got somewhat bland at points but overall I loved it.
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ReplyDelete1. Did you read The Host prior to seeing the movie?
ReplyDeleteYes.
2. Are you a Stephenie Meyer/ Twilight fan?
No, but I wasn't a hater.
3. Overall rating on a 5 star scale?
4/5
4. Favorite/least favorite character(s) or actor(s)?
Good question. Right now that's n/a.
5. If you read the book, how successful do you think the movie is as an adaptation?
I thought it was a good effort. Some things could have been expanded, but overall I thought it was good. It's a good compliment to the actual book.
6. If you read the book, what changes did you like? Anything left out you would have like to see?
Overall I think the changes were well-intentioned and for the most part worked out for the benefit of the movie.
I thought the relationships between Jared + Mel and Wanda + could've been looked into in more deeply. There are certain things that need to be shorted in order for it to fit in a 2 hr movie, in order for the narrative to flow, but I think if relationships aren't written carefully, especially in the love "box" situation, for the screen it makes an otherwise touching/intriguing aspect appear shallow and awkward. Andrew Niccol could've done a better job in depicting Me/Wanda's intimate relationships.
7. If you have not read the book, do you think the movie is successful for non-fans?
I'll answer anyways. Those who already didn't like Meyer and the movie before its release usually come in with a pre conceived idea which is much harder to shake off than someone who comes in with a more positive attitude. Given the recent critic scores and how it was embarrassed at the US BO (came in 6th) I'd say it failed in reaching out to non-fans.
8. Were the filmmakers/Saoirse Ronan successful in portraying two separate characters?
Yes and no. As stated above, I thought the director could've spent more time developing Mel/Wanda's intimate relationship. It was okay in the movie, but more in sight on why Mel and Jared felt the way they did for each other was needed; same goes for Ian and Wanda, even more so.
I thought Saoirse Ronan did fine. I thought the contacts kinda did a disservice to her portrayal as Wanda because is made her look (or maybe it was her lack of ability to emote) kinda stoned faced. I think Saoirse doesn't have much of an expressive face save her "death stare" as I call it. I don't think the director gave her enough direction, or pushed her enough.
9. Comments the costumes, sets, cinematography, score, etc.
Costumes were fine; I wasn't awed or repelled by them. Visually it was technically amazing. The caves were good, but I could tell it was shot in a studio. The score was my favorite part of the movie.
10. Would you watch a sequel?
It all depends on how Stephenie writes the sequel.
1. Did you read The Host prior to seeing the movie?
ReplyDeleteYep
2. Are you a Stephenie Meyer/ Twilight fan?
Somewhat, I have a love/hate relationship with the series.
3. Overall rating on a 5 star scale?
3.7
4. Favorite/least favorite character(s) or actor(s)?
Favorite character is Wanda, favorite actor for the movie was Jake Abel, least favorite character is Jared, least favorite character in the movie is Wanda's Seeker.
5. If you read the book, how successful do you think the movie is as an adaptation? It seems to not be doing well in the box office so I would say it wasn't as successful as it could have been.
6. If you read the book, what changes did you like? Anything left out you would have like to see? I liked how they smoothed over the awkwardness of the whole waking Melanie up scene. Some of the humor was funny. I disliked some of the personality changes, the characters that were omitted, making Wanda more passive, and taking out key moments to show that Wanda and Melanie actually bonded (She seemed to be irritated with her the whole time), The ages of Melanie and Jamie, especially, my favorite quote missing from the movie, The seekers unifrom sports cars and clothing (Wanda's seeker was supposed to dress differently from the rest of her kind as well), adding a love scene that never existed, changing their eye color to all be the same (of course it might have been difficult to have it the same as in the books) and The story seemed like it needed to be spaced out more.
7. If you have not read the book, do you think the movie is successful for non-fans?
I took my brother (who had read the book) and my mom (who hadn't) and both liked the movie maybe my mom more than my brother. My mom loved the story probably even more than me because she doesn't have the book as a comparison.
8. Were the filmmakers/Saoirse Ronan successful in portraying two separate characters? In some ways yes but at times it was kind of awkward and cheesy.
9. Comments the costumes, sets, cinematography, score, etc. I wish some of the sets and costumes stayed closer to the how it was in the book. It's the same problem The Hunger Games had, trying to find the balance between the scifi side of the story and making it seem like places that exist now. Even though I love scifi I think them moving the look more towards the scifi side might have alienated some of her regular fans. Stephenie Meyer is all about making weird things happen in a world that looks like ours. I think even though they are aliens they needed just a little bit more "everyday" to their look. They do have technology we don't have but they blended into our world.
10. Would you watch a sequel?
Of course, even though I have a lot of criticism I did enjoy the movie and I would support the next one. I can't wait until she finishes the sequel.
The Host's infelicities-drab dialogue, ridiculous plotting, more emotional crises than there is story-are enlivened by its thematic eccentricities. :)
ReplyDeletehave you even read the book itself? cause if you haven't then you're not a real fan....
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read the book prior to seeing the film, with that said i thought it was well done since i had nothing to compare to. but i have read the book now, the film was well done considering how much was cut from the book. i give it a 4.5
ReplyDeletei have read the twilight series. was a fan in the beginning but not anymore. but i admire SM's success.
i really loved the 3 main leads. Saoirse Ronan playing 2 people was great, the way she showed each woman in body language,voice, etc. my favorite character is Jared because of Max Irons' performance. he brought such a heartbreaking agony to jared. i know he was kind of a jerk but consider what he's been through. so tragic. and william hurt as Jeb was phenomenal.
i read the book and i'm addicted with the movie. can't wait for a sequel. hope the same actors return, and its not too far into the future.
Awesome! Movie! Can't wait for the next 1 :)
ReplyDelete