Tuesday Ten: Books I Want Movies From

This week's topic from The Broke and the Bookish is books you'd like to see as movies. This is a hard list for me to make because books are so much better than movies and the last movie I saw was The Muppets when it came out on DVD, and I probably go to the actual theaters like two or three times a year mayyybe, so I am not the best person to ask about movies. But okay, I'll give it a try. Because I do love movies like A Walk to Remember and Geek Charming and The Hunger Games and sometimes books make really good movies. Also, I only have six books because of whatever.

1. The List

Siobhan Vivian

It's sad, but I'm pretty sure the only way this would make it to any sort of screen is if Lifetime decided to make it into a totally salacious "teenage girl problems" movie. Which is, like I said, sad. But that aside, the many different characters and POVs here would be a great fit for a movie along the lines of He's Just Not That Into You. Except, you know, different.

2. Jessie <3 NYC

Keris Stainton

This was the first book I thought of for this topic because even in my review I mentioned how I wished this book were a movie. The characters, storyline, and little surprises along the way are the sort of things that work so great in movies. YOU HEAR ME, MOVIE PEOPLE? Make it happen.

3. Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance

Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin

How meta would a movie about teen starlets in a fake romance be? SO META. And also, pretty awesome.

4. The Mockingbirds

Daisy Whitney

There's something about this book -- the subject matter, the well-drawn characters, the underground justice system, that I would love to see on screen. It's got the right mix of interesting, unexpected, and tried-and-true to be a really awesome, if slightly understated, movie. 

5. Two-Way Street

Lauren Barnholdt

This one came out five years ago, so it's probably not exactly on your radar, but from what I remember it definitely should be. Exes on a road trip together, on the way to the same college? Unresolved feelings and too much ambiguity? I love this book and I want it to be a movie that I will also love. 

6. Cheating At Solitaire

Ally Carter

This is another older book (it came out in 2005 and isn't even YA), and is one of the few straight-up "chick lit" (ugh, can't we rename that genre?) that I've flat-out loved. The love story is meet-cute perfect for a movie.

QUICK QUESTION

SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT GARY ROSS NOT DIRECTING CATCHING FIRE?

Thoughts??

What I Thought of The Hunger Games (Movie Review)

SPOILER ALERT: You've been warned. I don't discuss the plot in depth, but key points are mentioned as well as a few movie moments.

You guys, I saw The Hunger Games movie twice. Me and my sister went to the midnight opening, then the next day went again with my mom. I tried sort of half-heartedly to avoid reading any actual reviews of the film before seeing it because I wanted to form my own opinion as much as I could. If you want your movie-seeing experience unspoiled by reviews, maybe don't read this post. Otherwise, here's my "review" of The Hunger Games movie. (Bear with me, please, as I'm really not used to writing movie reviews.)

First off, the movie follows the book really incredibly well. There are definitely some changes in small things (like how Katniss gets the Mockingjay pin and whose idea it is for her and Peeta to hold hands during the parade in the Capitol) and certain scenes/lines that I loved didn't make it to the movie. But that's to be expected, really, and what the movie gets right is so huge. It gets the important parts, the pivotal scenes and events that happen. Certain scenes are added to the movie that lay the groundwork for the rest of the series really well, without it being exactly as it was in the book. Because we're outside of Katniss' mind and don't know exactly what she's thinking/feeling at all times (although Jennifer Lawrence does an amazing job of just totally becoming Katniss and showing her emotions through facial expressions and movement) the scope of the movie was broader, but also certain things had to play out differently. The "seeds" for things that will be important later are planted well in the movie.

The essence of the book is carried over into the movie. It gives you basically the same feeling as the book did and director Gary Ross does an amazing job of showing just enough glamor and spectacle of the Capitol to suck you in before reminding you in startling ways that this is a terrible, horrible, gruesome "game" that everyone is caught up in. Caeser Flickerman in particular is a pivotal part of the movie in this regard and his talk-show-style segments throughout the movie really help to explain what's happening, I think, especially if you're someone who hasn't read the books and might not know, for instance, how deadly the tracker jackers are.

And the cast of this movie? You guys, they nailed it. Seriously. Jennifer Lawrence was amazing, as was Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Elizabeth Banks as Effie, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. Everyone was just stellar. I wished there had been a bit more Gale in the movie, but Liam Whatshisface (I'm too lazy to look up his last name) did such a good job with the few scenes he had. However, apart from the acting itself there were a few issues I had with the characters, specifically Gale and Peeta. Gale I actually liked more in the movie, and I think it's because his overwhelming anger was really downplayed. He was portrayed instead as Katniss' best friend and the person who was looking after Prim once she was gone. It was very much a protector role, stripped of the angry undertones that are there throughout the books. And about Peeta. You guys, I love Peeta. He's one of my all-time favorite characters. And I really like the actor who plays him in the movie; I think he did an awesome, awesome job. He nailed it. But Peeta's character was missing a bit of his Peeta-ness here. His humor and toughness is downplayed, making him seem a little bit generic. (And, if I'm going to be totally honest and a little nit-picky, there was that one line that made him legit sound like a stalker.)

The atmosphere of the movie -- the Capitol, District 12, the arena -- were all so great. The reaping scene in particular -- which was one of my favorites in the book -- is just perfect. The movie did such a good job capturing the fear, desperation, and agony of what's happening. Other important scenes, like Peeta's interview, are also done really well but for me nothing in the movie beats that reaping scene. It's incredible.

As I said, there were some things (certain lines and scenes) that I loved in the book and wish had made it into the movie. The ending in particular seems to speed by really quickly and I wish there'd been just a little more meat to what happens after, but at already nearly two and a half hours long, I can imagine how hard it must have been to keep everything that was great in the books. It's just impossible and the movie does a remarkable job of capturing the things that are most important to the overall story and plot. I'm honestly amazed at how true to the story and characters, especially Katniss, the movie remained. The movie is not the book. It approaches the story from a slightly different angle, a broader scope since we're no longer in Katniss' head. This is an adaptation of the book but even more so, I think, a widening of the story's world. Nothing will replace the book and, really, nothing can touch it, but the movie comes close. The movie really is one of the strongest book-to-movie translations I've seen and while bits of it are disappointing, it's definitely a worthy movie version of one of my favorite books.

Ten: Hunger Games Scenes/Moments I'm Looking Forward To

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ/FINISHED THE HUNGER GAMES YET, DON'T READ THIS POST. SPOILERS, AHOY!

These aren't exactly my favorite things/moments/scenes from the book, but instead the top ten things I'm looking forward to seeing interpreted in the movie. (But yeah, there's definitely lots of overlap between this list and my favorite book moments.)

1. The Reaping:

In the books, it was the moment that Katniss volunteered in place of her sister that really got me hooked. The emotions she has in that moment, the oh god not my little sister, not her, anyone but her, were so authentic and painful and real that it just immediately sucked me in.

2. Peeta's Interview:

There are a couple of things I love in stories and one of them is when a key character is missing out on a key piece of information. This is probably part of why I love Katniss and Peeta's early relationship so much. The scene where Peeta gives his pre-Games interview is also so full of emotion, but also the rippling effects of shock. It's a total game changer for Katniss and everyone else.

3. The Muttations:

Alright, these things terrify me. It's not so much that I want to see them as that I'm completely intrigued about how the movie is going to pull this off. If they're half as scary as the mutts in my mind I'll have nightmares for weeks, so I hope they're not.

4. The Clothes:
I can't believe I just wrote that. I usually don't pay much/any attention to clothes in movies and television (and life!), but the outfits Cinna designs for Katniss play such a big role in how she's perceived and are described so incredibly well that I can't wait to see the interpretation.

5. The Nightlock:
The end of the Games, with the nightlock berries, is definitely one of the biggest scenes in the book and I can't wait to see how it plays out onscreen.

6. The End:
Until I reread The Hunger Games recently, I'd forgotten just how much happens in that brief time between the end of the Games and the end of the book. It ends with Katniss and Peeta very much at odds and Katniss' safety very much at stake. I'm wondering how the movie is going to play this; if they'll end it at the same place that the book does, or if it'll end with at some other place, like with the nightlock scene.

7. The Setting(s):
I'm really looking forward to seeing the filmmakers' interpretation of the settings of this book, especially District 12 and the Capitol (less so the arena, because I figure that pretty much just looks like outdoors and wilderness).

8. People Watching The Games:
Gale and Prim especially. In the book we don't get much in the way of what the viewers think except for what Katniss imagines others might be thinking/feeling about the situation, but from everything I've heard the movie's going to be a bit different in this regard. I'm really looking forward to seeing the reactions of those Katniss loves most as they see what plays out onscreen.

9. Effie:
Okay, I know. She's part of the Capitol -- a willing helper in the tragedy of the Games. And yet... and yet I can't help but like Effie. She can't really be so oblivious, but she often seems like she is and like, in spite of the part she plays, she really does care for Katniss and Peeta. I'm looking forward to everything that includes her.

10. How the Violence is Handled:
I'm really not a fan of violence. It's part of the reason I resisted reading this series for so long. I'm looking forward to seeing how this violence plays out onscreen, especially considering how dedicated the director and others involved were to keeping it as a PG-13 movie.

So, what are you most looking forward to seeing in the movie?

this post is full of filler!

I'm in the midst of writing this draft of the spy book and I've put myself on a reading hiatus until I reach 55,000 words. Ideally this won't take too long since I'm already at 50,000 words, but the reality is a bit different.

In reality I keep looking at the book I have stashed in my nightstand basket - Mostly Good Girls - and wishing the novel would just write itself already. I mean, I already wrote 3,000 words on Wednesday, what more can the novel possibly ask of me? I MEAN MY GOODNESS. FIVE THOUSAND MORE, ARE YOU KIDDING? (I am trying not to think about the many thousands after that.)

This is why the blog has been a bit iffy lately. But I do have things! To mention!

Like for instance, I AM ON SPOTIFY. You should find me and my lovely playlists (including the main one for the spy book) by searching "spotify:user:jordynface". YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, I KNOW HOW TO FIND PEOPLE ON SPOTIFY. I am listening to a lot of Greyson Chance lately.

Also also also also also also my brain is kind of fried thanks to all the writing and also generally having TEH CRAZIES. So there's that.

Also I saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes and it was awesome so you should probably go see it.

Book to Film: Why the Same Story Doesn't Always Work

This past weekend me and my sister watched Flipped -- the movie based on the book by Wendelin Van Draanen. I'd heard mixed review on this one, from "absolutely adorable" to "meh" to "one of the worst movies of the year," so I basically had no idea what to expect. But, being such a fan of the book, I had reasonably high hopes (NOT expectations).

The movie was exactly like the book. And by this I mean that so much of the dialogue (maybe even all of it?) was taken directly from the book. The voiceover narration was straight from the book and all of the characters were accounted for. Aside from being set in the 1960s (I don't think there was anything in the book about it taking place 50 years ago), the story of the movie was play-for-play exactly like the book.

Unfortunately, what works so well in the book doesn't really translate as well in the movie. A book is black shapes on a white paper -- with this story a split-POV is needed to show the thoughts and feelings of both Bryce and Juli. In a book there are no lingering looks or cameras panning or atmospheric music. But guess what?

THESE THINGS ARE ALL AVAILABLE TO MOVIES. And the fact that this movie didn't take advantage of those things was disappointing to me. Though my sister loved the movie, I thought it was sweet-but-seriously-lacking.

10 Embarrassing Movie & TV-Related Facts About Me

1. Kicking and Screaming, the Will Ferrell movie about a dad who coaches his son's horrible soccer team, is one of my all-time favorite movies. I sincerely and absolutely love it. It's the rare movie that I can not only watch all the way through, but also watch over and over again.
2. At one time I found the WORLD'S WORST REALITY SHOW on Hulu. It was called America's Most Smartest Model. I watched way way way more episodes than I'd like to admit, only stopped because one of the judges was so incredibly horrible, and legit loved that show. It was beyond hilarious.
3. I love infomercials more than any sane human being should. The world's best infomercial was the one for the Magic Bullet (do they still air that one anymore?) and, after many years of saying omg I want thattt!! my mom actually bought me the Magic Bullet. And guess what? IT ROCKS.
4. Last week I went to the grocery store at about 10:30 at night and bought a box of Hot Pockets, three frozen pot pies, and a soda. I have never felt more like Liz Lemon. (And, trust me, I almost always feel like Liz Lemon.)
5. I love fanvids. (Def. A music video made by a fan of a television show or movie, using a song and video clips from the show/movie.) Seriously seriously seriously love them. I have tons favorited on YouTube.
6. The episode of Gilmore Girls when Rory slept with Dean made me hate her and it took a couple of entire seasons for me to love her character again.
7. I've had the theme song to Elmo's World stuck in my head for years. For a while it was so bad that I'd take notes in class, go over the notes later, and find that I'd written la la la la elmo's world over and over in the margins. I would, of course, have absolutely no recollection of doing this. (And I don't live with kids, so I don't know how I always have that song stuck in my head. Obviously I'm just a kid at heart.)
8. I hate (hate hate double hate) the movie Clueless.
9. I watched half an hour of the Wizard of Waverly Place Movie and even though I knew those two characters (I don't know their naaaames) were brother and sister, I still expected them to kiss. Because Disney Channel doesn't understand sibling relationships or something they have serious issues. (But honestly, did anyone else watch this movie? Was the campfire scene seriously messed up or what?)
10. I tend to remember movies and television shows that nobody else seems to have heard of. Do any of these ring a bell to you: Flash Forward (the old Disney Channel show) So Weird! (another Disney Channel show), some show about a girl who sits in her window and talks to the moon at night, Superfire (a made-for-tv movie)? Anyone? Bueller... Bueller?

Top 10: Favorite Love Stories

ALRIGHT SO. Favorite love stories is a little different for me than favorite couples and there are a few GIANT GAPING HOLES in this list because of leaving out a few of my favorite couples whose love stories just weren't as amazing as the characters on this list. I also left out an actual historical pairing to keep everything fiction. Also I feel incredibly uncultured for having almost no classic couples on this list, but I guess I'll just have to live with that. (Oh, and this list, unlike some of the others, is actually in order. Amazing.)

1. Victor/Anthony & Sierra/Priya

Dollhouse (tv)

Best love story ever? I THINK SO. Because it's Dollhouse and therefore incredibly confusing, I have no idea how to sum up Victor & Sierra's relationship. But the basic premise of this show is that there are people who've had their personalities and minds wiped and replaced with other personalities... these "dolls" have no memories and no personality of their own, yet Victor and Sierra somehow find each other no matter what personality they're imprinted with, as well as in their simplistic doll state. SEE, I WARNED YOU IT WAS CONFUSING. 

2. Jim Halpert & Pam Beesly

The Office (tv)

This is maybe the sweetest television love story ever, from the very first episode when Jim talked about Pam's favorite flavor of yogurt. They're just too adorable and nice and sweet and sometimes awkward. I love them. I also love this video.

3. Calliope & Eliot

Scrambled Eggs at Midnight (book)

This book blows me away every time I read it. Though only fifteen years old, Cal and Eliot's love story is one of the truest and most believable I've come across. 

4. Landry Clark & Tyra Collette

Friday Night Lights (tv)

Friday Night Light's least popular and most hated storyline (ahem, that whole murder thing in the second season) is one of my absolute favorites and out of it came Landry and Tyra, the best couple on the show. They deserve to be on this list despite not being together anymore because (a) I love them and their story too much to leave them out, and (b) there's one season left; it's not impossible for them to end up together. These are two characters that really do bring out the best in each other and prompt the other one to be a better person.

5. Anne Shirley & Gilbert Blythe

Anne of Green Gables (book)

I'm a little ashamed to say that I don't remember which book it was that these two finally got together, but if it wasn't the first book it was at least somewhere in there. Anne is one of the best protagonists (in my opinion) and the entire history between her and Gilbert Blythe is so cute and wonderful, not to mention their story and life together after becoming a couple.

6. Elpheba & Fiyero

Wicked (musical)

As much as I tried I couldn't get through the novel, but I absolutely love the musical version of Wicked, especially Elpheba and Fiyero's love story. It's such an interesting take on The Wizard of Oz story and I love how the different characters (in this case the scarecrow and the wicked witch) connect in Wicked. Plus, I just really really love Elpheba and Fiyero, end of story.

7. George Bailey & Mary Thatch

It's A Wonderful Life (film)

Really, It's A Wonderful Life needs no explanation. Brilliant.

8. Bryce & Julianna

Flipped (book)

This is the cutest jr. high love story ever. Ever ever ever. Not only is it adorable, but there's tons of character growth and expectations vs. reality and just so much awesome I'm surprised more people haven't read it. Go. Now. Read.

9. Sara & Tobey

When It Happens (book)

Colasanti's debut novel is one of the best love stories I've read. It's one of the few "opposites attract" stories that I actually really love.

10. Kaitlin Malone & Bram Crutchfield

Scribbler of Dreams (book)

I've never been a big Romeo & Juliet fan, but there are a couple of retellings I absolutely adore and this is one of them. Kaitlin meets the kindhearted Bram when she's forced to move to a new school, only to discover he's part of the Crutchfield family that her family, the Malones, have been feuding with for ages. The "families feuding" angle is done so well here.

Friday Five: Serafina, Star Trek, and Revisions

There are quite a few bloggers who do something like this on Fridays, most notably the mucho talented Sarah Dessen, and since I don't think anyone has "claim" to this particular meme (correct me if I'm wrong though), so I'm STEAAALLLING IT.

huzzah! observe the theivery!

1. I'm rereading the hilarious and sweet and incredibleamazing SERAFINA, by Susie Day. (You might know this book as BIG WOO if you're outside of the U.S. Or, like mostly everyone, you probably don't know this book and THAT IS FOR SHAME!!) This is one of my favorite books, I'm seriously disappointed by the number of people who haven't read it (the only people I know who have read it have been friends I've forced it upon... KHY, GET READING!!), and seriously go find yourself a copy. The reading of this book makes me more insane and crackyheaded than I even normally am so SOZ BOUT THAT.
2. JUST RECENTLY WATCHED STAR TREK (2009) OMG. I love Star Trek. It is maybe too awesome for words. What is with the 60s that they had SUCH GREAT SHOWS (Gilligan's Island, Star Trek, and of course Get Smart). And why is the reboot of Star Trek sooooo good (also: Chris Pine as Captain Kirk.) while the reboot of Get Smart is so NOT? I spammed Twitter like crazy while watching the movie, so thanks to my followers for putting up with two hours of hashtag-startrek tweets.
3. TWO EXAMS NEXT WEEK and that's all I'll say about that because I don't enjoy talking about school.
4. Am revising (rewriting) the spy book, which is sort of called SPY CHICK. I've switched the tense/POV from third person past to first-person present and then to third again, so we'll see how that goes.
5. I had the song "Original Prankster" stuck in my head for most of today, and it reminds me ever so much of the Pranksmen on 30 Rock. YANNO. Also my TV shows are coming back and I love television.