Books-Turned-Movies I'm Particularly Excited About

I'm a New Yorker who has been stuck inside my 300-square foot apartment for the past week, all thanks to Hurricane Sandy. While I (as well as my roommate and apartment) survived relatively unscathed, many other areas around me cannot say the same (shout out to my second home, the Jersey Shore--prayers and thoughts are with you!).

That being said, I've acquired some rather unexpected book and movie time in the last six days. Below are some movies that were spawned from books that I could watch over and over again, as well as movies that have yet to hit screens that get me all fan girl-squealy.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower--one of my favorite movie adaptations ever. This is probably because the author also wrote the screenplay (can I ask that this happens for every book adaptation in the future?) but I absolutely loved how gritty and unapologetic the movie was. Any questions I had about how they would turn Charlie's stream-of-consciousness into a well-rounded movie were silenced almost instantly. Go see this, if you haven't already!

Bridget Jones's Diary--to me, the movie was way better than the book. Now, before you gasp in horror at the words I swore I would never, ever utter, let me give you a succinct reason as to why: Colin Firth. The end.

One for the Money--while this adaptation of Janet Evanovich's uber-popular Stephanie Plum series isn't going to win any Oscars, I rather enjoyed it. Even though a superfan like myself, who has read every single Plum novel (all almost-19 of them) is probably the exact demographic the filmmakers were trying to please. Joe Morelli was rather surprisingly yummy (but an Irish actor, really?--ah nevermind, you're forgiven) and Katherine Heigl's portrayal of disaster-prone Stephanie was rather entertaining. Definitely a rainy-day movie.

Something Borrowed--the girliest New York movie of the, er, last year or so. As you probably know from my previous review, I was pretty pleased with this movie. I watch it every time I need a pick-me-up. It's just riddled with cuteness, laughter (oh, Jim, what will I do without you when The Office is over?), and an awesome, cheesy love story. Perfect.

Jane Eyre--this recent adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's famous love story is utterly swoon-worthy. This is a complex tale of secrets, societal status, spooky not-really-ex wives, and a spellbinding love that transcends it all. The book may be thick and largely intimidating, but this is one of the classics worth picking up off your shelf. Or watch this version first. Then, I guarantee you'll be reaching for the pages that started it all. Oh, and Michael Fassbender as Mr. Rochester doesn't hurt either. At all.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason--oh, come on. It's been a long week, okay? I'm just a little hooked. Go ahead and judge.

Cloud Atlas--haven't seen it yet, but desperately want to. Something tells me this one may be so intricately woven, it may become a bit tough to follow. But c'mon, with a cast like this, who isn't up to the task?

The Host--I actually prefer this book to the rest of Stephenie Meyer's other creations. (What are those other books called again? They get such little publicity I forget sometimes. Gag.) Anyway, this story has a lot more depth and is a lot more complicated than Twili most paranormal romances of today. I'm interested to see how this alien, apocalyptic tale plays out on the big screen. The book was a pretty exciting read.

Beautiful Creatures--one of my favorite YA books (not to mention series) ever. I'm almost finished with the fourth and concluding book in the Caster Chronicles, and I have never been more engrossed in a twisted story of love and spells before. This is an amazingly thorough and engrossing story that you can tell has been well thought-out and planned over the course of four books. I can't wait to see the screen version.

Back to reading and watching! Let me know if there's any other books-turned-movies I can watch now or keep an eye out for later!

Images courtesy of Entertainment Weekly and Google Images

Something Borrowed Movie Review

I promised earlier when I reviewed Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin that I'd follow it up with a review of the film. I practically ran to the theater to see this with my friends. I was so excited after watching both trailers. I knew I wasn't going to be entirely objective, and I don't fool myself into believing I'm a credible film critic. That aside, a promise is a promise. So, to begin, here's what I loved about this adaptation.

I loved:
1. The above video. I don't know what it is, but something about this dance sequence is really human. Anyone who knows how the story ends up feels a little pang for Rachel and Darcy, who, despite both betrayals, did have moments of true friendship.
2. This. Lots and lots of this. 
3. John Krasinski was so incredibly endearing as Ethan. Even though he doesn't have a large role in the book, I'm so glad they decided to forgo the novel on this one. He was just brilliant. So funny and adorable. His witty banter during the trips to the Hamptons was classic.
4. Rachel and Dex. Besides the fact that I just loved ogling Colin Egglesfield during the movie ad nauseum, these two were super-cute together. Their flashback scenes to how they became friends in law school were well-done. 

Could have been better:
1. While I'm glad they ignored the book's lack of Ethan-ness, there were some plot points I wished they'd included in the film. For instance, the 4th of July weekend--not really a big deal in the movie. All of a sudden, Dex's parents were there, throwing an awkward monkey-wrench into the situation. The reasoning behind Dex's parents' shameless promotion of his marriage to Darcy (and his father's unnecessarily nasty comment that Dex better end his relationship with Rachel) was never resolved. It was an odd addition that never really made sense. And was I the only one missing the magic dice? Double sixes! Can't believe they didn't make a cameo.
2. The jig-is-up scene. [SPOILER ALERT!] When Darcy visits Rachel after Dex calls off their wedding, she figures out that Dex is in Rachel's apartment. In the book, she figures it out when she finds Dex's watch on Rachel's nightstand. In the film, she discovers his suit jacket in Rachel's foyer. And instead of finding Dex crouched low in Rachel's closet, wearing nothing but boxers and clutching his clothes, Darcy finds Dex just chillin' in the kitchen. Darcy's raw rage, Rachel's blind panic, and Dex's calm anger never translates. I know this is a danger when books get turned into movies, but this was not how I pictured that scene going down at all. 
3. The end. I'm sorry, but while the ending in the book is far from cinematic (Rachel and Darcy do not speak), I felt like having them "bump into" each other on the streets of NY was just dumb. It didn't feel genuine at all, and that literary part of me rebelled against this addition. I guess they were setting up for a sequel where Rachel and Darcy can be civil (even though, in Something Blue, they never regain a normal friendship), but I was just disappointed. It felt like the filmmakers were trying to resolve all the conflict, and it ended up too nice-and-neat.
4. It was waaaaay too obvious that Ginny Goodwin was wearing a wig.

All in all, I love the book. I knew a part of me would love the movie purely for that reason. And when it comes out on DVD, you can be sure it'll become a part of my collection. Parts of this movie were well-done, and I laughed pretty consistently throughout. I loved the romance, even wished at times it had been pushed a little further. I hate the times when Dex comes off like he has no backbone, and the moments when you want to slap Rachel for not telling Darcy the truth. Perhaps it's because I read the book that I don't have a problem with the "moral ambiguity" of sleeping with your best friend's fiance. Rachel is sympathetic; Darcy comes off like a giant beeyotch who doesn't deserve Dex the Dreamboat. But there are times when I wish their personalities weren't so contrasting. It leaves people unfamiliar with the story wondering why those two stayed friends for so long.

And, just because....

Shameless, I know. But isn't he gorgeous? Ugh.


Grade: B- (but Colin gets an A)


Photos courtesy of Google Images, and video courtesy of Youtube

Something Borrowed

Written by Emily Giffin


Goodreads Synopsis: Rachel has always been the good girl- until her thirtieth birthday, when her longtime friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancée. Rachel is completely horrified. She pretends it didn't happen, maybe it will all go away-and so will her feelings for this guy. 
She prays for fate to intervene, but when she makes a choice she discovers that the lines between right and wrong are blurry, endings aren't always neat, and you have to risk all to win true happiness.

My Confession: I'm sure there have been plenty of books written about lifelong friendships, cheating, and romance. I've read quite a few of them. And let me tell you, none of them captivate me the way Something Borrowed does. Maybe it's because I've been the Rachel to far too many Darcys in my life. Maybe it's because I believe in that special connection, the one that causes you to throw all caution and convention to the wind and lead with your heart. But it's most likely because these characters feel like your best friends, and you're left wishing that more men were like Dex, who despite most rom-com conventions, is not--and does not turn out to be (thank God)--an asshole. The relationship between Rachel and Darcy is nicely depicted and picked away at as the story goes on. As the girls' history was unraveled, I became more and more sympathetic toward Rachel, despite the fact that she is her best friend's fiancée's "other woman." You become invested in this story, so much so that you'll find yourself picking sides. I'm on Team Rachel, but reading Giffin's sequel, Something Blue, may change your mind.

The Hollywood Factor: Yes, someone was smart enough (or stupid enough, depending on how you feel about books becoming movies) to scoop up the film rights to this novel. Something Borrowed, starring Kate Hudson as Darcy (evidently the filmmakers didn't get the memo that Darcy is a brunette) and Ginnifer Goodwin (I think I'm good with this...I think) as Rachel. The trailer, just released last week, looks hopeful. I'm guilty of watching it a few times, lingering on the casting choice for Dex (Colin Egglesfield) and wondering if he can live up to the stud of my imagination. The addition of John Krasinski as Ethan, Rachel's friend who plays a small but significant part in the book, but seems to play a much larger role in the movie, looks like a positive move. I'm usually cautious about scripts adapted from books. They're just never as good. But I'm holding out hope that when Something Borrowed hits theaters on May 6, it's going to do the phenomenal book justice.

Recommendation: Read it. Then see the movie with your girlfriends. Then read it again. And when you're ready (even though you'll probably balk, seeing as how most people hate Darcy by the end), pick up Something Blue. Trust me, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Stay tuned for that review.

Rating: 4.5/5

322 pages, published by St. Martin's Press (June 1, 2004)