Book vs. Movie: The DUFF

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Romance
Release Date: September 10, 2010
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. 

Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

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The DUFF
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: February 15, 2015
Buy Links:

Amazon

Movie Description:

A high school senior instigates a social pecking order revolution after finding out that she has been labeled the DUFF - Designated Ugly Fat Friend - by her prettier, more popular counterparts.











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There's always a bit of anxiety whenever a book is adapted into a movie. Will the characters be the same ones you fell in love with, will the movie cut out your favorite scenes, will the actors deliver the lines the way the author intended (see Michael Gambon as Dumbledore asking Harry if he put his name in the Goblet of Fire for a failure on this one)? This, however, is not the case when it comes to the movie adaptation of Kody Keplinger's The DUFF. Not because the movie is an exact copy from the book, but the complete opposite in fact. The movie is a different story than the book, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

I admit that I actually broke my "Read the book before watching the movie" rule for this one. My sister and I went to see it when it was still in theatres, and loved it to the point where I just had to read the book. The movie was this great mix of Mean Girls, Easy A, and even a little bit of Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me" music video. In other words, it's a cute and light hearted high school comedy designed to make you laugh and entertain you for the length of the movie. Both my sister and I came out of the theatre with big smiles on our faces because it was so enjoyable, and I turned to her and said, "Let's watch it again!"

Movie Review: Divergent

Divergent
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action/Adventure
Release Date: March 21, 2014
Buy Links:

Fandango

Book Description:

In a world where the population is divided into factions by personality types, Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is classified as Divergent. 

When she uncovers a conspiracy to eliminate all Divergents, she teams with the mysterious Four (Theo James) to find out what makes the powers-that-be so frightened of them. 

Kate Winslet also stars in this action thriller adapted from the novel by Veronica Roth, and directed by Neil Burger.


                                   

♥ ♥ ♥                                                                               Going in to see the "Divergent" movie, I had a lot of conflicting emotions. On one hand, I loved the book when I read it. Like 5 out of 5 hearts loved it, and I could see how it could be adapted to make a good movie. However, on the other hand, was Shailene Woodley. Have you guys ever just watched something and one of the actors or actresses bothered you so much that any time you see his or her face you kind of just wish you didn't? Well, after watching "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" on ABC Family, Woodley was one of those actresses for me.

So what wins out in the end: My love for this book or my hatred toward the movie's lead actress? Obviously, books > everything, so I went to see "Divergent" its opening weekend. And guys, I didn't hate it. Even with the pregnant teenager's face staring at me through most of it, I actually did enjoy the movie. Was I worried that they wouldn't do the book justice? Naturally, as that always happens when a favorite makes it to the big screen. But besides a few tweaks here and there, the movie did a decent job of following the book.

Review: Coraline (Book vs. Movie)

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Age Group: Childrens/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Release Date:August 29, 2006
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. 

And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures.

Coraline

Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: February 6, 2009

Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Best Buy

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I'm not going to lie; I actually saw the movie "Coraline" before I read the book. Normally this isn't my way of doing things, but that's just how it happened. I hadn't even heard of the story before the movie was released, so I went out to the theater without doing the usual pre-reading I like to do before seeing a movie that's based on a book.

And as long as we're telling the truth, I'll let you know that the movie gave me nightmares. The people had buttons for eyes, people! That's creepy! CREEPY! Maybe it was especially bad for me because I have this weird phobia about anything happening to eyes, so the idea of sewing buttons onto them didn't sit well with my subconscious. Or my conscious, for that matter.

Neil Gaiman, who wrote the book, said himself that his story is seen one of two ways. It was written as a children's story, but in true Gaiman fashion, it involved themes of horror some might protest in a work made for children. However, Gaiman has said that although adults read "Coraline" as a creepy horror tale, children just see it as an adventure story.

Movie Review: The Cabin in the Woods

The Cabin in the Woods
Age Group: rated R
Genre: Horror
Release Date: April 13, 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon

Movie Description:

Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.


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When "The Cabin in the Woods" was released in theatres in 2012, I wanted to see it. Badly. The reviews were good, the trailer made everything look promising, and it was written by Joss Whedon (which was obviously the seal on the deal for me). However, with my work schedule and conflicts with my friends' schedules, I wasn't able to watch it while it was still playing in theatres.

Fast forward to October 2013 and my friend and I just got home from doing some Halloween costume shopping and wanted to watch a movie. Guess what's on Netflix, kids! So even if you don't want to go out and buy or rent (yes, you can still rent videos) "The Cabin in the Woods", just log on to your Netflix and take a gander, because it is worth it.

I'm going to try really hard not to spoil anything about this movie for those of you who haven't seen it yet, because it is best to see it without knowing too much about the plot twists and turns. This definitely isn't your average horror movie, and you may be sitting there confused at points, but it's all part of the fun!

The movie focuses mainly on five teenagers, who all fit into the five categories of the stereotypical horror movie cast. You've got the dumb, horny blonde, the alpha-male jock, the cute brainiac, the stoner, and the virginal girl-next-door. These five friends take a trip to a cabin for the weekend, expecting nothing but parties, drinking, and sex, but in true horror movie fashion, things don't go as planned.