Thursday Movie Picks: Movies Adapted from a Young Adult Novel

I’ve so got this guys. If you’re not familiar with the Thursday Movie Picks, it’s an amazing thing hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Each week brings a new theme, and all you need to do is pick 3 movies that fit the bill to discuss. I now carry a little printout with the upcoming themes so I can make a note every time I get a brainwave, which isn’t often.

This week it’s Movies Adapted from a Young Adult Novel. I’ve read many, although not all when I was actually a young adult! Let’s start with the obvious…

Okay, so this might just be the most un-inspired choice ever. But the Harry Potter books were my whole childhood, and just when I thought I had finished growing up with the books, I got to carry on growing up with the movies. I was just a kid when I saw the first movie in the cinema, and I went on dates to see the last 2, with a guy who I’m getting married to next year!

It was only recently that I learnt Freaky Friday was based on a book, and I know this isn’t the original, but it’s the version I’ve seen! Admittedly, I’ve never read the book, but I think I can get the gist of it. Perhaps Freaky Friday isn’t the best movie in the world, but the idea of it has sparked many a spin-off, including one of my guilty pleasures, The Change-Up.

This may be pushing it a little, Bridge to Terabithia is actually based on a children’s book, but the nature of the story is quite dark and I certainly wouldn’t want to read it to a young child. The movie itself split opinions in my household, I thought it was a masterpiece but my mother and brother declared it dull and depressing. Each to their own I guess!

I thought I would throw my two pennies (cents if your not in the UK) in here, i hope you don't mind Allie :-) Personally my three would have to be:

The Hunger Games (2012 - )

I LOVED these books, like couldn't put them down loved them. I've read them all twice and will happily read them again when the mood strikes. I was worried when I heard they were making the movies but for once I was not disappointed. Jennifer Lawrence is brilliant and the film comes really close to the book less a few creative differences, I can't wait for the next instalment!

The Fault in our Stars (2014)

This book was utterly engrossing, I read the whole thing in a few hours (and cried publicly in an airport!!), the movie really did it justice. I cried....a lot but again it was really close to the book (apart from a few niggly parts but nothing too dramatic). I haven't been able to bring myself to watch or read this again because I know whats going to happen I start crying at the beginning!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Probably the first film with Emma Watson in where I didn't think 'oooh look Hermione Granger' - I haven't read the book (in fact I didn't even know there was a book until I did a bit of research for this) but I may do now I know it exists. I have to admit this movie is not overly memorable, I can't actually remember the storyline but I do remember really enjoying it and recommending it to people to watch so it must have been good.

Review: Bridge to Terabithia

Last week I posted a message on the IMDB boards, asking for some recommendations. I asked about films that had a huge plot twist, after watching The Usual Suspects. Now I know, asking for that is kind of a spoiler in itself, but I was curious! I had several replies with the usual Sixth Sense, Fight Club, etc, but one post stood out to me in particular. They suggested Bridge to Terabithia, which I'd heard of, a Disney film! That alone was enough to make me dig this film out.

Although curious, I was a little apprehensive too. I love Disney films, don't get me wrong, but at 24 years of age I worried I was too old to appreciate this. Oh, how wrong I was!

Do you recognise that baby face by the way? It's Peeta from The Hunger Games! I couldn't get over just how young he looked, this film isn't even really that old! It even has Zooey Deschanel in it, but I got really confused because she is basically Jess Day in it...

Anyway, the film is about two children Jess and Leslie, who have a really tough time at school, and in Jess' case, at home too. They find some land just a rope swing over the river away, and turn it into their own imaginary, magical land. Each creature they imagine is based on someone in their lives, which is an interesting and often comical idea.

I won't ruin the twist for you, but I didn't see it coming at all, and I was looking for it to, and it really hit me hard. This is a Disney film, folks! I almost turned it off just so that I could imagine it never happened...

I really loved this film and I knew my Mum and littlest Brother had seen it, so I asked them what they thought about it. They had a completely different opinion to me and thought it was boring and depressing! So this film isn't for everyone, I now know. But if you have a spare hour and a half, and you feel a little curious too, just give it a try.