Another Thursday, another round of Thursday Movie Picks. For the uninitiated, this is a weekly meme hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves. Click the link to her site to get the details on how to participate. You know you want in on this. Stop fighting it. Join us.
This week...well, this week...sigh...our topic is Movies Adapted from Young Adult Novels. My first reaction to this topic was to not post this week. Seriously. After all, I hate the Twilight series and most of its copy-cats, deplorable films like Vampire Academy, and the better, but still not good Beautiful Creatures. The one that I like, Warm Bodies, I've already picked for a previous Thursday and I'm pretty bent on not repeating myself. Both of The Hunger Games movies I've seen are "meh." The second being the better of the two, but it still didn't blow me away. Its clones range from 'okay' to 'no way.' The stuff that doesn't deal with the supernatural seems to be better, but let's face it, most of you are probably picking The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Therefore, I've no choice but to bend the rules to fit my tastes.
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Frankenstein
(1931)
Even if you've never seen the movie or read the novel it's based on, you probably have a pretty good idea of what it's about so I'll not waste time on that. If you want more discussion about the film itself, click here for my full review. Anyhoo, you should know how the book, written by Mary Shelley, qualifies as a Young Adult novel. Just in case you don't, I'll give you a quick rundown. Back when it published there was no such category as Young Adult so nothing you research is going to say that it was. However, by most accounts Shelley was between the ages of seventeen and nineteen when she wrote it and merely twenty or twenty-one when it was published. I know that's not quite your definition, but it fits mine.
Carrie
(1976)
Yes, Carrie, the 1976 horror classic based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. How is this a Young Adult novel? Think about it. All the trouble starts when our heroine gets her period for the first time. It's also all about puberty and squirming from beneath the thumb of your parents. What could be more YA than that? By the way, click here check out my full review of it to find out why I'm not so sure it's a horror flick.
The Lovely Bones
(2009)
Based on the novel of the same name by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones follows Susie, a 14 year old girl who has already been murdered. She even tells us the identity of her killer right at the beginning. The question is whether or not regular folk will catch on, making this a murder mystery in reverse. For more of my two cents, click here for the full review. The book may or may not have been intended as a YA novel, but one thing is for certain: teens had a huge hand in making this a best-seller back in 2002. I guess it helps to have your book advertised in Seventeen magazine before it even hits shelves.
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Frankenstein is the only film on that list I haven't seen but I do love Carrie. The Lovely Bones was fucking crap. I just wondered how Lynne Ramsay would've approached the book as she was supposed to film it before Peter Jackson got involved.
ReplyDeleteI figured TLB might get that reaction. Lot of people are down on it. I enjoyed it a lot, though.
DeleteI didn't care for The Lovely Bones. You won't see me disagree with you on Frankenstein and Carrie though, both excellent choices. I actually watch Carrie every year for my annual horror marathon, that one never gets old!
ReplyDeleteLots of folks don't care for TLB. I thought it was actually quite good. Happy to see so much love for Carrie.
DeleteRules are made for breaking! I had to push it a little this week with one of my choices. I haven't read any of these (or seen the movies!) but Carrie is on my radar for sure. I just need enough pillows to hide behind!
ReplyDelete- Allie
Lol. Maybe I'm too much of a vet, but even though it is classified as horror and it is a great movie, there's nothing actually scary about it. The last scene migjt might be the exception.
DeleteI love that you bent the rules this week! I did too, kind of, so it makes me feel better about my choices :-D
ReplyDeleteI also love that I've seen all of your picks! I love the first two, like GIANT HEAPS OF LOVE. I didn't like The Lovely Bones, movie or book. I thought they were both overwrought, over stylized and obnoxious.
Those first two deserve giant heaps of love. I know TLB isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it works for me.
DeleteI'll take Carrie for a YA novel. lol I loved The Lovely Bones, but I think Peter Jackson didn't understand it enough to make the film. Someone else should've directed it. I still liked a lot of it, but all of the scenes in Heaven were just wrong.
ReplyDeleteDidn't read TLB so I don't have that perspective, but that's interesting to hear. Thanks!
DeleteWow. Interesting choices, didn't even consider Frankenstein or Carrie to be YA novels but I can see how they can be considered so. Haven't seen Frankenstein or The Lovely Bones, but have seen Carrie and like it. Good choices
ReplyDeleteGlad you see things my way, lol. I definitely recommend seeing Frankenstein since that's a classic and more important film.
DeleteCool that you went with unconventional picks here, Dell! I never thought Frankenstein was based on a YA novel, I bet there are more films we didn't realize were based on YA novels. I've been curious about The Lovely Bones, seems that it's gotten such lousy reviews but I like Saoirse Ronan, in fact one of my picks also has her in the lead, but no it's not what people might think ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks. I knew I wasn't picking any of the more popular ones so Frankenstein was the first thing I thought of. As for TLB, I say see it for yourself then make a decision.
DeleteI remember enjoying The Lovely Bones the first time I saw it, but I don't remember much from it. Carrie was also a fantastic movie, didn't bother to watch the remakes. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteSomeone else likes TLB. Yaaaaayyyy!!!!
DeleteOk so you went for a very loose definition for YA. Anywayy...I actually dislike The Lovely Bones. I have read the book so I may be comparing it a little but seriously the CGI heaven thing was just horrible. Wished Peter Jackson just kept it simpler. But Tucci was creepy good in it.
ReplyDeleteWandering through the Shelves
Had to widen out the pool of possibilities somehow. Besides, loose definition is my middle name. TLB has gotta be this week's least popular pick, lol.
DeleteBend the rules, bro. None of these are true YA, but who cares?! The Lovely Bones is one of the best books I've ever read. Never actually saw the movie. I may have to now. I bought into the negative press and didn't catch it, especially since I loved the book so much. Carrie is awesome! Old Frankenstein I've never seen nor read. I have seen the updated one Kenneth Branagh did with DeNiro. It was ok.
ReplyDeleteThanks. If you think that highly of any book, I'd hesitate recommending the corresponding movie. So that's where I am with that. Glad you love Carrie. I've never seen that version of Frankenstein. Those two names together just sounds weird. Might have to check it out to ease my curiosity.
DeleteGreat choices! I love Carrie---read it and watch all adaptations of it. Stephen King is a savant in making a YA horror like this. The Lovely Bones is also great, it's so touching and lovely.
ReplyDeleteCarrie is a masterpiece. Glad to see more love for TLB!
DeleteLove your choices. The reasoning behind picking Frankenstein is great, I knew Mary Shelley was young when she wrote it but not that young. It's a phenomenal book. The whole plot of Carrie more or less turns on a teen issue so you can't get more YA then that and Spacek and Laurie are brilliant in the film. I really liked the book, I actually listened to the audiobook, of The Lovely Bones but the movie was so savaged and the few people I know who saw it and had read the book hated it so I've always stayed away.
ReplyDeleteThis was a tough week I also bent the rules somewhat when I realized I only had one outright YA adaptation, The Geography Club, that I liked well enough to pick. I went with two classics that fit the YA blanket, the 1993 version of The Secret Garden (a slight stretch although the girl is on the cusp of teenhood) and the 1949 version of Little Women-which especially seemed to focus on young adult characters plus it has a great cast including a teenage Elizabeth Taylor.
Yes, Mary Shelley was quite young when she wrote Frankenstein. However, she was also already a wife and a mother by then. Carrie, yes, all about YA issues. As for TLB, if you really liked the book I'm not sure you should see it. It probably won't live up to your expectations. Part of me will always say see it for yourself, though.
DeleteI've not seen any of your picks. The only one I've heard of is Little Women which I just haven't gotten around to, yet. Thanks for the recommendations.
I love all 3 that you chose here. Frankenstein is a great book and a great film written by a very young woman! Carrie is just crazy nuts but love it and boy does she get back at the bullies. I guess I am among the few that loved Lovely Bones. I thought it was quite stylized and brought the horror of a freak who could kill a lovely young girl. The sad thing is these people exist. Stanley Tucci did an incredible job playing such a despicable character
ReplyDeleteThanks! Frankenstein is an awesome achievement, particularly for a writer so young. Crazy nuts is a great way to describe Carrie. I agree with your assessment of TLB.
DeleteWow, I don't know that Frankenstein is considered as YA novel.
ReplyDeleteYeay, we picked Carrie!
Not sure that it really is, but I think it is one. Or, at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
DeleteFun choices! I way preferred the book TLB to the movie, but isn't that always the case?
ReplyDeleteJay
www.assholeswatchingmovies.com
That's been the case for me every time I've read a book and seen the movie. At least you don't outright hate it, so I'll count that as a victory.
DeleteWow, I had no idea Mary Shelley was a teenager when she wrote Frankenstein. I mean, that's astounding. Great picks here!
ReplyDeleteIt is totally astounding. Thanks!
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