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Thursday, August 14, 2014

The Giver Movie Reaction

I have a surprise for you all!  I went to the midnight showing of The Giver today with some friends!  I was so excited when they offered to take me along!  Here is my reaction.  There are a few spoilery things that you have to highlight to see however I only did that for things in the movie that are spoilery.  So if you haven't read the book, go read it and then read this!  Or if you don't mind spoilers, go ahead.


In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.


This is such a powerful and touching movie.  I started having tingles during the last scene!  The message it sends, I think the producers did a fabulous job maintaining that message.  There is really only  one thing that bugged me about it.

They invented a romance between Jonas and Fiona (or at least, he tried to start one and show her what she was missing in her life).  I realize that the producers and directors were trying to make this movie sellable but really?  That just made it like any other dystopian/fantasy book to movie adaption out there.

They did change things from the book.  Sometimes bigish things.  But I think that was all necessary and I understand why they did it.  It didn't change the message or the outcome or really the way Jonas and the community got there so I don't really mind that they changed it.

How they slowly progressed from black and white to color really illustrated the change in Jonas and his way of thinking and realizing the shadowed life that he was living.  The way it was done was truly marvelous.

I said it once before and I'll say it again: the last scene was just wow.  All those recognizable images from history speak to you and show you what the human condition really is.  It perfectly embodied the book and it's message.

I'm on the fence for the casting choices.  It's late, so I don't want to go tramping through the internet to find my dream cast so I don't know off the top of my head if there would have been better casting choices made.  They were okay... not perfect but good enough.

Overall, I loved the movie and while it did leave out some things and add some, I feel that was a necessary part of the conversion between book and movie.  I, however, do not approve of the romance.  I really hope they make another movie!


Do you have plans to see The Giver?  And if you've already seen it, what's your opinion?

10 comments:

  1. I'm really scared to watch this one. o_O I don't want to watch it because I'm scared I'll hate it or something. Its already bugging me with how old the actor playing Jonas is. We studied this in my English class, and he turns TWELVE in the 2nd or 3rd chapter. This guy is definitely not twelve... But, I do kind of understand why they moved his age up to appeal to a larger audience.
    I think I might go see this with my bestie now. :)
    ~Carissa Bookworm @ The Bookworm Insider

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    1. I kind of was too! I guess I'm like that for all book to movie adaptions.

      Yeah I agree! He is really old but with some of the issues they deal with in the movie... I understand why they picked an older actor.
      Yes - go see it!!

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  2. Great review of the movie! I can't wait to see it. :) Thanks for stopping by WinterHaven books.

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  3. I don't entirely hate the relationship between Jonas and Fiona but I sure do hope that it wasn't there in the first place. It would've been better that way. I also love the black and white imagery that they used before the colours. Definitely shows a new perspective. The last scenes starting from Jonas on the sled until he found the house was breath taking. I love it so much. I swear my goosebumps was standing on its end. Definitely the best! I also have problems with the cast. Jonas, for one, should have been a 12 year old but ended up being 16. But, it's all the trends these days. Didn't expect more from that.

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    1. For sure. I just don't like it because it seems like every YA movie coming out now has the 'forbidden romance' and it's getting old. I'd like just one movie without romance! I love both of those parts! When I watched it with my family, they immediately asked 'when was this filmed again?' like producers can't choose to make it black and white. Yeah :( I realize they made him 16 just to appeal to a larger audience and probably a whole host of other reasons but I just... bleh.

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    2. Yea, it definitely is. Cross fingers that one day there will be no love conflicts between characters! Hahah your family may be misinformed. xD Ikr, I don't like it that they make him older. :/

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    3. Ugh wouldn't that be nice! Ha just a bit! They picked up it up at the end of the movie (they all said 'Ooooh so the whole black and white thing at the beginning was because of the colors!' it was pretty funny!) Yeah... I mean I guess that way they could incorporate love more into his life but still.

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    4. That will be absolutely perfect! hahah I guess they didn't have the insights we have! xD That's why we have to read the books first! xD

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    5. THANK YOU! Someone who understands!! Haha reading the book first is THE most important part :D

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