Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

                       Just today, I was able to finish the book, If I Stay by Gayle Forman and for those of you, who don't know the story, here's a short summary of it:

                        Mia had the perfect life -a great boyfriend, cool and supportive parents, a loyal best friend, a very loving brother and a possible career in music. However, that all changes when Mia gets into a car accident that leaves her parents and brother dead. Mia, though, was given the choice to either go back to her life before (without her family) or proceed to the afterlife. During the period Mia contemplates on her decision, she sees everything happening to her and around her (Mia is out of her physical body as a spirit or soul, roaming around the hospital) - all the operations, her friend and relatives coming in and out, and the professions of love from all of them (especially Adam's). In the end, Mia makes her decision, which is to stay and continue living.

                     Over-all, I found this book quite moving, mainly because all the things Mia talked about were realistic - like how were you able to go on without a family or the pain of saying goodbye to those you plan to leave behind. It makes you really think that if you had that choice, would you also choose to stay or would you choose to go?

                   Also, I liked how you see the relationships Mia had with those around her, through her flashbacks. In a way, this made you understand better why she had a difficult time deciding whether to stay or to leave. Moreover, I liked how it was Adam's love for her that let her decide to stay. It really shows to me, as a reader, the immense power of love and how it can surpass the toughest battles.

                     Although I gave it such praise in the second paragraph, there were some things in the novel that I had some issues with. The first was that Mia didn't seem to experience much grief when she saw her parents' bodies splayed across the road. Considering her relationship with them, I expected her to break down immediately. Maybe it was because she was still in shock, but I really questioned that in the novel. My second issue was that there were some parts in the novel that, for me, might have dragged the story quite a bit. Despite those issues though, I still consider it a good book and would give it a rating of 8/10.

                      Just like my other blogs, I'd like to create a cast list, if ever this book is turned to a movie. So here are my picks:

1. Mia - Melissa Benoist/ Lucy Hale

                                In the book, Mia was said to not look like any of her parents because she had dark hair and eyes. Both actresses above have dark hair. With regards to the eyes, Lucy  is perfect because she has dark colored eyes (which is perfect for the character). Melissa, on the other hand, does not have dark colored eyes (her eyes are blue), but I think her musical ability makes up for it (which is good because in the novel Mia is musically talented). In addition to that, Lucy also has musical ability, as seen in her performance in "A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song." Finally, both actresses, in my opinion, can act quite well and this will be good because the character somewhat experiences a "roller coaster" ride of emotions.

2. Adam - Diego Boneta

                                  Diego Boneta, in my opinion, is perfect for Adam because: 1) he can sing - just watch him in "Rock of Ages" (it's needed because Adam was the lead singer for his band, Shooting Star), 2) he can pull off that "good guy - rocker" character, which can also be seen in "Rock of Ages" (Adam's into that kind of music but he never fails to show that he cares for Mia nor does he diss her for other girls), 3) he can really act. For all of those reasons, I chose Diego Boneta as Adam.

3. Mom - Malin Akerman

                                  While reading the book, I couldn't imagine a better person playing Mia's mother except for Malin Akerman. In the story, Mia's mom was kind of a "rocker" when she was younger. Just look at Malin Akerman in "Rock of Ages, " she pulls off the "rocker-chic" look so well! This look could be used during Mia's flashbacks of her mom when she was younger. Not only that, Malin can also look like a mom, just look at the pic above (right side), she looks very professional and mature. That look (the one on the right) can be the current look of Mia's mom - when she stopped going to all the concerts and focused on her job and family. Lastly, Malin Akerman can act very well, just look at her film credentials and you'll have to believe me!

4.   Dad - Brad Pitt

                              Not only is Brad Pitt an A-list actor but he is a very good one at that! I really believe he can give a great portrayal of Mia's dad in the movie adaptation of the book (if they ever created one). More that, he possess the physical traits described in the book - blonde and blue-eyed. Also, he can pull off that "rocker" look, just look at the pic on the left (this is good because Mia's dad was also into the music scene when he was younger). It would be good during Mia's flashbacks of her father. Lastly, he pulls off the 'bow-tie' look (right picture) which Mia says was her father's trademark.

5. Teddy  - Jackson Brundage

                                      I've loved Jackson Brundage from the moment he started on "One Tree Hill." I think he would play a good Teddy in the movie adaptation (if there ever will be), because: 1) he has the physical traits of Teddy (blonde and blue-eyed), and 2) he can play a cute and innocent character, just look at his portrayal of his character, James Lucas Scott, from "One Tree Hill."

6. Kim - Ashley Rickards

                                     In the novel, Kim has this sort of snarky/sarcastic/moody/tough tone to her and I think Ashley Rickards can play this character effortlessly because it is slightly similar to her characters in "Awkward" and "One Tree Hill."

                         To end this entry, I want to show you just the movie poster I designed, in case it does get to be a film: ( Melissa Benoist was used as Mia in the poster)

Movie Review: Man of Steel

                              

              

                                         Just an hour ago, I finished watching the movie, Man of Steel. To be honest with all of you, I really had high expectations for this movie considering the stellar cast, the well-known director, and the very intriguing trailers. With that said, I believe the movie exceeded absolutely all of my expectations and delivered such an amazing film. One of the things that I really loved  in the film was how the whole movie was not only full of action, but was also incredibly emotional. This was emphasized in many of the scenes - like the scene where Superman holds General Zod by the neck as he attempts to kill a human family. In that scene alone, you could see the dilemma of Superman as he contemplates having to kill someone of his own kind or having to watch an innocent family die. That moment brought so many emotions in him that when he made his decision, he ended up breaking down  (a very human thing to do). More than that, however, the scene that struck me the most (and almost brought tears to my eyes) was the scene of the hurricane, wherein Clark Kent saw his father die. Clark Kent, of all people, could have saved his father but at his father's command, he didn't. The fact that he could've sends Clark through a whirlwind of emotions involving pain, regret and even a small sense of hope. However, the fact that his father was willing to risk death just to avoid exposing his son showed Clark the true importance of keeping his identity secret.

                                Second, the movie had almost no loose ends. You know how in some movies, you end up leaving the theater and asking why was it like that? or how could that have been like that? Well, in this film, you hardly even ask any of those questions. Moreover, they even clarified and brought depth to some things - like why Superman wears an "S" (this doesn't only stand for Superman) and why his weakness is Kryptonite. 

                              Lastly, I have to applaud the cast, crew, and the graphics. The set and graphics were spot on and very realistic. The cast was also a great success. I really liked how they put some of the biggest names as Clark's fathers - Russel Crowe and Kevin Costner. For me, though, the biggest surprise of the movie was really Henry Cavill. It's hard enough to have to stand out in a movie with personalities like Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Russel Crowe, and Lawrence Fishburn but Henry Cavill was able to do it.  He really showed so many dynamic emotions that you'd be crazy not to be drawn in. Furthermore,  he showcased all of Superman's complexities beautifully, which made for a very realistic performance. Because of his portrayal of this character, I'm certain that we will see him more in the big screen with a possible chance of an Oscar in the future.     

                          Over-all, it was really an incredible and very story-driven film and I really urge you not delay watching it. As for ratings, I'd give it a full 10 Stars!

Book Review: The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

                To tell you the truth, I've come across this book so many times during my trips to our local bookstores and I haven't ever really considered reading this book. Well, that was until my friend said that it was "the most underappreciated and overlooked book of Nicholas Sparks." From that statement alone, I definitely considered reading the book for myself.

               For those of you that haven't read the book yet, the story is about Wilson Lewis and his efforts to win back the love and affection of his wife, Jane, who is also the eldest daughter of The Notebook's Noah and Allie. Through the years they've been married, Wilson has noticed how he and Jane have somehow led their lives into a pattern, in which Jane has seemed to fall out of love with her husband. With the guidance of Noah Calhoun, Wilson attempts to make his wife fall in love with him all over again, and he attempts to get this done by their wedding anniversary. However, things go astray when Wilson and Jane's eldest daughter, Anna, plans to marry on the day of their wedding anniversary. With Jane helping with Anna's wedding, Wilson tries his best to do still do his plans to win back his wife while keeping up with the wedding arrangement. This book will ultimately end with a wedding you would not expect.

                One of the best parts of this book, in my opinion, would have to be the scenes of Wilson and Noah. I really enjoyed how Nicholas Sparks created their relationship with Noah not only as Wilson's guide to winning back his wife but also as a concerned friend to his son-in-law. It made it more enjoyable for me to keep reading the book. Moreover, I liked how it was in this book that you can see that Noah and Allie's relationship was not totally perfect. There was a part in the novel, about the roses in Noah's house that told so much of their hardships as parents and as a couple. This made it feel more realistic and relatable as no relationship is perfect; but they can always be improved and worked on.

             Another thing I liked about this book was that it made you anticipate something totally different from what was going to happen next. Now, I don't want to spoil it for all of you because I do encourage you to read it but it does kind of surprise you in the end. More than that, though, I really loved the romance that comes with this book. I really enjoyed Wilson's efforts in getting back his wife and the build up towards his grand gesture. There was even a part in which I cried because it was so sweet. You just really have to read it to know what I'm talking about so again I urge you again to read.

            Although there were definitely positives to this book, there was one thing that I didn't like about the story and it was the pacing. Unlike some of Spark's stories, which tackles the discovery of a new love ( like The Rescue, and A Walk to Remember, The Last Song), this one was all about rekindling a somewhat lost relationship, so, in my opinion, it shouldn't have taken Wilson that long to really express his feelings to his wife. With that said, that is the only negative I can truly say about the novel.

           So over-all, it was still a pretty good book and I really do encourage you to read it.

           Just like my other posts, I just had to create a cast list in the hopes that this will turn into a movie.
So here are my suggestions:

1. Noah Calhoun - James Garner

           I don't think any other actor can really replace James Garner for his role as an older and wiser version of Noah Calhoun, so it is just appropriate that he be playing Noah again in a movie adaptation of The Wedding.








2. Wilson Lewis - Aaron Eckhart

              Through his films, Aaron Eckhart continually proves to the world that he is indeed a diverse actor. He went from a fun loving chef in No Reservations to a crazy psychopath in The Dark Knight (Harvey "Two Face") and recently a compassionate president in Olympus Has Fallen. Just by these drastic character changes alone, you could indeed tell he is a serious actor.
            
             Though he is slightly younger than what Nicholas Sparks originally had written for the character to be, I believe he will successfully be able to play Wilson Lewis in the big screen. Not to mention, he has also had experience in the romantic genre as he starred in Love Happens (alongside the beautiful Jennifer Aniston) and No Reservations with the very talented Catherin Zeta Jones. So why shouldn't he play Wilson Lewis in a movie adaptation of The Wedding?




3. Jane Calhoun - Amanda Peet

                    In the novel, Wilson describes his wife to have a somewhat "childlike ease to her emotions." If you watched Amanda Peet's movie "A Lot Like Love," she does exhibit a somewhat childlike ease when she talks. Now, I know that she does that mainly for her character in that movie but it seemed to somehow fit how I imagined Jane to be (while reading the book). Like Aaron Eckhart, she is also younger than what Nicholas Sparks intended for the book but I think she would fit the part perfectly.







4. Anna Lewis - Rooney Mara/Jessica Lowndes/Michelle Tratchtenberg

                       Between these three actresses, I cannot decide which one I'd like to be Anna. In the novel, Anna was described to be sort of gothic yet still kind of look like her mother. These three actresses seem to pull off that gothic style of dressing and they also have a slight resemblance to Amanda Peet. So any of these 3 actresses, in my opinion, can play Anna in the big screen.



5. Joseph Lewis - Adam Gregory
 

                         Not much is described with this character other than he is taller and thinner than Wilson. I was just thinking that Adam Gregory would be a good Joseph because 1) he is very good looking and 2) I think he can pull it off the slightly snooty character (because in the book, Joseph kind of gives Wilson the "cold shoulder" after what Wilson has done to Jane) as this can be seen in some of the characters he played like his character Ty in 90210 and Dom in 17 Again.



6. Leslie Lewis - Erica Dasher



                   In the novel, Leslie was described to be the most endearing of the three. She was described to have a bubbly personality (won homecoming queen in her high school) and was the only child, who seemed to show affection towards her father. I think Erica Dasher can portray that sort of endearing quality to Leslie as well as her bubbly personality. I'm basing this on Erica Dasher's portrayal of Jane Quimby in Jane By Design. I really think she nailed her character there and so, she can most likely also do a great job as Leslie. Moreover, Leslie is still in college (according to the book) and Erica Dasher has such a youthful face that she even portrays a 16-year old girl in Jane By Design, so this role would be perfect for her.

               So that is my take on the book and my suggestions for a movie adaptation of the novel.

The Host (movie review)

                             Just yesterday, I was able to watch The Host on its premiere day. To be honest, I have been waiting on this movie ever since I finished the book and here is what I have to say about it:

                         The movie was fine but it was a bit less than what I expected it to be. First, I imagined the caves to be a bit more damp and dark. In the book, Wanderer/Wanda had difficulty in seeing where she was going 'cause the place was so dark. Second, I didn't really like how the relationship of Wanda and Ian escalated quickly. In the book, Ian's feelings for Wanda were gradual. He didn't feel for her immediately like how the movie portrayed it to be. Third, I didn't like how they took out the story of Walter. In my opinion, it was Walter's death that really made Wanda truly feel for the humans and understand what it is like to be one of them. It was that part that I was really disappointed not to see in the film.

                       However, there were some positive points to the film. First, I liked how they stayed true to the story of the book and didn't really change much. Second, I loved the actors and actresses in this film. Though I was particularly impressed with William Hurt, Soairse Ronan and Max Irons. William Hurt made me very much enjoy the film as he was able to full personify Uncle Jeb craziness/ingenuity.Soairse Ronan was able to portray two characters very well and I was very impressed with her. Lastly, Max Irons was able to show very strongly the pain felt by Jared when he saw Melanie (Wanda) again and how he came to terms with it. Second, I really like the sci-fi effects and props of the film. It even beat the ones I've imagined while reading the book. Third, I liked how they were able to portray the love triangle/square of the characters. It was very entertaining to watch that unfold throughout the film.

                       Over-all, it was a good film - not great but not bad eiher. If I were to rate it, I'd probably give it a 6.5/10 because the movie was promising but just missed a few things.

  

Old Movie review - Mrs. Winterbourne

    

            A few days ago, I was able to catch this movie entitled "Mrs. Winterbourne." It featured personalities such as Ricki Lake, Brendan Fraser and Shirley MacLaine. At first, I was skeptical about the film, I wasn't sure if I would like it but to my surprise, it was quite enjoyable.

           For those of you who haven't heard of this film yet, the story goes like this: Connie (Lake) has been unlucky in love. At eighteen years old, she moved in with a man who she thought loved her. After a while, she got pregnant with his child and he decided to abandon her. On a train ride to Boston, she meets Hugh Winterbourne (Fraser), who treats her with kindness by helping her escape the attendant asking for her ticket (she didn't buy a ticket for the train ride). Hugh then brings her to his room on the train where Connie meets Hugh's pregnant wife, Patricia. As Hugh leaves, Patricia and Connie bond. When Patricia's ring falls from her fingers, Connie helps her find it. As Connie finds the ring, she can't help but marvel at its beauty. Patricia notices this and tells her to put it on. Connie does this and the unthinkable happens - the train crashes. Connie wakes up at a hospital bed, surrounded by gifts. Fortunately, her baby survived and was delivered safely. Later though she realizes that they think she is Patricia Winterbourne (because she was still wearing the ring of the real Patricia Winterbourne) and the Hugh and the real Patricia Winterbourne are dead. Still confused and a little shocked, she tries to escape the hospital but then is stopped by Paco, the Winterbourne's butler. Paco says that he Winterbourne family expects her to be with them especially after the death of Hugh. With nowhere to go, she decides to use this opportunity to support her and her newborn baby. However, she didn't expect to fall for Hugh's brother, Bill (Fraser), and to develop a close relationship with Hugh and Bill's mother (MacLaine).

          What made me enjoy the movie was the unique and quirky plot of the story. I especially liked how the movie started Connie with her dead beat boyfriend. In the first few scenes, they showed their relationship and how she got pregnant in the first place. I also liked how the film gradually went to the scene wherein Connie, Hugh and Patricia get into a train accident. Lastly, I kind of enjoyed the light humor put into this film, it made watching this film so easygoing and carefree.

           Although this movie was enjoyable, there were some things that I didn't like about it. First, I didn't like how Bill and Connie fell in love. At first, Bill was apprehensive of Connie then after just a few scenes, he was suddenly head-over-heels in love with her, so much so, that he wanted to marry her immediately. For me, the relationship did not have any real basis and was too fast-paced for my liking. Second, I think the movie lacked more emotion. Although Shirley MacLaine and Brendan Fraser did very well acting, I did not like how their character was portrayed in the film. It had only been a few days since Hugh died and yet, Hugh's mother and Bill seemed to have gotten over it so quickly. There was no scene where, Shirley MacLaine's character was seen crying, and this should have been evident considering that MacLaine's character just lost her son. Finally, I found the conversation of Connie with her mother-in-law to be somewhat lacking. The mother-in-law's reaction seemed to be subdued and too unrealistic. Now I am not blaming any of the actors though I do say that the writers should have put more depth into the characters and story itself.

         Despite this though, I would give the movie a rating of 6/10 because even though, it had inconsistencies, it was still a fun film to watch. I'd recommend watching in DVD this with a bunch of your girl friends to have a great laugh and have a fun time!

Jack the Giant Slayer (movie review)

             

                    To start, I just want to say that I somewhat enjoy having the classic fairytales remade into an edgier, darker, more realistic way. So, I was excited to be able to watch this movie, particularly because the director of X-men First Class was directing it. Based on the trailer alone, it showed much potential because it had action, romance, great graphics and not to mention incredible actors such as Stanley Tucci and Ewan McGregor. The movie, itself, was very entertaining and over-all, it was a good film. I, particularly, like the start of the film, wherein we see both the characters of Jack and Isabel with their parents reading them the same story. This set a good tone for the film and also, allowed the development of their romance to be more substantial. Lastly, I found that the unexpected twist at the end quite interesting as it related to the present. So again, in my opinion, it was a really good film, one that you will truly enjoy watching with friends and family.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer (book review)

              To be honest, I've been a fan of Stephenie Meyer's work for a long time already. I loved the Twilight series so I really couldn't wait to start reading The Host. You would think that I recently just bought the book but, in truth, I've had a copy of it for quite a while. I just didn't have the time to start reading it. However with the soon release of the movie, I couldn't help myself from finding out what the story was really about so I started reading it.

               The Host surprised me a lot and made me even like it more than I liked the Twilight series. The reason for it was because I found the story quite unique and very compelling. It might have been because I haven't really read much books on Aliens (except maybe for Daniel X by James Patterson), though I would think even one who has read a lot of Alien-based story books would find this book very interesting. Anyways, just a brief background (in case you weren't familiar with the story), Wanderer is an alien inhabiting the body of this human girl, Melanie. Usually when an alien inhabits a human body, they keep the memories and past emotions of the human body, however, the human soul that used to live in that body dies. In Wanderer's case, Melanie didn't die and she is very much present inside the body. This poses a lot of problems for Wanderer, especially when it comes to controlling the body's emotions and longing for the boy named Jared. This longing for Jared, leads both characters - Wanderer and Melanie - to journey through the desert in the hope of finding Jared. Now, I will stop here because I would like you to read the book so you'd understand why I liked it a lot.

             So, just to enumerate, these are the reasons why I loved the book:

1. The realistic feel of the characters. I really liked how these characters are very different but at the same time, very diverse. Take for instance, the character of Jared. When Jared meets Wanderer, in Melanie's body, (spoiler), he presents a mix of emotions. He is happy to see the face again of the girl he loves, however, he is both sad and angry that she is inhibited by this alien. This makes it hard for Jared to physically hurt Wanderer because what he sees is Melanie or her body, to say the least. This is a very human emotion to long for a loved one that might not even be there, but it makes it all the more realistic. You could just imagine that pain Jared feels in seeing Melanie (Wanderer) again.

2.  The theme of love. Throughout the book, Meyer presents different kinds of love such as a Mother's love, love for one's kind and the romantic kind of love. These different themes of love can be seen in how the characters of the story interact with one another. Melanie protecting Jamie at all costs shows a familial bond that can be associated with the love of a mother for her child. The way the human community protects one another from any alien intruder (as seen in their reaction to Wanderer's presence). The way Ian cares for Wanderer shows the romantic kind of love; the love that can surpass all things. All these kinds of love were presented throughout the book, which made it so much more understandable and different.

3.The gradual element of the story. I have read some books, where the characters instantly jump into a relationship after one day. In this story, all the relationships developed gradually like Wanderer's love for Ian and Jared's acceptance of Wanderer. This, again, made it all the more believable because all relationships require time to develop and it cannot be solidified in just a day.

4. The unique premise of the story. I found it really intriguing that Melanie remained alive in the story, despite being possessed by an alien. Also, by the fact that through Melanie's memories, Wanderer also kinds of falls in love with Jared. It poses the question if Wanderer really loves Jared or is it just the memories of him that make it so? This question will be answered once you have read the book. This is also the reason why I like it more than Twilight (also because the story of a vampire in love with a human has been used before).

5. The message that you can't really judge anyone based on what you see. Throughout the story, the humans come to terms with this message as they see Wanderer's true self. It also reminds us, not only as readers but also as human beings that we shouldn't judge others based on what we see. There is more to a person than just the physical and this book seemed to have exemplified this point.

          These are the reasons why I loved this book and I really urge you all to go out, get yourself a copy. Lastly, I hope the movie will be just as great! Here's the poster in case you didn't see it yet.