The Scorch Trials Movie Review

We have a lot to talk about when it comes to The Scorch Trials movie. I think we both can agree on three things. First that we were both very excited to see this movie because of all three books it was our favorite. Second that we were both very nervous about how this was going to play out on the big screen. Third that when the movie ended we were both very surprised about how we felt about it. Of course we went on a date last night to see the early screening of it. 

This review might be a ramble jamble insanely unorganized review but whatever that is kind of our thing... So here we go.

First TST had a lot, A LOT of changes from the book. We knew going into it that this was going to be happening. The fact that things would be changed was never hidden from us. There were clear and present changes in: How they spent their time in the WICKED compound, some of the events that played out while there, where they end up after the compound, what happens when they are in the scorch, what happens when they meet up with the rebels, what the infected look like, characters deaths, characters relationships, and pretty much the entire ending. These are only some of the changes as well. However, don't let that get you down, these changes were good ones! Some of the scenes in the book can be a little confusing, but it was all adapted so well for the big screen.  Plus there are still a lot of things that were present from the book as well. TST movie also goes a lot darker than the book and a lot of other YA adaptions. Almost receiving an R rating. The language is more "mature" along with stepping up the amount of violence and gore.

We know that a lot of people were worried about the cranks and what they would end up being like. It has been a good minute since either of us have read the books, but if we're not mistaken we believe in the book they were more human with a side of wonky infected brain.We remember them walking a more normal pace and being able to speak. In the movie they took it in a World War Z direction and were straight up one step away from The Walking Dead. WE LOVED THIS. It had us so stressed out and waiting on the edge of our seats for when they would come out. They were so scary! There is one scene in particular when Brenda and Thomas go down into the tunnels.... Even in the book it sounded scary, but the movie takes it to another level. There are a lot of moments were you don't know WTF is going on and then these crazy things just pop out from no where. Good thing Dylan O'Brien was there to protect us.

The cast was a surprise too. It turned out to be super star packed. We have of course one of the stars from Teen Wolf play Thomas (Dylan O'Brien). Who was originally a worry for a lot of people because everyone seemed to think he looked "too MTV" (why is this a bad thing again?). He continues to make a Thomas. The other crazy actors we got were: Clary from the soon to be Shadow
Hunters TV show, the Los Pollos guy from Breaking Bad, a girl who looks like Zoey Kravitz (she's apparently a British model?), Little finger from GOT (and yes he's as big a dick in this as he is in that), and that's not our only GOT star, we got Jojen Reed (he is so adorable it hurts). No wait there's more... We get this guy from Arrest Development (the second you see him you'll say "how the F do I know this guy") and then to round it all we get the motha effin sniper from Saving Private Ryan. Seriously it's one scene after another of "wait a second... is that Los Pollos the freaking chicken meth dealer from Breaking Bad.... Yes Yes it is.... OMG SAVING PRIVATE RYAN!" We were freaking dying with laughter when we finally figured out who half the people were and why they looked so familiar. Each character brings SO much to the table and does a killer job with their role.

It's been awhile since We've had this much fun watching a movie. Think a lot of extreme and professional movie critics have been way too harsh on this film. We both really enjoyed it. There's a lot more holes filled in in this one than the first, there's a butt ton more action, and the changes made increased the story-line. Let's be real though, it is pretty dang hard to translate something from print to screen. Especially when it comes to a YA dystopian fantasy where you have crazy scenes from James Dashner's head. Like when they first enter the Scorch and the one kid's head gets popped off by some lead balloon thing... How the F were they going to translate that to the big screen? The director and screenwriters did a great job deciding what was important and what could be changed to be a little easier for a movie. Overall, it was fantastic. Fast paced, gripping, and a ton of fun. The Scorch Trials in our opinion was better than the first. Yes, again there are a lot of changes. Yes, this plot is again super fast paced. Yes, a lot of information is thrown at you. No, this movie might not be for everyone. But the both of us as fans of the series really enjoyed this adaptation and left the theater both happy and satisfied. To us the opinion of fellow book readers, no matter if they loved or hated the books, matters more to us than movie critics opinions.

We've said this before and we'll say it again; we had the pleasure of meeting James Dashner at an event last year. Since it was an event were only a limited number of people could attend we got to actually spend time with him and talk. We have met a lot of authors and he is hands-down still one of our favorites. He took so much time talking, signing everything you brought, answering questions, and has such a bright personality. He was everything you hope an author will be when you meet them. Trust us when we say that not all authors who we've met having the same success he is, are as pleasent to be around *Cough Veronica Roth Cough*. The fact that he fangirled with us about Dylan O'Brien also had us sold. He has us very excited to see what they do with The Death Cure.

-8.5/10 Stars
A&L

Dark Places Movie Review

I love any and all of Gillian Flynn’s novels because they are creep as F. Seriously, how does she come up with this stuff? Anyway, I have had the premiere for Dark Places marked on my calendar for MONTHS. One day I was browsing the On Demand section of DirecTV and noticed that Dark Places was listed as a new release. I was really confused because per my calendar, it wasn’t due to come out for several weeks. Turns out, DirecTV had some doing in the production so it came out on DirecTV first. Awesome for me! I got to see it way earlier than what I expected. I balked at the price of it at first ($7.99 for a 3 day rental), but then remembered that I originally planned on seeing it in theaters (where a ticket would be at least $10).

The cool thing about the movie is that it was a lot easier to figure out who did it. My husband has never read Dark Places (or any Gillian Flynn novel, for that matter), so he had no idea what he was getting into. Let me preface this by saying that he really isn’t a big movie watcher or book reader because he hates sitting still for long periods of time because he has a short attention span. While watching Dark Places, he was HOOKED. I only had to do minimal explaining regarding the plot, but he was able to get a good solid theory of who the murder was about half way through. When I read the book, I honestly couldn’t make heads from tails with what was going on because it was SO much. I love the way Gillian Flynn writes because she throws in so many little details that you get confused and forget about small things, then the ending happens and BAM all that stuff you forgot is right there in your face. Overall, the book translated very well to screen. Even if you haven’t read the book (which you need to RIGHT NOW) or plan on watching the movie with someone who hasn’t read it, it is still a good choice. Some things may be slightly confusing, but if you really pay attention (especially to the flash backs) then you can figure things out pretty easily.

One of my favorite things about the movie is how they handled present time versus flashbacks. There are a LOT of different POVs when it comes to the flashbacks, so it could have easily gotten muddled and confusing. It was directed very well and is easy to follow if you are watching Libby’s mom, Libby, or Ben’s flashback. For present time, it stays in Libby’s POV. In the book, I really liked how Gillian Flynn counted down to the night of the murder from the beginning. In the movie, it isn’t as clear as that (for example, in the book it would say Two Days before the murder) but you don’t feel like you are missing anything.

Charlize Theron killed it as Libby. I really had my doubts about her, because in the book, Libby is described as being this small statured angry woman. Charlize Theron is very tall, and I personally have not seen her in a dark role like this. SHE KILLED IT. She completely embodied Libby and all the anger that she carried. She was able to show all the emotions that Libby carried in her head, but never really showed on the outside. I think overall I really liked all of the casting. Chloe Grace Mortez was creepy as F as Deondra. I really love where her acting career is going and think this movie only added to her already stellar resume.

4/5 stars

xoxox 
-Leah

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Movie Review

Recently Leah and I had the pleasure of sitting in on the Papertowns panel with John Green, and while we were there he said something that just stuck with me about books that become movies. He said that a great book to film adaptation, though the book and film will without a doubt be compare, however can stand on it's own. That you should leave the theater loving it as a movie and try not too completely compare the two. As avid readers and girls who constantly see books that become films there are two things I can say about that statement: that it is completely correct, but that it is really hard to do. When it comes to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl this statement took new life for me. This film holds it's own.

Leah and I just left the theater and I knew right away I needed to come home and talk about the film we just saw. If you read either of our reviews on the book than you know that both of us just thought the novel was alright. It was comical, light, but the ending I think is what kind of let both of us down. It's comparison to TFIOS was off, the high remarks on goodreads had us both a little confused, and there was just something we both felt was missing. I think I can speak for the both of us when I say that we now know what was missing. Me and Earl, and the Dying Girl movie gave us everything we wanted and more. The film had so much more emotion and depth than the novel. I know that everyone who sees the trailer is thinking "wow didn't we just dehydrate ourselves and spike Kleenex sales enough last year with TFIOS", please don't think that. The only thing that they have in relation is a sick girl. That's it.

This film blew me away. It's a film following quirky, interesting, and relatable characters. Best part is that it's a film about making films... Which would have most thinking this would lead to an awkward play-out, but it actually gives this film something so unique. The characters though quirky are ones you will be cheering for and falling in love with. Greg (Thomas Mann) is cruising through life, trying to keep a low profile, and just make it out of high school. His only real friend, though he wont admit it, is Earl (RJ Cyler). The bad boy loner from the poorer side of town. The two have been friends forever and making parodies of movies since they met. Making films like "A Sockwork Orange" and "Rosemary's Baby Carrots". The relationship they

have though odd has always worked out for the two of them. That is until one day Greg's mom forces him to hang out with his classmate Rachel (Olivia Cooke) who has been diagnosed with cancer. As you can probably guess Earl and Greg are asked to make a movie for Rachel. This starts the blossoming friendship of three loners. Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, and Olivia Cooke nailed the characters. They took characters that in the book I felt no real connection too and made them into characters that brought me to tears by the end of the film. That is not the only thing that changed from the book. There are several scene changes that also made the movie a heck of a lot better than the book. It's as if J. Andrews listened to the readers reviews took them in and made the changes needed while keeping the things we loved. So happy that the accidentally drug scene was left in as well as the pillow masturbation talk. Another very present change is the over all connection and friendship between Greg and Rachel. In the book Greg and Rachel really don't have much of a friendship in my opinion. In the film however their relationship and friendship is something so beautiful. So having the characters take a different direction made it easier for audience to connect with them. My favorite change however was the complete change of the ending.

As I said above, when reading the book when it came to the ending I was highly letdown... When it came to the movie it was my favorite part. The unique composition, the beautiful cinematography, and the way it was taken to a new emotional depth that we didn't get out of the book. When I say a new depth I mean oceans

deeper than what the book gave. This went from a mediocre book to an absolutely stunning film. And saying stunning is truly an understatement. A strong indie movie with a casting of new comers really gave this film everything it needs to be a knock out. The filmmakers truly deserve a round of applause for taking a trope filled genre that has recently been increasing and becoming a bit tired and giving it new life. This film deserves way more hype than it is getting. Every movie mark was hit: perfectly placed dry humor, great casting, unique elements, and a film that could have easily been dark was made light and loving. It's been a long time since we've seen a movie that made us laugh till we cried and then just flat out cried.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a film more about the journey than the destination and it is well worth the climb. This is a summer must see. This review only gives a light shade of how I felt towards the film. Simply put: This movie was how book to film should be done.

10/10 Stars 
-Angela 

The Martian by Andy Weir

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate leaving him behind thinking he is dead. Mark finds himself stranded, completely alone, and with no way to contact Earth.

“It’s true, you know. In space, no one can hear you scream like a little girl.”

The Martian is a science book that fits into a fictional storyline and this is what makes this story so amazing. That being said it's also a book that could fit in any number of genres.

The Martian  will more than likely be one of the best things I'll read all year. As much as I like science I'm in no way a science brainiac, so when the science overload started I feared I would be weighed down by all the facts. Turns out it was the opposite. Everything is broken down so that anyone can catch a grip on it. 

The main reasons I wanted to pick this book up was one: the amazing ratings it holds on goodreads and two: because I love the idea of someone being stranded on another planet. Somewhere a person has to figure out how to survive somewhere no one is meant to survive on. Weir nailed his delivery. Mark Watney is written to perfection. He has a style and flow that makes him seem so realistic and relatable. He's a character that will take you by surprise and one you might not fully understand right away. When we are first introduced to Mark you'll see right away that he is a sarcastic joker. At first this was kind of a turn off for me... I was wondering how someone in his situation could be so cavalier. As the book goes on your can see that it's the way he is surviving. Him taking a light approach to everything might of just been his greatest survival tool. I also really embraced the fact that he would have these freak out moments where he would be so over thing, screaming F this planet, then would take a moment to get himself together and figure shit out.

The plot and storyline of this book is something so simple yet so gripping. Can you imagine how terrifying it would be too be left on a planet completely alone? The fact that you just breathing could kill you. A place with no food or water source!!! That thought alone makes me want to run to Costco and stock pile. Knowing that you have to be alone until the next Mars mission happen?!!? Pretty sure I failed to mention that the next mission isn't for another four years! I would go mad. Even the moments that the story is a little slower there is something still so addictive about it.

The best part about this book isn't it's laid back character with a snarky remark to all things; it's that such a simple idea was laid out so well. While reading this novel I had to actually stop myself and remember that I wasn't actually reading someone journal . That this is fictional story that just happens to feel so real. 

This is a fast paced -can't put down survival read with a message that is so strong. Seriously, if the last paragraph in this book doesn't give you goosebumps then you have no soul. The Martian has a plot line that will keep you on the edge of your seat and a character you'll be cheering for. I can't wait to see this book play out on the big screen.

10/10 Stars 
-Angela 

sidenote: Matt Damon is the perfect pick for Mark Watney.