The Time Traveler's Wife Movie Review

I think, if you were following my live tweets you'd be able to tell since I didn't tweet nearly as much as I usually do. I was far too engrossed in watching. There were aspects I didn't like as much as in the books, but there were also a few moments I liked even better than the book!

I don't like the synopsis that IMDB.com offers:
A romantic drama about a Chicago librarian with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage.

What do you think? I honestly would not watch that movie, it sounds boring. Ha!

I loved both Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, I think they did a great job. I especially loved Brooklynn Proulx, she as adorable and perfect!

I was a little sad we didn't get to see Kimy, she was, by far, my favorite character.

And a last little "did you know" for your reading pleasure: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt bought the film rights to the novel before it was released to the public. Pitt was a producer of the film, apparently he had some good feelings about it!

How did you like the movie? Did you think they did the book justice?

Beautiful Creatures Movie Review

Well, I don't know if you followed the twitter feed (#FIwatchBC), but if you did you probably already know what I'm going to say.

I did not like that movie. Most of the story was ruined in the first three minutes. They cut out half of the characters! (Ugh! and I just realized we never even say Ethan's father, he was just talked at or about.) The worst part was all of the silly little changes that did not affect the story in any way: case and point: Coconut Pie. WHY? Why couldn't it be lemon? Is there some trademark on Lemon Pie that I don't know about? So stupid. OK, I understand having to move things along and cutting scenes and characters for timing, but why those little things? Why change who "used to say" something or someone's favorite pie? What is that doing for the story? Seriously, someone please explain this to me!

So, Richard LaGravenese wrote the screenplay and directed the movie. After watching it, I'm under the impression that he did not actually read the book. I think he had an intern read it and tell him what happened.

I'm actually not sure I would have liked this movie even if I hadn't read the book. It feels forced and like it pulls lots of plot points from thin air. Maybe I am being too harsh --  what did you think?


Now that that is over... time for a new adventure:

This month we are reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

Buy Book: Amazon

Buy Movie: Amazon

Amazon's synopsis:

A MOST UNTRADITIONAL LOVE STORY, this is the celebrated tale of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who inadvertently travels through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare’s passionate affair endures across a sea of time and captures them in an impossibly romantic trap that tests the strength of fate and basks in the bonds of love.

Happy Reading!

Pride & Prejudice Movies (Viewing May 29th at 8pm ET)

I will be watching and live tweeting the 2005 Pride & Prejudice at 8pm ET on May 29th. (I live in Japan, so that is actually 9am Saturday for me.) We won't always have to do Friday/Saturday viewings I just picked that for this time. Let me know if a different day/time works for you  -- my only wish is to not have to be up at 3am.

Make it a viewing party where ever you are -- maybe even with some themed food. You could do British pub food or a traditional Tea. Share your pics down below if you do anything fun!

Pride & Prejudice has been interpreted into numerous plays, movies, and TV-shows. Some have been better than others, and some have been phenomenal.

I am only going to concentrate (primarily) on the movies today.

The first interpretation to hit the big screen, Pride and Prejudice, premiered July 26, 1940. It starred Greer Garson and Laurence Oliver. It was well received, and The New York Times called it 

"the most deliciously pert comedy of old manners, the most crisp and crackling satire in costume that we in this corner can remember ever having seen on the screen."

I haven't seen this one yet, but I will comment below when I have (soon-ish, hopefully). Have you seen it? What did you think?

Available on demand: Amazon 

Buy it now: Amazon 

Then there was a long break from Jane Austin's Pride & Prejudice in the box office, but don't fret! Many of her other works were adapted to the silver screen.

The next interpretation introduce was Bridget Jones's Diary, released 13 April 2001, and starring Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth.

Did you know? The author of Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding, had envisioned Firth's Mr. Darcy from the 1995 mini-series when she created the character Mark Darcy. Additionally, Firth accepted the part of Mark Darcy in this film because Andrew Davies, the screenwriter for the 1995 mini-series, collaborated on the screenplay for Bridget Jones's Diary. But! Firth had initially declined the role of Mr. Darcy in the BBC show.

Could you imagine a world where Colin Firth wasn't Mr. Darcy (or Mark Darcy)?! I can't. He was, no, is my favorite Darcy.

Available on demand: Amazon
Buy it now: Amazon 

Next up, Bride and Prejudice, is a Bollywood style movie. It was released on October 8, 2004 and stars Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson. The music and the dancing emphasize the themes and emotions in the story. You'll notice there is no kissing in this movie - apparently that is because in traditional Bollywood movies public displays of affection are taboo, even at a wedding!

I'm going to admit that this is not my favorite P&P interpretation though. I don't like Rai's Lalita (Elizabeth). It wasn't until after I'd seen it that I found out that Rai refused to read P&P because she didn't want to be influenced by the real Elizabeth. I always hate when I find out that movie makers (actors, directors, cameramen...any of them, really) haven't read the book. It just doesn't sit well with me. What do you think? Am I too harsh?

Available on demand: Amazon

Buy it now: Amazon

However, the 2005 adaptation, starting Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen is my favorite. (And I will openly admit that Macfadyen is the closest second as can be to Firth in my eyes. To be honest, it may only be that Firth came first, if it had been any other way Macfayden would probably be my number one. So dreamy...)

This is one of my all time favorite movies, and completes regularly with Star Trek (2009) to be my feel good movie du jour. I will watch one or the other at least once a month. I love everything about this movie, the casting (especially Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet), the music, the setting; everything.

I am not wrong or alone. Pride & Prejudice was nominated for 34 awards that year. Including Academy Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and a couple Golden Globes. In total, it won five awards:

• Best New Filmmaker- Joe Wright, from the Boston Society of Film Critics
• Most Promising Newcomer - Joe Wright, from the British Academy Film Awards
• Best British Film, from the Empire Awards
• British Director of the Year- Joe Wright, from the London Film Critics' Circle
• British Supporting Actor of the Year- Tom Hollander, also from the London Film Critics Circle

This is the one we'll be watching on May 29th at 8 pm Eastern. Live tweet with me (@FIBookClub) using #FIwatchPnP

Available on demand: Amazon
Buy Now: Amazon

What are your favorite adaptions?

Pride & Prejudice Review

I've finished this month's book, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin. Have you finished it yet?

This is a copy of the review I posted on to Google Books:

As a club we read Pride & Prejudice in May 2015. Personally, I've read it at least five times. It is one of my favorite stories. A classic, and used as an inspiration for so many other stories.

Pride & Prejudice is a historical fiction romantic comedy. In this one novel, Jane Austin tells numerous stories of love and courtship. She writes of how love can grow so slowly you don't even know it happened. How it can be a spark that lights a burning fire from the moment you meet someone. And, that love and marriage do not always go hand-in-hand. Some marry for comfort; some marry because they want to be married - not necessarily in love.

I believe that this novel has held its popularity for so long because Austin allows there to be many reasons for love. Everyone is able to relate with the story, and everyone wants to have a love as deep as Elizabeth's and Darcy's, as passionate as Jane and Bingley's, and as comfortable as Charlotte and Collins'.

If you haven't read the book, do so. If you have, then do it again. I always find sometime new and wonderful between those pages.

Read my review and others HERE.

How would you review Pride & Prejudice?