My Top 3 Book to Movie Adaptations.

So today I thought I'd bring to you, what many have certainly done before me, my favourite book to film adaptations. I've avoided talking about my least favourite for now, maybe I'll do that in the future. But here it is:

"The Hunger Games" (2012)
Dir. Gary Ross | Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth.

What I loved about this film was there was incredibly little for me to complain about. It is a definite mantra that a film will never be as good as its novel counterpart, and with that accepted, The Hunger Games does a pretty good job at not only being very faithful to the book but being an enjoyable, well-acted and very well-made film on its own. I loved Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Elizabeth Banks as Effie and Stanley Tucci as Caeser especially.

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (2001)
Dir. Chris Colombus | Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson.

I feel that the introductory film to the massive film franchise was a perfect adaptation. The first book in the Harry Potter series is a much lighter, child-friendly book than its successors and this film matched that. I do feel that if the films had followed this visual style then it would not be as faithful to the books, but as a first in a series of films, compared to the novel, it was a brilliant opener. It was as magical and fantastical as 7-year-old Robert could have hoped for.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012)
Dir. Stephen Chbosky | Cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller.

Wow. I read this book and was blown away. I know of so many people who adore this book, and I know so many people that don't. I always get the impression that at the end of this scale lies the hipster liking it because its deep and mentions the smiths, then later hating it because its popular. Ignoring that, the book to me was so raw and unlike anything I'd ever read before. One thing I loved was it being an epistolary novel. This actually resinated well with the film, Charlie, the protagonist, became a narrator writing the letters, occasionally narrating and introducing parts of his life within the film. The cast in this were everything. They were everything i'd envisaged and I could see those 'friends' I'd made while reading it being brought to life in the energetic and emotional portrayal by Logan, Emma and Ezra especially. An emotional film that still makes me cringe when Charlie kisses the 'wrong girl'.

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Ultimately, what I think is important is to initially look at a film as a separate medium, because it is! I try to restrict my "well that doesn't happen in the book!" or "they missed this, this and this!" as it does tend to spoil any viewing experience. Yes, each of these films had their flaws but ignore that and what you get is not only a pretty solid stand alone film, but also a fantastic adaptation that can be compared to the book and doesn't spoil the viewing experience.

Thanks for reading guys, hope you're having a lovely day,

Robert.

June Favourites (BOOKS).

So we say goodbye to June (okay it ended a week ago, but still), and hello to July!

In the month of June I read a total of eight books, and this particular post will focus on my two favourites of the month. 

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1.  A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) by George R.R. Martin.

'A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold' is the third book in George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series and continues on from his previous novel, 'A Clash of Kings'. 

In the UK, (and maybe other countries, I'm not too sure), the book is cleverly split into two parts, the first being 'Steel and Snow' with the second being 'Blood and Gold'. 

This book continues straight off from where the first part finishes and we are plunged right into the action and drama that exists in Martin's mythical world. We again see chapters divided between numerous character's perspectives, those being: Catelyn Stark, Bran Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Jon Snow, Jaime Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and Samwell Tarly. 

Martin's clever dispersal of places and people continues to be a brilliant narrative device that helps to continue to construct the world he's created. 

I don't wish to say too much about this book's plot as I don't particularly want to ruin it for those who haven't read it but do follow the series.

What can I say about this book other than I completely adored it and that it is by far the best continuation of a fantastic fantasy series.
What I love about Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series is that he is not afraid to go where other authors wouldn't. He creates a fantasy world that becomes incredibly real, in which the characters aren't animated stereotypes but, however cliché it may sound, they are real people. 

There's so much character development that it's a reader's heaven, and don't get me started on the events which take place in this book, Martin could slow it down a bit and I'd be happy but no he rewards his readers with shocking event after shocking event that manages to come full circle from his first book in the series, 'A Game of Thrones'. 

All in all, a fantastic book and I can't wait to read 'A Feast for Crows'; Martin better not fail me now!

2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

We've all heard of F. Scott Fitzgerald's infamous novel, 'The Great Gatsby' and with the buzz surrounding Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of the book, I thought there was no better time to read this book. 

I opened this book with a clear head; I knew nothing about The Great Gatsby, I daresay I didn't realise Gatsby was a person. Nonetheless, this created, what I found to be a wonderful reading experience. 

The novel follows Nick, the protagonist, whose viewpoint the novel is based around. Nick's recently moved to New York and its fictional village of 'West Egg' and there he lives next door to the house known for its lavish and glamourous parties, which a man name Gatsby is responsible for. The novel delves into Gatsby's life more than it does Nick's as Nick stumbles upon Gatsby's world through Gatsby's connection to Nick's cousin, Daisy. After this premise is set up, take a seat, have a brew and enjoy the next two hundred and odd pages of sheer literary fulfilment. 

I've never read a book so well written, so well paced, and just so god damn intriguing. The character of Jay Gatsby is mysterious and fabulous, and the book leaves you wanting to know more and live more with this enigmatic human. 

This is a book that certainly lived up to the hype, and my goodness, I will probably read it again. A true classic.

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My goodreads account contains my ratings and full reviews of other books that I read in the month of June. These include: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes Investigates by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman, The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. 

Thanks for reading and I hope you're having a lovely day!

Robert. 

University and 2013

Hey to whomever may read my blog,
I stopped as soon as freshers week hit me and I got caught up in all the university newness and fun.
I did try to update my blog I was there and this is what I had written:

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So, after those counting down blogs, I'm finally here at University... well I've been here exactly a week now. It's everything i'd hope it would be.

Move in day was so surreal. My parents dropped me off at about half 10 and we unpacked, they then took me for dinner as I was starving, we met up with my mum's best friend's daughter as she's also at this university and had moved in the day previously.
Once I returned from dinner, a lot of my housemates were in the lounge so I said my goodbyes to the parents and officially met my new, wonderful housemates. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better house, we're all getting on so well and most of us seem to be similar and have the same sense of humour.

We have this thing called freshers' reps or freppers, who are second year students who are basically here to make sure we have the best time possible. They've been doing that quite nicely. They're really nice too.

I've been so hungover these past few days but still managed to go out every night, I'm sort of relieved that my liver gets a bit of a break after tonight but still, I can't wait for the next night out in town.
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Since then University life has lived up to every expectation I had had.
The people I live with remain to be wonderful, can't explain how grateful I am to have them living with me. Since freshers' week I've met so many more lovely people.

Work has become a massive chore. I decided against politics and instead opted for film studies as I loved it at college and the syllabus for first term enticed me. I'm so relieved I took it, met so many wonderful film geeks who are as into films as me. Plus, two people in my house do it as a minor, also.
History is actually very frustrating. The course, in all honesty, has not been what I expected, I had a 2 hour lecture on the use of music in history and how music can present a period of history, which I'm very sure it can, am I interested? I guess I could have been but 'the belle epoque' is not really going to capture my enthusiasm. Other weeks have been great in the course, the vikings was interesting, especially discovering that they actually didn't wear those hats/helmets depicted in pictures and film, how devastating! I've looked at the syllabus for next term and it seems likely to improve, most people on the course share my feelings and what enticed me to the course and at this university was year 2 and the wide area of history and topics you could study.

Anyway, I'm probably boring you...
I'm now on Christmas break and head back to Uni in a week.

I'm thinking of updating my blog much more often with film and book reviews. I've made it my mission to read 30 new books this year, so far I've read 2 and were 6 days into the year so I'm making good progress.

Happy New Year!