So there are still many upcoming YA movies. Some of them we've read and enjoyed the books of and some not so much. Others we just haven't read yet. With the ever growing YA movie scene, sometimes we forget some movies and it's nice to round them all up sometimes and discuss them. See if we're into them or not.

The Giver 

Release Date: Aug 15, 2014

Trailer

I did read this one. It was required reading. I don't like required reading and no matter how much people talk about this being one of the original dystopias I can't appreciate it because all I can remember is doing reading comprehension questions, which I despise. Nevertheless, I am open minded about the movie. I like the trailer and the cast. It seems that it is very well done and the movie makers stuck to the original storyline.

Will I Watch It: Maybe, one day.

The Maze Runner

Release Date: 19 Sept/2-14

Trailer

What to say... I read this one a couple of years ago and found myself really enjoying it. Then it started to stretch out. The plot slowed and my interest waned. In the end, I found that I enjoyed it but the story didn't stay with me. As for the movie, the trailer once again looks really good. I love seeing the maze come alive and some of the details from the book also seem present like the boys' way of talking.

Will I Watch It: Maybe, one day.

The Book Thief

Release Date: 27 Nov./2013

Trailer

This one I haven't read and I'm not sure if I will. I don't usually go into a sobfest intentionally. I did see the trailer to this one and I'm very curious as to seeing the movie. I think this one I'm going to watch before reading the book to see if it will inspire me to do so.

Will I Watch it: Most probably


In The Works:

Paper Towns

I loved The Fault in our Stars movie soo much! Soo much. Paper Town is set to be produced by the same people and wow am I excited. I haven't read this one but I own a copy and will jump on it once I get some incentive.. a trailer might do.

Looking For Alaska

This is probably the next most popular John Green book after The Fault In Our Stars and the one I'm most excited for. I don't know what it's about except for a girl named Alaska that apparently needs to be looked for... The movie is being worked on by a Canadian lady so.. yay! I don't know much.. I'm excited.

Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them

Holy Freaking YES PLEASE! J.K. Rowling is writing the screenplay and I'm going to jump for joy once I see this beast come to life. I love Harry Potter as any sane person should (looking at all you insane people!) and I'll take anything J.K. Rowling will give me.

Release Date: June 2, 2014

Don’t shoot me, I haven’t read TFIOS the book or any other John Green book… And yes, put the gun down, I watched the movie before reading the book. Ekk!

Since I’m still alive, I guess you’ve all given me the chance to elaborate. You see, I meant to read the book. I picked it up, got a good 50 pages in, adored it and then exams hit and I dropped it. My friend who also happens to be a John Green fangirl, was nice enough to tell me the major plot twists so that went down the drain. (It’s ok buddy, still friends!)

Now that we have the back story covered, let me just say that I watched this movie with my mother and brother both of which had varying opinions but mine is the only one that counts and oh my goodness this was golden. 

It’s now been almost a month since I watched it and things are getting a little hazy but I think a lot of the things I loved had more to do with the story than the movie. Meaning the credits probably go to John Green for being a genius but I also have to thank Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort for being amazing actors who brought Augustus and Hazel to life. Dare I say, Shailene was better fitted for Hazel's role than Tris’...

Some favourite things included the normalcy that this movie was able to present to the audience. We’ve all come to see cinema as a place where stars shining in their otherworldly beauty can walk on red carpets but cinema is changing. Realism is taking over and this was a dedication to that. All the actors looked like kids I could go to school with; except for the great clothes and impeccably clean rooms. 

Since this is a movie review, I feel like it's fair to comment on the cinematography and location choice, which I felt was great. There were some really nice closeups that worked well with the mood. The setting, you guys, was perfect. SO perfect in fact that it seems the bench in Amsterdam where TFIOS was shot was stolen.

It was found :)

I loved the bickering between Gus and Hazel. Their opposing ideas of life and death and how one should go out were maybe a little morbid but also really interesting to think about. 

I didn't find any faults in the movie. I thought it was cleanly wrapped up and executed. The ending, which I heard was different from the novel, was appeasing to me and I had no problems with it. 

Overall, it was a very sweet, very touching and sensual movie which reminds us all that life is short. Don’t wait until you have a reason to enjoy it, living life should be reason enough.

-MARI

A discussion between Mari and P.E..

If I Stay is a favourite contemporary for many people. It's heart-wrenchingly beautiful, poetic and realistic. It's something that can happen to anyone of us at any given moment and that is frightening. I had no idea that the movie was in the works and I was pleasantly surprised to see a trailer that matched the book. How do you feel? What was your initial reaction?

Before I saw the trailer, I wasn't looking forward to it. I feel like a lot of power in stories like If I Stay come from the words and I'm not sure how well that will translate on screen. However, I liked the trailer. I still don't know if it will be a good movie, but I never watch contemporary movies so I don't know. However, I LOVE the song choice. Say Something is like the perfect song for the trailer, so if they got that right, I think I will give the film a chance. Expectations aren't too high though.

I agree. What do you think about the casting? Personally I feel like they fit into my image of them. I read the book a while ago and so I had forgotten that Mia parents used to be in a band and hang out with groupies etc.

Mia is a little more cute than I think I expected her to be, and Adam is a little less of a total rock star. Beyond that, I think they're fine. I'm not a really big visual reader so in general, I'm not going to imagine what anybody looks like.

To me Adam looked like a rock star, the long hair and all also it looks like the actor knows how to use the guitar. On the other hand I liked to see that Adam looks young, he is still in high school at this point and boys in high school still have their baby fat.

From what I can see from the trailer, it seems like there is some great camera work and cinematography going into this one so I'm excited. Do you have any last words/feelings?

I'm curious to see how this one does. I wonder if it will be playing at our local theatres, and if it makes any money. I guess as a future business student, I'm always interested in the money behind ideas, and this is something I'll keep an eye on.

For your viewing pleasure, the trailer!

What do you think?