Film Review: Paper Towns (2015).

Hey everyone, I spontaneously went to see Paper Towns the other day and I thought I'd give you all a review of it. Perhaps it can help you see whether it's worth watching or not. 

The Background

Paper Towns was originally written by John Green in 2008 and became this mystery, comedy-drama film directed by Jake Schreier. It is about a young boy called Quentin (Nat Wolff) who falls in love with his neighbour Margo (Cara Delevingne) who moves in across the road from him. Margo recruits Quentin to help her prank her friends who had betrayed her. Margo mysteriously disappears the next day and Quentin feels it is his duty to go and find her. With a few friends of his; Ben (Austin Abrams), Marcus 'Radar' (Justice Smith), Angela (Jaz Sinclair) and Lacey (Halston Sage) they all set off on the mission to find Margo using the clues she's left Quentin. 

My Thoughts

I'm in a bit of a predicament here because I haven't had the chance of reading the book before seeing the film and I always like to read books before the film adaptations so I know what they've missed out and what they've done right/wrong etc. Clearly, Paper Towns was made in the wake of the huge hit The Fault In Our Stars (which I also reviewed here) and there is even a cameo from a certain star from that film too. However, I have to say this film was one of the most blandest, weirdest and most boring films I have ever watched. I just didn't.. get it.  

There was a huge buzz around Cara Delevingne being cast as Margo but this model turned actress just did not impress me one bit. I didn't feel like she was bad at acting either but she didn't stun me with anything else either. She plays some kind weird rebel who just disappears literally half an hour in and becomes some sort of cliché rather than a girl who actually thinks and feels things. Possibly the result of being written by a male, I think.

The film just plods along with Quentin running around with puppy dog, loved up eyes looking for clues and dragging his friends on some ridiculous road trip to find her. It's portrayed to be some sort of comedy film.. I did not laugh at all once. One of Quentin's sidekicks, Ben, is seemingly placed in the film to throw out these one liners and act like some player who sleeps with loads of girls. He was not funny one bit and in all honesty, made me cringe for pretty much all of the film. 

The ending of the film was even worse and just left you thinking, was there even a point in making this book into a film? I think the answer is no. Clearly, The Fault In Our Stars was a big hit with young, starry-eyed teenage girls who believe in all the stupid cliché's and quotes from these books which they plaster all over their Facebook and Twitter so they made Paper Towns with the same hope. I just thought the whole thing was boring and pointless. Perhaps the book has something more to it but the film hasn't left me wanting to read it right now.

Here's the trailer

Have you seen this? What did you think of it?

Thankyou for reading.

Laura.

Book Review: Looking For Alaska by John Green.

Hey everyone. I have a book review for you all today and this is a book I really, really recommend. I read it during my recovery from my operation and I fell in love with it. I love John Green for the obvious reason.. The Fault In Our Stars' book and film both blew me away and I'm planning to read almost every book he has. But Looking For Alaska is what I want to talk about today.

The Background

Looking For Alaska is about a boy called Miles Halter who leaves his home and starts his junior year at Culver Creek Preparatory High School. He is fixated on reading people's biographies and famous people's last words and François Rabelais' last words - "I go to seek a Great Perhaps" - encourages him to go to boarding school at such a late age. There he meets his roommate Chip 'The Colonel' Martin, Takumi Hikohito and the whirlwind that is Alaska Young. Alaska Young turns Miles' life upside down and changes it forever through their complicated relationship.

My Thoughts

I loved this book so much. The characters are so funny, well-written and act just like teenagers by playing pranks, making bets and partying like most students. John Green shapes their character developments perfectly through the good times and the shocking turn of events. The layout of the book is so good as it labels the pages as 'before'/'after' and counts down to the tragedy through a number of a days, really building up the suspense.  

It's a really good coming-of-age story that doesn't come with a happy ending but allows the characters to each find closure in their own way and come to terms with the tragedy that occurs. John Green, as we know from The Fault In Our Stars, doesn't hold back and writes the novel in a raw, emotional and heartbreaking way with a fantastic pace that makes you never want to put the book down. It isn't your typical boy-meets-girl-and-they-fall-in-love story and John writes about loss, young love and growing up in a honest and brutal fashion.

You will feel ALL of the emotions; anger, sadness, happiness which'll make it a memorable book for you. You may not cry as much as you would do if you read The Fault In Our Stars but John doesn't fail to make us feel attached to Miles and Alaska and their friends.

Have you read this book? Can you recommend any others for me?

Thankyou for reading.

Laura.

Film Review: The Fault In Our Stars.

 

If you don't know already, this film was originally a novel by the incredible John Green. It is about a young sixteen year old cancer patient called Hazel Grace Lancaster who attends a support group and eventually meets and falls in love with a boy called Augustus Waters who has battled cancer himself, leaving him with one leg. This is their poignant, touching journey that won't leave one dry eye in the house.

This film adaptation was simply stunning and I don't think I can fault it at all. Shailene Woodley was amazing as Hazel with her taking-no-crap attitude over her terminal disease and I have pretty much fallen in love with the charming Ansel Elgort who portrayed the charismatic Augustus Waters. The film followed the book more or less perfectly with a few parts left out.. even though they weren't particular important scenes, you do feel a tad bit disappointed when scenes are left out as you want to see how they're played out just how you imagined them but I suppose they don't always have enough time to fit those types of parts in when they don't add anything to the storyline.

Having lost a relative to cancer myself, this film left me absolutely sobbing all of my makeup away for almost all of it. There were many moments where I had to literally hold my sobbing in because I didn't want to make a show of myself. It was beautifully acted and you felt the rawness, the emotion of not just Hazel and Augustus but their families and friends around them who all try to carry on in their daily lives while trying to come to terms with the fact their loved one will die of cancer. 

Apparently the director, Josh Boone, was quoted to have said "This story is Titanic.. and cancer is the iceberg we're going to hit eventually." And he was so right. 

I suggest taking alot of tissues with you to see this film! I hope you enjoyed my review and maybe leave a comment on what you thought of the film or what you thought of my review.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

The Fault In Our Stars Already Breaking Records!

So if you haven't heard already, where have you been?!

John Green's fantastic book, The Fault In Our Stars, has been made into a film and I, amongst many, cannot wait to see it. The book was John Green's fifth novel, published in January 2012 and its narrative is a 16 year old cancer patient called Hazel. She's forced by her parents to attend a support group where she meets and falls in love with 17 year old Augustus Waters who's an ex-basketball player and amputee.

In January 2012, the film rights to the book were optioned by Fox 2000 and eventually on February 19th back in 2013 it was announced that the film would be directed by Josh Boone alongside a great cast; Shailene Woodley (who's also in the fantastic Divergent), Ansel Elgort and Nat Wolff.

The film is only just coming into theaters this weekend and yet has already become the biggest pre-selling romantic drama in Fandango's history! Although they haven't said how many seats have been reserved to see the film but it has now surpassed The Vow, Safe Haven and Dear John at the same point in their lead-ups to release. The previous record holder was the 2012 film The Vow starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams which opened to $41.2 million! It is said that The Fault In Our Stars is to debut to more than $30 million just this weekend. 

It won't matter whether you've read the book or not (although I do recommend you do!), it is bound to be one of the best, if not the best film of this year so far. It'll break your heart and those who have already read the book will know what I mean.

I can't wait to see the film and hope it is as exactly like John Green's remarkable novel which is emotional and jarring. His writing was stunning and beautiful, making The Fault In Our Stars one of my favourite books. It is the most talked about book and film right now and I wouldn't advise you to miss out.

Go and see it this weekend!

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

Song Of The Day.

I. Am. In. Love. With. This!

This is Ed Sheeran with his song All Of The Stars for the film The Fault In Our Stars.

The film is an adaptation from John Green's original fantastic novel.

I love this song so much and I have literally had it on repeat everyday. 

I am a huge Ed Sheeran fan and literally have every song he has done because his voice and music are just amazing.

I can't wait to see the film also! 

Hope you enjoy the music aswell.

Thanks.
Laura.