Books VS. Movies

I have a system. I didn't always have this system, but after many disappointments I came up with it. Whenever I see a trailer or hear word that a movie is coming out that's based on a book, I don't read it. I HAVE TO watch the movie first because if I don't, I will most likely hate it. If I've already read the book there is nothing I can do, but I won't re-read anywhere close to the release of the film.

That's what I used to do. I used to re-read the entire Harry Potter series before the movie came out so it was fresh in my mind. The problem with that is with all the details fresh we have expectations that are unattainable for a film. You don't have this problem when you reverse the process. If you watch the movie first you can decide then and there whether it's a story you're interested in reading, and you can appreciate the movie for what it is instead of having pre-conceived ideas. 99% of the time the book is better than the movie (The 1% includes The Road) so you have to work harder to like the movie. After watching a movie and then reading the book you get to see all the little details the movies can't incorporate. You can see the changes the movie made, but you don't hate them for it, usually.

It's so hard to keep the two art forms separate, and enjoy each for it's own. This makes it easier for me. Sometimes it's annoying to read the book and think, "She looked nothing like that in the movie!" *cough cough The Seeker in The Host cough cough* But you get over it. I wish it didn't always seem like it was book VS. movie. Why can't we love both equally and separately? I think they are both special and wonderful in their own unique ways.

At first I was kind of annoyed that nearly all the movies out these days are adapted from something (books, true stories, musicals) instead of coming up with something original. Now, I'm learning to accept and love the adaptions with the few originals thrown in.

I don't know if this system will work for you or not, but give it a shot and you might be surprised. :)

These are some of the book to movie details that annoy me the most:
1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Let's completely change the Hogwarts grounds from what the books say they are and what the first two movies have already established! Meanwhile let's screw with the whole plot and mangle it as well! Great plan!
2. The Host - The Seeker is supposed to be dressed in all black with black hair, not white with blonde hair. This seems like an easy fix. Plus they left out the BEST LINE after freaking setting up for it earlier in the movie!
3. All Harry Potter films - Would it really have been so hard to give Daniel Radcliffe green contacts? Is that so much to ask!?
4. Twilight series - Kristen Stewart's god awful acting and Robert Pattinson's downright unattractiveness.
5. My Sister's Keeper - Let's completely change the ending! We'll have a different person die and we'll take out a major character!
6. Angels and Demons - Once again, let's completely change the ending and we'll have the guy live instead of die. Who cares!?

Some of my favorite book to movie adaptions are: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, The Fault in Our Stars, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts I and II, and Eat, Pray, Love

What are some of your most annoying book to movie details!? What are some of your favorites? Leave them in the comments!

Oscar Predictions

It's here! It's here! I'm so excited! Tonight is the 86th Annual Academy Awards! Here is my list of predictions. Fortunately, I was able to see the vast majority of nominated films. There are still a couple I want to see, but didn't get to in time for the Oscars, so I'll have to watch them later. So pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back, and enjoy the Oscars with me!

Bold means I have seen the film and highlighted means my prediction for the Oscar.

Best Picture

This is a tough one. It's a close race between 12 Years and Hustle, but I'm choosing to vote with what SHOULD win! Hustle might be chosen just because it's fresher in their mind's, but really 12 Years deserves it.

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Nebraska

Philomena

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actor in a Leading Role

This is another toss up between Ejiofor and McConaughey, and both are equally deserving, but I think McConaughey has it.

Christian Bale (American Hustle)

Bruce Dern (Nebraska)

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)

Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress in a Leading Role

No question here after snagging both the SAG and Golden Globe, Cate is going to three-peat. Congratulations Cate on your win tonight!

Amy Adams (American Hustle)

Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Judi Dench (Philomena)

Meryl Streep (August Osage County)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Jared Leto wins tonight, but in my opinion it could just have easily gone to Michael Fassbender. Two very different roles, but equally well portrayed.

Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)

Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)

Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Of all the decisions, this is the one I am most torn. You all know how much I love JLaw and I would be stoked if she won; however, Lupita's performance was out of this world and she really deserves this one. 

Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

Julia Roberts (August Osage County)

June Squibb (Nebraska)

Best Animated Feature

Um...duh.

The Croods

Despicable Me 2

Ernest & Celestine

Frozen

The Wind Rises

Best Cinematography

Gravity is going to sweep for technical awards.

The Grandmaster

Gravity

Inside Llewyn Davis

Nebraska

Prisoners

Best Costume Design

OMG AMAZING! Martin is an incredible designer and she will win hands down.

American Hustle

The Grandmaster

The Great Gatsby

The Invisible Woman

12 Years a Slave

Best Director

Alfonso takes it, even though I personally identified with the choices of McQueen.

David O. Russell (American Hustle)

Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)

Alexander Payne (Nebraska)

Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)

Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)

Best Documentary Feature

Didn't make it to the others (YET!) but I think it would be hard to compete with Stardom.

The Act of Killing

Cutie and the Boxer

Dirty Wars

The Square

20 Feet from Stardom

Best Documentary Short

Still need to find these to watch!

CaveDigger

Facing Fear

Karama Has No Walls

The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

Best Film Editing

Gravity takes another technical award.

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

12 Years a Slave

Best Foreign Language Film

La Italia!

The Broken Circle Breakdown

The Great Beauty

The Hunt

The Missing Picture

Omar

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

If Adruitha and Robin don't win this, there is no justice in this world. Although there is already no justice because Lone Survivor wasn't nominated.

Dallas Buyers Club

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

The Lone Ranger

Best Original Score

All the scores in this category are beautiful, but Gravity wins again!

The Book Thief

Gravity

Her

Philomena

Saving Mr. Banks

Best Original Song

Uuh! Get it Idina!

Alone Yet Not Alone (Alone Yet Not Alone)

Happy (Despicable Me 2)

Let it Go (Frozen)

The Moon Song (Her)

Ordinary Love (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Best Production Design

Martin wins by a landslide. Gatsby was one of the most beautiful production designs I have since in years. Absolutely astonishing.

American Hustle

Gravity

The Great Gatsby

Her

12 Years a Slave

Best Animated Short Film

Disney takes this one for innovation.

Feral

Get a Horse!

Mr. Hublot

Possessions

Room on the Broom

Best Live Action Short Film

Martin Freeman - Duh.

Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me)

Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)

Helium

Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)

The Voorman Problem

Best Sound Editing

Since the whole movie is basically sounds instead of dialogue, Gravity wins by sheer quantity of work as well as quality.

All is Lost

Captain Phillips

Gravity

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Lone Survivor

Best Sound Mixing

Gravity again, but I was really impressed by Lone Survivor. Glad they got a nod in both sound categories.

Captain Phillips

Gravity

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Inside Llewyn Davis

Lone Survivor

Best Visual Effects

Are you sick of me saying Gravity yet?

Gravity

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Iron Man 3

The Lone Ranger

Star Trek Into Darkness

Best Adapted Screenplay

Such a hard one to watch, but such an incredible and moving experience in that theater seat.

Before Midnight

Captain Phillips

Philomena

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Original Screenplay

I personally liked Buyers Club over American Hustle, but the Academy doesn't agree with me on this.

American Hustle

Blue Jasmine

Dallas Buyers Club

Her

Nebraska

In Remembrance

Rest in Peace

Today is a very sad day. One of the most brilliant and talented actors we know has left this world for the next, leaving all of us to mourn at his passing. Philip Seymour Hoffman was truly one of the greatest performers of our time. On stage or on screen, we were always dazzled by his art. There are so many beautiful pieces of art we will never be able to see because of this tragedy.

Being a part of the theatre industry (if only in spirit, at the present time) I can understand the stress and anxieties we face. I am not an actor, therefore I can't identify with an actor's mind. But I can try. It must be extremely hard to be an actor of such renown. You are constantly bombarded by paparazzi and fans. There is no way to escape. You are constantly critiqued about everything you do, say, think, and feel. You're being judged on how you look, how you dress, how you behave, and how you perform. Much of the time these judgments are negative and even the most optimistic person in the world can't shove every nasty comment aside.

The only friends you have are fellow actors, and you don't know if any of them are your "real" friends. How can you trust anyone? Everyone in this industry is looking out for number one. When you feel alone and have no one to turn to, you turn to substances to fill a need you feel you can't get anywhere else. As an artist you feel things more deeply and vividly than your fellow man. So when you are down, you are really down. Then when you reach a breaking point, you take things. one. step. too. far.

Philip Seymour Hoffman did not need to die. Nobody should feel this way. Nobody should feel like their only friend can be found in the bottom of a bottle, at the end of a needle, or on the edge of a blade. Everyone should have at least one person in their life that they can count on, no matter what. That one true friend who you can call any time, day or night, to pick you up and encourage you.

To all my actor friends out there. When you make it big, and I have no doubt you will, I want you to always remember that you have one true friend. Never hesitate to call me when you need me. I will always be here for you. I will do my best to pick you up when you are down. I will give you all the kind words and encouragement you need.

I AM HERE FOR YOU. 

I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU.

And that is not just for my actor friends. It is for all of you. I never want you to feel alone. All I want is for you to feel loved.

BECAUSE YOU ARE LOVED. 

I LOVE YOU.

I love each and every one of you, so please don't do anything stupid.

Now let's give Philip Seymour Hoffman a proper sendoff. Let's all take a moment to appreciate the work of a true artist. Here's to you Philip! Thanks for the memories.

"I think you should be serious about what you do because this is it. This is the only life you've got."

- Philip Seymour Hoffman