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You're The Voice: Introducing Susan

Sep 03,2012
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Hey everyone, I’m Susan, a year 9 student from a school in Fitzroy, and I spend way too much time on Tumblr and swooning over fictional characters (don’t we all?).  Currently, I cannot get enough of all of Marvel’s Avengers, Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, BBC Series Sherlock Holmes and anything Richelle Mead.

Welcome, Susan, this month's You're The Voice contributor!

Movie Adaptations

Needless to say that book to movie adaptations can spark all kinds of reactions. There are amazing ones and there are awful ones, though it varies for each person. So now I shall tell you guys my views on them.

File 10779Twilight -yes of course I was going to mention Twilight- there are so so so many things to say. Before the movie was released, I, personally, had read the books already and my hopes and expectations were very high. But then, when I came out of the theatre I found myself thinking, “What was that? I am so disappoiNTED AND SHOCKED AND WHAT JUST HAPPENED I CAN’T.” I told myself throughout the movie that it would get better and that I would love it but I just didn’t.

It was terrible.

There were so many girls I knew who loved the movie, and I didn’t get why. I later discovered that most of them hadn’t read the books and were mostly swooning over R. Patz and Taylor Lautner. So does this mean that by not reading the books, people are more likely to enjoy the movie? Or that hot actors blind poor teenage girls into thinking that they enjoy the movie? Hm. File 10784

I think that reading the book before hand sets a standard for people and the readers know that there were things being missed out on or couldn’t be portrayed as well as in the book, so they are more critical about the movie.

I personally enjoyed the Harry Potter and the Hunger Games films. I would have hated it if those went downhill! (CAN YOU IMAGINE). No doubt people are also excited for upcoming movie adaptations, like Fallen or The Mortal Instruments series.File 10786

I think people need to be more aware of how much effort goes into the making of movie adaptions though, and that it won’t please everyone. I see many people wanting their favourite books on the big screen and they don’t realise that it’s a lot more than just casting and acting, and takes a long LONG time. The motion picture rights need to be bought firstly (hopefully by a decent producer), the most suitable and cooperative studio found, budgeting, loans, and a lot of media and attention is needed so they are sure they won’t go downhill. Also books are on average 500 pages and movie scripts are 100, a lot of scenes are cut and not everything can fit in the movie!

(Yes this was mainly inspired by my conflicted feelings on Vampire Academy becoming a movie ohgodwhatifiscompletelyterrible noiwillforcemyselftoloveit)

Dec 09,2012
hahaha susan i think you're my spirit animal all this is so incredibly true!!! But there are in fact loads of hot actors in harry potter and the hunger games as well *cough* liam hemsworth *cough*
Sep 19,2012
anonymous's picture
Anonymous
hi sooooooooosan! this was very interesting and funny:)
Sep 10,2012
@ambivalence ... I guess that means I'm the only one with a thing for Rupert Grint, then? (In the later movies, obviously.)
Sep 06,2012
SH you do realise your alias is also Sherlock Holme's text signature so I'm totally fangirling over the fact that Sherlock just commented on my blog post and its pretty awesome unless you're doing this on purpose since I put in my bio that I love Sherlock Holmes but maybe its your real initals I don't even know but ok I'm done
Sep 05,2012
Oops I forgot to log in to post that previous comment. But Anon you make some pretty good points there. Wee do see the actors through different eyes now then when we were younger and less crazy with hormones and whatnot ahahha.
Sep 05,2012
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Anonymous
I completely agree with you, dear. -SH
Sep 05,2012
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Anonymous
I agree with you about the actors in opinion of Twilight fans. Every time a new movie from the saga came out, girls would start shouting wither "TEAM EDWARD" or "TEAM JACOB," despite the fact that Edward was most popular among those reading the books and we all knew it was Taylor Lautner making all the difference. I think the reason for this would be that girls were only brought into this series when they were old enough to view the actors in this light, whereas when we were introduced to Harry Potter, the actors and us oursleves were only children and therefore even though as we grew we may have developed a few crushes...TOM FELTON...RUPERT GRINT... that did not affect our views on the characters themselves and how we expected them to act. Also that the Twilight actors WERE chosen for sex appeal however the Harry Potter ones were not would factor majorly in the eyes of many.
Sep 05,2012
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Anonymous
I totes my goats agree with ya! I read Twilight and I was all like, "OMG! I LOVE THIS!!" and then I saw the movie...Major letdown!:( I also enjoyed the Hunger Games and Harry Potter movie/s just as much as I enjoyed the books :) Hopefully Mockingjay and Catching Fire dont let down their Prequel.
Sep 04,2012
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Anonymous
ambivalence: Yes it's quite sad that the lure of books etc for some is not the book itself but the hot guys. Its alright to love the hot guys and characters, but that being the ONLY REASON to read is just.. Not a good reason at all D: Diem: THANKS DIEM <3 <3 And yes Vampire A. is in the process for a long long loonngg while now.. I MUST SAY I am quite disappointed with the producer who bought the rights, Michael Preger I think it is. :/ I"m realllllyyy terrified for when they actually DO settle for a studio since at the moment they are not getting many good offers/choices... It's been around 4 years now D: Carol: Mhm Taylor's face indeed. Roygbiv: HAHAH oh gosh his hair is the only thing he's got going for him. Sam: Hunger Games are my fave as well :)
Sep 04,2012
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Anonymous
I also enjoyed the two movies Harry Potter and The Hunger games, personally my fav books LOL! Add me on Facebook? Sam Holman
Sep 04,2012
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Anonymous
Dear Susan, I agree with your points of view. I also disliked the movie Twilight but I didn't read the book. I thought Edward was a selfish character who liked his hair too much, I also thought the whole movie just showed lust instead of love, pity! Good article, hope you post more often! From, Roygbiv.
Sep 04,2012
anonymous's picture
Anonymous
I agree with you on your views of twilight! I think that all of the young teenager girls were blinded by Taylors pretty face! Carol.
Sep 03,2012
SUSAN! It's very funny and I love it. VAMPIRE ACADEMY BECOMING A MOVIE?!
Sep 03,2012
Hahaha, too true - this whole post. Or that hot actors blind poor teenage girls into thinking that they enjoy the movie? Yes. That is how it is, exactly, and I wouldn't call them 'poor' because it's more out of choice. I exaggerate NOT, because I've heard it from my own ears. Girls who say 'ZOMG, I LOVE TWILIGHT', and you ask them what they like, and they go 'TEAM JACOB!' or 'TEAM EDWARD!' And yet, I asked one why she wouldn't even give Harry Potter one look, and she answered, rather brazenly: 'Because there are no hot guys.' I think that sums it up, no? Such a tragedy.

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