Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Turned Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we share our top-ten lists!

Harry Potter
My #1 book-turned-movie is all of the Harry Potter books. I was so upset when the last one ended. These books taught me important life lessons and were my childhood companion on long road trips or simply sitting at my desk. My face could be buried in them for days. The movies are my favorite too, because they did such a fabulous job at bringing to life the world that I grew up wishing were real.

I Am Number Four

The Lorien Legacy books have to be one of my favorites. After reading The Power of Six, I realized that Number Six is my favorite edgy female character. I could watch the scene over and over again when she blew up the house! Seriously, go watch this!

                  The Twilight Saga

When reading the Twilight books a few years back, I thought they were the best thing out there. That was before I found the YA book genre, and those books helped me find it. So, the books were okay, but not the best. The movies, however, are fantastic, I think. They stick remarkably to the plot, which is honorable because they don't a lot of the time. Every movie has a different theme and they always blow me away.

Jane Eyre

 The most recent adaptation of the acclaimed novel, Jane Eyre, was amazing and so powerful. If I were to ask any of my friends to watch it with me, they would probably gawk at how boring they thought it was, but I happen to be a huge fan of Charlotte Bronte and all of the things about Jane Eyre that went so easily unnoticed. She was harboring so many emotions, yet she never broke the straight face. Her history and present love are what make both the movie and the book astounding, heartbreaking, courageous, and overall, real.

            The Lying Game Series
      

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard was possibly better then her Pretty Little Liars series. It added a new paranormal-ish element to the mystery and suspense that made for the best reading experience. The TV series is fabulous as well! It doesn't follow the book at all, in my opinion. The story porduced by ABC Family is still very enticing and mysterious, however and I like their take on it.

                  One Day

  Having recently watched the movie adaption of One Day, I can tell you that it was much better then The Notebook, or any of Nicholas Sparks' books that were made into movies. It felt so real to watch. The two main characters, Emma and Dexter, were dealing with so many issues and trying to find themselves along the way. This is the ultimate story of true love and overcoming the hardships of adulthood.

     The Chronicles of Narnia

Ever since word got out that this series was going to be adapted into a movie, I got to reading them. They were so amazing! As were the movies. There are a couple books that the movies skipped, but still. All of the actos were marvelous and the special effects, animation was exceptional. It followed the book well and I will never get tired of watching all three movies and counting.  

The Vampire Diaries

I was a bit behind when I started watching the Vampire Diaries and had to watch the entire first season online and catch up with the second. Now, I am steadily watching it every week and it is so captivating and edgy! The first book is on my shelf to read but I have read other books by L.J. Smith and she is excellent. The TV series doesn't follow the book too well, from what I've heard, but I still love it!

               The Lord of the Rings
When I first had the chance to watch the Lord of the Rings movies with my parents, I thought they were so boring and incomprehensible. Then, a few years later, I decided to give them another chance, since my mom loves them so much. That time, I loved them! They are high fantasy and take place in another world. It was so amazing to experience. Every time I watch them, I notice something new that I didn't see before.

  Alice in Wonderland
There have been several adaptations of Alice in Wonderland, so let me clarify which one this is. It is the two-part movie that Syfy did about a year ago, called Alice. While I did like the Disney one and the Tim Burton one, I absolutely swooned over this one! It isn't the same story, but interprets all the best elements of the book. I bought this one on iTunes, and I would recommend it above any of these.

    
      What's your favorite book-turned-movie?

Breaking Dawn Movie Review

      For a while before this movie came into theatres, I honestly kind of stopped caring about all the Twlilight Saga hype that was constantly circulating. It was just old news. I had read the series a few years ago and it was great and so were the movies, I just lost interest for some reason.

    Now that it came out just a few days ago, I was planning on seeing it (of course), just not immediately. So, yesterday, someone asked if I wanted to go with them to see it and I said sure, why not?

     There is so much I have to say about this movie, and I have to say it all without any spoilers! Let me start with my overall opinion of this movie. It was far better than any of the previous films and was so full of emotion, I could really feel a connection with each of the characters.

       The movie was pretty dead-on comparable to the book, which is something I always love to see! The acting was a lot better too, I think. Especially with Kristen Stewart. I really thought she absorbed Bella fully and whole-heartedly this time.
    
     As with the book, Bella gains a sense of independence when she decides to go through with her pregnancy, knowing the grave repercussions that would ensue. Her character strengthens a lot and shows ultimate sacrifice and bravery. I must give kudos to the makeup artists and camera people for this movie. The way they made Bella look shrunken in and emaciated was creepy and amazing.
    
     By the halfway point of the movie, I was so wrapped up in all of the tension and emotion that I forgot to drink my soda or reach for popcorn!
     The whole dillemma with the wolf pack was a huge element that they incorporated pretty much all of from the book. I don't know how to say more there without spoiling!
       
            Rosalie and Bella find common ground in the baby to build a sort of positive relationship (friendship?) off of. Rosalie helps her do the things that would only further everyone elses hatred for the baby but most of all, she supports her and defends her.
     
            Jacob plays a big part in the movie, that I can say. I was a bit concerned that they would focus everything on Edward and Bella, but they had a pretty steady balance of both.

     Oh! I almost forgot! During the wedding scene, they show Stephenie Meyer in the audience, looking at Bella proudly. As a writer, I almost teared up a bit watching that. It was as if she was watching Bella walk down the aisle, knowing that her character had grown up and become a stronger person than she anticipated, who could make her own decisions. It is how I imagine I would look if it were time to let my character grow up or just get married, even.

    Now its time for me to force myself to become frustrated and excited all over again. The ending literally had me about to stamp my feet on the ground right there in front of the entire audience, and demand to see another minute more! Ever since I heard that this movie was going to be split into two parts, I knew how part one was going to end. All of you who read the book can probably guess pretty well too. This movie's ending is the mother of all cliffhanger endings! UGH! It is so frustrating that I have to wait another YEAR before I see what happens. I mean, all I asked for was another minute or so, is that so much?!