Book Vs. Movie - Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

WARNING!!! CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS 

Once people get to know me, they discover that i like to know months in advance which movies to look out for. Over a year before it was released, i came across a movie called "Cirque Du Freak". Recognizing the name as a book by Darren Shan, i got a hold of every Shan fan i knew (which was a load) to give them the heads up. Skip forward to 8 months before the release date and the people i'd told were excited but annoyed. The film kept changing release dates and the title had been changed to "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant". On talking about it to a friend, i admitted never actually reading any of Shan's work (oh how times have changed!!) She was so shocked, she let me borrow the full Saga Of Darren Shan to show me what i was missing out on. I really enjoyed the series and i keep meaning to go back and reread it (since then, i have not only bought my own copy of the series but i've meet Darren (more than once) and had it all signed!)

So what happened when the movie actually came out in October 2009? We had to see it on the first day! We just had to! And here's where we come to the Book Vs. Movie stuff because i didn't really enjoy the movie. 

The first half plays up a little like the book but the whole second half is different. The film is meant to be based on the first three books in

the Saga Of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire's Assistant and Tunnels of Blood), but only Cirque Du Freak is really kept similar. Characters you meet in the next two books aren't in the movie meaning that if they were to continue the series in movie format, they would have to change a load of the later on stuff as either the characters return or they have some sort of impact on the series. In fact, thinking back, Darren and Steve have two other friends who return later in the series who are also missed out from the Cirque Du Freak section. 

Another thing that spoils the movie makers chance at turning this into a series is the ending. I don't want to spoil too much but the ending of the film should have been left to a later date, as it is in the book. Though, the actual ending ending leads into the next book. Not the same way as the book but it defiantly is leading into book 4. 

There was some things i liked about the movie. I liked the opening credits. Thought that was pretty cool. I liked the Little People. They were kinda cute in a creepy way. I liked seeing the Cirque brought to life. I liked how the movie (before it came out) introduced me to a wonderful author. 

What i didn't like? Missing characters, different ending, spoiling some of the overall ending, Mr. Tiny doesn't look anything like i pictured him (Where was the heart shaped watch and wellington boots ?!?!?!?)  

Conclusion

Simple, no doubt about it. Book was far better!! 

Also on a side note, since the release of the Hunger Games, i can't watch this movie without thinking about Josh Hutchingson as Peeta and not as Steve :( 

Book Vs. Movie - Warm Bodies

Since i was about to read the book, i never bothered to review the movie version for "Warm Bodies" but left a promise on my tumblr blog that i would hang off and write up a Book Vs Movie post instead, which i am doing now. 

When i first saw the movie advertised  my first thoughts were "No No No, Please Don't Do This!! Vampire Romance Was Bad Enough!! Not Zombie Romance Too!!!". A friend even sent me a link to a blog which compared scenes from the trailer to scenes in twilight which were the same. But the more i saw it, the more curious i became. So i decided to give it a go. After all, i made it through 4 twilight books and 5 movies!

THOUGHTS ON MOVIE
I surprisingly enjoyed the film. It was fun. Not too lovey-dovey, which was great. The story was nice and flowing. A bit predictable but nothing major. Much better than i'd hoped for. I don't know if i'm getting more romantic in my old age (haha) or what, but i certainly enjoyed the film, and i'm glad i saw it despite my worries. You can't compare it to twilight, because this is far better. Worth a look. Its good fun.

THOUGHTS ON BOOK
I loved the narration for the book. Through R's eyes, we see so much and learn so much. We think about the world and the people around us. Through Perry's memories, we see a world at it's end that won't recover and pointlessness of a life that will always end. Through Julie's character, we see hope. The book isn't about love, It's about hope and all the things that make us human.

BOOK VS MOVIE
The film is a condensed version of the book. The book goes into more detail about everything. It doesn't have as many jokes as the film which works just fine, but we see more of the world. Two things i loved about the book that weren't in the film were:
1.The community the boney's had created, with families, church and school - a lament to what has been lost. 
2. Perry's decent into darkness. We see in the film, he's depressed and doesn't see the point in life. This is explained better in the book and in more detail, which helps to put the point about hope across. 

The film is a good movie, but tries to fall on the funny side. The book is more serious and has more meaning. The film is worth a look but in the end (like most times) the book was far better.

Book Vs. Movie - Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

“Book Vs. Movie” -  first post will be Seth Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter!!

Before i continue, i must stress that this is all personal opinion.

So two summers ago, i discovered Grahame-Smith and read “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” because it sounded cool. And i didn’t enjoy it. It was basically Pride and Prejudice with a couple of zombie scenes thrown in. So i hadn’t expected to read anymore Grahame-Smith despite all the fun and cool titles. That was until i saw the trailer for Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Since the film looked cool, i thought i’d give the writer another shot.

I was only a chapter or two in when i saw the movie, so i still didn’t know what to expect from the film. But i enjoyed it. It was over the top action and quite silly but fun all the same. 

I then finished the book and saw i huge difference. The book focuses more on Lincoln’s politic career while the film focuses on the vampire killing. There is more action in the film, more fight scenes. The book goes more into Lincoln’s mind and how the vampires are effecting him, eg. the dream scenes, which aren’t in the film.

Overall, if you want a senseless action movie about a vampire killing president, watch the movie. If you want to read about politics, family life and secret dealing of a president with vampires thrown in, read the book. 

Personally, for me, this goes in the small pile of films which are better than the book. Why? because i’m not really into politics and a senseless action movie about a vampire killing president is fun. Don’t judge me! :)