The story of Someone Like You really is a story about best friends and the trials they went through. When Halley's best friend, Scarlet, get's pregnant, Halley is there for her and ready to do whatever it takes since the baby's father died in a motorcycle accident. But eventually Halley meets a boy named Macon and becomes enraptured in a story of love and eventually heartbreak.
That Summer, is a book about a girl named Haven whos's trying to accept who she is. Her sister's getting married to a guy who she doesn't like, her parent's are divorvced, and her father's getting remarried.
The movie makes it more of a romance when really it's about two girls trying to find their way and realizing that sometimes you have to accept who you are, and also that "life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend."
I really do like the movie, but it's not anything special. It has Mandy Moore and Trent Ford:
But it skewed the meaning of the books. They're not about love, in face Macon and Halley fall in love, but (this is a spoiler so skip this little paragraph if you want to read the book) they don't make it because he can't be there for her. Even after he almost get her killed in a car accident. He doesn't show up to the hospital, nothing, not even a phone call. So rightly, she ends it and refocuses on her best friend who truly needed her right then. In the movie though, Macon comes back. He comes to the hospital and asks for her back, and instead of Halley being strong and realizing that she needs someone that will be there for her, she takes him back.
I'm going to have to give this win to the books again because you can't change a meaning of a book and have it still be the same.
image by: chellsseeyy on Flickr.com
Books: 2 Movies: 0
I love Sarah Dessen and refuse to see that movie because I think it's going to ruin my books! Though, That Summer is like my least favorite one by her so I'd be okay if it got ruined! What a good post!
ReplyDeleteI hate when people take the book and completely change it around for "movie's sake." Obviously, if the book is a best seller, then there's something entertaining about it all on it's own. I've never heard of them meshing 2 books for a movie though, that's crazy!
ReplyDeleteI love the whole idea behind your blog post and totally agree that good books shouldn't be changed, especially when they carry such a powerful message. I can't wait to read more posts!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree and I have read both of these books I haven't seen the movies but I HATE when movies are completely different than the books its like they ruin it. Good books shouldn't be changed! Books have true messages and if the movie doesn't show them whats the point?
ReplyDeleteAli, this is great! Not only do I love Sarah Dessen, but I love How to Deal. Ironically, I completely agree with your point. I think the movie is a terrible book (or in this case two books) to film adaptation. However, if you look at the movie objectively and not as a book adaption, it is up high on my list of cheesy chick flicks. Corny lines, hopeless romantics, and trivial heartbreak. I loved reading this post and I'm pretty sure I'll reread a Sarah Dessen book this weekened because of it :)
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