MOVIE, BOOK, OR BOTH: Review of The Host by Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

Title: The Host (Movie, 2013)

Director:  Andrew Niccol

Writers: Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Attended an Open Roads Films Advance Screening of the Host
Rating/Review Originally Posted March 24, 2013 at The Host | gofobo

My Thoughts Regarding the Movie

I saw an advance screening of The Host. It was a good sci-fi/love story that focused on the power of love; although, it was slow paced. As a result of the inner conflict between Melanie and Wanderer, it was often humorous. There were some exciting and intense moments, but it didn’t have as much action as I expected. And I was a little disappointed in the portrayal of the resistance. I was also left with questions regarding how a “soul” took over the first host’s body and am now reading the book in hopes that it will clarify some of my unanswered questions.

For more information about the movie please click on the following link: The Host (2013) Official Website

Title: The Host: A Novel (Click on the link for the synopsis)
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown and Company, May 6, 2008
Source/Format:  Borrowed from Library, Hardback 

My Thoughts Regarding the Differences Between the Movie and Book

Okay, I finally read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Now that I've read the book, I really like the story. I only wish that the movie was longer and provided the details found in the book. There were slight differences between the book and the movie. The book reveals how the first soul was implanted and I wish that the movie would have included this information. Also, I now get that the “souls” and the people were suffering from ignorance in the beginning. They did not understand each others’ worlds. The people of the resistance considered the aliens parasitic evil entities, and the aliens thought that the human race was evil.  As a remedy to the problems  on earth the aliens inhabited people’s bodies and attempted to create a sort of utopia.  But once the utopia was being created, I failed to understand what they, the aliens, had done differently. The aliens had biased viewpoints and chased people to their death to take over their bodies, because people weren’t deserving of the world they inhabited. But the real question I had was: Were their ways superior?

Most of the movie was similar to the book. However, the initial reservations I had about The Host (Movie) were a result of some of the adaptations. For instance, in the movie there was a scene in which members of the resistance were being pursued and they just seemed to give up without a fight. Yeah, at times the members of the resistance in the book appeared weak, but they didn’t act as hastily as they did in the movie. Meyer’s provided details regarding how Jared, one of Melanie’s/Wanderer’s love interests, knew that Melanie lived on in Wanderer’s head; whereas, the movies depiction of the same scene evoked laughter. Also the dialogue between Wanderer and Melanie seemed humorous in the movie; whereas some of their conflicts were serious in the book. And it was through these inner conflicts that Wanderer learned of Melanie’s love for her people and reconsidered her stance on the souls invasion of earth.

Now that I have read the book, I can say that I really liked The Host by Stephanie Meyer. If you're considering seeing the movie, I recommend reading the book at some point. Although there weren’t many changes in the movie adaptation, there were enough to influence my opinion of the overall storyline. Initially, the trailer had me expecting a lot of action, which left me slightly disappointed with the movie. However, after reading the book, I realized that this was the story of two worlds coming together against all odds. And it was Melanie’s and Wanderer’s love of their native lands that tested the fallacies held by the people and aliens of their worlds. It just makes one think….What would you do for the things and the people that you love?

I really like it.  I would recommend it.