by Robbie Jones
One of the best feelings you can experience as a film buff is thinking that a film looks awful from its trailers, only to find that it’s actually quite brilliant. That experience came along with this year’s The Fault in Our Stars, which was made to look like another run of the mill, clichéd romance drama that ignored the heart of the book and what made it so brilliant.
But, upon watching, it was when you realised that it’s brilliance was still there.
One of the best feelings you can experience as a film buff is thinking that a film looks awful from its trailers, only to find that it’s actually quite brilliant. That experience came along with this year’s The Fault in Our Stars, which was made to look like another run of the mill, clichéd romance drama that ignored the heart of the book and what made it so brilliant.
But, upon watching, it was when you realised that it’s brilliance was still there.
Based on the bestselling novel by John Green, The Fault In Our Stars, tells the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley), a 16 year old reclusive cancer patient who is forced by her parents to attend a support group for young patients. There, she meets Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort), a cancer survivor with whom she forms an incredible bond, and discovers that he is in fact the love of her life.
Sure, the film is clichéd; how could it not be? From its set up to its execution, it feels very samey, yet like nothing you’ve seen before. Everything is similar but is completely different at the same time.There’s something about its execution which separates it from the films of its kind (I would say the same for the book, except I’ve never read any other romantic novels so I have nothing to compare it to), and it betters the experience knowing it's still fresh, unique almost.
Sure, the film is clichéd; how could it not be? From its set up to its execution, it feels very samey, yet like nothing you’ve seen before. Everything is similar but is completely different at the same time.There’s something about its execution which separates it from the films of its kind (I would say the same for the book, except I’ve never read any other romantic novels so I have nothing to compare it to), and it betters the experience knowing it's still fresh, unique almost.
When the trailers and posters came out, a lot of people including myself jumped the gun and decided Shailene Woodley looked far too old to be playing a 16 year old. In the actual film, it seems the more you look at her, the more she looks right for the part. It’s definitely helped by her performance being amazing. Hazel Grace is a stubborn but realistic character, and Woodley pulls it off beautifully, perhaps even adding another level to the character that wasn’t in the book. When we read a book, we get our own idea of the characters in our heads and sometime we’re disappointed with how they turn out in film adaptations, but the reaction to Woodley seemed to be quite positive. It’s not quite her best performance to date (That title belonging to her performance in The Descendants) but she makes the perfect leading lady for this different teen romance (And, you know, she’s perfect in general). Ansel Elgort does a fairly good job of Augustus as well, who was perhaps the more worried about character of the two when it came to translating to film. But despite some other bad performances, he pulls it out for this one.
There are a fair few differences from the book, but by the looks of it, none that fans have gotten enraged about or any that ruin the film. It’s good that it sticks fairly close to its source material, as it makes it a lot easier for fans to appreciate it as a film. The Fault in Our Stars is a sweet, quirky teen drama that does nearly everything right. When it’s funny, it’s hilarious, and when it’s sad, it’s heartbreaking. Be sure to bring a box of tissues with you, and go on the emotional roller coaster that pulls on the heartstrings but in many ways remains an uplifting and entertaining movie.
There are a fair few differences from the book, but by the looks of it, none that fans have gotten enraged about or any that ruin the film. It’s good that it sticks fairly close to its source material, as it makes it a lot easier for fans to appreciate it as a film. The Fault in Our Stars is a sweet, quirky teen drama that does nearly everything right. When it’s funny, it’s hilarious, and when it’s sad, it’s heartbreaking. Be sure to bring a box of tissues with you, and go on the emotional roller coaster that pulls on the heartstrings but in many ways remains an uplifting and entertaining movie.
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