The Host, the film adaptation of the popular Stephenie Meyer novel by the same name, is about a post-apocalyptic future in which an alien race has populated the earth and occupied most of the human inhabitants. These "souls" attach to their hosts and seek to perfect whichever world they inhabit. The story revolves around Wanderer (AKA Wanda), who is a soul implanted into the body of a captured member of the remaining human resistance, Melanie Stryder. But Melanie resists the occupation, and the two embark on a journey of love, truth, humanity, and survival.
Unlike in her underwhelming Twilight Saga, Meyer truly shocked me in the Host. In my opinion, it was a highly entertaining, thought-provoking, and very incredibly written book. In the novel, I was completely consumed with the story. I'm pretty sure I didn't put it down until it was finished. So when I heard there was going to be a film adaptation, you can be assured I was nothing less than ecstatic.
In the movie's defense, I think it was just a difficult book to translate on screen. A good chunk of the novel is the interaction between Wanda and Melanie, all of which takes place inside of their minds. In the movie, this was achieved through the use of a voice-over, which at times worked and at others just seemed...cheesy? I don't know if that's the word I'm looking for. Perhaps I mean awkward. Either way, it was didn't seem to work perfectly, although I don't think there was any other way it could have been accomplished. The cast wasn't awful either. Saoirse Ronan is a gem, Diane Kruger is totally badass, and Max Irons and Jake Abel...well, more on them next.
Pros of this movie:
- Max Irons (left) and Jake Abel (right) have both reached levels of attractiveness that I did not think was possible. Especially you, Mr. Irons. Not gonna lie, their faces and Irons' half naked body kept this from nosediving any further in the box offices.
- I think Saoirse Ronan was a fantastic Melanie/Wanda, all things considered. Plus she has a super cool name that poses an eternal pronunciation problem for me.
- Jaime was adorable.
- There were only two problems with this movie: poor novel-to-big-screen adaptability, and occasionally overwhelmingly cheesy dialogue.
- Also, the cave scene with Kyle was totally disappointing. That was a huge turning point in the book. In the film, it wasn't intense or scary at all, and you didn't get the sense that it had much weight at all. This scene, along with many others, made the film just feel a bit rushed.
- PS: Wanda at the end... totally unexpected and I'm still sorting out how exactly I feel about it... I won't say any more for fear of spoiling.
All this being said, if you take this movie for what it is -- an adaptation of a book it will never be better than, as is the norm for most book to movie translations -- you'll probably have a good time watching and be at least a little entertained.
MPAA RATING: PG-13 (for violence, brief harsh language, and some sexual scenarios)
MY PERSONAL SUGGESTED AGE: 14
MY PERSONAL RATING: 6.5/10 stars
Happy viewing!
~ Lacey :)
