The Fault In Our Stars

As a film student, it’s not really a surprise, I love films. I love watching them, talking about them and writing about them. Sometimes, I like making them. But I also enjoy getting excited about them. It’s a bit embarrassing but I’m not very good at keeping up to date about many movies, so when the trailer comes out, that’s round about the first I’ve heard about it, and that’s when I get excited. But something changed with The Fault In Our Stars.

I first read the book last year when my sister bought me it as a birthday present. It’s one of the only books I’ve ever read in one sitting. Needless to say, it’s my favorite book ever. I have one of those sickening creepy emotional attachments to it. You know the people, kind of gremlinish about their books? Don’t lend you their copies, you have to get their own etc? Yeah that’s me a bit (expect I did lend out my copy to a few friends). One of my favorite quotes from the book hangs on my wall, and my phone is protected by a ‘Fault in Our Stars’ phone case, complete with other beautifulness from the book.

So, this for the first time ever, is the first time I’ve actually been on it, and been able to get very excited about the book being turned into the movie. I know with this kind of knowledge though also comes expectation that I’ve never really had time to think about. When I read the Hunger Games, I put the book down and literally put the film on. I didn’t have time to think about what they had taken out or changed. Although it was part of my degree study so it might had been different had I had time to think about it.

Currently studying a module at Uni about Film adaptation has opened my eyes to the changes and differences in adaptations as well as the problems. So with this in mind, I’ve tried not to put too much pressure on the adaptation, although that is sometimes easier said than done, when you love a book so much. Sometimes, I think people get a bit too attached to what is going to be missing from their beloved book. People focused a lot on the missing aspects of Harry Potter, as opposed to the way that the bits that had been included had been portrayed. People are very quick to say what they don’t like, and forget about what they did like.

So, with this adaptation, I’m trying to maintain an open mind. I’m looking forward to seeing the characters come to life of course, and the beautiful story. But I’m also looking forward to the soundtrack, the cinematography, and the fact that one of John Green’s books has finally been turned into a film. As long as the essence of the book is still maintained, and as long as it makes me cry my eyes out, I’ll be happy.

Ruby Sparkles

Being the person who I am, I’m a big fan of books and films that challenge ideas that are current in our every day lives. I love films and books that have strong characters you can relate to, with stories and situations that move you.

Whilst some people prefer escapism from films through special effects, big budget fight scenes and tough leading characters, I prefer films that create escapism through thought and emotion. (Don’t get me wrong though, I do love a big budget fight scene). I love it when films question, manipulate and reason with thoughts and problems that we as people face in our every day life. I particularly love films that deal with relationships.

I’m a massive romantic comedy lover, however not so much if they aren’t at least realistic in some way or form. One film that I felt dealt with this particularly well, was Ruby Sparks.

**Potential Spoilers!!**

Ruby Sparks is one of those films thats a little bit crazy but just plain awesome. When my friend first told me about the plot line for the film, I was a little bit confused. A writer writes up his perfect image of a woman, and she becomes real. How can that work? How would that end? I can’t even put into words how it does. This is one of those films that needs to just be watched.

The main focus of this film is the relationship between Ruby and Calvin. However, through their relationship comes the uncovering of another main focus of the film, which is primarily, what it is like for Ruby, to be the image of perfection for Calvin. This then relates further to the audience as looking at the perfection of a relationship. If you can control what you partner does, says, even what language they speak would you? Whilst in parts of the film it seems like the easy option, it soon becomes unrealistic and inhumane. This film also looks to another part of being within a relationship, particularly for women, which is being the image of perfection for a man.

To be fair, there is equal pressure from both sides of a relationship to be the image of perfection for the other, however in this film it is represented more clearly through Ruby as she is Calvin’s creation. Through his ability to control her, he edits, creates and literally plays puppeteer to her emotions and feelings. Whilst this works for a while, it soon starts to become a considerable factor to their ‘perfect’ relationship, quickly turning it sour.

 

One of the main things that I gathered from this film, was whilst knowing that yes, you may have this perfect image of your partner in your mind, it is important to establish the difference between perfection and reality. You can’t control someone if they upset you, or leave you. Yet through an abandonment of that perfect image, you will find the perfection within the person. It all sounds a bit cheesy and unrealistic to a point, but I think sometimes films focus so much on the happy ever after, that they forget about the bit in between. They forget about the late night arguments and the ‘when will I meet your mother’ pestering. They forget to show the realism of a relationship which at times is heartbreaking, but at others beautiful. In my opinion Ruby Sparks nails this completely. That is one of the reasons it is so good, it is pure truth.

Whilst this film is rich in plot line and thought, it is also visually stunning. Whilst there are no particular fancy landscapes or cliche shots of the city, this film is filled full of vivid color and images that portray the ups and downs of a relationship, and these two characters so well. The camera almost acts as a third character within their relationship.

This film is honest and raw and is one of those films that everyone needs to see at some point in their lives. It is beautifully written by Zoe Zazan, with such character and humor that I really hope she writes another film.  🙂