Big surprise

Rating: 8/10 (30 May 2014)

The YA book adaptations as the name suggest is a genre for teens. And what do teens care about? Love, yeah a bunch of other things too, but that's exactly why I never got why they can't make an adaptation where there are real emotions radiating from the screen, just so you know, it can be taken seriously. It's never come together for me, maybe with the exception of Hunger Games but the love story isn't the most important thing there anyway. Twilight is the example where it was the worst, the books had feeling but the films were a parody of love. Okay so what do you need to successfully adapt a book? Professionals. That's where Twilight went wrong, but it looks like the other film studios are starting to learn from others mistakes and when Fox acquired the rights to the Fault in Our Stars (John Green's positively critiqued romantic novel from 2012) they set out to let professionals handle the film. 'Cause it's to their advantage to make a good film so they'll make money. First off they got a young but talented director, one who knows a thing or two about romantic dramas. And they gave the script to The Spectacular Now's and the 500 Days of Summer's genius writer. This was a great step because The Spectacular Now was one of the best romantic films of the last little while. And then they cast Shailene Woodley and another Divergent cast member Ansel Elgor. So is that really all you need for a good film? Looks like it. The director does his job well. The adaptation was done well, you don't feel like something is missing if you haven't read the book. It's not really much cinematography wise, but the realistic way it was done was good for this production, and it really brings showcases the teenage atmosphere. The script works, it gives us great characters, it's just a little predictable but because of the theme I figure the book is the same. The actors are great in their roles, and what I found even better that their acting doesn't start and end with being sick. That's not the only layer of their character, that's just a status. Most romances make the mistake that they are too far fetched and cover the screen in rose colored goop. How cares if 1000 plus people died on a sinking boat, their love affair ended! Well this film isn't like that. It reacts of reality. It's like it could happen to any one of our friends. Maybe that's why it hits so hard. Even when it has the requisite romantic goop, it feels like they are based in reality. It's also a great thing about the film that the romantic story line isn't even the central theme it's just a means to help us see how they come of age. This becoming an adult theme has the added drama with their medical histories, but the film is helped out with the occasional humor that isn't taken to the extreme. All in all The Fault in Our Stars (that quotes Shakespeare with its title) is one of the best YA adaptations and romantic dramas. Of course it can't knock Notebook off its throne but it's up there. So I give it a 8/10 https://www.youtube.com/user/silverscreenreviews1