Crash & Burn

I can’t believe what I’m seeing when I watched it. I can’t seem to understand why the author of the book, Seth Grahame-Smith, decided that he had to change the storyline for the screenplay of the film version. He’d gone too far away from the book, I think. Still, with a good imagination, he was able to make another story out of it that is as interesting as the book, though it is more fictional, but with a little disappointment.

In the book, Seth artistically inserted all the Vampire stories to what really happened in Abraham Lincoln’s history, as a boy until he grows up as a Lawyer and the President of the United States, until his dying day. All the characters in the book, though some only played a small part, are important in defining Abe as a person and a Hunter. The events and characters gave an in depth explanation why he hated vampires.

While I strained my eyes with the 3D glasses, I keep on waiting for characters like Jack Armstrong and Anne Rutledge to come out, and wondering who the hell is Will Johnson? Where did Adam and Vadoma came from?  While Henry seems more agile, he has a different stand regarding the war and slavery. The movie version has a totally different storyline. 

In the book Henry urged Abe to run for office to support the war. No Adam or Vadoma. Jack Barts is not that hard to kill, he died with one swing of Abe’s ax when he was 16 and in fact his first vampire kill. Mary and Abe had 4 sons. Mary had suffered extreme depression from the death of their first son Eddie, in losing Willie, and witnessing Abe’s assassination was the last straw.

The film version may be as entertaining in a different kind of way, because of the overflowing gore and great 3D effects, but easier to understand for the simple minds. The cinematography and fight scenes were great, as expected from the Director, that would make TWILIGHT a cartoon show. 

Though,  I expected more from the story and was given loads of gore, blood squirting and galloping horses instead, I was a little disappointed. I probably expected a lot since the screenplay was written by the same person who wrote the book. But like what Suzanne Collins did in Hunger Games movie adaptation, the book was way better. They sort of killed the story of the book, actually I think Seth outdid Suzanne in killing their own book. By giving us a rushed less talk more violence screenplay, that will  make the ones who haven’t read the book clueless and us who actually loved the book a wee bit disappointed.

The end scene in the film is interesting but I would’ve loved it if they did the same ending in the book. Whereas Abe became an immortal, not because Henry was lonely, but to continue what they had started. It’s not just about vampires. It’s about Abe’s dream, every man will be free. He was there in the crowd when Martin Luther King Jr was on the stage. Every man, regardless of color is free.

As a sucker for action films, yes I enjoyed the movie. However also as a reader, I can’t take out the fact that it is based on a novel that I read prior to watching the film, it would’ve have been far better if he stayed on the same story line as what he did in the book. I should’ve read it after seeing the movie, like I did with Percy Jackson, so as not to be disappointed. As for Seth as a writer, I still admire his talent in comedy and will still read his works. I might actually read his first best seller Pride and Prejudice And Zombies. 

John Green Book Quotes are so witty and epic that I can’t help but share it. And also, try reading Harlan Coben’s attempt of witty-remarks/another-character-description-from-the-protagonists point of view, it’s half as funny as how John does it. Their witty wordplay are so inspiring and funny that it normally completes my day.

John Green: (quoted from Looking for Alaska)

“What the hell is that?” I laughed.
“It’s my fox hat.”
“Your fox hat?”
“Yeah, Pudge. My fox hat.”
“Why are you wearing your fox hat?” I asked.
“Because no one can catch the motherfucking fox.”

Harlan Coben: (quoted from One False Move)

“…When Myron looked at the reception desk-the place where Esperanza usually sat- he nearly jumped back. Big Cyndi sat silently watching him. She was far too big for the desk- far too big for the building, really- and the desk actually teetered on her knees. Her make up would be labeled ‘too garish’ by members of Kiss. Her hair was short and seaweed green. The T-Shirt she wore had the sleeves ripped off, revealing biceps the size of basketballs.”

Having read 2 books by Harlan Coben, Myron Bolitar series, I often wondered if he’s gay. haha. Or is this just how he characterized Myron Bolitar, the good-looking-former-basketball-player-hunk-who-loves-to-make-funny-remarks-about-other-people’s-appearance kind of guy. But no. You will read the same remarks, subtly, on all his stand alone novels-minus Myron Bolitar, that is. 

So, I just love to read these nerdy yet funny stuff from John Green and Harlan Coben. If you read atleast one of their books, who wouldn’t?