I really wanted to love this.....I loved the book so much. When I read negative reviews, my heart sank and I didn't want them to be real reviews. The movie was still decent enough and I was glad that I saw it. The expanded final speech to Juliette and extended epilogue to value each day were great changes in the movie that I thought added to the impact of the story.
But I got the impression that the movie studio and/or the script writer was very conflicted over the actual book and possibly afraid of copycat teens acting out if the film showed or discussed death too much. It seems to avoid the topic, even though it's a major theme of the story. I half wondered if this was actually a 2-hour movie that the studio chopped up to make it less controversial and a softer sell for a broader audience. The film has a slow build up that rushes through the ending. Gone were Sam's butterflies, morning laughter, floating and redemptive satisfaction on her last day. Elody's death and its effect on Sam was deleted entirely.
The book is brutally honest about the sadness, numbness and eventual peace Sam finds as she copes with somebody dying every day for seven days (including herself). These tragedies create a slow build up to Sam's love for Kent that was more believable than the movie version that felt rushed and suddenly intense at the end. I also missed Sam's multiple conversations over 3 days with Juliette that shed light on why Sam eventually realized that talking was not going to be enough to stop Juliette's plan. In the movie, Sam has one conversation to dissuade Juliet and then acts on her extreme plan to save her. It felt rushed and less natural.
I thought that Logan Miller did a fantastic job with his limited script as Kent. His eyes and physical gestures did so much to convey love for Sam combined with the natural awkwardness of being unrequited for so long. Kent was my favorite character in book and Logan nailed it perfectly. The actors all seemed very good. I think it was really the editing that depleted this film's potential. If you loved the book, still see the movie...but just don't have your hopes too high.
But I got the impression that the movie studio and/or the script writer was very conflicted over the actual book and possibly afraid of copycat teens acting out if the film showed or discussed death too much. It seems to avoid the topic, even though it's a major theme of the story. I half wondered if this was actually a 2-hour movie that the studio chopped up to make it less controversial and a softer sell for a broader audience. The film has a slow build up that rushes through the ending. Gone were Sam's butterflies, morning laughter, floating and redemptive satisfaction on her last day. Elody's death and its effect on Sam was deleted entirely.
The book is brutally honest about the sadness, numbness and eventual peace Sam finds as she copes with somebody dying every day for seven days (including herself). These tragedies create a slow build up to Sam's love for Kent that was more believable than the movie version that felt rushed and suddenly intense at the end. I also missed Sam's multiple conversations over 3 days with Juliette that shed light on why Sam eventually realized that talking was not going to be enough to stop Juliette's plan. In the movie, Sam has one conversation to dissuade Juliet and then acts on her extreme plan to save her. It felt rushed and less natural.
I thought that Logan Miller did a fantastic job with his limited script as Kent. His eyes and physical gestures did so much to convey love for Sam combined with the natural awkwardness of being unrequited for so long. Kent was my favorite character in book and Logan nailed it perfectly. The actors all seemed very good. I think it was really the editing that depleted this film's potential. If you loved the book, still see the movie...but just don't have your hopes too high.