From Page To Screen (37) The Host


For this weeks From Page To Screen, I have decided to cover The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

First let's discuss the book. Below is the cover.

Now for a bit of back story in case some of you aren't familiar with the novel. The Host is a novel written by the Author Stephenie Meyer. The book was originally released May 6,2008 by Little, Brown and Company. The Host like Stephenie Meyer's other works includes a poem at the beginning of the novel. Stephenie Meyer came up with the idea for The Host on a trip from Phoenix to Salt Lake City. She had made it halfway through her trip creating stories to entertain herself when she realized she had the outline for her next book. Stephenie Meyer had originally planned to make The Host into a trilogy with the first book being called The Soul and the second The Seeker but has stated that since  The Host universe is a "dangerous place" where characters might die she is not sure she likes the idea of having to kill them off.

Let's take a look at some of the characters now, shall we.

Wanderer/Wanda- A parasitic soul who travels from planet to planet looking for a body to inhabit. Wanda is kind, turned off by violence and hates being a burden not only on the body she's come to inhabit but also on other humans as well. 
Melanie StryderMelanie is a human who after years of avoiding the seekers is captured and implanted with the soul who will come to be known as Wanda. Melanie is brave, strong and has a temper. While she hates sharing her body with the soul eventually the two become friends and develop a mutual respect for one another. 

Jared Howe- Melanie's boyfriend. He is described as being a survivor and quickly becomes an asset. Jared initially hates Wanda for stealing Melanie's life but over time develops a relationship with her based on mutual respect. Jared also becomes a pseudo father figure to Melanie's brother Jaime after she is captured. 

Ian O'Shea- Ian is described as being the most level headed of the group. Ian is brave, kind and strong as an ox. Ian falls in love with Wanda's personality and is constantly worried about how self sacrificing she is. Ian does not like that Wanda will put herself in danger just to make others happy.  


In case some of you aren't familiar with the movie, here is a bit of back story. The Host was directed by Andrew Niccol and was released March 29,2013 by Open Road Films. The Host initially cost $40 million to make and  has since grossed $43,385,000 worldwide. The Host is the last film to be reviewed by Roger Ebert while he was still alive. He gave the film a 2.5 star rating, saying "The Host is top-heavy with profound, sonorous conversations, all tending to sound like farewells. The movie is so consistently pitched at the same note, indeed, that the structure robs it of possibilities for dramatic tension."

Major Differences Between The Book And The Film
BookFilm
In the book Jamie cuts his leg while on a raid, after falling on a knife.In the Film, Jamie cuts his leg while working in the field. He is never shown going on raids.
In the book when Jared finds Melanie and Jamie, the stay in a cabin in the mountains.In the Film, Jamie, Melanie and Jared stay in a regular house in an open area.
In the book the seeker Lacy, was a short annoying brunette.In the Film, Lacy is a pleasant blond haired woman.
In the book Wanda sneaks out of Ian's room to go to Doc. Wanda spends her final moments in Melanie's body asking Jared to lie to her and then kisses him.In the Film, the last person Wanda kisses while in Melanie's body is Ian.
In the book Kyle sees that souls can be successfully removed from host bodies. He proceeds to capture the body of his girlfriend, Jodi, who has been taken over by a soul named Sunny. for about 6 years. However, the removal doesn't work and so the soul is returned to the body.In the Film, Jodi is omitted.
In the book Melanie and Jamie's father is captured and a soul is inserted. He then leads the seekers to his children.In the Film, in order to prevent a soul from being inserted into his body, Melanie and Jaime's father shoots himself.
In the book Wanda is annoyed by a seeker while walking back to her apartment. Mel ends up attacking the seeker much to Wanda's horror.In the Film, Wanda was looking over some swamps when Mel attacks the seeker. The seeker stuns her and brings her back to the facility to be looked over.
In the book Wanda needs to visit the healer to obtain medicine for Jaime. She has Jared hit her in the face with a rock and also cuts herself with a knife. In the Film, Wanda cuts her arms and face with a knife. Melanie tells Wanda to let her handle lying to the healer.
In the book Wes and a girl named Lily start a relationship together.In the Film, Lily is omitted.
In the book Wanda says she is an honorary professor in San Diego. She proceeds to teach the humans about the history of souls.In the Film, Wanda's profession is never mentioned. She never teaches the humans about souls, although a brief conversation does take place.
In the book Wanda is stuck in the caves, eventually she is sneaked out by Jared to accompany him on a raid .In the Film, Ian takes Wanda out for a walk and then proceeds to kiss her.
In the book Burns is peaceful and does not like weapons. In the Film, Burns pretends to be a seeker and pulls a gun on Jared.

The above mentioned are the major differences I noticed when the book was translated From Page To Screen.  Which however do I prefer? Well, hmm.... I mean the book was OK and in many ways so was the film but in all honestly both have strong and weak points. I'm going to have to call this one a tie. If you like Stephenie Meyer's writing you might find the book more enjoyable then I did but you know it isn't awful, I certainly liked The Host better than twilight. Although, I really hope they keep this movie a stand alone, I don't think it was necessarily good enough for a sequel. That is just my opinion though...

Want to see for yourself? Check out the trailer below!

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Well that about wraps up this weeks From Page To Screen. Have a recommendation for an upcoming From Page To Screen, let me know in the comments below! Have you read the book or watched the film? Which did you like better? Why? What is your favorite quote from The Host?

Leave your answers in the comments below, I love to read your responses.Like what you see? Please share!

Comments

  1. I was kind of meh about the movie I don't think it does the book justice at all. Too much could not be shown on screen like how the whole book is almost all dialogue between Wanda and Melanie and you really see them bonding. I don't think anyone watching the movie without reading the book will understand the big fuss about it. It's a shame.

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  2. It's kind of a toss-up for me, as well. Both had their strong and their weak points. But it's also been a couple of years since I read The Host, so I don't think I noticed as much missing as you did. My sis saw the movie with me, and she'd just read the book and thought that if she hadn't read the book, she probably wouldn't have enjoyed the movie as much because so much was cut out. One thing I will say...I did not like the choice of actress to portray Wanda after she was removed from Melanie. Blech.

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    Replies
    1. I feel that the story would have been better served if maybe they had changed how Wanda was seen by the viewer. Still follow the book but change enough to make it less confusing for a someone new to the series.

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