Books to Movies



This November, you have many choices at the movie theater, including three that are based on popular books.  Here's the rundown from www.imdb.com:

How I Live Now
Release Date:  11/8/13
SYNOPSIS: An American girl sent to the English countryside to stay with relatives finds herself fighting for her survival as the UK turns into a violent military state.
STARS: Saoirse Ronan, Tom Holland, George MacKay, Harley Bird
The Buzz: Kevin Macdonald hitches himself to the world of YA lit with this adaptation of Meg Rosoff's popular novel, which has some inescapable similarities to the saga of one Katniss Everdeen.                  

The Book Thief
Release Date:  11/15/13
SYNOPSIS: While subjected to the horrors of Word War II Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refuge is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.
STARS: Sophie Nelisse, Geoffey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer
The Buzz: Sophie Nélisse, who made her debut in art-house hit Monsieur Lazhar, will expand her fanbase as the star of this how-exactly-do-you-approach-it adaptation of the young adult novel that features Death as its narrator. "Downton Abbey" Emmy-winner Brian Percival takes his second turn in the movie director chair.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Release Date:  11/22/13
SYNOPSIS: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
STARS: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Buzz: The Hunger Games was the most satisfying franchise-starter in some time; a true measure of its success were the positive reactions from people who had yet to read the novels before seeing the movie. We love that the sequel was filmed in Hawaii, an ideal setting for the beautiful harshness of the Quarter Quell. Cast and crew wise, we're less concerned about any choices made by director Francis Lawrence and more worried about Sam Claflin as the knot-tying/Katniss-wooing Finnick Odair, because he displayed an innate talent for making time stand still in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsman.


Lisa U.
CC Library