Books have inspired many of the movies of 2016. (Of course they have, because books are awesome!) Since I’m a huge advocate of the “read the book before you see the movie” approach to life, here are some quick Word Nerd notes on upcoming films.
Upcoming Releases
Allegiant (March 18, 2016)
The last installment of the dystopian Divergent series, Allegiant wraps up the story of Tris, the Divergent heroine trying to save a world torn apart by competing factions. I haven’t read the book yet; most people I know don’t like it, mainly because of the ending (I won’t give it away) and the fact that although most of the series is in Tris’s point of view, Allegiant shifts narration between Tris and Tobias.
The trailers suggest that the film deviates significantly from the book. Although daughter, a proud member of the Divergent fandom, scoffs at the previews, when I asked if she wanted to see the movie, she said, “Heck, yeah. You can never have too much Theo James.”
I tend to agree. 😉
The Jungle Book (April 15, 2016)
According to Common Sense Media, this version of The Jungle Book is “less whimsical and musical” than Disney’s cartoon. The film combines animation and live action to present more characters and themes from Rudyard Kipling’s short story collection.
Me Before You (June 3, 2016)
I loved Me Before You, a thoughtful, bittersweet story about a paralyzed young man contemplating assisted suicide. Author Jojo Moyes does a great job of exploring the many facets of this complicated and controversial issue; I hope the movie does so as well. I’m surprised it’s targeted at teens. The main characters are in their 20s and struggling with adult issues. I’ll encourage my kids to read and discuss before they see. See my review of Me Before You.
The Girl on the Train (October 7, 2016)
This is another thriller along the lines of Gone Girl. It involves marriage, murder, and lots of lies. I didn’t like the book, mostly because of one pathetic character that dominates the narration, and I probably won’t bother with the movie, but if you’re a fan of thrillers, you might want to check it out. See my review of The Girl on the Train.
Fantastical Books and Where To Find Them (November 18, 2016)
I’ve heard rumor from my sixth grade son that J.K. Rowling has a new book out. Perhaps this is where the buzz originated. Rowling released Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a textbook on beasts and dragons that Harry Potter and his peers would have read at Hogwarts. Rowling wrote a story for the film, which features Newt Scamanders, the author of the textbook, and his escapades in the secret world of magic in New York City several decades before Harry arrived at Hogwarts. Sounds like fun to me!
Already Out There
The Fifth Wave (released in January 2016)
Many people have recommended this sci-fi adventure which chronicles the aftermath of an alien invasion. I’m not big on sci-fi, but this is so popular, I think I’ll at least read the book and pass it along to my teens.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (released in February 2016)
No self-respecting Austen fan would dare to give this abomination of a movie their precious attention. The fact that the book made it to the big screen disheartens me almost as much as the fact that Donald Trump is still a front-runner in the Republican primaries.
Have you read any of these books? Do you plan to see the movies?
Thanks for sharing!
I have read and now what to see Me Before You, and, of course, we have seen Jungle Book. It is my husband’s favorite “old school” Disney. We have the VHS version and still have a working player. We watched it with our 2 1/2-year-old great grandson just last Saturday. I think we will try to see the movie. We don’t go to the theatre much, but it will come out in Blu-Ray or DVD.
I just saw a commercial for the Jungle Book – looks good! I loved the Divergent series but I haven’t seen any of the movies – but I have a feeling about how they may change that last one. And the Me Before You trailer looks great, although I’m not sure I want to go through that emotional journey again.
On a related note, did you ever read Lev Grossman’s The Magicians series? It was pretty good, and I just watched the first episode of the new TV series based on the books. I won’t be watching anymore – just meh.
I’m not familiar with The Magicians, but thanks for the tip! I can’t afford to get hooked on a TV series right now, so I’m glad you gave it lukewarm reviews.