Movie vs Book.

This morning, my sis, Katie and I went and saw My Sister's Keeper, a movie based on a book by Jodi Picoult (one of my fave authors). Since we had all read the book, we were VERY excited to see this....and prepared ourselves to bawl like babies all the way thru!

Now...I love me some movies....I can ALWAYS find something I like or find something nice to say about a movie (even you, oh Land of the Lost...bleh). Same goes with this movie...it was very heart-wrenching and oh my, sad...

BUT.....

My advice...don't read the book before you see the movie!

I'm about to go in ***SPOILER***mode...so please join me below the pictures if you dare.


The biggest "moment" of the movie for me....well, wait. I have to say...I loved this book. It's the first Jodi Picoult book I had read (and if you know me, it's the first book I will offer to lend to you, too), and the content of the story has always had a place in my heart...the plot totally makes me think "What if that happened to me, what would I do for my child?"
So, anyways...there was this moment in the movie where the mom and her sister are talking, and the sister says something like "Just give it a rest, you can't do everything, maybe now is the time to stop." To which the mom replies "I can't" and isn't that so true, I know I for one would do anything to save my child....for those of you who know the storyline...this mom refused to believe her daughter would die and did everything possible to keep that from happening, including genetically engineering her youngest daughter to be a perfect match for Kate. That youngest daughter, Anna, seeks medical emancipation so she can't be forced to give anything else to her sister. I always felt like she was being so selfish...that she shouldn't care and should do everything to help. Of course, you find out in the end that her sister told her to do all that, so then I feel chastized ;).

Though the movie was good and evoked strong emotions from me, they let me down big time with that ending. I was gearing up for it....trying to visualize how Kate would be after being cured with Anna's kidney....but they nixed that and Kate died instead!! What the heck...totally not cool!

Obviously, most movies based on books are going to change things and you'll only get disappointed if you expect too much. I love the visualization movies give...but I have to admit I can get so disappointed (i.e. The Other Boelyn Girl) when I try to compare Movie vs Book. And I hate that I do that in the first place because it irks me beyond belief when people criticize movies, like they are expecting an epiphany from each and every one. Seriously, it's just a movie. Granted, if you are a visual person, a movie can really MOVE a person to tears, anguish, fear, etc....but it's not going to change your life. And if that's what you expect...maybe you shouldn't go to the movies...try a book.

All in all, it's a good movie...go see it as a matinee, since it's cheaper (or wait to rent it)...bring your tissues. Seeing a child go thru something as horrible as cancer and the treatment for it, is enough to bring tears to the most jaded of souls eyes. OR...skip the movie and read the book (Gasp! Did I really just suggest to skip a movie?!).