Last week I went to see the latest Jack Ryan movie and one of the previews was...Vampire Academy! While my sister and I were doing this ridiculous fist bump routine a man down the aisle said (loudly), "I have no interest in seeing that." Ha! You missed out cranky old man because I loved it!
Right off the bat we're hit with background on Richelle Mead's world of vampires. There's no way around a big info dump, so that's fine. Rose and Lissa have a bond beyond the mystical, they're best friends and that comes across in the movie. Dimitri comes across too. Seriously, he has a huge presence in every scene he's in. Lissa's accent took a couple minutes to adjust to and there were a few curious casting choices like fire starter Christian. My version of him is a tad less hot, or at least much angstier. And my version of Christian does not have an accent unless you consider hostility an accent.
The mystery isn't so mysterious since I read the books. There's a bully lurking around campus writing threatening messages in blood. And there's an awful classmate. She's more on the pipsqueak side of things. I really hated her in the books, but I just wanted to put her in a time-out in the movie. Rose has some terrific lines and delivers them perfectly. I loved the self-deprecating humor, that was spot on with the books.
The mystery isn't so mysterious since I read the books. There's a bully lurking around campus writing threatening messages in blood. And there's an awful classmate. She's more on the pipsqueak side of things. I really hated her in the books, but I just wanted to put her in a time-out in the movie. Rose has some terrific lines and delivers them perfectly. I loved the self-deprecating humor, that was spot on with the books.
If you're a die hard VA fan, I'm not sure what your take on the movie will be. There are a couple change ups and like always some of the best parts are either cut or abbreviated, but Rose rocks and she is the star. Dimitri makes you swoon. Lissa can be annoying, but she annoyed me in the books too. Christian needs a shirtless scene in the next movie. I think the action and storyline will only get better over the span of the movie franchise if there will be a movie franchise. There is no lurking scene after the credits roll, but I wanted one because I wanted more. That says a lot right there. I hope you enjoy the movie too!
I'm giving it 4 FANGY STARS!
In case you missed it, I just released Shadow Town: Maggie Lane Chronicles #1. This is my first venture into New Adult Paranormal Romance and I had a blast! We're having a blog tour February 24-28. If you would like to join the tour, leave a comment or email me. We'd love to have you.
I'm giving it 4 FANGY STARS!
In case you missed it, I just released Shadow Town: Maggie Lane Chronicles #1. This is my first venture into New Adult Paranormal Romance and I had a blast! We're having a blog tour February 24-28. If you would like to join the tour, leave a comment or email me. We'd love to have you.
Oh, the movie sounds great. I going to have to splurge and go see it. Great review Robyn :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Traci! Oh, it's so hard to splurge on a movie. My family gives me gift cards because by the time I'm done debating whether or not to spend the money the movie is gone. If you go, I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteI really really need to watch this even though I kind of don't want to at the same time! I have a companion thingy so hopefully soonn. :D
ReplyDeleteWhat does companion thingy mean? I'm split between a CliffNotes version of the VA series and a boyfriend who's not quiet a boyfriend yet.
DeleteThe movie is a lot of fun! Rose is a cool chick! I hope you enjoy it. I loved it!
You know how I feel about the movie, Robyn, but now you watched it, you make me think about it differently. From what you say, it's not bad, but it's not the VA we love. :) I'll have that in mind when I'll watch it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
It's an awesome movie, but you are right, the two are so different. One of the best aspects to the books is the pacing. There's such a slow build with the suspense and especially the romance. It's near impossible for a movie to give us that without boring us. I enjoyed this book to movie adaptation better than all the other recent ventures, Beautiful Creatures, The Host, Mortal Instruments. Have you seen any of those?
DeleteI have watched The Host and I didn't like it! I haven't read the other two and I haven't' watch the movie either, but friends who have read them, are not happy with the adaptation.
DeleteBut I loved The Hunger Games. The movie is almost as amazing as the books. Have you seen it?
Many times! I love the first book and movie almost equally like you said. I cried more reading the book though. I haven't watched the second movie yet. Have you seen Catching Fire? I heard it's even more spectacular.
DeleteOh, yes! I've watched it and it's amazing. I liked it better than the first. You should definitely watch it. You'll love it. :)
DeleteYAY Robyn :) One of my other bookish friends has already watched it twice, she loved it so much. And we've been having fights over who 'gets' Dimitri most often :D
ReplyDeleteHave a super Sunday, Robyn :)
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
She already saw it twice?! Wow! Dimitri...the pair have great chemistry in the movie. Has Brandee seen the movie yet because that girl is the biggest book boyfriend monger? I fight her though.
DeleteI hope your Sunday is rockin! We had our first real snow in two winters so we went sledding on a real hill! (my first time)
*HA* I went to see VA yesterday, Robyn. And I am right there with ya about the accents. That really threw me but I got used to it. I loved Rose and although my Dimitri is a lot taller, I thought he was cast well. And he did dominate his scenes. My Christian is a lot hotter and angstier than the guy they cast but he's growing on me. :) And yeah, Lissa was annoying at times but I,too, was annoyed by her in the books...until she kinda grew a pair! *ha* I actually liked VA better on first seeing it than I did Twilight...so there's that. I think VA is movie that book fans will enjoy - despite the fact that they could have added in some stuff and maybe not changed some others...don't know if people who haven't read the books will like it or not.
ReplyDeleteBook boyfriend monger, huh??? You know I can see when you talk about me, right?? ;) And I share...begrudgingly, but I do. ;)
Do you know how many times I have to explain to my family why I'm cracking up when I'm reading your comments/posts? They sometimes give me the glossed over "she's talking about her blog again" look, but I laugh all over again explaining!
DeleteWe are in total agreement with the movie! My Dimitri is taller and Christian looks and sounds completely different. And I could have used a few more Rose and Dimitri scenes. Still it was a lot of fun and I can see myself watching it when it comes to DVD. I also thing #2 will be even better.
I'm still laughing about your "You know I can see when you talk about me, right??" comment. Good times!
What a cranky old man! Haha that made me laugh quite a bit! I remember seeing the Catching Fire preview with my daughter, my friend, and her niece, and we were all like jumping up and down in our seats, lol. I'm sure we got some strange looks.
ReplyDeleteHahahahah, "unless you consider hostility an accent." Never thought of thought of that - I think it is, bahahahaha! I'm looking forward to seeing this even though I haven't read the books yet. :) Terrific review!
Your Catching Fire date sounds like so much fun! I haven't seen that one yet. I'm one of those bad book girls that says you can totally watch the movie first. I have to say though the scary vamps (the Strigoi) weren't as scary to me now that I've watched way too much Walking Dead.
DeleteI'M A DIE HARD FAN! Haha, I'm in the UK and we don't get it for ages :(. So glad you enjoyed it! I've been hearing mixed reviews and I'm a little cautious after all the other YA film adaptation fails. Rose is the most important thing for me, so it's amazing to hear that she nails it!! Lissa annoyed me in the book as well so I'm not expecting much.
ReplyDeleteGreat review and CONGRATS ON YOUR NEW BOOK!! :D
Thanks Tilly! I am a pretty die hard fan too! I can't imagine writing a screenplay or approving one based on my books. How do you decide what wonderful parts of the story should be cut? Rose shines in the movie. She's smaller than my version of Rose, and thinner too, but the humor is all there. I really hope you enjoy it when it finally hits the UK. Oh and Mason is a redhead in the movie. Was he a redhead in the book? He's a tall dark haired cutie in my head.
DeleteI did enjoy this adaptation more than a lot of the movies that have been coming out in the last couple years. Harry Potter did it best. Can't everyone just copy how they did it?