Most Anticipated Adaptions of 2021

2021 is already proving to be an exciting year, as some of our beloved stories and adventures are finally being released on the big (and small) screen! When adapting books to movies there’s always the worry that the writers and directors are going to change elements and cut important and much-loved parts from the script but I’m quietly optimistic for this year’s releases. I don’t want to wish my life away but there’s a few shows this year I’d happily sell my soul to watch early, the excitement is killing me!

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (February 2021)

Always and Forever, Lara Jean, Volume 3 To All the Boys I've Loved Before:  Amazon.co.uk: Han, Jenny: Books

The final instalment to what I consider to be one of the best YA adaptations EVER! Netflix has managed to capture the heartwarming and beautifully romantic journey that is Lara Jean’s love life and has successfully shared her story with the world. It’s great seeing all my friends fall in love with this story and I’ve even managed to get them to read the books as they’re desperate to find out what happens next. It’s fair to say that I’ve got high expectations for this final film and I just hope they give Lara and Peter the epic conclusion they deserve.

The Nightingale (December 2021)

The Nightingale: Amazon.co.uk: Hannah, Kristin: 9781509848621: Books

I’ve yet to read the book to this adaptation but it sounded so good that I couldn’t help but include it on my list. Starring both Dakota and Elle Fanning, this film follows the lives of two sisters living in France who are torn apart at the onset of World War II. I have a huge appreciation and love for films about both World Wars, with favourites such as Atonement, Dunkirk, Fury, and Jojo Rabbit, so I already know that I’m really going to love this one.

The Selection (TBA)

The Selection - Wikipedia

This adaptation has been going around the rumour mill for a while now, but we could be finally seeing this classic YA romance on our screens soon! Netflix has yet to announce anything about the cast or anything else for that matter but all we know is that author Kiera Cass is just as excited as us!

Nine Perfect Strangers (TBA)

Nine Perfect Strangers: The Number One Sunday Times bestseller from the  author of Big Little Lies eBook: Moriarty, Liane: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

I absolutely loved Big Little Lies, so to see more of Liane Moriarty’s books being adapted is great! This book has been sat on my bookshelf for ages so I think it’s about time I finally dive into this thrilling mystery.

The Pursuit of Love (TBA)

The Pursuit of Love: Amazon.co.uk: Mitford, Nancy, Heller, Zoë:  9780241974681: Books

One of my favourite books ever is finally getting the BBC adaptation treatment and I’m beyond excited. Starring Lily James, Andrew Scott and Emily Mortimer, I’m quite confident that I’m going to absolutely adore it! The book follows an upper class English family during the war and focuses love, class and relationships, its a classic light-hearted storyline that audiences will love.

Conversations with Friends (TBA)

Conversations with Friends (181 POCHE): Amazon.co.uk: Rooney, Sally:  9780571333134: Books

After the huge success that was Normal People, I’m not surprised to see Rooney’s other book getting the adaptation treatment! And it’s good to hear that the same core team who made Normal People will once again be working together to bring Conversation with Friends to our screens!

Chaos Walking (March 2021)

Chaos Walking: The Complete Trilogy by Patrick Ness

Starring Tom Holland AND Daisy Ridley this film already looks epic! I’ve yet to read this series but the dystopian world Ness has created has certainly made me curious. Plus that trailer looks intense! Todd Hewitt has been raised to believe that a viral germ has killed all women and unleashed Noise, the special ability to read people’s and animals’ minds. Alone, he must face a planet erupting in war—that is, until he meets Viola, the source of the silence.

Shadow and Bone (TBA)

Shadow and Bone: Book 1 (THE GRISHA) eBook: Bardugo, Leigh: Amazon.co.uk:  Kindle Store

Word’s can’t describe how excited I am for this series to hit our screens, and for these characters and Bardugo’s wonderful Grishaverse to come to life. Transporting this world from page to screen isn’t a small feat but such responsibility has been embraced by executive producers Eric Heisserer and Shawn Levy, with Leigh Bardugo also on board as a producer. I have total and utter faith that this adaptation will stay true to the books and will successfully embody everything we as the fans cherish in this series. 

The Last Letter from Your Lover (March 2021)

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes | Vulpes Libris

Another Jojo Moyes adaptation? I’ll grab the tissues! Starring Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley, Callum Turner and Joe Alwyn, the book focuses on a young journalist who becomes obsessed with a series of letters she discovers that recounts an intense star-crossed love affair from the 1960s.

There’s Someone Inside Your House (February 2021)

There's Someone Inside Your House: Amazon.co.uk: Perkins, Stephanie:  9780525426011: Books

If you’re a fan of Pretty Little Liars, then the chances are that you’re going to love this adaptation too. The graduating class at Osborne High is being targeted by a masked assailant, intent on exposing the darkest secret of each victim, and only a group of misfit outsiders can stop the killings. I read this book ages ago but I can’t remember a thing! Looks like I’m going to have to have a quick re-read before it’s release!

Death on the Nile (September 2021)

Death on the Nile (Poirot): Amazon.co.uk: Christie, Agatha: 9780007119325:  Books

I’m a sucker for a good murder mystery, and there’s no one better than Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed the recent adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express and I’m equally excited to see this book get it’s own A-list adaptation! Starring Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright and other famous faces, this film is guaranteed to be a hit.

Dune (October 2021)

Dune by Frank Herbert | Waterstones

I need something to fill the sci-fi void in my heart and I think this adaptation will do just the trick. The cast looks incredible, and will star Oscar Isaac, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and more!

I was gutted that this film wasn’t released last year, but this film deserved to be experienced on the big screen rather than at home so I’ll happily wait a little bit longer. Plus that gives me more time to finally read the book!

P.S I Still Love You Film Review – Romance Week 2020

Lara Jean is back with the second instalment in Jenny Han’s most beloved series, and after the huge success and positive response of the first film it was fair to said that I had high expectations! I will admit I didn’t love this film as much, as I felt it lacked the light-hearted fun and feel-good elements of the first film, but nevertheless it was an enjoyable watch and the perfect film for a cosy night in.

What I loved the most about this film was the addition of all the new relationships, we of course have Lara Jean and John Ambrose but we also have Chris and Trevor and Trina and Dr. Covey. There’s just something about a blossoming romance that warms your heart and the snippets we saw of them both together were adorable. As always the on screen chemistry between Lana Condor and Noah Centineo is simply natural and both perfectly embody young love. In the first half of the film we get to witness the beginning of their real relationship and a few of their fairy-tale first dates and its not until the second half of the film when doubt creeps in and causes cracks to form. It’s only right that I talk about John Ambrose! Jordan Fisher played him so well, he was charming, kind, adorable and was a suitable rival for Peter.

Family is another thing that is hugely important in these films and learning about Lara Jean’s Korean heritage and mother was just so lovely, I particularly enjoyed the whole story about the green beans! Another thing they included from the book was the whole storyline around Genevieve’s parent divorce and her past close friendship with Lara Jean, and hopefully we get to see this develop in the next film. Stormy will always be one of my favourite characters from this series, she’s so fabulous and Holland Taylor played her perfectly.

As I mentioned earlier, I felt like this film was missing some light-hearted fun moments that the first film had, I wish they had included the game of Assassins and extended the treehouse scenes as I really wanted to see more character interactions within the group. So far this series still remains one of my favourite and most accurate adaptations, both films are fun, light-hearted and romantically enchanting adventures that everyone can’t help but love.

My 2019 Favourites – Books, TV Shows and Films

My focus for 2019 was mainly my academic studies, so most of my time this year was spent writing lots of essays such as my dissertation and searching for a graduate scheme/job! This meant that my blogging and reading habits took a back seat because I found it too difficult to juggle everything. This year however I plan to make more time for it, as my schedule at this moment isn’t too chaotic. This year was also the year of endings, some of my favourite TV series and film franchises came to an end as did my university journey as I graduated in November, so lets hope that 2020 is the year of new beginnings! Anyway here’s a list of my favourite books, films and TV shows of 2019.

Books

The Nevernight Trilogy by Jay Kristoff – A mysteriously artful and exhilarating read that refused to be put down and one which has earned a place as one of my favourite reads of 2019. It is clear that the writing style is either a hit or miss with readers, but for me it was a beautifully crafted masterpiece filled with unique and descriptive metaphors that came to life on the page.

Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E Schwab – The entire series is a wonderfully captivating read that takes place in a unique and complex world crafted with the upmost perfection and thought. There is no limits or bounds to Schwabs imagination as she successfully transports us to a world of chaos and magic. If you haven’t yet picked up this series or Nevernight, then you are seriously missing out.

Circe by Madeline Miler – I finally gave into the hype surrounding this book and let me say that everything said about this book is true, it is a wonderfully original and captivating read that explores the shadows of villainized women Greek Mythology. A beautiful masterpiece filled with thought-provoking and powerful quotes, this book is a must read for all.

Films

Avengers: Endgame – Now this is how you end an epic franchise! The entire movie was incredible, I cried a lot and I swear I spent the entire film with my mouth open in awe! This was the first film that ever gave me a ‘film hangover’, it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that this cinematic journey was over.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – I didn’t love it as much as I wanted too and it don’t get me started on that ending but nevertheless I enjoyed every moment because I love this franchise with all my heart! Poe Dameron please marry me!

Booksmart – This film was just fabulously mad and I loved it. It was the characters in this film that made it for me, and their friendship is one which I can easily relate to.

TV Shows

The Witcher – This fills the void in my life that Game of Thrones left, and I’m living for everything about this series. I hope to start reading the books before the next season comes out because I need more.

Fleabag – I finally jumped on the bandwagon with this series at the beginning of the year and instantly fell in love. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a legend and has created such a unique and wonderful series that needed more seasons!

The Mandalorian – Baby Yoda. That’s all I have to say about this series.

His Dark Materials – A wonderfully magical adaptation of Phillip Pullmans most acclaimed series. This is so much better than the film adaptation and is the perfect fantasy adventure for all ages.

Derry Girls – If you’re looking for a laugh then this series is for you. Filled with endearing characters and cracking moments, this series follows the lives of a group of friends living in Derry, Northern Ireland during the 1990’s as they try to navigate the highs and lows of being a teenager.

Mary Poppins Returns – Film Review

*Minor Spoilers Ahead*

It’s fair to say that I was a little skeptical when they announced that they were remaking Mary Poppins and that Emily Blunt would be bringing Julie Andrew’s iconic character back to the big screen. However, those doubts have been completely crushed as everything about this film was wonderful. I laughed, I cried and I had a smile on my face throughout the entire film. They truly have pulled out all the stops for this film, everything is bigger, brighter and can I even go as far as to say better? It was touching to see so many little nods to the original and it was lovely to see the Banks children all grown up and I loved the fact that we were able to follow their children’s adventures with Mary Poppins.

Emily Blunt brought this iconic character back to life in her own wonderful way, her Poppins was warm but stern and gave us everything you would want from a character and more. Also I wasn’t expecting Mary Poppins to be such a good match maker and I need more of the blossoming romance between Jack and Jane! I also need a Mary Poppins of my own to come and help me with my love life.

Everyone’s raving about how wonderful Emily Blunt is but the real star of this film has to be Lin Manuel Miranda who’s enthusiasm and passion for this film and it’s beautiful music is evident. There’s a scene which Jack (Lin Manuel Miranda) and the other London lamplighters perform ‘Trip a Little Light Fantastic’ and the choreography for that number was incredible. The original score is so iconic that it was always going to be difficult for the new one to be as memorable but nevertheless all the songs were fun and catchy with some of my favourites being ‘A Cover is not a Book’ and ‘The Place Where Lost Things Go’!

This film warmed my little heart with its adorable storyline, characters and incredible score. I’m not surprised that this film is getting a lot of attention as it truly is a feel good film that is bursting with love and joy.

Crimes of Grindelwald Film Review – 12 Days of Blogmas

COGW

*Caution Ahead Major Spoiler Warning*

I am a huge fan of this entire franchise so I tend to get very excited when titles, trailers and eventually the film is released and that means that I go into these films with high expectations. Therefore it pains me to say that I really didn’t like this film. I love all these characters so it was great to enter back into the wizarding world which was plastered in hidden nods to the other films and significant characters but there was something missing.

J.K Rowling already warned us that these films would be getting darker which wasn’t a problem for me. That was the case before I watched the film and saw that all the darkness had basically snubbed out any of the wonderful magic and fun that we had in the first one. The circus scene for instance only lasted a couple of minutes but I wanted more, I wanted to explore this unique and creative part of the wizarding world. That’s another thing about this film which is that there was almost too much going on but at the same time, not enough. Everything felt a bit cramped and jumpy and I think that’s because there were too many subplots which in turn weren’t explored enough.

Jacob and Queenie are some of my all time favourties but they barely got any screen time together. And the same goes for Newt and Tina, I wanted to see their relationship develop but instead, it felt like they were both strangers whose main priority was to solve a case quickly. Now let’s talk about Leta Lestrange. She was such a complex and interesting character that we deserved to see more of and I don’t understand why they killed her off in general and so early on in the franchise. We were just beginning to understand her and her relationships with the Scamander brothers. In my opinion, it was the biggest mistake of the film.

The entire film was basically an extended episode of Who Do You Think You Are as we follow Credence in his search for his birth mother and true identity, a reveal that by the end of the film I didn’t really care about. I will admit I certainly didn’t expect the ending but it wasn’t one that I liked. It actually really frustrated me because it doesn’t make sense, a lot of Dumbledore’s past has been explained so I don’t understand how you could miss out another brother! Anyway I’m curious to see where they’re going to take this storyline and I really hope they can redeem themselves with the next film.

Mortal Engines Film Review – 12 Days of Blogmas

MORT

Peter Jackson has a talent for bringing extensive and detailed fantasy worlds to life so I had hope for this franchise but I wasn’t in a million years expecting to love this film as much as I did. It’s always a good sign when you immediately want to pick up the books after watching a film adaptation and seeing this unique and wonderful world on screen now has me desperate to explore more of it and its characters.

The film follows the character of Hester Shaw who is a woman on a mission, a mission of revenge that involves the assassination of Thaddeus Valentine, head scientist and politician of London. However, her planned assignation is hindered and must join forces with Tom Natsworthyan outcast from London, along with Anna Fang, a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head, to stop Valentine and his plans for destruction.

The whole concept of having monster cities on wheels it so interesting and the stunning visuals help make this world so beautifully intricate and detailed that it honestly feels like you’re apart of this incredible world. The fight sequences were one of my favourite elements of the film and for some reason, I was getting some serious Star Wars vibes? For me, there was a perfect balance between exposition, character development, and action.

Even from the trailer, I knew I was going to love these characters, all of them are complex, compelling and of course badass heroes! I really do need to read the books as I need more of Hester and Tom and especially more of their relationship! We got a taste of their blossoming relationship in the film, but I just need more!

If you’re looking for a fun and action-packed adventure then this film is perfect for you. For me, it was an unexpected enjoyment and I film I know I’m going to watch again and again. If you’ve read the books and seen the film I’d love to know what you thought of the adaptation in the comments!

The Darkest Minds – Spoiler Free Film Review

TDM

There’s always a worry when one of your favourite YA book series gets turned into a film, and understandably as you care for these characters and their story. So, when I saw the casting for this film I was relieved and had seriously high hopes as everything was perfect, it felt like these characters had literally just been plucked from the page. However, I’m sad to admit I was a little disappointed and feel like this film hasn’t lived up to its full potential.

I can’t praise the casting enough and I felt like they all captured the characters perfectly, especially Skylan Brooks as Chubs! He was just so funny and made those occasional dull scenes so much better. But what I really wanted was more from the characters and more genuine interactions. Everything felt a bit rushed, including Ruby’s and Liam’s relationship which just made it less believable and nothing like it was in the books. Despite this, they were very cute together and I can’t wait to see more of them!

I think my biggest problem with this film was the script as I don’t think the cast was given the goods to work with in order to make this a successful film, which surprises me as it’s from the producers of Stranger Things and Arrival, two incredible pieces of work. It was great however to see key scenes from the book reflected onto the screen some of which felt like they’d also been pulled straight off the page.

If you’re a fan of the books then I recommend you go and see it, as like me I’m sure you’ll love seeing elements of the books and the characters being brought to life. It’s not the best YA film adaptation but it certainly is an enjoyable one and has a pretty good soundtrack to go with it! I’d love to know what you thought about the film so please leave us a comment below.

Black Panther, Peter Rabbit, ​and Annihilation – March Film Reviews

bp,pr,a

I am a huge film fan so be prepared to see a lot of film reviews and television recommendations in the upcoming weeks however what I’m really here to rave about is this app I’ve discovered called Letterboxd. Letterboxd is great as it allows you to log all the films you’ve watched and when you watched them as well as giving you the opportunity to post and share your reviews and connect with people around the world. This isn’t a sponsored post I’m just so in love with this app, however, Letterboxd if you want to pay me to promote your app then I happily will because it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for! Anyway, let’s get on with my mini reviews!

15th March: Annihilation – I don’t know what this film was, it was beautiful but at the same time it seriously messed with my mind and I still regret watching it late at night and in a dark room! I absolutely loved Garlands Ex Machina and he once again takes us on a terrifying journey into the unknown.This film is clearly a visual masterpiece and the perfect combination of science fiction and psychological thriller which left me speechless and watching endless videos on YouTube about the film itself and its brilliant ending!

21st March: Peter Rabbit – If you’re looking for an adorable and surprisingly funny film to put you in a good mood then this is the film for you! I wasn’t expecting to laugh as much as a did, but what I love about children films is that you can laugh at the jokes aimed at children and the subtle ones put in there for older audiences! Everything about this film was just so darn cute except for James Corden’s voice which I will admit does get a little irritating at times!

27th March: Black Panther – I know I’m very late in seeing this film and I’m so glad that I went and saw it before it stopped showing in cinema’s as it is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen. This might even be my favourite Marvel film as everything about it was just perfect. I loved the action, the storyline and most importantly the characters who I need more of asap, especially T’Challa and Shuri. I need a whole film dedicated to their sibling relationship and banter! I can’t wait to see where they take these characters and I look forward to them having a bigger role in Avengers: Infinity War!

 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Film Review – 12 Days of Blogmas

SWTLJ

Minor Spoiler Alert – Read at your own Risk!

I was like a child at Christmas watching this film, throughout the entire film there was a smile on my face and I relished every detail and second; it was beautiful! I thought the storyline was carefully structured and it was clear that there were so much love and passion that went into creating these films. All the different storylines fitted seamlessly together and there was a perfect balance between all the perspectives, and I really enjoyed the addition of new and old characters! Every shot was beautiful and the fight scenes were full of suspense, intensity and just pure cinematic magic that made every angle a masterpiece. As for the acting, it was perfect. Each character was beautifully brought to life and there isn’t one performance that I didn’t think was exceptional; Oscars all around!

I wasn’t expecting to laugh so much during these films, and I thought it was rightly so that they had a bit of comic relief as this film was seriously intense. There was a perfect balance between good and evil which meant that nothing in this film was expected and certainly wasn’t lacking any action or adventure. So much happened in this film my poor little heart could only just take it, and I need this film on DVD now so I can just watch it over and over again. There were so many storylines in this film that beautifully crossed paths and intertwined with each other, and it was great to see more of certain character relationships my favourite being Poe and Leia as she knows how to put him in his place! I’ll keep my fangirling over Poe to a sentence, but it was great to see that he had a bigger and more developed role in this film!

I also loved Finn and Rose and the relationship between them. Rose is not your typical hero and her passion to make difference in the world and the strength she posses really made me love her as a character and I can’t wait to see more of her in the next film! Finally, the scenes with Rey and Kylo Ren had me panicking because I had no idea what was going to happen between them, would Rey be possed by darkness? or will Kylo Ren discover and follow the light that possibly remained inside him? Who knows, you’ll just have to watch and see what happens!

The Porgs, aren’t they just adorable and I could write three pages on how much I love these creatures. Another favourite of mine has to be BB-8 as he never fails to warm my heart and make me smile, I just need both of them in my life, Father Christmas are you listening?

I think it’s pretty clear that I absolutely loved this film and there aren’t enough positive adjectives to describe my thoughts and what I felt when I left the cinema. Even if you don’t like Star Wars (which I find hard to believe because how can you?) I recommend you go and watch it as it is a beautiful masterpiece that is filled with an equally beautiful storyline and characters!

Arrival – Film Review

arrival

*Spoilers Ahead*

Let’s first start this review off by asking why Amy Adams wasn’t nominated for an Oscar? Her performance was so powerful and emotional, I really think she should be up there with the nominees. Anyway, this was a perfect sci-fi film because it didn’t just focus on the aliens instead it focused on the life of Louisa and the whole idea behind, what if? which I absolutely loved.

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team – led by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) – is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers – and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

The idea of translating an alien language had me hooked the moment I heard about it, as I’m a huge linguist myself and the idea of people being able to speak numerous languages blows my mind. Louisa as a brave, interlectual yet also flawed charatcer was really unique and made it impossible not to care about her and also made the film more human.

By telling the story through Louisa we are able to experience so much more emotion and that’s what really makes this film a great sci-fi film; it’s not all about the aliens it also about the human emotion, sacrifice and reaction. The clever use of flashbacks/flashforwards tricks the audience and metally transcends time and by the end of the film, we as an audience gain a completely different perspective on the whole storyline and characters and certainly left me sitting in awe.

As you’ve probably guessed from this glistening review, I would give this film 5/5 stars because it was an enticing and emotional sci-fi film which leaves its audience questioning and in awe at the whole film and the idea of what if. So, I leave you with the question of whether if you knew the future would you carry on?