i read the book in grade eight; just saw the movie this past week
novel was better by far; it really took a whole meaning/perspective on the tree; while the movie just didn't have the same effect
but the movie was great because i got to stare at kristen stewart 90 minutes
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"We can't stop here - this is bat country!"
The novel was more detailed and allowed you more into Melinda's head, but I did think the film was a great adaptation. Kristen Stewart embodied the role of Melinda and I thought Michael Angarano and the girl who played Heather were great.
I still find it weird that Eric Lively played Andy. He played Carey on the show So Weird, which I was obsessed with. I didn't even realize it was him until my second viewing. And even then I just thought he looked familiar and decided to look him up.
I love them both, for different reasons, so it's kind of hard for me to decide.
I love the novel for Melinda's inner monologue, how it ranges from sarcastic to introspective to angry to peaceful. As a victim of rape, I could identify with it.
I also loved the movie, how the actress fit the role so wonderfully, and also the scene where she shows the art teacher all the tree artwork. It wasn't translated into sappy melodrama, but instead retained much of the beautiful realistic nature of the novel.
"Film spectators are quiet vampires."- Jim Morrison
Both were good but I have to give the novel the edge. I really enjoyed the movie though, it was a great adaptation! Usually books like this get butchered and totally messed up when it's made into a movie. Good movie.
sharethey didn't even take the movie seriously
it was a Lifetime movie though
they portrayed everything to a stereotype, and the book had more introspective and the book made me laugh
the movie made me laugh, but for a completely different reason
hmmm....yeahhh
Theres certain details in the book that I wish were noticed more in the movie because I thought they distinguised Melindas character better.
But overall I reallly liked the movie. It was more sad to me than reading the book.
solarian99, for your information, Speak was not a Lifetime movie. It was a Showtime Independent film which was shot in August 2003. Speak had its premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival to high acclaim and then had a dual television premiere on Labor Day night, September 5, 2005 with the original version on Showtime and a slightly shorter version complete with commercials on Lifetime so that those who don't subscribe to Showtime could also see it. As far as producing the movie though, Lifetime had absolutely nothing to do with it.
shareoh, okay, i need the real movie
shareI definitely agree with you on that point, solarian99! I really like the Speak DVD as it contains the original version as it was shown at Sundance and on Showtime. I think that it's much better than the version that gets shown on Lifetime. The DVD also has a very informative commentary track with director Jessica Sharzer and Speak book author Laurie Halse Anderson. Plus, it has no commercials! For me, watching commercials on Lifetime becomes annoying about 10 seconds into the first commercial. After 10 seconds I just want to throw the remote at the TV screen.
I do hope that you'll be able to watch the original and I also hope that you enjoy it more than what you've seen on Lifetime.
I'd have to go with the novel. Melinda is the narrator, so every line in the book comes from her, so we can further understand how she is feeling and what she is going through. But the movie did as well as it could. It's just not possible to put all of Melinda's inner-thoughts on the screen, unless of course you want to go completely overboard with the narration. Both the movie and the book were great, though. :]
I don't patronize bunny rabbits.
The thing about the novel was that it was a lot more detailed...The movie however was good and it was one of the better novel adaptations i have seen, but overall i have to say i prefered the book.
shareI agree with pretty much everyone who has posted so far. I liked the novel much better...and I actually saw the movie first
*What fun is it being cool if you can't wear a sombrero?*
the book. for sure
Maybe it was ment to be :)
*book spoiler alert*
i really missed her moment of seeing everyone's writing about andy on the bathroom stall... the part where people have written about him and at the end of that section, melinda says: "I feel like I can fly." that part was so emotional for me; it also showed ivy is nicer than in the film (though she's not painted as horrible in the film) because ivy takes her there and shows her what it says.
some parts of the book were better and some parts of the movie were better. all in all, i'd say i love both equally.
It is amusing that you don’t know who you’re talking to.
i really missed her moment of seeing everyone's writing about andy on the bathroom stall... the part where people have written about him and at the end of that section, melinda says: "I feel like I can fly."
danderson, I loved that part of the book too! I wish they had put that in the movie.
I loved both the movie and the book. I give the book the edge b/c it was funny, heartbreaking, sad, sarcastic all at the same time. I just loved Melinda. But like someone else said, the movie is about as good an adaptation as I've ever seen from a book. Kristen did a great job. It was a hard character to portray as there was very little dialogue in the book, most of her character was inside her head.
When I read the book, I was actually pretty disappointed and didn't think it was that good. But I think the movie was amazing and wayy better than the book.
T~O
OTKC
Robsession Fan Club Member #16