"While the beginning of this book was fantastic, full of intrigue, curiosity and excitment, the ending left me wanting a little more. My heart soared through the first ten chapters, thinking 'finally, something with some backbone', to losing me short...moreWhile the beginning of this book was fantastic, full of intrigue, curiosity and excitment, the ending left me wanting a little more. My heart soared through the first ten chapters, thinking 'finally, something with some backbone', to losing me shortly thereafter. Not that anything in particular was bad, but I really felt like the 'integrity' of the story was bulldozed over in the name of 'commercialization'. A diconnect happened, pulling me to the outside of the story, instead of having me inside on the battle field fighting right along side John. I can't quite put my finger on it.
The relationship with Sarah was the typical teenage obsession, all about how she made him FEEL, and vice versa. Love isn't only about feelings. The development of the relationship started off at a great pace, then about half-way through it shifted gears into an unbelievable level of devotion and extereme understanding. Where were the real 'human' moments of shock, disbelief, question, fear. It's human nature to protect ourselves when we're afraid, but here you have a character instantly throw caution and everything she's known all her life to the wind... because she kissed a boy and liked it?
Then we have the relationship with Sam. This too started off at a great pace, and had a nice twist with the whole gun incident, but then everything after that.... got lost. In fact... Sam got lost for a whole chapter that covered practically a whole season. Then, suddenly he pops back on the scene, a big battle ensues (which John doesn't even give him a second thought through the whole thing) which he shows up at the end to help save the day, to making a decision to take off on the road with two aliens. Just a week before he couldn't tell his mom "no" when it came to visiting his aunt, but now he's ready to take on the world?
Don't even get me started on the whole Mark relationship. The guy is a bully, plain and simple... then all of sudden he turns into a knight in shining armour because John saved his two dogs? A bully isn't a bully for no reason. There's usually a deep-seeded reason, and that reason doesn't disappear with one incident and change his whole NATURE. Transformation of character takes time. But, even that isn't what bothers me. There are some obvious BIG plot holes when it comes to this character. #1 - why was a video sent to him, and who sent it? Why HIM. #2 - WHY on Earth would he take and 'confront' Henri and John about it? He was afraid of John after the Halloween incident. In fact, so afraid he couldn't even give him the party invitation on his own. He miraculously stops "bullying" John after getting his butt kicked once. I'm sorry, but that's just unbelievable.
However, with these obvious flaws, the story still held my attention, still had me pulling for it. I just can't for the life of me figure out WHY the paradigmn shift happened. It seems like one person started writing the story, and another person who's only read the outline, finished it. It's like some of the best elements of the story were taken out and the worst elements were added to ADD certain 'commercialized' elements to sell movie tickets was added at the expense of the true story. A story shouldn't be written to sell a movie... it should be written so well that one is inspired to desire it's film adaptation.
I'd still recommend this movie. I gave it to my 20-year old son, and he loved it. Felt something was missing, but still loved it. I'm sure lots of teenage girls will love it too.
Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
