The 5th Wave
Release Date: January 22, 2016
Directed by: J. Blakeson
Screenplay: Susannah Grant, Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner
Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Ron Livingston, Maggie Siff, Alex Roe, Maria Bello, Maika Monroe, Liev Schreiber
Rating: PG-13
The 5th Wave is a book I adore, and while the movie isn’t without its flaws, it did a good job with the time frame it was given. If you don’t know, the book is almost 500 pages long! That’s a lot of detail to fit into a 2-hour film. So, with that out of the way, let’s talk about the movie.
There were some details and backstory left out that would have created more emotional depth to the story. For example, it is briefly mentioned that Ben (Zombie) had a sister and that’s why he wears the locket, but the film didn’t give enough detail to really tug at my emotions and understand his inner struggles. Of course, I do know because I read the book, but if I hadn’t, it was just a scene that was lacking. Another example is the relationship between Ben and Sammy and why Ben was made the leader of his unit. They touch on it briefly, but again, it lacked the level of depth the book had.
Now, I know a movie has less time to fill in all the details, but this movie had lots of action and Cassie-swooning-over-Evan scenes, that I feel they could have included a little more background for the other characters.The scenes with Ben and training at the army camp were simply abrupt and rushed.
There were other changes, but like I’ve said in my other film/tv reviews, sometimes those are necessary. Overall, though, it didn’t change the actual progression of the story or the story itself.
Related: The Shannara Chronicles Review and Shadowhunters Review
That curl, though
The acting was 50/50. Nick Robinson (Ben Parrish) did a great job playing an emotionally withdrawn young man. Alex Roe (Evan Walker) pulls off that creepy-but-I-care alien vibe. And Chloë Grace Moretz did a decent job as Cassie. My only complaint with her were the very distracting close-up shots of her fear-face. But hey, maybe that’s just me.
Oh, and her hair was always perfectly curled no matter what trouble she was in.
The film did a good job at story-telling. Lovers of the book may have issues with it, but if you look at it from an outsiders perspective, it did a good job. It’s fast-paced, explains what it needs to explain to progress the plot and there’s plenty of action. It definitely kept me interested, even with all those awkward romance scenes. (Evan shirtless in the lake? I actually laughed-out-loud in the theater. Anyone else? )
Also, the visuals and world building were spot-on to what I imagined while reading this book. The filmmakers did a fabulous job bringing Yancey’s post-apocalyptic type world alive, staying true to the chaos and death that took place in the book. It didn’t sugar-coat that people were dying, that there was nothing to do with the bodies, that homes were destroyed or that huge cities were wiped out.
My husband really enjoyed this movie. Which is saying a lot about the quality of it, because he hates most of the YA book-to-movie adaptations I drag him to. So, maybe that helps with your decision to see this or not. However, like I said above, you may have issues with it if you’ve read the book.
Side note: I noticed a lot of reviews (from professionals, who most likely have not read the book) complain about the obvious love-triangle. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t she pretty smitten with Evan throughout the first two books? So, I dislike that they threw in that hint of a bigger love-triangle than it actually is.
13 Comments
As you know, I’ve been waiting to hear what you had to say about this movie! I’m glad you liked it, considering your’e a big fan of the book. And I’m glad your hubby liked it too! I agree that they shouldn’t have made a mountain out of a mole hill over the love triangle. As someone who has not read the books, the movie did not feel overly love-triangley to me, and that would have disappointed me if I had believed there was a love triangle when there wasn’t before I saw it. She had a crush on Ben while they were in school. Then she thought he died. All this time passed and she’s clearly got it bad for Evan, regardless of his flaws, and when Ben does come back into the picture, it’s awkward in a “hey, this is a guy I used to be really into but you’re the guy I’m into now and I never thought you two would ever meet” sorta way. Not a “omg I don’t know which guy to choose #swoon” sorta way. I wish they would’ve showed more in-depth scenes on Ben’s sister and the training and his relationship with Sammy BUT it was still a good movie considering the time frame and the amount of information they had to cram in there! Great review 🙂
It just seemed like they were kind of hinting at it being more of a big deal in the sequel (if they do make a sequel. Not really on Cassie’s end though, more on Ben’s end. That’s not how it is in the book – if I remember correctly – but I don’t want to spoil anything for you 🙂
I think the movie definitely would have benefited from showing a little bit more about the other characters other than Cassie. It would have made those military scenes make more sense – or at least we’d feel a little bit more attatchment to the characters rather than “oh, children soldiers, okay” lol
Also, the book is HUGE so I can see why they’d leave certain things out. Even when I was talking to my husband about this he was like “well, did it change the story at all” and when I said “no”, he just responded with “well, there you go. it didn’t matter” haha Which I guess he’s right, BUT I READ THE BOOKS SO I HAVE TO COMPLAIN lol xD
I hope they do make a sequel. It’s a shame when they start a series and don’t finish it (unless they flop, but hopefully this one won’t). But I’m sure they’ll play it up as a much bigger love triangle in the sequel.
The one character I would have really liked to see more of was Ringer. I felt like I didn’t really understand her and although she was entertaining, I wanted more backstory. Hopefully they make up for that in the next one?
Yeah, I can absolutely see why they would leave things out! They have to. And I love your husbands answer, although I would complain if I had read the book too. And I forgot to say, HER HAIR THO! I agree. Like. Every dystopian ever – except maybe The Hunger Games because her hair is always in a braid – THE GIRLS HAIR IS ALWAYS NICELY DONE AND CURLY. Excuse me. If I was living in the woods running from aliens trying to kill me? My hair would not be curled. It would probably be in a damn ponytail or a haphazard bun or shaved off or something because who has time for that!
I’m hoping. (Here’s hoping they don’t decide to make it a TV show either lol)
I actually am not a fan of Ringer – even in the book. I don’t know, her character just irritates me. I get being a strong, independent person but she’s just a bitch xD I also thought, on screen, she was a little over the top. You wanna talk about hair? DID YOU SEE HER EYELINER?! And her hair was in the same up-do EVERY DAY. Nope.
Right?! My hair is so thick and annoying, I’d probably just shave my head! The only good thing it can do is keep my ears warm! Also, film makers, CURLY does not equal MESSY.
Yeah…. Let’s just pray for a sequel, lol!
Yeah I thought she came across as hella-bitchy, and like you said, I understand being strong, but it was over the top. I want to understand why she’s so bitchy, so maybe I can justify not liking her ahaha. And yes. My boyfriend looked at me after the movie and said “if we ever hit some sort of apocalyptic scenario in real life, and you brought eyeliner… I might leave you behind” … I actually laughed out lout.
Hahaha same! My hair is ridiculously thick. Ain’t nobody got time to deal with that shit every day WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE. No. Curly does NOT equal messy. But film makers either don’t care about that, or just want everyone to look stellar all the time. Side not, but in Divergent, Tris is from Abnegation. It’s literally against their belief system to be vein and care about looks. They rarely get to use mirrors, and sure as hell don’t have access to make up. Guess who’s ALWAYS wearing mascara? Tris is. Like.. :/
HAHAHA I laughed out loud reading that! SERIOUSLY. Who’s like “the world is ending?! let me grab my makeup and hairspray!”
My hair got so annoying to deal with, I chopped it off xD That long hair in my wedding picture (instagram profile pic) is NOT my length anymore. I don’t have time for that. It used to take me 2 hours to blow dry & straighten my hair. Now it takes 45 minutes for BOTH. 20 minutes just to straighten. SCORE. Ok, enough about my hair lol.
Also, I never noticed that about Divergent. Now I must watch again!
Ahahah RIGHT! Like seriously tho. I get that hollywood needs to have everyone looking good, but that’s always the first thing I notice. Another big one for me is The Walking Dead. I don’t know if you watch that, but like, it’s been years since the zombie apocalypse started, and all these people still have gloriously WHITE TEETH. Excuse me. How are you maintaining spot on personal hygiene whilst running from zombies on a daily basis?
Oh girl, I totally feel that. Two Christmases … Christmas’s? … Whatever. Two of those ago, I chopped 13 inches off my hair. It was past my butt and I took it to my shoulders, and then just before Christmas last year (like 2 months ago) I chopped 8 inches off again. My hair is so thick and WILL NOT BLOW DRY. I feel your pain.
YES! Re-watch it sometime and let me know what you think. Their makeup isn’t over the top like Ringers, but it’s there.
RIGHT?! Or, I hate to say it, but overweight people. Like in Lost! There’s barely any food, you have to walk/run a lot, build your own shit, how are you STILL the same weight as before!? Obviously, they can’t make the actor lose a ton of weight, so that won’t ever change. But it’s definitely something I notice lol
HAHA, mine too. I’m 50% Greek, so I have some thick hair! lol
Okay, I’ll have to rewatch it sometime. That’s actually a series I didn’t bother buying the movies for lol
EXACTLY! Like, you spent how many years on an island with minimal food (99% of which is fruit and healthy)…so let’s do the math, lol. I agree they can’t really force an actor to lose weight, nor should they, but at least make things realistic. (But now we might just be nit picking, I’m not sure, lol)|
Haha, no kidding! #thickhairproblems
Bahahaha I bought the first one cause I liked it, aaand now I wish I wouldn’t have bothered.
This is so interesting! I’ve heard so many negative reviews that it’s kind of refreshing to hear from someone who actually enjoyed the movie! I haven’t read the book and I’ve been holding off on the movie. I’m still not sure I want to spend money on it though… I always think it’s hilarious when characters in a movie have perfect hair/makeup during a crisis situation! Haha!
Tracy @ Cornerfolds
I saw more negative reviews than positive. Most of the negative reviews I saw were from people who have read the book. I can see why they’d complain but sometimes I think people need to let-up on the continuity of a book-to-movie adaptation and enjoy it on its own. It was an entertaining, fast-paced movie. Yeah, they left out some of the more in-depth scenes with secondary characters, but like I said, the book is 500 pages! That’s a lot to fit into 2 hours, especially when there is so much to explain about aliens. They can’t sit there all day explaining everyone’s back story lol
Also, yes! Her hair was perfectly curled AND clean… oh and her teeth were sparkly white… the entire movie! C’mon, man, throw some dirt into that hair! Even when she had it up in a pony tail and was running, it was perfectly poofed and pushed to the side in the front lol xD
Love the title- perfect curls. LOL. It sounds like this movie did what it needed to do to tell the larger story, and visually it sounds good too. I think I want to see this one, it looks like one that benefits from seeing on the big screen. I haven’t read the books and I did see the negative reviews, but I don’t know- it looks fun. 🙂
I thought it was fitting as a title! haha I think those of us who are readers of any book that is then made into a movie are too critical. Of course, it won’t be as amazing as the book. I always try to look at it as a standalone AS MUCH as I can. Obviously, certain things will bother me, but I try not to compare it too much. But since you haven’t read the book, I think you’ll probably enjoy it. Just get prepared for some really awkward teenage romance. My husband and I would both roll our eyes or laugh. lol