Source: Saw in theaters
Summary from IMDB:
Hazel and Gus are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous given that Hazel’s other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
Review
Oh, The Fault in Our Stars. You wrecked me as much as I had hoped you would.
I was pretty pleased overall with the adaption. It hit all the highlights of the book for me. Hazel’s uncertainty and fear of hurting her loved ones came across beautifully. You see her struggle with wanting to do as little damage as possible while still wanting to get the most out of life. Gus’ charm and wittiness was a smidge lacking though. That’s not to say that Ansel did a bad job because he didn’t. Book Gus was incredibly charming. Almost sickeningly so. I remember having a goofy grin on my face when he would appear. He also did those speeches that were moving. I think Ansel did a great job of mellowing Gus out. My biggest complaint about the book was I never imagined Gus as a real person because of how he acted. Ansel managed to take that big personality and turn him into someone real (for me).
I wish we saw more of the grittiness of the medical side of cancer and the physical side of it. We absolutely saw how cancer messed with everyone emotionally. I wanted to see more of the ‘really’ bad stuff. I actually particularly liked the scene where Gus calls Hazel at the gas station in the middle of the night. That scene was definitely rough to watch. Gus was a snotty, slimy, vomity mess but that’s real. That’s what being sick does to you. It would have been nice to see more because it really drives home the point of how cruel this disease is.
Even though I knew what the story was and knew how things would play out, I still got caught up in everything. I cried as much as I did in the book. You really felt everything. Shailene and Ansel really turned up the chemistry. I was more than a little weirded out because they played brother and sister in Divergent. Thankfully, the sibling vibe was no where to be seen. Their chemistry really felt natural.
The bottom line? Great adaption. Recommended for reader of the book and non-readers alike.
The Cheap Reader 
I haven’t seen movie yet, but I loved Hazel’s voice in the trailer. This is exactly the same one I have heard while reading the book.
Unfortunately germans choosed a….. ahm…. healthy one.. you know not what you expect to hear when the person is suffering under lungs cancer and cares an oxygen everywhere with… o.O I wonder what were they thinking about???
Ha. I can see how that might ruin the illusion.
Seeing it during the week, many tears will be cried I’m sure! Great review 🙂
Bring many, many tissues!
This was a heartbreakingly beautiful movie. It was the funniest movie I have ever seen about cancer, but for how many times I laughed in this book there also is the harsh reality of cancer. It was a great movie. I loved it so much.
It was nice to have that mix of humor in there. It really saved it from being a terribly depressing movie.
Agreed! I saw it this past weekend, and thought it was really well done. I was in tears, of course, but I also laughed a lot. I’m glad they included so much of the humor that made the book so wonderfully delightful to read, as well as the cancer that made it so brutal. I agree that the medical side of cancer could have been shown more, but I was still happy with the adaptation.
I think the general consensus is they did a pretty good job adapting the book! 🙂
I managed not to cry while reading the book, but I think I’ll skip seeing this in theatres. I know how movies toy with your feelings by having all that MUSIC and whatnot. It sounds really good (though of course with some flaws), and I’m going to catch it on Netflix or whatever.
The music absolutely makes you want to cry. It’s not a bad idea to see it at home.
Wonderful review and I totally agree – I thought I wouldn’t like Ansel as Gus at first because based off the trailers he didn’t fit my mental image of Gus from the book. But when he first appeared in the movie and flashed that cocky grin (and then stumbled into the door) I couldn’t wipe my own grin off my face!
He really nailed that grin, huh? I’m really glad he worked out so well.
I saw it yesterday and loved it. I agree that Gus’s wittiness and charm didn’t come across with quite the same force as in the book, but i still loved him as a character and got caught up in his and Hazel’s story. I too endied up in tears just like i had when reading the book, Though the moments were slightly ruined by the two chatty old ladies next to me saying how ridiculous the story was and they didn’t understand why everyone around them was crying. It was all I could do not to say something.
I also really enjoyed the soundtrack as well, especially the song that plays as the credits are rolling.
I’m thinking i might go see it a second time in a few weeks.
I can’t believe they were so rude. Obviously the movie wasn’t written for them. They should just let others enjoy it in peace. Glad you enjoyed it except for that.