The Host (Movie)
“Kiss me like you want to get slapped.”
– Wanda/Wanderer (in Melanie’s body)
Ah, I’ve been longing for a good post of a single review for a long time. I’m sure my blog even was longing for it too.
Recently, I have watched a lot of movies and I didn’t have a hard time in picking from which movie will I start. Somehow I wasn’t wanting to watch this and at the same time I want to. I guess it was out of curiosity that I was quite waiting for this movie to come out. Although, I am slightly taken aback for the fact that this was based on the novel written by the same author who wrote the overly luscious (to me, way before) and the famous vampire saga of all teenage time.
Just when my mum and I had time in our hands, my dad and bro in our capital city, and my mum longing for that bond we should always have, we decided to watch his movie which apparently, I have chosen it for us (instead of It Takes a Man and a Woman). Then with the large popcorn of cheese in between our seats and the big screen in front of us, we were ready to zone out to the movie.
IF you don’t want to be spoiled and just want to know how good the movie is then please skip this part. **SPOILER ALERT**
Summary:
Earth has been inhabited by an intelligent alien species known as “Souls.” Although an incredibly peaceful race, Souls can only survive by being inserted into a host body, taking control of their minds. In an effort to discover the secret whereabouts of some of the last remaining human resistances, the Soul Wanderer has been inserted into the human being Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan), who was captured while attempting to locate her family. After insertion, Wanderer comes to realize an unsettling fact- Melanie has not faded away in consciousness, and in fact is putting up walls in her mind to prevent her family from being found. As time passes and Wanderer tries to break Melanie’s walls, she begins to feel sympathetic toward the humans Melanie loves so dearly- her brother Jamie (Chandler Canterbury) and her partner, Jared Howe (Max Irons). Wanderer becomes torn between loyalty to her own race, trying to give information to the argumentative Seeker assigned to her, and her blossoming love for the humans in her memories. As Wanderer’s and Melanies trust builds, they embark on a journey through the desert to find the resistance, nearly dying in the process. Wanderer awakens to find herself captive in the den of the enemy, and realizes her problems have just begun: the humans want her dead, the doctor wants to experiment on her, she may have accidentally lead the Seekers here, and she has become hopelessly in love with Jared, the man who belongs to the human she occupies. What follows is an inspiring story of friendship, love, and loyalty in which the bonds of human brotherhood are tested, and an alien discovers that in all the planets in the universe she has experienced, humans are the only race she would give her life to save. . . .
**
First off, I want to make myself clear. It’s sad to say though that I haven’t read the novel that Stephenie surprisingly written. Know for a fact that I was planning to but as time passed by, management of money was difficult and so was saving money. Apparently, with that, I couldn’t tell if the Director, Andrew Niccol, has ever brought justice to the book. I know. I know. I can hear some of you lot saying that it’s really better to read the book before you watch its movie. Honestly, to all you bookworms, I have abided to that rule ever since (except for Harry Potter though. Haha). This just kinda broke the record.
Anyhow, I thought of the movie quite alluring. It had that side sci fi to it. But anyway, it is alluring in a way that I wouldn’t doze off like how “some” people I know would (which is quite unsual for me to happen in a movie house). Again, I don’t know if the movie too brought justice to the book in terms of their actors and their acting.
I must say that Saoirse Ronan (acted as Melanie Stryder) really looks good in acting her role..though, I’m not exactly sure when it comes to just being a voice in the head. I don’t know why..maybe it’s just me, but don’t get pulled out because of that. For most, she at least brought us to laughter by how her voice tells her reaction to situations like when Wanda/Wanderer would kiss Ian (Jake Abel), Melanie’s voice was that of anger and it was funny to watch and listen. There are more of those and it came out nicely. It gives a side comedy to the film.
For the rest of the cast, I found out that there are some faces who are new in the industry and yet would bloom because of this film as supposed so. Well, we’ll never know that a pedestrian in the film would be a huge star the next. Of course, there’s always newbies per film production. If I’m wrong..then what I mean to say is most of the time there are newbies. Haha. Or sometimes…or..urgh!
The transitions of the scenes are great and understandable unlike a few films where there’s a jump and gaps unfilled and only left to stare at them on how the heck it would be like connected and in its glorious form. In English, at least, the movie is unlike those that jump from one scene to another without seeing any motivation or such drive to the next scene you’re seeing (you would have that “huh?” face).
There are scenes that brought some drops rolling down my cheeks because it touches the subject of “letting go”, sacrifice which is caused by love. Wanda, a foreign life form in the human race, had that connection with the humans where in the end, she would even sacrifice herself. Ugh. Such an ache in the heart and I just can’t! *cries quietly* This is what happens when you’re attached or you relate to the characters (but that ain’t a bad thing).
Ok. *sniff* Let’s talk about the texture of the movie. What I mean by texture is well…I always see that each movie has some kind of different feel or look and that’s what they call or I may call as the texture of the movie. I just like to point that out because even if it sounds insignificant, it actually affects how we see the movie, how real would it look like for us or how much it affects our imagination. You know, it’s a boost up point in those horror or gore movies that makes us flinch.
One example, for a thriller/gore genre, is Final Destination. In all of the FD movies (and most gore movies), their similar texture is that of sharpness. Clear. The sharpness and clarity emphasizes the goriness of the film. Our inward or outward flinching would always be active. It wouldn’t make us flinch though if we put the texture that Twilight uses, a hazy, misty look. No, nope, not a flinch when we watch Bella bleed after being bitten by a vamp (although, the texture became different in the next sequels because they were made by a different production team). Not a good texture for a Final Destination film. Just pragmatically speaking.
Anyway, after such a short lecture, let’s go back! The texture of The Host was sharp yet soft, clean and–I don’t know what correct term to use–bright. Bright in a way it makes the technology look more sci–fi–ish. Haha. It’s kinda similar to Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief…I think. I’m just rather commenting on how I see it and maybe bright may not be the right term. If you get to see the film, comment me of what may be the supposed correct term of what I meant..and even suggestions of the texture.
The costumes were nothing much I should meddle about. They were able to bring out the difference between alien overshadowed humans and normal humans. Apparently, the different kinds of sets were great and there was no confusion of where they are and how it affects the transition. Although, there are some where I feel that it was held in a closed space. Like where they were outside and it feels or looks like it’s in a big room filled with trees and a bunch of grass. I can point out one scene where the Seeker and Wanda were alone outside talking to each other (this is before Wanda & Melanie ran away). It just looks like a room. Well, other than that, in addition, the texture of the film was able to emphasize the futuristic tech of the aliens in the set.
Last but not least, music has brought justice to the film. The background music wasn’t much of a bother. It has supported the film well enough. The only thing bothering me was for them to use Radioactive – Imagine Dragons as one of their music. Although, I’m starting to accept it as an okay.
For not reading the book and just heck watched the movie out of curiosity, I found it one of the best sci-fi romantic films I have ever seen, not that I haven’t watched any movie even related to that genre (and lo’ and behold, I can’t recall a film).
I would surely recommend you guys to watch this *winks* It’s worth it.
Much love,
Megan x
Meloxemy
Melo{x}emy 