Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Let's Break Some Dawn And Catch Some Fire! (As Well As Other Books Into Movies News)

Greetings fellow book lovers! And fellow movie lovers! And fellow book-into-movie lovers!
i've got a few links concerning some of your fave books-into-movies projects that are fast approaching so let's get this thing started!

i'll start with all the Breaking Dawn hoopla that has been going down recently because of the sudden appearance of... wait of iiiiiiiiiit..... Renesmee! You know, that fictional vampire/human child that isn't AT ALL real?!?!? Well, to be so fictitious homegirl is suddenly all anyone can talk about. In fact, in case you didn't already know, this week she shares the cover of Entertainment Weekly with her parents and that baby-lover Jacob.


And if that wasn't enough, there's also this teeny tiny teaser trailer that just popped up for Twihards to lose their shizz all over!



GAH, i HATE those motherfucking eyes!!! Is anyone else kinda already sick of the whole Twilight thing? Is it just me? Are you kinda on pins and needles just for this thing to end already? i was so excited for the first Twilight movie to come out but then somewhere along the way i've really just completely lost interest. i blame most of this on Kristen Stewart's face. i mean, you're an actor. Your job is to fucking EMOTE! This is our fifth and final go round with you as Bella Swan so could you please pick another emotion other than your go-to. And by that i mean suicidal. i don't know if you realize this Kristen but for most of this franchise you look like you're always mere minutes away from sticking your head in an oven. i mean, Bella is now a vampire and if i felt like Kristen Stewart ALWAYS looks, i don't think i'd want to live forever. Even if it was with Cedric Diggory. i'm just saying, Kristen Stewart's face is kind of a cautionary tale for those that think immortality is the bees knees.
Anyhoozle, let's move on, shall we?

There's maybe, possibly, perhaps, finally some casting news for Catching Fire. Word around the internet is that Phillip Seymour Hoffman has been tapped to play Plutarch Heavensbee, the new head gamemaker taking over for Seneca Crane.

Check out this first look of The Host, the movie based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer which will be coming to a theater near you March 29th, 2013. i already knew it starred Saoirse Ronan who will be playing Melanie. But i didn't know that the role of Ian O'Shea would be played by Jake Abel. Who is kind of an old pro when it comes to books-into-movies. (He played in  Percy Jackson, I Am Number Four, and The Lovely Bones.) Oh and you might also remember him as the third (and least important) Winchester brother from Supernatural!

Libba Bray has a new book coming out this September called The Diviners and Paramount has already scooped up the movie rights. The description of the book sounds really interesting (New York! Pickpockets! The Occult!) so it could very well make a great movie too. Plus it helps that Libba Bray herself will be adapting the screenplay. 

That's all the books-into-movies news i've got for you this time. So what do you guys think? Any movie that you're looking forward to? Any casting picks of your own for Catching Fire? Wanna rant a little about Kristen Stewart and her constantly constipated face ya damn self? Feel free to dish it all up in the comments section below. 
(Oh and be sure to tell me what you think of that 13 second teaser trailer too.)

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Evil Eva Reviews... Epic Fail

EvilEva reviews ...... Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik. 

Dissecting The Cover:

This cover is (unfortunately) so very YA. Headless half teens! It's an epidemic, really. Also, after reading this book, I'm at a complete loss for what the title or the picture has to do with the actual story. It seriously makes no sense.

Let's Review:

It's the beginning of junior year for Elise Benton. But instead of spending it in Amherst, Massachusetts like usual, she and her 3 sisters are uprooted and plopped down in Los Angeles.
Elise, her older sister Juliana and their 14 year old sister Layla will attend the exclusive Coral Tree Prep, a private school where their father now teaches math and their mother is the new principal. Not a very friend-winning situation.
But when Juliana manages to catch the eye of the charming, popular and rich Chase Baldwin, Elise is introduced to Chase's best friend, Derek Edwards.
Derek is the son of Hollywood royalty and thus ALL the girls in school are hopelessly crushing on him. But Elise is less than impressed with his high-and-mighty act. In fact, she finds Derek's enemy, Webster Grant, to be much more swoonworthy.
But Elise is new in town and doesn't have all the facts. And at Coral Tree Prep, things are far from what they seem.

Here's What I Think:

I was all set to like this book. For one thing, it's written by Claire LaZebnik, an author whose chick-lit I totally dig. And two, it's a retelling of Pride and Prejudice which is one of my all-time fave books.
But I just couldn't connect with this story. The characters seemed a little too sweetie-sweet and too gee-golly-willikers for my taste, especially since this book was supposed to be a modern take on an old classic. That was my problem with the dialogue too.  The way the characters spoke to one another didn't seem authentically teenager-y to me.
There wasn't much (or any, really) cussing which I think is bullshit. I mean, what teenager doesn't cuss? At least once in awhile? Especially when the people you're dealing with act like snooty a-holes?
I'm sure some people will find this wholesome and refreshing and a nice change for YA writing, but I'd rather have character authenticity than an adorable lil' world that so doesn't exist. I mean, it's what I imagine living in a Taylor Swift song would be like. It was just a little too wholesome for me.
Another problem I had was that there were a few scenes that seemed thrown in. They didn't really help to move the story along. It seemed like filler to push the main characters together in order to make the reader root for these two crazy kids. Those parts felt a little awkward. Like, and now we're on a class trip, at the beach, at night, looking at the stars, for no apparent reason. This was made even more infuriating when, even with all that ambiance, there were no swoony times to be had. Very disappointing. 
I guess I was just hoping for a little more of that Jane Austen drama. 
Ok, now I feel slightly shitty for basically ripping this book so let's try to end this review on a high note. 
Yes, I had a few issues with Epic Fail but it wasn't all bad. There were some cute parts and some funny moments here and there. I definitely think there are peeps out there that will appreciate the P & P vibe. And I did like the certain little wink-wink-nod-nods to Austen fans, like with the characters names. But, unfortunately, it just wasn't enough for me to really completely fall for this book.

Swoony Times:

There are a few cute moments between Elise and Derek like with the sprinkler and the ping pong. But I never quite felt that Mr. Darcy swoon for Derek. He was a little too stiff and serious for my taste. I mean, you don't have to go all Logan-Echolls-hosting-a-bum-fight but at least loosen up a little.  

Bonus Shizz:

Pride and Prejudice Retell!

Epic Fail is a modern retell of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with Elise playing the role of Elizabeth Bennet to Derek's Mr. Darcy.
So of course the story is about Elise making snap judgments over Derek's snotty behavior and Derek assuming Elise is like the rest of her family, silly or indifferent or fame-obsessed. In other words, they're too proud and too prejudiced to really get to know each other in the beginning. Then of course they finally see the error of their ways and things get a'swoony.
Another fun bonus for fellow Austenophiles? The name game! Elise Benton= Elizabeth Bennet. Derek= Darcy. Webster= Wickham. Chase Baldwin= Charles Bingley. Jane= Juliana. Layla= Lydia. Kaitlyn= Kitty. And I guess fuck Mary because there were only 4 Benton sisters and nary a one with an M name. I always did feel bad for poor Mary. :(

If You Liked That, Try This:

Read the OG instead: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Or a far better retelling: Austenland by Shannon Hale.

The Scale Of Judgment Says:

...... 2 and a half.
Not an epic fail but not an epic success either.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Evil Eva Welcomes Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Watson And Nina Dobrev To The Trailer Park!

Hey y'all and welcome to another installment of EvilEva's Trailer Park! i've got scads of new Books Into Movies and TV news to dish with ya so let's get this thang started!

There has been some very buzzy buzz about this movie. As a book nerd, i'm only slightly ashamed to admit that i've never read The Great Gatsby. i know. It's all so very shocking. Please don't revoke my membership to The Book Nerds Association Of America (which should really be a thing.) Anyway, if you're done judging me, let me give you some of the deets. The movie is directed by Baz Luhrmann, whom you'll probably recall directed Moulin Rouge (which i hated) and Romeo and Juliet (which i LOVED) and who also really wants you to wear sunscreen. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Toby Maguire. You can catch it in theaters Christmas day. And in 3D to boot! Although, based on the trailer, i don't know what there is to marvel at 3 dimensionally. Except for maybe Leonardo DiCaprio sweating profusely. But it's nice to know you have the option, i guess. ;) 



Another super buzzy movie that has a lot of peeps talking is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Unlike The Great Gatsby, i actually read this one once upon a time. Although i will admit that it's been a while and i don't quite remember the plot of the book. i do remember not really liking it though. Maybe i'll have to give it a reread before seeing the movie which comes out September 14th. The movie is written and directed by Stephen Chbosky who also wrote the book. It stars Logan Lerman and Paul Rudd. And it also stars Hermione Granger and Elena Gilbert! Or as they're actually known: Emma Watson and Nina Dobrev! Check out the trailer and tell me what you think:


Sorry this video is so massive compared to the others. It was the only one i could find that i could actually embed. Anyhoo, i already love Patrick! What did you think of the trailer? It looks pretty good to me. i might seriously have to give the book a second chance. ;)

And now for a little linky-dinkage:
*Pics from the set of the Beautiful Creatures movie.
*Hailee Steinfeld a contender for the role of Min Green in the screen adaptation of Daniel Handler's Why We Broke Up.
*Casting choices for Catching Fire hottie Finnick Odair reportedly down to Taylor Kitsch, Armie Hammer and Garrett Hedlund. Ok, y'all have got to dish with me about this one because i'm dying to know who you guys think should totes nab this role. So comment away, y'all!

Get ready, bitches. It's starting again.   -A
Ha! Just kidding. It's just me. But it is that time again where we celebrate the return of our fave guilty pleasure. i'm talking about Pretty Little Liars, of course! Season 3 is going down this Tuesday (the 5th) at 8pm. Here's a little sneak peek:



And now for some TV news that i find exciting but that didn't start out in book form. 
First, i'm gonna go ahead and sell myself out here and admit that i'm kinda looking forward to that new ABCFamily show, Bunheads. One thing the show already has going for it is it's about ballet which i find endlessly fascinating. Another thing? It's executive produced by Amy Sherman Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls which i loved until that whole Logan Huntzberger bullshizz happened. And thirdly, it stars Kelly Bishop aka Emily Gilmore in a role that sounds somewhat like a Miss Patty. And playing her son is none other than Alan Ruck aka Cameron Freakin' Frye of Ferris Bueller's Day Off fame! The show premieres on ABCFamily Monday June 11th at 9pm. Here's a little preview:



And lastly but certainly not leastly, Awkward is FINALLY back, y'all!!! That's right, all the fun, hilarity, made up words and well, awkwardness of teenage life is back for a second season starting Thursday June 28th at 10:30pm on MTV! Who will Jenna pick? i can't wait to find out! Here's a very short promo to enjoy:



This series was so amazingly great last year. It was so witty and fresh and hilarious. If you didn't check it out then you simply MUST check it out now. It's for reals a great show. You should totally be watching it. And, in advance, like Sadie would say, you're welcome.

That's all the news i've got for you. Now tell me what you guys think. Are you more excited for a Gatsby or a Wallflower? Who do you want to be your Finnick? With A in the loony bin, what dramz do you think the little liars will get in to this season? Are you Team Matty or Team Jake? Dish it all out in the comments section and let me know what you're thinking.