Friday, January 07, 2011

What to Watch Weekend: Movies Based on YA Books

Recently I've watched at least three movies based on YA books that I've really enjoyed.  I mean, I really enjoyed the movies, not necessarily the books.  The first, which I guess wasn't recent at all, and I did, of course, read the book, was Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging.  I thought I would have blogged about it, but I searched my blog and didn't come up with anything after I watched it (only whining about how it wasn't released in the U.S. beforehand).  Needless to say, it was brilliant and a wonderful companion to the books.  More recently ON DEMAND (it's always in caps on my TV), I watched Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant.  I have also read several books from that series, although a long enough time ago that I don't remember a ton about them.  This movie was a quirky surprise, once I got past the lead actor's hair (okay, I guess I didn't get past it).  I am guessing they won't make a sequel because I don't think it did very well.  Did it?  I feel like I never hear about how these movies based on YA books do in theaters, and then they just fizzle away.  Like the movie based on the Alex Rider books.  Those books are phenomenal, and yet that movie was barely a blink in the theaters.  I haven't seen it.  Have you?  The most recent YA movie I watched was Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.  I have not read this series, mostly because it was instantly popular so I didn't need to read it to sell it to my students.  But it always sounded like something I'd love, considering how many times in my life I went thought a Greek/Roman myths phase.  (In case you were wondering, Artemis/Diana is my favorite of the gods.  I don't have to capitalize that, do I?)  I completely enjoyed this movie.  Did other people?  It felt like this one bombed in the theaters, too.  The movie was fun to watch, had decent acting, and pretty good special effects.  I'd totally watch the sequels to this, too.  And guess what?  I found the perfect actor to play Henry if Into the Wild Nerd Yonder really does become a television show: Logan Lerman!  He was Percy Jackson, and I think he plays awkward, yet extremely appealing, very well.  And I liked the way he reacted to things in a natural, befuddled way.  Plus, he's so damn cute!  Perfect blue eyes for Henry.  And he's not even super old, so he could play high school for a while longer.

I am so tempted to email the producer who bough the option for NERD to share my casting idea.  I'm sure she'd love that.  I'm sure she's waiting to hear from the little author who can't stop thinking about WHAT IF??? NERD does get turned into a TV show.  Dang.  Besides eating candy, this is probably the hardest thing to have the willpower not to do.  But how long can one author wait?  It already seems an eternity.  You know what would make me feel better about it right about now?  Some candy.

9 comments:

Rachael Stein said...

I saw the Alex Rider movie and it wasn't nearly as good as the books. I think it's because Alex Pettyfer plays Alex Rider, and frankly, I don't think highly of his "acting" skills.

Julie H said...

But he sure SOUNDS fancy, doesn't he?

Unknown said...

When I first saw Logtan Lerman, my first thought was that he reminds me of Jim Sturgess.

Julie H said...

Interesting, Nolan. I can see that. I think Logan has a sweeter quality to his face, though.

Natalie Sams said...

Logan Lerman is adorable. I've loved him ever since he was in the movie Hoot, which was also based on a book (:

Julie H said...

Natalie, maybe he only acts in things based on books! Which would make him perfect for the NERD TV show!!!

Megan said...

Wait, you can get the Angus, Thongs... movie here? I didn't know it ever came out here!

pine said...

Julie, I want to hear about the television option. I didn't know about this development. What does it mean when a producer buys the option? How long does development take from there? Congratulations on this first step!

Rummanah Aasi said...

I like Logan and think he'd make a good Henry, but the Percy Jackson movie was a total let down. :( They completely changed the entire story arc of the series and the actors are much older than the characters. I do hope you pick the series up though, Julie. It is awesome!