Cosmic Love

Ten minutes into the film and I knew there was something different about this particular adaptation, something uniquely special about The Fault In Our Stars. Even now, a week later, I can still feel the euphoric aftereffects of glorious wonderment running through my system. I certainly never thought it would be overly disappointing, but I also never thought it would be so good, that it would honor John Green’s novel so well.

The attention to detail was utterly astounding. From the V for Vendetta poster on Gus’ bedroom wall to Mama Lancaster’s love for random holidays. The film pays homage to the original narrative by discreetly adding these flawless details as partially hidden gems which, inevitably, couldn’t make a more substantial appearance in the overall story. A story that elegantly combines humor with unyielding pain, that greatly imports much (if not all) of its dialogue from the much-loved hardcover source.

Shailene Woodley played Hazel Grace with wit and poise, always incorporating a sweet, nervous blush in the presence of Augustus Waters. Although, who could blame her? Ansel Elgort portrayed Mr. Waters with ease and perfection, which is just so Gus.

Friends of the book would have likely recognized a few of their favorite Hazel-Gus conversations creatively changed and shortened. The collective disappointment after seeing the Swing Set scene compressed was palpable. However, the biggest, most notable change happened during the concluding scenes of the film, which abridged Hazel’s search for Gus’ letter to Peter Van Houten. While it didn’t take anything away from the story or from the audience, the finale felt too simple and streamlined, when it should have given a final push to the plot.

In truth, the differences between the book and the film are fairly minimal. Of course, some scenes could have been longer and I know everyone wanted to see more of Issac. Yet, I don’t think it changed the outcome. The film needed to execute the same warmth, heart, and intimacy we all felt while reading the novel, and I believe it did that. Honestly, I think The Fault In Our Stars is the best adaptation of our beloved novel we could have hoped to receive. It was everything we were promised and more. This film was made for the fans.

Movie Rating: A-

Have you seen The Fault In Our Stars? What did you think of the film? Did it exceed your expectations? Which scene was your favorite? Did you cry? Do you believe the film did the novel justice? What did you think of Shailene & Ansel as Hazel & Gus? Tell me in the comments!

For more Kim the FanGirl follow the blog on Twitter @kimthefangirl and on Facebook