Movie Review If I Stay (2014)

Length: 1 hr & 46 mins
Released: 2014
Genre: Drama & Romance
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Walmart)

SUMMARY:
Mia Hall thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam. But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate.



TRAILER: 

REVIEW:

Yes, yes. I actually bought this movie, because it was not on Hulu or Netflix. It was pretty cheap at Walmart, so I went and got it and watched it before book club (I could not wait). I must applaud the movie makers...they made it follow the book pretty well. Yes, there were some liberties taken, but for 90% of the film they stuck to the book. This would be a hard movie to mess up honestly. 

The actors were good. I wasn't a huge fan of the guy they picked for Adam, but perhaps I am biased, because I do not like him. I did not like him in here earlier. Especially during a fight (which didn't really happen in the book) went down. WHAT AN ASS! I wanted to punch him! Okay, okay. I kinda get his side of the argument, but he was kinda an ass about.

ANYWAYS

I fell in love with her family even more. The grandpa was perfect and I cried like a little baby during his speech. THE FEELS AGAIN! The speech and the actor was great. Favorite scene and it got me each time I watched it. The parents were perfect. It was kinda creepy the dad looked like a blond version of my Literature teacher that I adored! Creepy, but in a good way.  

I did love the blend of classical and rock music. It was beautifully done. However, I was very bummed that they did not include the song from the trailer. I feel like it was made for the film, but alas, not there. 

My other complaint is that film seemed to focus a lot of her relationship with Adam more then the book. The book was balanced between Adam, her friend, and her family. It was nice, but the movie flopped on this. Every moment she had with her family or friend was centered around Adam in some way, shape, or form. I feel like the relationships she had with her family or with her friend seemed diminished. 

Overall, this was a pretty good adaptation. The book was WAY better, but this held up okay. There were a couple of things that bummed me out. The one scene that meant a lot to me was done wonderfully! The actors did good and the writer did good too. I am happy that this is sitting on my shelf. I highly recommend reading the book before tackling this movie. In the end, I shall stamp this movie with 4 stars. 

Re-watch?: Watched it twice already....I am itching to watch/read it again.

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Author: Gayle Forman
Title: If I Stay (If I Stay #1)
Genre: Fiction, YA, & fantasy
Pages: ebook
First Published: 2009
Where I Got It: Borrowed from friend

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

THE FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELS! Ugh! Meh! 

Yes, this book made me feel....A LOT. I really felt bad for boyfriend, because he was just trying to play his video game and I kept spewing out emotions. Crying, anger, confusion, anguish, "awwwe" moments. and so forth. Once I was finished - yes, I finished in one sitting - I had to explain to him what was happening and why I felt the way I did. It was simply written, but man did it pack a punch.

I really connected with the story, because I had a stay in the hospital where no one could tell if I was going to make it, so yes, I kept putting myself in her shoes and I kept visualizing her friends and family as my friends and family. Gah, so the feels hurt even more when I was doing that. 

Especially with the grandpa's speech. He reminded me so much of my Grandpa Carol it hurt; we had a similar relationship, so it hurt even more. His speech made me sob like a baby, while I only had a tear for Adam's speech at the end. It was young love after all and I have my doubts about this couple. I think they could go the distance, if she stays, but they have a lot issues to work out. 

Speaking of which, I love the ending. The whole book you think Mia has the final decision. NOPE. She really doesn't and I am glad she didn't get to make the decision, because she was going to choose wrong and I was going to slap her. >__> However, the author made me happy. Ultimately, you do not get the choice to live or die; that is made FOR you. It was perfect and I loved it. Plus it was left open-ended in a way and that oddly pleased me. Normally these type of endings bug me, but I applaud of it was done and I felt it was appropriate for this story. 

I was not a fan of Adam. Nope. Can't tell you why, but nope.

I loved her family though! Why did they have to die? They were kickass parents and UGH!!!! I do love how they got to have their spotlight and it wasn't all about the love between Mia and Adam. Thank goodness. They were awesome characters. Sad they had to go though. :/

In the end, I really adored this book. It has been the first book in a looooooooooooooooooooooooong time to actually make me physically cry and feel such emotions and I finished it in one sitting. Good book. I am excited to see the movie even though I worry they are mainly going to focus on Adam and Mia, which will bum me out. This had a nice balance of flashbacks and current moments. They better have the grandpa's speech in that movie darnit! I highly recommend this for those that want a quick read that will tear your heart out, but make you think. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 5 stars.