I feel like their eyes glowed so the audience who didn't read the book would remember who was which color. The only 2 things I didn't like were that Liam didn't have a southern accent and "Let's carpe the hell out of this diem" was NOWHERE TO BE FOUND
Alexandra Bracken literally signed my book with “let’s carpe the bell out of this diem” so clearly it’s one of her favorites too! I was so disappointed that it didn’t show up.
Nikki Poulos yes! The fact that he didn't have a southern accent and that quote was really disappointing. I also wished he said darlin, that's a big thing in the book. And then the line that names the book "the darkest minds hide behind the most unlikely faces" chubs. That quote literally states the name of the book!
1: The pacing was kinda odd at the beginning of the movie. 2: Even though I agree the personalities of the characters were on point, i feel they didn't go to much in depth with them, like they didn't get into why Zu doesn't talk and the lack of bonding between the main characters. 3: They didn't explain much about the camps and the situation of the country. 4: Liam didn't say "darlin" once during the whole movie >:( PS: I think the guy who play Clancy did good job because every word that came out of his mouth made me want to punch him in the nose.
ozzomega I agree with all of this! I was waiting for Liam to at least say darlin at the end, but I guess it wouldn’t have the same effect without his accent. I also wanted more Zu! She was perfect for this role, but I feel like they could have done more with her
THE VOIMITING FIRE SET ME OFF SO MUCH LMAOO i totally agree with EVERYTHING YOUVE SAID omg we always agree on adaptations lmao literally everything you said is SPOT ON
I haven't watch the movie but when I saw the trailer I was so disappointed !!!!!(Have read the books at at least three times) It looked like any teen romance movie with a twist of dystopian :( I expected the movie to gone much darker. It's Literally about a government that puts kids in concentration camps!!!!
Chubs made the whole movie for me tbh. The book had so much humor and fun banter and had me at the end of my seat but the movie was meh. Also I didn’t like how ruby could just automatically use her powers without the training and fear she had in the book. The book was super well written and I love it so much but I feel like they, as you said, “teenified” the movie. Also I know this isn’t a crucial detail but I really missed Liam’s blond hair and southern accent! I miss him saying “darlin” to ruby😭
ok it REALLY bothered me how the group didnt make a big deal of Ruby being imprisoned in the camp for six years/ being at Thurmond !!! Like when she mentioned it ??? Idk !!! Is it just me ??
I think directors need to realize that teens are actually pretty smart and we can tell if acting, storytelling, progression, relationships etc are actually done well in movies. I think they make teen movies but act like we are 12.
Honestly the things I HATED the most were... sorry there’s a lot so I got a list 😂 -Where was SAM SHE WAS JUST FORGOTTEN -chubs ain’t no GREEN -Ummmmm where was Martin ya he was sooo annoying but he matters too -Why didn’t Liam have a southern accent THATS WAS WHAT I WANTED THE MOST AND IT WAS SUCH A LITTLE little thing And soooooooooooo many other things like the actors, the chemistry and just the over all feeling but it was good I guess 😂 sorry rant over
Ella757416 yes! I’m so mad they left out Sam, Or more the significance of her character! It wasn’t just ruby erasing her parents minds that made her terrified of using her powers. She’s alone and scared, her parents don’t know who she’s is and is thrown into to this awful camp. Along comes sam though, the sole being who helps ruby get through those years, and then her mind does it again, makes the one person she has a connection with forget her. Hell, of course you’re terrified of using your powers and identifying as who you are when it rips away everyone you love
I so agree with how for some reason they keep 'teenifying' these movies. So many ya adaptations have flopped so hard because they decide to direct and market the movie with a kind of lesser quality (action scenes, dialogue, etc.) and also I notice they make it very geared to just that intended crowd. Have they not learned from the success of The Hunger Games? *Especially* when it is a YA Dystopia with maybe darker themes. Just because you have teenagers leading the story doesn't mean it has to be watered down and only geared towards them. With THG, teens and adults alike I think enjoyed it and they didn't give them the cheesiest dialogue and almost pg-esque action scenes and special effects. Anyway that's my essay of the day lol- agree with just about everything you talked about. OMG THE TWINKIE SCENE. I also thought straight back to TMI and that portal nonsense, oh the cringe bahahaha
OKOKOK I HAVE A THEORY. ABOUT THE EYE GLOWING. WHAT IF their eyes don’t actually glow. What if the eye glowing is just meant to represent to us viewers of the movie that they are using their powers, but they can’t see each other’s eyes glowing because in their world it doesn’t actually happen?
There were so many things in the book that I wanted to see in the movie! Like all the Ruby and Liam moments.. when Liam sings to all those old songs while they were driving, their cute bonding moment while they were siphoning gas, and the way Liam would call Ruby 'darlin'. And I don't think we ever hear him call her 'green' when I thought it would be a significant thing later on. Well, sort of. There are so many other scenes, but I'm not gonna put all of them. And am I the only one who was actually kind of mad that they included the reds in the movie? Reading the books, you kind of just sit there and wonder what the reds do up until the middle of Never Fade. And I liked that, because once reds are introduced in the book, it's sort of like a whole game changer. And Ruby! Ruby with her powers! There was a part when they're at the hotel, and she does something to that couple! Like.. Ruby's not supposed to be able to do that!! Not yet at least! And when she controls those soldiers all at once at the end?? No! She's not supposed to be able to do that either! One thing that we all understood while reading the book was that Ruby hated using her powers, and that she wasn't able to do things without touching someone, let alone a dozen people at once! It just took so much away from her character, and now there's not much room for her character development. There was also this thing about Thurmond. I wish they had delved deeper while she was at the camp, because that place haunts Ruby for a long while. And it just doesn't have that feeling since we barely saw it. Plus, we didn't get to see her relationship with Sam. And yes, I know they couldn't include every little thing since it was movie, but it just would've been nice because Thurmond is such a big deal in the story. I still enjoyed the movie, there are just things you're gonna seriously point out when you're a book lover. I loved the fact that it followed the storyline pretty well. I really hope the movie does well enough to make the rest of the trilogy, 'cuz there are a lot of scenes I want to see actually play out. I'm really sorry, this is all soo long! But if you actually read all of this, kudos to you! Because I wouldn't even read this. There's still more I want to say, but this is already too much. Anyways, just go watch the movie despite all these things, because we need to support Alex and we want to see the other movies be made!
thanks for this comment, I've only read some of the first book and I had watched the movie already. I only realized so many clear differences since I haven't finished the book yet so thanks for being so specific with the differences.
Ok here's my major problem with the movie. Besides cutting things out of the plot what I really hate is how they completely messed up Liam . He is the exact polar opposite of who he is supposed to be . The Liam in the book was so.. well not innocent but open and u could read everything on his face which made him easy to trust . He also smiled a lot more and was way more easy going . I mean what happened to the cute accent and the darlins and how he cared a lot about the safety of everyone but tried to cover it with being optimistic?! Not to mention there literall no chemistry on his part between him and ruby. I don't know why I feel so strongly about this but it just ticked me off. :-(
That is exactly how I felt, he just seemed so much colder in the movies, like, in the books he was always the one telling the rest of them that they would be find, even when he was still at camp
I say this movie with my friends who DIDN'T read the book and it was hilarious watching them at the end, my friends actually cried. I agree with EVERYTHING you said, especially the stupid eye color thing, it doesn't make any sense! It'd totally give someone's powers away! I didn't like how short the camp scenes were, I don't know why the story with Sam was cut out, I always thought it really showed how unsure she was of her powers, and she actually was in it but she just has her shoe polish line but the cabin scene was cut out anD WHY WASN'T SAM IN IT Also how many fucking times were we gonna see the scene with the parents, like holy shit how many times did we need to be reminded that " 0h nO sHe f0RgOt hEr pAreNtS " Also yes the league part was so confusing for me.
Gabrielle Porter I saw it with my friends last night they haven’t read the book either they were crying there eyes out and I was like yeah I cried about this a long time ago.
I watched the movie yesterday and i agree abour the part with Sam, and the shoe scene made no sense to my sister (who watched it with me) because she didnt read the book and didnt know who sam was Also i wish the parents fought about ruby asking about what dying feels like because them fighting makes so much more sense as to why young ruby would go and hug her mom and dad ALSO SHE NEVER HUGGED HER DAD SO HE SHOULD THEORETICALLY STILL REMEMBER HER RIGHT?! And i wish that ruby and Liam had more moments together just talking in the car Last note: i sat thru 30 mins of trailers after the movie should have started so i feel like they could have made the movie longer and better for sure
I just got back from the theater! I was super nervous but I thought it was pretty good. My mom hasn't read the book but now she want's to read th book because she loved the movie. At least it wasn't as bad as Percy Jackson!
I thought the movie was pretty okay, but I cried multiple times in the book, and the closest I got to crying was when we got The Hate You Give trailer. And I haven't even read the book.
The thing with Ruby and her parents: In the book, Ruby told her mom that she had her room and looked at the pictures on the walls. Her mom knew she had a daughter, but all of her memories connected her daughter to a different face. She knew about the room but she was confused when seeing the pictures and seeing that face.
I don’t like the eye thing either. The PLOT of the book was Ruby pretending to be a green How was she supposed to hide that she was an orange if her eyes give her away???
Chubs was the best part of the movie! He was great! I adore TDM books, but I was sorta meh on the movie. I think it maybe would’ve been better adapted as a TV show, so we could spend more time with the characters and emotional moments rather than just jumping from plot point to plot point.
There was a scene in the movie where they were leaving the camp and chubs says “am I missing something” and that’s literally how I felt throughout the movie because things would happen with no explanation it felt like they filmed the movie and just edited random gaps out in between to make it shorter.
I literally couldn’t stop laughing throughout the Red’s fire breaking scene because they just looked like dragons 😂 also on top of everything said I was a little butthurt that Liam didn’t have the slight southern accent or say darlin’ once.
There better be a second movie! And I do agree it could have had some changes, like I feel ruby and liam's relationship was rushed but I still want a second and third film.
I definitely agree about the glowing eyes, that just seemed so strange and over the top, and kind of stupid. I also really hated how they called yellows "golds" for no reason, and they changed the hierarchy to where oranges were more "dangerous" than reds. I loved Chubs, he was so spot on, but Liam definitely fell flat for me. He didn't have the Southern charm and wit that was emphasized in the book, and most of his lines were too cheesy. I loved Ruby and Suzume, but it really annoyed me when they left out the part with Zu's cousin Hina. Also, HATED the portrayal of the reds and how they breathed fire out of their mouths like what???
I actually liked the orange/red switch, it never made sense to me in the book that reds were considered the most dangerous lol. and yeah, liam's southerness was sorely missed :( that was a huge part of his charm/characterization for me
I honestly felt like Ruby and Liam were insta love to a ridiculous level, like, they just met and they almost kissed. the whole movie felt rushed, or maybe that's just me since the second I finished the book I went to see the movie... I agree with everything you say here. if you read a book before you watch a movie, you're most likely not to enjoy it as much as you would without reading it (example my sister, who cried when Ruby erased Liam's memory). The movie was really short on its own, but it had some really good moments, however since they removed so many of the key moments the dynamic between some characters felt off. I'd give it a B-, since movie-wise it was really good.
*"Did you know... you make so happy that sometimes I forget to breath? It's like - I'll be looking at you and my only thought in mind is how I want to kiss you"* WHERE THE HELL WAS THAT BEAUTIFUL MOMENT
I was so freaking excited when the reds showed up in the movie, but so... SO confused when I saw what they were actually doing. I mean like... their mouths? Really!? The reds were my favorite color in the books I just loved them so much and it just brought up SO many questions for me! My friend and I had this like discussion where she was just asking “why their mouths?” And I was like “IDK OKAY!” It was chaotic, and a bit boring. But the few moments that were fantastic made it worth seeing.
I understand that the eye color thing is kind of dumb but in an interview somewhere Alexander Bracken said it was because the audience wouldn’t know when the characters used their powers like the greens and oranges and whatnot. Idk it’s dumb but I kind of just went with it.
It seriously gets so much worse. It’s been a few years but I still remember sitting in class after my final exam, reading In The Afterlight and actually crying IN CLASS
In the book when Ruby erases herself, it all happens so fast, of course 10 year old Ruby doesn’t have a rational argument to prove she’s their kid! She doesn’t know what the heck is going on because she had never used her abilities before. And then in the 3rd book when we see her parents again, her grandmother explains how the evidence of Ruby and her parents feelings for her never went away, and that’s how her grandmother basically convinced them that Ruby existed. Oranges weren’t exactly common, and even among oranges, the ability to erase yourself wasn’t exactly a known power. Hence, her parents wouldn’t rationally assume they must have a daughter they both simultaneously forgot, at least not right away. Of course they couldn’t mention that in the movie because they wrote out the grandmother and spent 0.2 seconds setting everything up though.
When Ruby comes down the next morning on her 10th birthday all the picture frames are like turned over to facedown and then there was actually like this scene in the garage where Ruby's dad interrogates her because he's a cop in the book. The monologue Liam says at the end is actually in the book and he talks about how Ruby is tutoring this 10-year-old named Suzume. I didn't really get the part with the reds because that was for sure not what I imaged. I'm only like 200 pages into Never Fade but the only thing explained about reds is that they can blow shit up so fire powers? Was not imagining the breathing fire. Totally hear you on the orange eyes that is a plot hole for sure in the movie. Also didn't understand the stadium scene, it felt very Katniss Everdeen, Girl on Fire esque to me. Christine, I am really like grateful that you didn't say the movie was great just because you liked the books. I thought that was really genuine and real.
Thank you!! I was so off put with how “teenified” the trailer for the movie was that I didn’t want to read the book anymore or watch the movie! Which really sucks, especially for Alexandra Bracken.
How did everyone enjoy it??? I went w friends who did not read the books. They all hated the movie. I also pretty much hated the movie. Ruby and Liam and Clancy were so out of character. I didn’t even cry at the end bc everyone felt so disconnected. I also hated how Liam used his powers on ruby. He literally would never do that. He wouldn’t even think about it. I also HATED how the reds were spitting fire out of there mouth. Also, ruby is not friken stupid. She is actually really smart. All in all me and my friends were pretty much cringing the whole way through.
Same! I thought the movie was garbage and it's not just because I read the books. The pacing was a bit off and it lacked substance. I felt like I was in Jumper, just flashing from scene to scene with no real depth to any of them. My mom had gotten almost halfway through the book and didn't understand a lot of it but even like 20 min in she was ready to go lol
Ok so I enjoyed chubs and zu the movie felt rushed and like you said Liam would never even think about using his powers on ruby.Lacked moments in a lot of the scenes. Clancy was OK he wasn't as good as the books but wasn't terrible. I really missed the pink gloves scene I really wished they put that in. Not enough connection with the characters I think. They definitely tried to make it more teenified which I didn't like. AND THE LETTERS LIKE WHAT I WAITED FOR THAT.Also kinda no character developement at all it was kinda like here are the characters enjoy...Overall I thought it was pretty ok I didn't love it as much as the books but enjoyed some of it.
SAME CHRISTINE. The pace felt off for the whole movie for me. We were barely at Thurmond and then 5 minutes after Ruby meets Liam he's calling her family?? It was too much insta love for me. And Ruby kept using her powers throughout the whole movie but still says she doesn't know how they work?? She doesn't know how to undo what she did with parents but she's got a pretty good grip on "I touch these people and tell them what to do". In the book she never used them unless she had to and she hated touching people. In the movie she did it purposefully with those other kids in the mall. The showdown with Lady Jane fell short too imo.
If I can recall correctly she tried to but her parents flipped out hard and called Ruby's grandma then called the authorities and she was locked in the garage during the meantime. Then there's this brief scene where Ruby describes how lonely and heartbroken and confused and she cried the entire time till the authorities came.
YES! Everything about this is spot on with how I felt. I actually had more problems than you did, but I did just finish reading the book a few hours before seeing the movie. So many little details that made the book amazing weren’t in the movie and it was so frustrating to see. I will say they did a good job making Clancy creepy.
I totally agree with everything you said! I did like chubs in the movie just because he was the only character that actually seemed real, but at the same time he wasn’t true to his character in the book. None of the characters were, and that was my least favorite part. There was no character development and everything felt so rushed and flimsy.
I personally didn't like that chubs was a green because it made it seem like he was smart because he was green, but in the book he really is just a smart person
I think with the eyes it was more of an audience cue. It's the same type of thing where in some movies, telekinetic/telepathic characters put their hands to their temples. Obviously they don't need to do this, but it is a cue to the audience that they are using their powers. It could be same thing with the eyes, especially where they never acknowledge it. Maybe they really can't see it- like the other people's eyes are normal to them, otherwise the PSFs wouldn't even have to do the brain test thing. Idk those are my thoughts about the weird glowing eye thing they did.
I’m so disappointed in the movie adaptation. I feel like they changed or cut out some of the most important parts of the story. Like what was the whole east river scene. It was literally nothing like the book and was ten times worse. I really wish we got to see the east river takedown how it was meant to be
I adore TDM books, and I just don’t like how some people will see the movie without having read the book, and have /that/ be the impression of what the story is. It wasn’t the worst adaptation I’ve ever seen, but it wasn’t exactly good either.
I will be honest. I was on the brink of tears for the first 15 minutes of the movie. I love this book so dearly, and it has been a few years since I read it. I was just emotional about being back in this world. I probably would give the movie a 5.5/10. (I would give the book a 9.5/10.) Pros: I honestly think the characters looked the part. I think Kate and Chubs shined the most though. I also am bummed about the lack of Xu having a shaved head, but I could get over it. Cons: 1. I agree with the “teening up the movie” aspect. The music felt forced. The pop references were weird. The focus on Liam was awkward. Most importantly though? The darkness of the story was lost. It is literally called THE DARKEST MINDS. The darkest part of the movie was that Ruby was nearly raped by Clancy. The idea that Thurman is essentially a concentration camp was lost. Harping back to Xu’s hair would be a great illustration of how they downplayed it. I also hate how they didn’t relate how much Ruby hated herself. I actually wrote a paper about how Ruby identified herself as a “monster.” The lame line of “I like myself” might have had more impact if we understood just how much she didn’t like herself until that point. I also think they could have just made Ruby and Liam a strong flirtation, and that would have worked for the time frame. Liam came on way too strong with his insta-luv, and I was actually cringing the entire time. They also took out the creepy orange from the beginning (Marcus maybe?). He’s not a necessary character, but it would have illustrated why oranges are so mistrusted/why Ruby kept her color a secret. I also hate that they took our Xu getting pink gloves, but I wouldn’t take away rating for that. Overall, I feel confident that it won’t get a sequel. It’s a shame, too, because it could do really well with this current marvel-loving market. I described it to my boyfriend as sort of an alternate x-men universe that happens overnight on a national scale, but it came across as a lame teen romance. -sorry I said also so much
Sara C I give the movie about a 6/10 and the book somewhere between 9.5/10 and 10/10, and I agree with everything you just said... it might’ve worked as a tv show or Netflix show, since there’s a lot happening in the book and you can’t really skip anything...
In The Afterlight, her parents said they were confused but Ruby's grandmother helped them to remember and explain their questions. When Ruby's gather came home, they were going to get her from the garage and help her but she was already gone. In the movie though, it looks like her mother called the cops and it bothered me so much. The movie was so fast-moving and even though I adore the book Liam, the movie Liam looked like a stupid teenager. There were some little moments in the book that made Liam more adorable and lovable but in the movie Ruby and Liam was do forced I couldn't help but cringe and laugh at the whole scene. The only good things were the actor who played Clancy was so adapted for his role (even though his looks doesn't match with the original Clancy) that for the first time I got pumped. Second was Chubs' lines were the only funny thing in the movie. And I'm sorry to say this but Amandla's acting is not good. I expected something more because she had been in a bunch of YA adaptations and will be more and I thought there were something special. I'm still so mad at Chad Hodge because I waited for this movie for so long and I had low expectations but it was nothing comparing the book. I'm currently trying to forget this movie thank you very much.
Also, with the pictures thing, I feel like they should have played that off by either: 1) having Ruby talk to her parents and being unable to restore their memories or have them say they don't want a child or whatnot 2) have Ruby see her parents have another daughter with her name to make her feel replaced. I feel like there could have been other ways to make her return to the other kids.
i was pleasantly surprised by the movie and it was soooo fun to see my favorite book from high school on the screen!!! i loved the sock scene!!!! chubs was definitely the best part of the whole movie. i cried when they included watership down. i actually teared up for most of the movie LJDFKDFJFDKL i could not take lady jane's character seriously. i was really missing liam's accent, and i agree about the ruby/liam relationship, it was cute but it wasn't as good as it was in the book. AND THE REDS WERE SO BAD I COULDNT EVEN WATCH THEM DKFJLDSLF. during the book, i love liam's talk to ruby at the end where he imagines their lives if everything was normal but it didn't translate as well in the movie. i really missed the scene where chub's goes off on clancy while clancy is controlling everyone else.
I think that there eyes only glowed for us to see when they use there powers I dont think that there eyes actually glowed in the movie like I think that the glowing eyes was just for the audience and that's it
Honestly, I know it sounds stupid, but I really wish they put in the seen at the hotel with the socks. It seems so insignifagant at first, but in one of the later books when Ruby was looking back on their relationship, one of the things she thought of was the socks, and right after he gave her the socks, she said that some how he knew that she wasn't okay, and that was like their first thing where they could like read the other person so easily
Okay so here's a list of reasons why this movie disappointed me😂: 1. I did not feel any connection whatsoever to the characters! What was great in the book is the fact that you got the backstory of each main character. You knew everyone's motivations. In the movie we got none of that psychological depth. They all are bonded by multiple traumatic experiences of the same nature, and yet we get to see none of it! 2. THIS MOVIE FELT LIKE IT WAS 2 MINITES LONG. It felt to me as if they picked the most important parts of the books and just combined them without giving them any context. The relationships that were portrayed and the actions that were taken seemed so rush🤷🤷🤷There was not building to the sister-like relationship with Zu. No conflict with Chubs. No fear with Liam. No desperation with Clancy. ughh😑 3. We didn't really get any explanation of the world and the government or even the virus itself. Especially when it is dystopian fantasy you should expect that there is a detailed explanation of what the hell is going on..even though it is all explained in the book!!! Ps. If I had the power to delete any scene from any movie ever it would be the harry potter conversation.. Actually painful 😂🤷
Alex was there in the end, as a nurse walking away from Chubs lying in a hospital bed. When Liam walked away with Ruby's keychain on his backpack, that was a nice touch, referencing the book in that he's taking a part of Ruby with him.
Ruby's parents didn't remember her, but they still loved her and cared about her. they were just confused. it like what Liam said in Never Fade, the memories of Ruby were gone, but not the feelings. He also said that it was terrifying and confusing were he first saw her. So when Ruby woke up on her 10 th birthday and her mom and dad didn't recognize her, they were scared of why the loved a random little girl that was somehow in their house.
I agree with the eye color thing because the annoying thing is how did Ruby survive in the camp for that long without anyone noticing her eyes turning (or not turning) green. I guess she could always make someone think her eyes were glowing green but I assuming she couldn't do that with too many people since she didn't use her power to just escape or take control of the compound.
I liked the movie, I thought in my opinion, it matched the book very well. I agree that the part at the end with the kids and the stadium, that is what I didn't like about it, I saw the trailer and I had low expectations, and then I saw the trailer and my expectations were high, it looked good, but the stadium thing put it off for me, but other than that there were some cringey parts, but when Liam quoted the book I was happy! my rating on the movie would be a B+ and an 8/5 out of 10. I only give it these ratings because I care! Overall great movie and a good adaptation, better than the ones I have seen in a while.
She never went back to her parents house once in the books. She does call her house and finds out her grandma moved in with them but she doesn't find out what happened to them until the end of third book. When she's in the hospital at the end her grandma and parents come. They don't have memories of her but just because she erased herself from their memories didn't mean she erased the memories that had her in them. That's why her mom and dad freaked out so much when she was child because they felt like they should know her but didn't. Their feelings and memories didn't go together. So they still missed Ruby and wanted her to come home even though she was erased from her memories. And her grandma helped them through that time. The girl at the camp who was her best friend was the same way. And after Ruby 'died' she mourned and cried about her even though she couldn't remember her. Basically she could erase herself but left giant gaping holes behind that caused confusion and sadness.
I didn't mind the eyes glowing. I think it helps people who haven't read the book keep track of powers. Also when they get the powers their eyes could turn that color and that is how they built the chart? It's different. I only remembered some moments from the book so I really enjoyed the movie for what it is.
I agree so much with absolutely everything you said. I honestly think my friends were so annoyed because I kept saying “That was not like it was in the book.” “I don’t remember that happening.” “Oh my favorite scene is coming up.” Struggles of going to the movie with friends not reading the book
I’m actually rereading the book trilogy right now and got to the part about Ruby erasing her parents memory’s. Ruby does mention that she has proof of her existence but her mother just denies it to the bitter end. So they did explain in the book about all the pictures and things left behind. I hope that helped!! I loved your review, I had pretty much the same thoughts:) you’re amazing thank you and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on The Darkest Legacy! 🖤🖤
1. When ruby woke up the entire house was covered in puturned photos of her like her parents had a freak out but didn't understand what was going on. 2. Zu had hair 3. Chubs is blue not green 4. Black betty wasnt black
i really enjoyed it. the first time i was like meh, and the second time bc i knew what it was like i really enjoyed it. because the film was so short we didn't get a slow development? it was too fast you know? i hate, as you say, how they "teen-ified" their relationship....liam would be upset that they shared the secret about her parents to clancy first but he'd be more annoyed at himself bc she felt like she couldn't speak to him about it? he wouldn't have sulked, he would have asked her about her family and comforted her. and the showdown at the end...was embarrassing lmao although smth similar does happen in the book they added things which frustrated me. and that captain dude? all the moments with him? NO THANK YOU. CRINGEY. Zu and liam's relationship was my favourite. AND THE LAST SCENE IN THE LEAGUE'S SAFEHOUSE WITH RUBIAM
OMG. I a hundred percent agree on the eye color thing! If that was the case, why would the camp need to use that machine to read which power they have? Oh and...something else that really bugged me is WHY WERE THERE REDS? The first red we see is halfway through the second book, and SPOILER! He dies in like, 6 pages.
my main gripe (everything you said too) was that the tone was very, light?, for what should be a darker concept. the music sometimes didn’t feel right for what was happening. i was pleasantly surprised though, i was expecting a lot worse. rotten tomatoes was a bit harsh.
In the book, when they were attacked in the mall I’m pretty sure that they did fall in the way that Liam was on top of Ruby, I might not be remembering right though.
personally, i think that ruby def could’ve been casted better, the feel of it felt stiff and like awkward acting and they did leave out a lot of crucial parts from the book. also, i didn’t necessarily like the pairing of ruby and liam in the movies, and i don’t know why, i just feel like the acting wasn’t too good tbh
Okay totally agree with basically everything you said. Chubs was the highlight of the movie for me tbh, his lines were hilarious. I believe that in the movie they show ruby being erased from the pictures on her mantles, but I could be mistaken
Going into the movie as someone who had never read the books I really liked it. I could see where it wasn’t as good being a little more watered down than I expected which is why I’m not expecting the sequel to be adapted which makes me sad, but the movie did make me buy 4 new books to read. The glowing eyes and the reds I also liked, but that was probably just my aesthetic, and since it’s different from the book I didn’t realize there was supposed to be something wrong with that, it was just part of the universe for me. I’m sad that the movie underperformed but it just makes me excited to read that books now to continue the story!
At the end i feel like they are “showing their colors” but they are standing all mixed together. So i think they tried to show them stepping up and coming together for a greater cause.
i agree with all this. I wish we had more scenes in Betty with everyone just hanging out and talking. Also yes movie Chubs was exactly how I'd pictured him.
I think the books should’ve been turned into a tv show, eitther Netflix or whatever, and broken up into 3 episodes each(maybe stretch it to make a ten episode series), because I feel like it would feel less rushed and make more sense.
I simply loved the movie. I really want to see the second. I didn't read the book but my question is are red or oranges more rare? In the movie we see some reds and they look.. scary and insane? Do they become enraged? Or are they controlled?
I also hated the glowing eyes and the flame thrower reds. The eyes made the classification irrelevant when the powers were used, but like you said, no one seemed to notice them.
Oh my lord I agree with literally everything you said! I feel like because I was so emotional watching it because my dream was enfolding out in front of me I was guarded from the reality of some Liam and ruby scenes! Also I do not understand why people are not talking about the fact that LIAM DOES NOT HAVE A SOUTHERN ACCENT!
I've never read the books so I don't know how it is supposed to be set up in the book,but I really liked it. I enjoyed the message behind it and the chemistry between some of the characters. I actually enjoyed the interaction between Ruby and Liam and it tore me apart when Ruby took herself out of Liam's memories. There were certain scenes where I would laugh at how cringey and awkward they were. The cast choice was really good and I honestly enjoyed the entire plot. I do hope that they continue making movies of the series because I did enjoy it and want to see what happens next without me having to read the books.
I thought all of the actors really embodied the characters and I really liked the actor who played Liam. I do see what you mean though about not enough moments with Liam and Ruby bonding. The movie did seem rushed a little bit even though it didn’t seem like it was a short movie. I wish we could have spent more time with just the squad. The ending was a little weird, but I’m just glad that the changes they made didn’t affect the overall plot of the book and the series. Overall I thought it was a pretty good adaptation. I was disappointed that they didn’t include the famous carpe diem line. It’s so iconic!
I totally agree with you, especially the Liam and Ruby thing seeming forced. Another thing I hated was that Ruby’s fear of her power wasn’t very prominent and same for her little knowledge of how it works. Like the scene where she controls the two hunters (totally forgot what they’re called) WITHOUT TOUCHING THEM. Before she even meets Clancy!
I completely agree with every single thing you said. I thought it was extremely rushed and also extremely teenified. There were so many things I really missed from the book and wished had been put in the movie. Like, where did that scene with the supply truck being flipped and destroyed and shit by Zu? That was a really important scene for her character development. I don’t exactly remember what happened in that scene, but it did a great job of showing how much she hates the fact that she had those powers. But on a good note, I really liked the scene with the girl dying at the table. For some reason, seeing her hand move is such an unnaturally fast way kind of really scared me, but her glowing eyes fucking RUINED IT.
I read the book almost five years ago now and I'm pretty sure I've reread since then but honestly who knows but it was genuinely my favorite book and I wanted so badly to like this movie even after I didn't like the trailer but this just wasn't it. They dumbed everything down so much for a teen audience when its literally teens who love and read the book. They tried to cater so much with the indie pop soundtrack instead of the classic rock written into the book. And the glowing eyes made no sense especially with greens like their eyes glow just because they say a fact?? I literally had to laugh just to get through the movie. And don't get me started on Liam. Liam Michael Stewart was the literal love of my sixth grade life but everything that came out of his mouth in the movie had me rolling my eyes. He was so cheesy and vaguely creepy using his powers on people I just don't see how that can be romantic or cute and the Twinkie was literally the portal scene all over again. His whole personality was "pretty girl. I like car. AND pretty girl." and there was nothing to back it up other than a few days of them staring at each other.
I feel like their eyes glowed so the audience who didn't read the book would remember who was which color.
The only 2 things I didn't like were that Liam didn't have a southern accent and "Let's carpe the hell out of this diem" was NOWHERE TO BE FOUND
Nikki Poulos well DUH but how dumb are people that they can’t tell the difference? Also the whole point is it’s scary cuz you don’t know!
Nikki Poulos OMG YES i was so mad that quote wasn’t in the movie! :((( its like literally one of my favorite book quotes
Alexandra Bracken literally signed my book with “let’s carpe the bell out of this diem” so clearly it’s one of her favorites too! I was so disappointed that it didn’t show up.
He didn't say "darlin" 😭😭
Nikki Poulos yes! The fact that he didn't have a southern accent and that quote was really disappointing. I also wished he said darlin, that's a big thing in the book. And then the line that names the book "the darkest minds hide behind the most unlikely faces" chubs. That quote literally states the name of the book!
1: The pacing was kinda odd at the beginning of the movie.
2: Even though I agree the personalities of the characters were on point, i feel they didn't go to much in depth with them, like they didn't get into why Zu doesn't talk and the lack of bonding between the main characters.
3: They didn't explain much about the camps and the situation of the country.
4: Liam didn't say "darlin" once during the whole movie >:(
PS: I think the guy who play Clancy did good job because every word that came out of his mouth made me want to punch him in the nose.
ozzomega I agree with all of this! I was waiting for Liam to at least say darlin at the end, but I guess it wouldn’t have the same effect without his accent. I also wanted more Zu! She was perfect for this role, but I feel like they could have done more with her
Yeh. It I think it was good he was green it was quite funny
i thought the person who played Ruby could’ve been casted better? just my opinion
omg i'm so late to this but yess darlin was never mentioned and it bothers me sm.
THE VOIMITING FIRE SET ME OFF SO MUCH LMAOO
i totally agree with EVERYTHING YOUVE SAID omg we always agree on adaptations lmao
literally everything you said is SPOT ON
IM SO GLAD TO HEAR THIS XD
I haven't watch the movie but when I saw the trailer I was so disappointed !!!!!(Have read the books at at least three times) It looked like any teen romance movie with a twist of dystopian :( I expected the movie to gone much darker. It's Literally about a government that puts kids in concentration camps!!!!
The fire was so bad!! Are they dragons???
Actually though. And I got so mad in the movie after the whole ruby taking the wheel ordeal, because she didn’t call him an a hole.
Am I the only one who loved the reds and thought they were exactly like the red we see in the 2nd book, like all crazy and scary.
Chubs made the whole movie for me tbh. The book had so much humor and fun banter and had me at the end of my seat but the movie was meh. Also I didn’t like how ruby could just automatically use her powers without the training and fear she had in the book. The book was super well written and I love it so much but I feel like they, as you said, “teenified” the movie. Also I know this isn’t a crucial detail but I really missed Liam’s blond hair and southern accent! I miss him saying “darlin” to ruby😭
"You too darlin' "
ok it REALLY bothered me how the group didnt make a big deal of Ruby being imprisoned in the camp for six years/ being at Thurmond !!! Like when she mentioned it ??? Idk !!! Is it just me ??
happy THANK YOU I AGREE
YES THANK YOU
I KNOW RIGHT
I think directors need to realize that teens are actually pretty smart and we can tell if acting, storytelling, progression, relationships etc are actually done well in movies. I think they make teen movies but act like we are 12.
Hailey Lyons ikr if I’ve never read the books I’d be like “Ruby and Liam are gonna kiss? They’ve just known each other for like two days”
@@jemappellemerci SAME!!
Honestly the things I HATED the most were... sorry there’s a lot so I got a list 😂
-Where was SAM SHE WAS JUST FORGOTTEN
-chubs ain’t no GREEN
-Ummmmm where was Martin ya he was sooo annoying but he matters too
-Why didn’t Liam have a southern accent THATS WAS WHAT I WANTED THE MOST AND IT WAS SUCH A LITTLE little thing
And soooooooooooo many other things like the actors, the chemistry and just the over all feeling but it was good I guess 😂 sorry rant over
Ella757416 yes! I’m so mad they left out Sam, Or more the significance of her character! It wasn’t just ruby erasing her parents minds that made her terrified of using her powers. She’s alone and scared, her parents don’t know who she’s is and is thrown into to this awful camp. Along comes sam though, the sole being who helps ruby get through those years, and then her mind does it again, makes the one person she has a connection with forget her. Hell, of course you’re terrified of using your powers and identifying as who you are when it rips away everyone you love
I so agree with how for some reason they keep 'teenifying' these movies. So many ya adaptations have flopped so hard because they decide to direct and market the movie with a kind of lesser quality (action scenes, dialogue, etc.) and also I notice they make it very geared to just that intended crowd. Have they not learned from the success of The Hunger Games? *Especially* when it is a YA Dystopia with maybe darker themes. Just because you have teenagers leading the story doesn't mean it has to be watered down and only geared towards them. With THG, teens and adults alike I think enjoyed it and they didn't give them the cheesiest dialogue and almost pg-esque action scenes and special effects.
Anyway that's my essay of the day lol- agree with just about everything you talked about.
OMG THE TWINKIE SCENE. I also thought straight back to TMI and that portal nonsense, oh the cringe bahahaha
iLivieforbooks omg I saw your comment and freaked out I love your channel
Tu aimes les films?
I cried so much when her keychain was on his backpack 😭
OKOKOK I HAVE A THEORY. ABOUT THE EYE GLOWING.
WHAT IF their eyes don’t actually glow. What if the eye glowing is just meant to represent to us viewers of the movie that they are using their powers, but they can’t see each other’s eyes glowing because in their world it doesn’t actually happen?
Samantha Kavich Exactly! That's what I thought they were trying to do.
yeah i thought that too
Samantha Kavich That is what I thought, too! Because otherwise, the gang would have figured out that Ruby was orange much earlier
Yeah I was pretty sure it was that way and never really thought that they could see it?? Like it was only for the viewers
There were so many things in the book that I wanted to see in the movie! Like all the Ruby and Liam moments.. when Liam sings to all those old songs while they were driving, their cute bonding moment while they were siphoning gas, and the way Liam would call Ruby 'darlin'. And I don't think we ever hear him call her 'green' when I thought it would be a significant thing later on. Well, sort of. There are so many other scenes, but I'm not gonna put all of them.
And am I the only one who was actually kind of mad that they included the reds in the movie? Reading the books, you kind of just sit there and wonder what the reds do up until the middle of Never Fade. And I liked that, because once reds are introduced in the book, it's sort of like a whole game changer.
And Ruby! Ruby with her powers! There was a part when they're at the hotel, and she does something to that couple! Like.. Ruby's not supposed to be able to do that!! Not yet at least! And when she controls those soldiers all at once at the end?? No! She's not supposed to be able to do that either! One thing that we all understood while reading the book was that Ruby hated using her powers, and that she wasn't able to do things without touching someone, let alone a dozen people at once! It just took so much away from her character, and now there's not much room for her character development.
There was also this thing about Thurmond. I wish they had delved deeper while she was at the camp, because that place haunts Ruby for a long while. And it just doesn't have that feeling since we barely saw it. Plus, we didn't get to see her relationship with Sam. And yes, I know they couldn't include every little thing since it was movie, but it just would've been nice because Thurmond is such a big deal in the story.
I still enjoyed the movie, there are just things you're gonna seriously point out when you're a book lover. I loved the fact that it followed the storyline pretty well. I really hope the movie does well enough to make the rest of the trilogy, 'cuz there are a lot of scenes I want to see actually play out.
I'm really sorry, this is all soo long! But if you actually read all of this, kudos to you! Because I wouldn't even read this. There's still more I want to say, but this is already too much. Anyways, just go watch the movie despite all these things, because we need to support Alex and we want to see the other movies be made!
thanks for this comment, I've only read some of the first book and I had watched the movie already. I only realized so many clear differences since I haven't finished the book yet so thanks for being so specific with the differences.
Ok here's my major problem with the movie. Besides cutting things out of the plot what I really hate is how they completely messed up Liam . He is the exact polar opposite of who he is supposed to be . The Liam in the book was so.. well not innocent but open and u could read everything on his face which made him easy to trust . He also smiled a lot more and was way more easy going . I mean what happened to the cute accent and the darlins and how he cared a lot about the safety of everyone but tried to cover it with being optimistic?! Not to mention there literall no chemistry on his part between him and ruby. I don't know why I feel so strongly about this but it just ticked me off. :-(
That is exactly how I felt, he just seemed so much colder in the movies, like, in the books he was always the one telling the rest of them that they would be find, even when he was still at camp
Same, I watched the movie first and I hated his character but when I read the book, I feel in love with the Book Liam
everything was so rushed and i understand it’s so much to put into an hour and 30 minutes but it still didn’t feel right you know?
I say this movie with my friends who DIDN'T read the book and it was hilarious watching them at the end, my friends actually cried.
I agree with EVERYTHING you said, especially the stupid eye color thing, it doesn't make any sense! It'd totally give someone's powers away!
I didn't like how short the camp scenes were, I don't know why the story with Sam was cut out, I always thought it really showed how unsure she was of her powers, and she actually was in it but she just has her shoe polish line but the cabin scene was cut out anD WHY WASN'T SAM IN IT
Also how many fucking times were we gonna see the scene with the parents, like holy shit how many times did we need to be reminded that " 0h nO sHe f0RgOt hEr pAreNtS "
Also yes the league part was so confusing for me.
Gabrielle Porter I saw it with my friends last night they haven’t read the book either they were crying there eyes out and I was like yeah I cried about this a long time ago.
I watched the movie yesterday and i agree abour the part with Sam, and the shoe scene made no sense to my sister (who watched it with me) because she didnt read the book and didnt know who sam was
Also i wish the parents fought about ruby asking about what dying feels like because them fighting makes so much more sense as to why young ruby would go and hug her mom and dad ALSO SHE NEVER HUGGED HER DAD SO HE SHOULD THEORETICALLY STILL REMEMBER HER RIGHT?!
And i wish that ruby and Liam had more moments together just talking in the car
Last note: i sat thru 30 mins of trailers after the movie should have started so i feel like they could have made the movie longer and better for sure
Gabrielle Porter Oml that happens with my friends too! I had to hold them back...lol
I just got back from the theater! I was super nervous but I thought it was pretty good. My mom hasn't read the book but now she want's to read th book because she loved the movie. At least it wasn't as bad as Percy Jackson!
I’m pretty sure that nothing can be as bad as Percy Jackson
I loved Percy Jackson (the books not the movie)
The Last Airbender was worst than Percy Jackson...
I don't think anything could be worse than the Percy Jackson movie
When my friend and I watched the end of the movie where they raised their hands, She raised her hand and I hit her.
Lol😂 good one✔
I thought the movie was pretty okay, but I cried multiple times in the book, and the closest I got to crying was when we got The Hate You Give trailer. And I haven't even read the book.
same THUG trailer was the best part
omg same i cant wait to watch the movie... i didn't even know the trailer was for a ya movie until i saw the title
The thing with Ruby and her parents: In the book, Ruby told her mom that she had her room and looked at the pictures on the walls. Her mom knew she had a daughter, but all of her memories connected her daughter to a different face. She knew about the room but she was confused when seeing the pictures and seeing that face.
I don’t like the eye thing either. The PLOT of the book was Ruby pretending to be a green
How was she supposed to hide that she was an orange if her eyes give her away???
Angel L'Mae Roberson The movie had flaws but I enjoyed the story
She never used her powers
@@kaylar.6437 on sam, her parents, zu, liam, Clancy. all of them and others
I think it’s just to show the audience i don’t think the actual characters in the film can see it
Chubs was the best part of the movie! He was great! I adore TDM books, but I was sorta meh on the movie. I think it maybe would’ve been better adapted as a TV show, so we could spend more time with the characters and emotional moments rather than just jumping from plot point to plot point.
Savannah l agree.
Pero like Shadowhunters is a bust
Exactly my thoughts
There was a scene in the movie where they were leaving the camp and chubs says “am I missing something” and that’s literally how I felt throughout the movie because things would happen with no explanation it felt like they filmed the movie and just edited random gaps out in between to make it shorter.
I literally couldn’t stop laughing throughout the Red’s fire breaking scene because they just looked like dragons 😂 also on top of everything said I was a little butthurt that Liam didn’t have the slight southern accent or say darlin’ once.
There better be a second movie! And I do agree it could have had some changes, like I feel ruby and liam's relationship was rushed but I still want a second and third film.
Emily Peters ikr, that's why I wasn't really exited when they kissed since it was too obvious they were into eachother
I NEED at least a second movie lol. I need to see my baby Cole Stewart on the big screen
Sammy Webb I need to see Cole! At least the cast, even if they dont come out with the second at least let me see who would play Cole.
Emily Peters yeah there's probably gonna be a Never Fade and In the Afterlight (rest of the book series)
Emily Peters there has to be a second movie
I definitely agree about the glowing eyes, that just seemed so strange and over the top, and kind of stupid. I also really hated how they called yellows "golds" for no reason, and they changed the hierarchy to where oranges were more "dangerous" than reds. I loved Chubs, he was so spot on, but Liam definitely fell flat for me. He didn't have the Southern charm and wit that was emphasized in the book, and most of his lines were too cheesy. I loved Ruby and Suzume, but it really annoyed me when they left out the part with Zu's cousin Hina. Also, HATED the portrayal of the reds and how they breathed fire out of their mouths like what???
I actually liked the orange/red switch, it never made sense to me in the book that reds were considered the most dangerous lol. and yeah, liam's southerness was sorely missed :( that was a huge part of his charm/characterization for me
I honestly felt like Ruby and Liam were insta love to a ridiculous level, like, they just met and they almost kissed. the whole movie felt rushed, or maybe that's just me since the second I finished the book I went to see the movie... I agree with everything you say here.
if you read a book before you watch a movie, you're most likely not to enjoy it as much as you would without reading it (example my sister, who cried when Ruby erased Liam's memory). The movie was really short on its own, but it had some really good moments, however since they removed so many of the key moments the dynamic between some characters felt off.
I'd give it a B-, since movie-wise it was really good.
Nataly Zuniga it did feel like a fanfic but i liked it
*"Did you know... you make so happy that sometimes I forget to breath? It's like - I'll be looking at you and my only thought in mind is how I want to kiss you"*
WHERE THE HELL WAS THAT BEAUTIFUL MOMENT
I was so freaking excited when the reds showed up in the movie, but so... SO confused when I saw what they were actually doing. I mean like... their mouths? Really!? The reds were my favorite color in the books I just loved them so much and it just brought up SO many questions for me! My friend and I had this like discussion where she was just asking “why their mouths?” And I was like “IDK OKAY!”
It was chaotic, and a bit boring. But the few moments that were fantastic made it worth seeing.
I understand that the eye color thing is kind of dumb but in an interview somewhere Alexander Bracken said it was because the audience wouldn’t know when the characters used their powers like the greens and oranges and whatnot. Idk it’s dumb but I kind of just went with it.
I read the first book. The ending HURT
Joe Basra it gets worse(not writing wise because Alex is perfect but the next two books hurt even more)
I was crying so hard when I read the ending of the first book!!!
It seriously gets so much worse. It’s been a few years but I still remember sitting in class after my final exam, reading In The Afterlight and actually crying IN CLASS
In the book when Ruby erases herself, it all happens so fast, of course 10 year old Ruby doesn’t have a rational argument to prove she’s their kid! She doesn’t know what the heck is going on because she had never used her abilities before. And then in the 3rd book when we see her parents again, her grandmother explains how the evidence of Ruby and her parents feelings for her never went away, and that’s how her grandmother basically convinced them that Ruby existed. Oranges weren’t exactly common, and even among oranges, the ability to erase yourself wasn’t exactly a known power. Hence, her parents wouldn’t rationally assume they must have a daughter they both simultaneously forgot, at least not right away. Of course they couldn’t mention that in the movie because they wrote out the grandmother and spent 0.2 seconds setting everything up though.
When Ruby comes down the next morning on her 10th birthday all the picture frames are like turned over to facedown and then there was actually like this scene in the garage where Ruby's dad interrogates her because he's a cop in the book. The monologue Liam says at the end is actually in the book and he talks about how Ruby is tutoring this 10-year-old named Suzume. I didn't really get the part with the reds because that was for sure not what I imaged. I'm only like 200 pages into Never Fade but the only thing explained about reds is that they can blow shit up so fire powers? Was not imagining the breathing fire.
Totally hear you on the orange eyes that is a plot hole for sure in the movie. Also didn't understand the stadium scene, it felt very Katniss Everdeen, Girl on Fire esque to me.
Christine, I am really like grateful that you didn't say the movie was great just because you liked the books. I thought that was really genuine and real.
Thank you!! I was so off put with how “teenified” the trailer for the movie was that I didn’t want to read the book anymore or watch the movie! Which really sucks, especially for Alexandra Bracken.
nonononoooo read the book. The book is so amazing, and the movie was absolutely disgusting. Don't let this bad movie ruin a wonderful book.
How did everyone enjoy it??? I went w friends who did not read the books. They all hated the movie. I also pretty much hated the movie. Ruby and Liam and Clancy were so out of character. I didn’t even cry at the end bc everyone felt so disconnected. I also hated how Liam used his powers on ruby. He literally would never do that. He wouldn’t even think about it. I also HATED how the reds were spitting fire out of there mouth. Also, ruby is not friken stupid. She is actually really smart. All in all me and my friends were pretty much cringing the whole way through.
Same! I thought the movie was garbage and it's not just because I read the books. The pacing was a bit off and it lacked substance. I felt like I was in Jumper, just flashing from scene to scene with no real depth to any of them. My mom had gotten almost halfway through the book and didn't understand a lot of it but even like 20 min in she was ready to go lol
Ok so I enjoyed chubs and zu the movie felt rushed and like you said Liam would never even think about using his powers on ruby.Lacked moments in a lot of the scenes. Clancy was OK he wasn't as good as the books but wasn't terrible. I really missed the pink gloves scene I really wished they put that in. Not enough connection with the characters I think. They definitely tried to make it more teenified which I didn't like. AND THE LETTERS LIKE WHAT I WAITED FOR THAT.Also kinda no character developement at all it was kinda like here are the characters enjoy...Overall I thought it was pretty ok I didn't love it as much as the books but enjoyed some of it.
Kawaii Potato ooh ok this is one review I really liked.
SAME
SAME CHRISTINE. The pace felt off for the whole movie for me. We were barely at Thurmond and then 5 minutes after Ruby meets Liam he's calling her family?? It was too much insta love for me. And Ruby kept using her powers throughout the whole movie but still says she doesn't know how they work?? She doesn't know how to undo what she did with parents but she's got a pretty good grip on "I touch these people and tell them what to do". In the book she never used them unless she had to and she hated touching people. In the movie she did it purposefully with those other kids in the mall. The showdown with Lady Jane fell short too imo.
If I can recall correctly she tried to but her parents flipped out hard and called Ruby's grandma then called the authorities and she was locked in the garage during the meantime. Then there's this brief scene where Ruby describes how lonely and heartbroken and confused and she cried the entire time till the authorities came.
Still better than Percy Jackson movies and that's all that matters
Malia Saavedra I think Percy Jackson was better, at least it told a complete, semi-coherent story lol
The lightning bolt? Ehh... maybe not. Sea of monsters? It was awful!!!!!!!!!!
YES! Everything about this is spot on with how I felt. I actually had more problems than you did, but I did just finish reading the book a few hours before seeing the movie. So many little details that made the book amazing weren’t in the movie and it was so frustrating to see. I will say they did a good job making Clancy creepy.
I totally agree with everything you said! I did like chubs in the movie just because he was the only character that actually seemed real, but at the same time he wasn’t true to his character in the book. None of the characters were, and that was my least favorite part. There was no character development and everything felt so rushed and flimsy.
I personally didn't like that chubs was a green because it made it seem like he was smart because he was green, but in the book he really is just a smart person
I think with the eyes it was more of an audience cue. It's the same type of thing where in some movies, telekinetic/telepathic characters put their hands to their temples. Obviously they don't need to do this, but it is a cue to the audience that they are using their powers. It could be same thing with the eyes, especially where they never acknowledge it. Maybe they really can't see it- like the other people's eyes are normal to them, otherwise the PSFs wouldn't even have to do the brain test thing. Idk those are my thoughts about the weird glowing eye thing they did.
I like to think that there eyes aren’t actually glowing it’s just for the audience it makes it less weird
I’m so disappointed in the movie adaptation. I feel like they changed or cut out some of the most important parts of the story. Like what was the whole east river scene. It was literally nothing like the book and was ten times worse. I really wish we got to see the east river takedown how it was meant to be
I didn't interpret the glowing eyes as literal. It was just for the audience but the characters couldn't actually see glowing eyes
I adore TDM books, and I just don’t like how some people will see the movie without having read the book, and have /that/ be the impression of what the story is. It wasn’t the worst adaptation I’ve ever seen, but it wasn’t exactly good either.
I thought the children in the stadium were meant to represent unity in that they don't care what colour they are
Talia Braganza right
I will be honest. I was on the brink of tears for the first 15 minutes of the movie. I love this book so dearly, and it has been a few years since I read it. I was just emotional about being back in this world. I probably would give the movie a 5.5/10. (I would give the book a 9.5/10.)
Pros:
I honestly think the characters looked the part. I think Kate and Chubs shined the most though. I also am bummed about the lack of Xu having a shaved head, but I could get over it.
Cons:
1. I agree with the “teening up the movie” aspect. The music felt forced. The pop references were weird. The focus on Liam was awkward. Most importantly though? The darkness of the story was lost. It is literally called THE DARKEST MINDS. The darkest part of the movie was that Ruby was nearly raped by Clancy.
The idea that Thurman is essentially a concentration camp was lost.
Harping back to Xu’s hair would be a great illustration of how they downplayed it.
I also hate how they didn’t relate how much Ruby hated herself. I actually wrote a paper about how Ruby identified herself as a “monster.” The lame line of “I like myself” might have had more impact if we understood just how much she didn’t like herself until that point.
I also think they could have just made Ruby and Liam a strong flirtation, and that would have worked for the time frame. Liam came on way too strong with his insta-luv, and I was actually cringing the entire time.
They also took out the creepy orange from the beginning (Marcus maybe?). He’s not a necessary character, but it would have illustrated why oranges are so mistrusted/why Ruby kept her color a secret.
I also hate that they took our Xu getting pink gloves, but I wouldn’t take away rating for that.
Overall, I feel confident that it won’t get a sequel. It’s a shame, too, because it could do really well with this current marvel-loving market. I described it to my boyfriend as sort of an alternate x-men universe that happens overnight on a national scale, but it came across as a lame teen romance.
-sorry I said also so much
Sara C I give the movie about a 6/10 and the book somewhere between 9.5/10 and 10/10, and I agree with everything you just said... it might’ve worked as a tv show or Netflix show, since there’s a lot happening in the book and you can’t really skip anything...
In The Afterlight, her parents said they were confused but Ruby's grandmother helped them to remember and explain their questions. When Ruby's gather came home, they were going to get her from the garage and help her but she was already gone. In the movie though, it looks like her mother called the cops and it bothered me so much. The movie was so fast-moving and even though I adore the book Liam, the movie Liam looked like a stupid teenager. There were some little moments in the book that made Liam more adorable and lovable but in the movie Ruby and Liam was do forced I couldn't help but cringe and laugh at the whole scene.
The only good things were the actor who played Clancy was so adapted for his role (even though his looks doesn't match with the original Clancy) that for the first time I got pumped. Second was Chubs' lines were the only funny thing in the movie.
And I'm sorry to say this but Amandla's acting is not good. I expected something more because she had been in a bunch of YA adaptations and will be more and I thought there were something special. I'm still so mad at Chad Hodge because I waited for this movie for so long and I had low expectations but it was nothing comparing the book. I'm currently trying to forget this movie thank you very much.
Also, with the pictures thing, I feel like they should have played that off by either: 1) having Ruby talk to her parents and being unable to restore their memories or have them say they don't want a child or whatnot 2) have Ruby see her parents have another daughter with her name to make her feel replaced. I feel like there could have been other ways to make her return to the other kids.
I think the eyes glowing was to show the audience when they were using they're powers if not what a coincidence
I agree with most of the things you said. But the akward scene where they find the group of four blue boys was actually in the book.
i was pleasantly surprised by the movie and it was soooo fun to see my favorite book from high school on the screen!!! i loved the sock scene!!!! chubs was definitely the best part of the whole movie. i cried when they included watership down. i actually teared up for most of the movie LJDFKDFJFDKL
i could not take lady jane's character seriously. i was really missing liam's accent, and i agree about the ruby/liam relationship, it was cute but it wasn't as good as it was in the book. AND THE REDS WERE SO BAD I COULDNT EVEN WATCH THEM DKFJLDSLF. during the book, i love liam's talk to ruby at the end where he imagines their lives if everything was normal but it didn't translate as well in the movie.
i really missed the scene where chub's goes off on clancy while clancy is controlling everyone else.
I haven’t read the book yet, so this movie will be put aside and I’m sad about that
I think that there eyes only glowed for us to see when they use there powers I dont think that there eyes actually glowed in the movie like I think that the glowing eyes was just for the audience and that's it
Honestly, I know it sounds stupid, but I really wish they put in the seen at the hotel with the socks. It seems so insignifagant at first, but in one of the later books when Ruby was looking back on their relationship, one of the things she thought of was the socks, and right after he gave her the socks, she said that some how he knew that she wasn't okay, and that was like their first thing where they could like read the other person so easily
Okay so here's a list of reasons why this movie disappointed me😂:
1. I did not feel any connection whatsoever to the characters! What was great in the book is the fact that you got the backstory of each main character. You knew everyone's motivations. In the movie we got none of that psychological depth. They all are bonded by multiple traumatic experiences of the same nature, and yet we get to see none of it!
2. THIS MOVIE FELT LIKE IT WAS 2 MINITES LONG. It felt to me as if they picked the most important parts of the books and just combined them without giving them any context. The relationships that were portrayed and the actions that were taken seemed so rush🤷🤷🤷There was not building to the sister-like relationship with Zu. No conflict with Chubs. No fear with Liam. No desperation with Clancy. ughh😑
3. We didn't really get any explanation of the world and the government or even the virus itself. Especially when it is dystopian fantasy you should expect that there is a detailed explanation of what the hell is going on..even though it is all explained in the book!!!
Ps. If I had the power to delete any scene from any movie ever it would be the harry potter conversation.. Actually painful 😂🤷
Alex was there in the end, as a nurse walking away from Chubs lying in a hospital bed.
When Liam walked away with Ruby's keychain on his backpack, that was a nice touch, referencing the book in that he's taking a part of Ruby with him.
Ruby's parents didn't remember her, but they still loved her and cared about her. they were just confused. it like what Liam said in Never Fade, the memories of Ruby were gone, but not the feelings. He also said that it was terrifying and confusing were he first saw her. So when Ruby woke up on her 10 th birthday and her mom and dad didn't recognize her, they were scared of why the loved a random little girl that was somehow in their house.
I agree with the eye color thing because the annoying thing is how did Ruby survive in the camp for that long without anyone noticing her eyes turning (or not turning) green. I guess she could always make someone think her eyes were glowing green but I assuming she couldn't do that with too many people since she didn't use her power to just escape or take control of the compound.
Grandma line made me think of Vida
Anyone else make that connection?
You know, ‘cause she called him that.
I liked the movie, I thought in my opinion, it matched the book very well. I agree that the part at the end with the kids and the stadium, that is what I didn't like about it, I saw the trailer and I had low expectations, and then I saw the trailer and my expectations were high, it looked good, but the stadium thing put it off for me, but other than that there were some cringey parts, but when Liam quoted the book I was happy! my rating on the movie would be a B+ and an 8/5 out of 10. I only give it these ratings because I care! Overall great movie and a good adaptation, better than the ones I have seen in a while.
She never went back to her parents house once in the books. She does call her house and finds out her grandma moved in with them but she doesn't find out what happened to them until the end of third book. When she's in the hospital at the end her grandma and parents come. They don't have memories of her but just because she erased herself from their memories didn't mean she erased the memories that had her in them. That's why her mom and dad freaked out so much when she was child because they felt like they should know her but didn't. Their feelings and memories didn't go together. So they still missed Ruby and wanted her to come home even though she was erased from her memories. And her grandma helped them through that time. The girl at the camp who was her best friend was the same way. And after Ruby 'died' she mourned and cried about her even though she couldn't remember her. Basically she could erase herself but left giant gaping holes behind that caused confusion and sadness.
what did you think of Clancy? you didn't mention him at all in the video and I'm curious to your opinion on him
i also agreed with literally everything you said. Highlights of the movie to me were Clancy, Chubs, and the sock scene.
rachaelcathrynn Clancy was perfection.
I didn't mind the eyes glowing. I think it helps people who haven't read the book keep track of powers. Also when they get the powers their eyes could turn that color and that is how they built the chart? It's different. I only remembered some moments from the book so I really enjoyed the movie for what it is.
You should try reading “The Black Witch” its a pretty intense book to read😉 so much twists and rivalry 😂
i went into the movie with such low expectations and i was still very disappointed by it 😢
kimberly esparza I cried 20 min by how bad it was
y'all really thought the movie was bad? jesus u probably thought black panther was amazing
flames D92 I wouldn't say "amazing" but Black Panther was really good. Idk what the correlation between the two films is tho?
Christine you should just direct all the book to movie adaptations!
I agree so much with absolutely everything you said. I honestly think my friends were so annoyed because I kept saying “That was not like it was in the book.” “I don’t remember that happening.” “Oh my favorite scene is coming up.” Struggles of going to the movie with friends not reading the book
omg I could not stop laughing when I saw the reds breath fire
I’m actually rereading the book trilogy right now and got to the part about Ruby erasing her parents memory’s. Ruby does mention that she has proof of her existence but her mother just denies it to the bitter end. So they did explain in the book about all the pictures and things left behind.
I hope that helped!! I loved your review, I had pretty much the same thoughts:) you’re amazing thank you and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on The Darkest Legacy! 🖤🖤
I think the eyes were just to show what color they were but no one could see it
1. When ruby woke up the entire house was covered in puturned photos of her like her parents had a freak out but didn't understand what was going on.
2. Zu had hair
3. Chubs is blue not green
4. Black betty wasnt black
i really enjoyed it. the first time i was like meh, and the second time bc i knew what it was like i really enjoyed it. because the film was so short we didn't get a slow development? it was too fast you know? i hate, as you say, how they "teen-ified" their relationship....liam would be upset that they shared the secret about her parents to clancy first but he'd be more annoyed at himself bc she felt like she couldn't speak to him about it? he wouldn't have sulked, he would have asked her about her family and comforted her. and the showdown at the end...was embarrassing lmao although smth similar does happen in the book they added things which frustrated me. and that captain dude? all the moments with him? NO THANK YOU. CRINGEY. Zu and liam's relationship was my favourite. AND THE LAST SCENE IN THE LEAGUE'S SAFEHOUSE WITH RUBIAM
OMG. I a hundred percent agree on the eye color thing! If that was the case, why would the camp need to use that machine to read which power they have?
Oh and...something else that really bugged me is WHY WERE THERE REDS? The first red we see is halfway through the second book, and SPOILER! He dies in like, 6 pages.
my main gripe (everything you said too) was that the tone was very, light?, for what should be a darker concept. the music sometimes didn’t feel right for what was happening. i was pleasantly surprised though, i was expecting a lot worse. rotten tomatoes was a bit harsh.
In the book, when they were attacked in the mall I’m pretty sure that they did fall in the way that Liam was on top of Ruby, I might not be remembering right though.
personally, i think that ruby def could’ve been casted better, the feel of it felt stiff and like awkward acting and they did leave out a lot of crucial parts from the book. also, i didn’t necessarily like the pairing of ruby and liam in the movies, and i don’t know why, i just feel like the acting wasn’t too good tbh
Are you going to do a darkest legacy book talk? 🙃
I think the eye thing was only visible to the audience to show they were using their powers
It gets to me , in a emotional way, you understand me. The way you were explaining , was the way I felt during the movie.
Okay totally agree with basically everything you said. Chubs was the highlight of the movie for me tbh, his lines were hilarious. I believe that in the movie they show ruby being erased from the pictures on her mantles, but I could be mistaken
Going into the movie as someone who had never read the books I really liked it. I could see where it wasn’t as good being a little more watered down than I expected which is why I’m not expecting the sequel to be adapted which makes me sad, but the movie did make me buy 4 new books to read. The glowing eyes and the reds I also liked, but that was probably just my aesthetic, and since it’s different from the book I didn’t realize there was supposed to be something wrong with that, it was just part of the universe for me. I’m sad that the movie underperformed but it just makes me excited to read that books now to continue the story!
At the end i feel like they are “showing their colors” but they are standing all mixed together. So i think they tried to show them stepping up and coming together for a greater cause.
Yeah, I also didn't like that he didn't have a southern accent too
i agree with all this. I wish we had more scenes in Betty with everyone just hanging out and talking. Also yes movie Chubs was exactly how I'd pictured him.
I think the biggest question from the movie is how the fuck does Ruby know what happens in Harry Potter when she's been in Thurmond for 6 years?
She watch it in a young age
She would have been 10... like I’m not saying it’s impossible but is that really gonna be what sticks?
@@zoekate9943
True
I think the books should’ve been turned into a tv show, eitther Netflix or whatever, and broken up into 3 episodes each(maybe stretch it to make a ten episode series), because I feel like it would feel less rushed and make more sense.
I simply loved the movie. I really want to see the second.
I didn't read the book but my question is are red or oranges more rare? In the movie we see some reds and they look.. scary and insane? Do they become enraged? Or are they controlled?
Christine, I just started tdm and its because you talk about it so much. thanks for introducing me to this fandom!
I also hated the glowing eyes and the flame thrower reds. The eyes made the classification irrelevant when the powers were used, but like you said, no one seemed to notice them.
Hey where can I watch the movie (what website)
Oh my lord I agree with literally everything you said! I feel like because I was so emotional watching it because my dream was enfolding out in front of me I was guarded from the reality of some Liam and ruby scenes! Also I do not understand why people are not talking about the fact that LIAM DOES NOT HAVE A SOUTHERN ACCENT!
I've never read the books so I don't know how it is supposed to be set up in the book,but I really liked it. I enjoyed the message behind it and the chemistry between some of the characters. I actually enjoyed the interaction between Ruby and Liam and it tore me apart when Ruby took herself out of Liam's memories. There were certain scenes where I would laugh at how cringey and awkward they were. The cast choice was really good and I honestly enjoyed the entire plot. I do hope that they continue making movies of the series because I did enjoy it and want to see what happens next without me having to read the books.
I feel like people who direct YA adaptations should hire YA readers on as consultants 😝
I cried at the end when Liam is telling her the story and she has to say goodbye because I keep having flashbacks to the book
I thought all of the actors really embodied the characters and I really liked the actor who played Liam. I do see what you mean though about not enough moments with Liam and Ruby bonding. The movie did seem rushed a little bit even though it didn’t seem like it was a short movie. I wish we could have spent more time with just the squad. The ending was a little weird, but I’m just glad that the changes they made didn’t affect the overall plot of the book and the series. Overall I thought it was a pretty good adaptation. I was disappointed that they didn’t include the famous carpe diem line. It’s so iconic!
They classified the color to the kids because of their eyes
I totally agree with you, especially the Liam and Ruby thing seeming forced. Another thing I hated was that Ruby’s fear of her power wasn’t very prominent and same for her little knowledge of how it works. Like the scene where she controls the two hunters (totally forgot what they’re called) WITHOUT TOUCHING THEM. Before she even meets Clancy!
How'd they handle Ruby's psychological problems?
they're non-existent lol
I completely agree with every single thing you said. I thought it was extremely rushed and also extremely teenified. There were so many things I really missed from the book and wished had been put in the movie. Like, where did that scene with the supply truck being flipped and destroyed and shit by Zu? That was a really important scene for her character development. I don’t exactly remember what happened in that scene, but it did a great job of showing how much she hates the fact that she had those powers.
But on a good note, I really liked the scene with the girl dying at the table. For some reason, seeing her hand move is such an unnaturally fast way kind of really scared me, but her glowing eyes fucking RUINED IT.
I read the book almost five years ago now and I'm pretty sure I've reread since then but honestly who knows but it was genuinely my favorite book and I wanted so badly to like this movie even after I didn't like the trailer but this just wasn't it. They dumbed everything down so much for a teen audience when its literally teens who love and read the book. They tried to cater so much with the indie pop soundtrack instead of the classic rock written into the book. And the glowing eyes made no sense especially with greens like their eyes glow just because they say a fact?? I literally had to laugh just to get through the movie. And don't get me started on Liam. Liam Michael Stewart was the literal love of my sixth grade life but everything that came out of his mouth in the movie had me rolling my eyes. He was so cheesy and vaguely creepy using his powers on people I just don't see how that can be romantic or cute and the Twinkie was literally the portal scene all over again. His whole personality was "pretty girl. I like car. AND pretty girl." and there was nothing to back it up other than a few days of them staring at each other.