Let's start from the beginning. About 2 months ago I saw a random trailer on TV for I Am Number Four. Immediately after seeing the trailer I thought "I shall research this!" and the first thing I found was that it was based off of a book. Unlike most people when I find out something is based off of a book I go out of my way to read the book first (I'm currently reading Water for Elephants for this very reason). I think it's important to read the book first because 99.9% of the time important things are left out of the movie. I also like to decide how characters will look in my head first. Anyway, I read this book in about 2 days, that's with working 16 hrs of those 2 days as well; needless to say it was fantastic! This made my excitement over the movie even greater!
The premise of the book is there was a planet similar to Earth called Lorien and a group of evil aliens came and destroyed the planet. Apparently this same group of aliens is now on earth hunting down Loriens and plotting to take over. Nine children and 9 guardians escaped and were sent to Earth to live. There was a spell put on them to keep them safe and if they are to be killed they have to be killed in number order. The book/movie starts with the death of number 3 and the main character is 4, thus I Am Number Four. They all discover when one is killed because of a scar that is burned into their flesh after each one's death. If at any point more than one of them is in the same place together the spell is broken and they're all up for grabs (this is important later).
So Friday, with limited expectations, I went to see the movie and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. After finishing the book I wasn't sure about Alex Pettyfer as John but he actually ended up being great casting. He embodied the character perfectly as did Dianna Agron. I'd like to pause to say that Agron's voice drives me nuts. For those of you that don't know who she is she plays Quinn on Glee! She has this overly breathy voice that really begins to grate on the nerves after a while. Aside from that, her portrayal of Sarah was spot on.
The blonde one
The movie itself was very fun to watch. It had amusing lines/scenes and most of the casting was great. I did have a bit of an issue with the guy they cast to play Sarah's ex boyfriend, Mark. He didn't really fit what I was thinking of in my mind. I think the main issue was he's supposed to be hot and I don't think he was. He also was to be a star of the football team and I got more nerd vibe from him. That being said that one casting issue doesn't really bother me because nothing shall ever be worse than the casting catastrophe that was Twilight. Don't even get me started on Taylor Lautner as Jacob!!!!
Mark
I would give the movie a solid A. As far as movies based on books, especially young adult books, this one rocked. It was true to the book as far as characters and plot go for the most part. I did have some fundamental issues with specific things that happened in the movie vs the book. My main issue was with the introduction of 6. OK, SPOILER ALERT skip the rest of this paragraph if you haven't read the book/seen the movie. Number 6 comes at the end of the book and saves the day! It's one of those cool things where you honestly are so distracted by the 10 other things happening that you don't even see it coming. There are no hints given to the reader that she will show up in the book. Her coming completely changes the course of the big battle scene in at the end and it's such a great surprise! In the movie, you see #6 within the first 25 minutes. FAIL. They don't tell you who she is but she's tracking him throughout the whole movie and then shows up at the end. There's no real element of surprise like there is in the book. Again I say, FAIL!
That's 6
The Older man is Henri, John's guardian.
My second major issue was with how everyone discovers John is, shall we say, different. Again, SPOILER ALERT, stop reading now if you plan to see the movie and/or read the book. In the book without getting too specific there's a party, a fire, and John runs into a burning building to save Sarah. People take videos of it put it on the internet and then the bad aliens come to find John. This is also how #6 finds him. In the movie, all this minor nonsense happens and John goes to the party, the cops show up, and then John just begins flashing his powers all over the place. It's really, REALLY, unrealistic.
Aside from those two things I didn't really have any other major issues. I was mildly irritated by the powers that #6 and John have. Read the book and you will understand what I mean. I also had a major issue with something in reference to Henri's character. Without saying anything, something major happens to him and when it happens in the book it makes WAY more sense than when it takes place in the movie.
In the end I found this film to be refreshing. I loved the book and enjoyed the movie as well. I'm very excited for the rest of the books to come out. It's odd when a movie actually comes out before the entire series is finished but oh well. The next book will be out on 08/23/11.
So get your ass to the library or your local bookstore and go get I Am Number Four and then go see the movie!! And yes, you have to go in that order! :D
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