In Review: "The Host"

Oh, Stephanie Meyer. Honey, your track record with movies is not one to be proud of - if we are talking quality. People either love you or they hate you. And frankly there is much more hate in this world for you than adoration.

So I go into this movie with rather low expectations to say the least. I was expecting cheesy lines, unemotional actors (*cough*cough* Kristen Stewart), forced romance, and forgettable and replaceable characters. Thank God that did not happen.

Ok, well, not entirely any way. There was still the cheesy, forced lines. Some include:

"Oh Jared..." (Heavy breathing)
"When you touch me..."

But I got through it, rolled my eyes, took a breath, and continued. Andrew Niccol, the writer and director, has taken simple concepts and transformed them into extraordinary works- "The Truman Show" (1998) and "The Terminal" (2004). So there was hope that this man could turn the Twilight/Meyer-haters around. He was able to do that through the words. Some lines were really well done:

"Melanie stepped into the other room so I could kiss you."
"No one's ever sorry for hitting me brother."
"You've got two minds about it."
"Kiss me like you want to get slapped."
(P.S. - I haven't read the book so I'm not sure if these lines are actually in the book. If they are, good work Meyer.)

The Story

(They didn't show the character Melanie throughout the film like in this photo (no double trouble here). You just heard her thoughts.)

Glowing caterpillars are taking over the world. They are inhabiting out bodies and creating a Utopian society. No one lies. No one steals. Everyone trusts each other. Yet, there is conflict. There would be no story without the conflict.

The movie opens with Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) being inhabited by Wanderer (Saoirse Ronan). The Seeker (Diane Kruger) is trying to get Wanderer to extract information from Melanie's brain, specifically the whereabouts of surviving human rebels. Then comes the fun part. Bipolar Disorder!! Wanderer can hear all of Melanie's thoughts, and Melanie wants her out. Melanie controls Wanderer to not tell Seeker all the information she wants to know. Melanie then forces Wanderer to leave the city. They arrive in the desert, rescued by Melanie's Uncle Jeb (William Hurt) , Aunt Maggie (Frances Fisher), boyfriend Jared (Max Irons), Ian (Jake Abel), and Ian's brother Kyle (Boyd Holbrook). We also find out that Melanie's brother Jamie (Chandler Canterbury) is alive in this giant cave where many surviving humans live. But of course, there are problems with having a "host" living with the humans. Jared doesn't trust Wanderer. Kyle wants "it" dead. Jeb trusts Wanderer, who he nicknames Wanda. And Ian falls in love with her. Crazy mess of emotions on top of Seeker still trying to search her down.

The Cast

Unlike Twilight, this cast is very recognizable to the every day film goer. Ronan is from "The Lovely Bones" (2009). Diane Kruger is from "National Treasure" (2004). William Hurt is from "The Big Chill" (1983). Frances Fisher is from "Titanic" (1997). Jake Abel is from "Percy Jackson" (2010). So you expect good material from these people. You know they have talent. You know they know how to act (*cough*cough* Kristen Stewart). And with what they had (a below average script, with ridiculously cheesy lines) they did pretty well.

The Message

There was zero connection between Melanie and Jared. The first time they met, he lip-raped her (attacked her with his kisses) when she was searching for food in an abandoned refrigerator. But really, you aren't supposed to feel for Melanie. You are in the body of Wanderer with Melanie's memories, but Wanderer's feelings.

This movie is not a traditional love story. I did not read the book so I can't speak for the original material, but this is not a traditional love story. At least, not the kind you think it would be. I expected "The Twilight Syndrome"- one girl can't pick between two equally hunky and wonderful guys. Boohoo for her. But instead, I got a story about two girls, one human and the other alien, becoming as close as sisters. It was about two different species coming to understand each other in the most humanly way possible. It was the love that is created when we all try to "be human." To act with humanity, dignity, to not kill for the sake of killing. This film gave more heart then I could have ever expected.

Overall

I went into this film expecting the worst. My friend told me that she liked it, which meant a lot coming from someone who despises everything Twilight. But I still wasn't expecting much. And I ended up getting emotional during a couple scenes. I ended up caring about these characters. (Frankly, if I was Wanderer I would've said screw you Jared. Ian is way hotter anyway. But that's just me.) In the end, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't another Twilight movie. And yes, it was better then the Twilight love story. But honestly, that's not saying much.

2 out of 4 glowing caterpillars