Scott Pilgrim: A side note

So here's some randomness for y'all.

Just over a week ago I was rambling on about how much I loved Mercury by Hope Larson. Then, over the weekend, I decided to read the first 5 volumes of Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley since the movie is coming out soon. Then I noticed one of the volumes was dedicated to Hope Larson. And then in another volume, I see that she is his wife. Ooooohhhh, synchronicity.

And, speaking of the Scott Pilgrim GNs; they're awesome! Although my library has the series cataloged as YA, I really think it's more for people in their 20s. The characters are in their mid 20s and there are lots of references back to 90s area videogames and bands. The series is perfectly appropriate for teens; I'm just not sure of the appeal. I wonder if teens will be drawn in by the forthcoming movie...

...And speaking of this movie, is it just me, or does Michael Cera have a monopoly on the ya book to movie roles? He's been in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Youth in Revolt, and now Scott Pilgrim. I can't say that I am happy about this choice, but I'll hold me judgment until I actually see the movie.

Off Topic: If I Stay Movie

WOW! The book hasn't even been published yet and already Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen, Lords of Dogtown) is being tapped to direct the movie version of Gayle Forman's If I Stay.

Read about it here. Too bad the author of the article predicts that it will be an annoying Young Adult movie... but you already read my rant about that when I blogged about the Twilight Movie...

Personally, I can't wait for the film. If I Stay was a fabulous book and it will be very interesting to see how they adapt it for the movie... plus if they film in in Portland, OR that would be an even bigger bonus!

Off Topic: Twilight Movie

So I can't help myself... I have to post something about the Twilight movie.

First, I will say that I have read all the books and I'm not gonna lie to you... I love them. They are not lovely examples of fine writing, but the series has done for YA lit what Harry Potter did for children's lit; Twilight brought books into pop-culture, teen boys and girls alike are gaga for the books, and kids who have never read a book longer than 100-200 pages are eating up these l-o-n-g tomes.

I have been hearing so many people rip into this movie. I have a bunch of friends in their late 20s who feel like they have the inside scoop on what makes a movie great... you know the type. These are the people who like to sit around with a glass of wine and talk about how much better it would have been if (insert obscure director's name here) had directed it. They talk about how unrealistic it is, about how stupid the vampires' makeup looked, how cheesy some of the lines were, how wooden the acting was...

But do you know what I say? I say WHO CARES! Truly. I know it wasn't a perfect movie... heck it wasn't even a great movie. But neither were the books and that doesn't stop the YA Librarian and avid teen fiction reader in me from loving them! The movie really got one thing right: it will appeal to the target audience, TEENS. Teens in the theater were swooning at every appearance of Edward (actually my 26 year old sister was swooning too), they cheered during the baseball scene, they giggled when Bella and Edward were kissing. Some of the lines from the book have become almost a cult secret language; you know, the lion laid down with the lamb stuff. Even though it was cheesy on film, it was really important to fans of the book; I'm glad they left it in.

I am happy to hear that New Moon has been green-lighted. I truly hope they get a bigger budget for the film so the special effects are more believable. Also, as I live in the Pacific Northwest, I hope they continue filming it in our gorgeous location! What I hope the most, however, is that all the adults who are tearing Twilight into shreds go easier on New Moon. It's a teen movie! I'm definitely not saying that makes it less of an art, I am just saying you can't judge it with the same criteria you use for movies with an older target audience.

What did you think??