“The Giver” passes with flying colors

I went and picked up a copy of “The Giver” before watching it in theaters. This popular book basically paved the way for teen dystopian novels, such as “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent.” However, despite the fact that the general idea is similar to other teen dystopias, I thought the story possessed its own original message which sets it apart from the more recent ones.
In the novel, the main character Jonas lives in a perfect, colorless community that practices “sameness,” which shelters its citizens from conflict and the pain of mankind’s unruly past. Unlike his companions, Jonas is able to see hints of color in their otherwise monochromatic society. At the age of twelve, he is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory, and learns about the community’s long lost history. Recognizing that the public is missing out on the wonderful things of the old world, Jonas embarks on a risky journey to return all lost memories to the society.
After watching the film, I have to admit that I was a bit frustrated, for some details of the book were either altered or missing completely. Also, I didn’t like that the movie focused so heavily on Jonas and his childhood friend Fiona’s blossoming romance. In the novel, the two are simply companions, and I thought their love connection in the film was unnecessary and cliché.
Despite the minimal tweaks to the plot, the film definitely had its perks. Personally, I have to say that I liked the motion picture more than the book, simply because the movie really took advantage of showing people the memories that Jonas received. Throughout the film, there were brief but meaningful insights of the real world. Regardless if they were good or bad, the shorts were inspirational and depicted the world we live in today.
I was reduced to tears towards the end of the film. There’s a “life is beautiful” motif, and with all of the wars and chaos occurring in our world at the moment, I think we all need a reminder that life is precious.
“The Giver” was exceptionally beautiful and did not disappoint. Ultimately, I believe that the movie adaptation stayed true to the spirit of the original story, and gave viewers, as well as myself, a new perspective on life.