The Fault In Our Stars

[alythonian]

Sniffed my way through this in a packed Edinburgh. Best day of summer here so far so I was surprised it was so busy. Not sure the average age demographic in Edinburgh of about 45 was what the distributors would be aiming for but I agree it was a film for all ages not just teens.
I wouldn't read the book based on this.
It was ok and well done in part. A 6 from me.

[McG]

GSaw this in a full Glasgow screening tonight. I'm surprised to read that some folk think the film is aimed at a teen audience as I think everyone (except scootermcc ) could take something from this story. It raised so many questions about life/death, relationships, support groups, etc. I didn't find it as sad as I expected it to and there was humour in the experiences they shared. Yes, they were probably the healthiest looking sick folk but do we really need to see the sad reality of young people with a terminal prognosis. It's certainly not an Oscar winning film or performances but a fairly gentle look at a serious subject without overdoing sentimentality.
Marks 6.5/10

[KM&M]

This has to be one of the most depressing films that I have ever watched. It's also the film with the healthiest looking sick people that I have watched.

As someone suffering through chronic illness it's a pet hate of mine, the way tv and movies glamorise being sick.

Spent 3 nights in Hospital recently (unplanned) and while I tried my best to keep myself clean and tidy there was certainly nothing glamorous about my appearance when I came out...

I am not saying when someone is sick it necessarily means they can't maintain a good appearance but well they are sick it often shows and energy is usually needed for things besides make up, immaculate hair etc!

[prettyxcool]

ritamistry and I both won tickets for the special screening tonight, for a largely teen audience, so not sure how we managed that!

On arrival, a large crowd of teens were in pens outside the hotel, but with not a red carpet in sight. Guest list attendees were wristband and sent in immediately.

Love events at The Mayfair Hotel.

Inside, we were greeted with drinks and then a waiter came round with trays and trays of fish and chips, salmon canapes, chicken satay, butternut squash ravioli.

We then waited at the entrance of the screening room to be let in, hoping get front seats. We were standing in an orderly queue behind two or three young girls, but as soon as we were allowed in, out of no-where loads of teens rushed in and by the time we got to the front the whole front row was already taken! So we settled for the second row. The screening room was filled with teens and a few parents here and there. elski, ritamistry and I represented FMUK, I think, didn't recognise anyone else there.

Then the dude Greg Wise, minus Emma Thompson, came in with his daughter.

Finally, the stars were introduced. Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern (from Jurassic Park) and Nat Wolff came in for the Q&A.

The film was witty, funny, bittersweet, beautifully filmed and so, so soppy! A teen love story with a difference. I did not cry as I was lead to believe, but I did have moist eyes, perhaps, because they were always smiling, smiling, smiling. Some good lines and insights.

In the goody bag, we did get a packet of tissues, in readiness.

8/10

Some snaps:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61965024@ ... 271342753/

[stuartboy]

I loved this.
I loved the characters in this.
Had never heard of it nor read the book, but kinda knew what to expect. Wasn't as much sobbing amongst the students tonight as I'd have thought.
Plenty of laughs though as we get to know the two young people.
Very well written indeed without ever being sugary or sacchariney.
Really more of a feel-good movie, despite the subject matter.

9/10

Even better than I was expecting.

[sikmansam]

I really enjoyed this and was surprised that this wasn't as over-sentimental as this genre tends to be. Unlike last years Now is Good, I was actually swept up by the story (testament to the credible acting of Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort) and despite some flaws, I felt this was a wry, almost laid-back approach to a tough subject.

8/10

My review:

[RAZORBACK]

Definitely didn't think that this was specifically aimed at the teenage end of the spectrum, for example the relatively intense scene with Willem Dafoe certainly would have felt out of place (IMO anyway) in the stereotypical teen drama.

Admittedly it has been marketed that way, the majority of film goers at the screening I attended were teenage girls and most of them left the cinema sobbing. It didn't quite have the same impact on me but I would be lying if I said that I managed to remain completely dry eyed throughout this film's running time.

Despite everyone involved being excellent I thought both Shailene Woodley (an actress that I really do rate quite highly) & Ansel Elgort really stood out performance wise and although I didn't think it was a perfect film by any means (the final 30 or so minutes would have benefited from a bit of time based trimming) it more than deserved an 8/10 from me...