Confessions of a Shopaholic - The Movie!

This past weekend I finally had a chance to watch the movie version of Confessions of a Shopaholic. Let me start by saying I loved Sophie Kinsella's original book. It's even one of my top reads for 2009. The second book, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, was okay but not nearly as good as the first book.

Now, about the movie. As typical with books to movies, there were things changed in the movie. Not enough things to really make me angry, but enough that it made the movie version seem so shallow. Obviously a book gives you a deeper inside as to the motivation of a character and gives you more opportunity to see a story actually develop.

A few things differences between the movie and the book...

Movie - Becky immediately gets a job with Luke.
Book - Becky gets a job with someone else and goes through a lot to avoid Luke.

Movie - Becky makes a TV guest appearance on a show with Luke.
Book - Becky is a regular on a TV show as a financial expert.

Movie - Becky lives in New York.
Book - Becky lives in London, she doesn't get to New York until book #2.

Movie - Becky's friend Suze is dating and gets engaged to Tarky.
Book - Tarky is interested in Becky, Suze is a second or third cousin. They eventually do get together, though (Tarky and Suze).

Book - Becky helps her parent's neighbors with financial advice.
Movie - The neighbors don't exist.

Book - Becky is accused of practically stalking the above neighbor's son.
Movie - The son doesn't exist either.

There were probably other differences and, on a whole, I guess the differences aren't that big a deal but...these were all things that added up to making the book so much fun. Overall, I'm glad I read the book first. If I saw the movie first, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading it. Even though I wasn't thrilled with book #2, I still intend to finish the series.

It makes me realize another thing - although I wasn't thrilled with the movie Twilight, I really might enjoy the books. I need to dust them off and take them out of my TBR.

Star Trek 2009

I rarely go to the movies anymore for one reason or another, but I was really excited to see a new Star Trek movie. I've missed not having a Star Trek movie or TV show for the past few years. This movie was a wonderful treat.

Chris Pine was so good as a young Kirk. I can easily see him as a young Shatner. Zachary Quinto is perfect as a young Spock. He looks like he could be related to Leonard Nimoy. Both Pine and Quinto had all the mannerisms down perfect.

This movie had it all - action, adventure and a storyline that kept my interest throughout the entire movie. It was the fastest two hours I ever had. Nobody wanted to leave the theater when it was over. I think I smell a sequel or two on the horizon.

Sure, it was different than the original Star Trek and I know the diehards might have a problem with it, but for me it was great entertainment. It made me happy for a couple of hours and that's what is important. I'll definitely be there for a sequel and when the DVD is released. It might be one of the few times I'll re-watch a movie.

P.S. I Love You

Has anyone read the book and seen the movie P.S. I Love You? I read the book a couple of months back and finally saw the movie today. I thought the premise was the same, but the characters were a bit different.

In the book, the heroine had a huge family. In the movie she just had a sister and a mother. In the book, the heroine's mother loved Jerry, the heroine's husband and in the movie she didn't. It was differences like these, but overall, I did enjoy both the movie and the book. I didn't particularly like the ending of either the book or the movie. Both kind of left me a bit depressed.

Usually I find myself disliking movies as compared to their book counterparts, but this time I think I enjoyed both equally. Anyone elsesee or read this one?