Hoi
Today I want to talk to you guys about "The Girl with All the Gifts."
Usually I feel like I have more props to show you
but since the film is still in cinemas and I listened to the audiobook
this is sort of the best I can do.
So this book came out about two years ago and I think it's done so well
because I know so many people that have read it.
I never got about to reading it and I was interested in reading it before I saw the film
but then I was invited to an advanced screening and I really wanted to go see it
so I saw it before I read the book. Shame! Shame!
But I'll also be talking in this video about whether I think you should go see it first or read it first.
But to start off with I'll sort of explain what the book is about.
The book starts off at an army base and it centres around a couple of different characters
There is Miss Justineau who is a teacher. There is a scientist called Caldwell
Then there is someone who I think the leader of the military base who is Sargeant Parks
and there is Melanie who is a young girl who I think is about 10 years old.
She is locked in this bunker and lots of other kids are in their individual rooms
and everyday they get wheeled into the classroom. They are all sort of bound strapped into a chair
where they are taught. I don't want to give away too many spoilers
it wont really reveal the ending but I'm definitely going to have to tell you something
that I think you also see it in the trailer. So if you don't want any spoilers at all then probably stop watching now
One of the vital things you sort of need to know and you find out I think pretty early in the book
is that all the little kids have been infected by the zombie fungus, I guess.
but they are all very different form the normal zombies
because those just sort of like either run around like crazy or just stand still in place
but these kids are quite intelligent and they get told all these stories and they write stories
and talk and function like normal human beings
unless they really catch the scent of a human.
Miss Justineau who is one of the teachers, she spends loads of times with these kids
and she sees them as, I guess, human children
while lots of other people on the base are like "no these are monsters.
they're just like this virus pretending to be kids"
but there is a very special bond between Melanie and Miss Justineau
and this is one of the reasons that when the base goes down under attack from zombies
that they sort of make it out together with the sargeant and Dr Caldwell.
that as much as I am going to tell you about the plot really
but the story sort of goes on from there.
I saw the film first. I friggin loved it.
I actually went to a screening where most of the actors were there
and the author was there and the director was there
which is always really fun to hear them chat a little bit before the film starts.
It was also a huge huge screen and the sound was really loud
I do really like zombie films and I've seen quite a few
and I do think this is a different twist on it but still it was quite terrifying and potentially a bit gross.
I thought the film was filled with tension, really fun there were so many little chump scares.
And it was one of those films where you sort of like sit on your chair
and respond to it quite a lot and try to look away
I started listening to the book quite soon after I'd seen the film
and I have to say the two are very very similar; the screenplay was written by the author.
One of the surprises when I started listening to the book is that
in the film Melanie is played by a Black actress called Sennia Nanua
and Miss Justineau is played by Gemma Arterton who I freaking adore
When I started reading the book I very quickly realised the girl Melanie is described as being White
and super blonde hair etc. and then
Miss Justineau is described as black
I'm not entirely sure what the reason for this switch was.
and I do feel like it had an effect on the film
but I'd be really curious to hear what you guys think of that as well in the comments.
The book has some absolutely genious lines that just made me chuckle.
It's really descriptive; the dialogue is really good.
and I do feel like I equally enjoyed it as I did the film.
There was some difference like for example in the book
you learn a bit more about the reason why the base was attacked
and who was behind it
and also you get more background information when it comes to how did this infection start
and you actually realise it's been 20 years since it actually started
and in the film you feel like it was like 5 or something.
Also I think in the book everything seems even more hopeless than it is in the film
In the book it feels the story like it focuses a lot more on Miss Justineau and her point of view
even though it switches a couple of times.
The film felt very very focused on Melanie and you were seeing lots of things from her point of view.
I love in a film or a book when there is like a person or a creature etc.
who is experiencing human life or the outside world for the first time
There's quite a lot of films that toy with this. Again it's usually beautiful shots of nature and that kind of thing
but also funny little things like at some point Melanie finally gets to wear kids clothing for the first time.
and she's so excited about it.
By the way that's reminded me there is an animal maybe multiple animals that die in quite graphic ways
Some people will need to like not look for that part.
Another thing that I love is when it's a couple of years in to the future and people reference old things
so in the book they find lots of old CDs and old money
and the young solder that is with them just doesn't know about any of these.
cause he's probably like 23 years old
also in the film when they get to London I love to see an old destroyed M&S
and I just think that the site of London in ruins never gets old.
Now when it comes to the ending, I wont describe what it is, but I think the first bit of the ending I really enjoyed
both in like the book and the film
I thought it was quite like a brave ending
There's an added scene at the end which is in both the book and the film
that I feel a little bit weird about. I'm not entirely certain
I think I wish it would have cut off a little bit earlier
but yeah if you have seen the film or read the book let me know what you prefer.
So finally should you read the book or see the film first?
I think probably read the book first.
You can definitely entirely go and see the film without reading the book
if you have no intention of reading the book
or if you want to see the film then wait a couple of months before you read the book
but I think in an ideal situation for this one I probably would've liked to read the book first.
Alright I think that is everything I have to say about this book and film
I hope you guys enjoyed this video and I will talk to you guys later.
Doei!