Motion picture adaptations of popular young adult books have been more and more common lately. From the Harry Potter franchise to 13 Reasons Why, film adaptations are great way for the readers to relive the adventure while the existence of others are meant to be forgotten.
I’ve enjoyed many movie adaptations of books, many of them multiple times because they were so good. Some are really well done and are met with a lot of praise from viewers. Many even prompt the audience to read the book it was based on.
BOOKS VS MOVIES
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By Hillary Do
On the other hand, for those who had read the books and then watched the movie, some films were just a nightmare. Either the plot was completely butchered, the acting was flat, or just something was off about it that didn’t make the movie enjoyable. Some of these include A Series of Unfortunate Events (the 2004 movie, not the Netflix series which is so much better) and the Twilight saga, which has kind of turned into an internet meme.
A few of my favorite well done adaptations include Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Maze Runner. The first time, I watch them, it was to get the taste of it, to see how good the movie is compared to the book and how scenes and characters are brought to life. The next few times are when I really focus on the details. For the movies I disliked, they were never even mentioned again.
Adaptations are a great way to bring publicity to the book as well as hype up the movie. However, a trend I’ve noticed is that the first few books in a series are really good, but as it continues, the series become less popular. This is the same fate movies in a series face. The popularity drops since people lose interest of certain aspects or are just not impressed by the first movie. While this isn’t true for all series, I’ve seen this in the Divergent series as well as the Maze Runner and Twilight series.
Originally aired on November 10, 1969, Sesame Street has been a long-time favorite and is by far one of PBS Kids most popular television programs. For those who are unfamiliar with the show, it is a educational program for younger children that teaches many cultural and academic concepts. I personally grew up with Sesame Street and was able to learn a lot from its lovable characters, including Elmo, Ernie, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, etc. Recently, Sesame Street has welcomed its newest muppet, Julia.
Julia, played by Stacey Gordon, debuted on Episode 4175, which aired on April 10. She is a four-year-old with red hair and big eyes who loves to draw. In this episode, Julia is seen drawing, while Big Bird is trying to call her and get her attention. He gets frustrated when she doesn’t respond initially, and he has to
Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?
By Rose Nguyen
repeat her name; however, he learns that Julia is different and does things differently, in a “Julia type of way.” It is later revealed that Julia has autism, a mental condition that impairs an individual’s ability to communicate and interact in everyday settings.
Julia’s addition to the show is also a large milestone for those with mental disorders, especially for autistic children. Representation in media is very important, because it not only promotes awareness and understanding for those who are different and oppressed, but also promotes diversity. Julia serves as both a relatable character and a role model for those children who struggle within themselves and with their surroundings. She is proof that it’s okay to be different.
Julia playing with toys in her debut episode of Sesame Street.
Source: US Weekly