I saw My Sister’s Keeper last night. I was quite excited about this movie for a variety of reasons. First, I absolutely love Jodi Picoult’s novels and My Sister’s Keeper is my favorite of hers. It’s actually one of my favorite books in general, right up there with Harry Potter and that’s saying something. Second, it inspired me to write In Moonlight’s Shadow. If you read both My Sister’s Keeper and In Moonlight’s Shadow, you’ll probably be able to see the similarities.
However, I was incredibly disappointed in the movie. They absolutely killed it. I wasn’t expecting it to live up to the book, but I also was not expecting them to completley change the plot and message. *CAUTION SPOILERS BELOW*
The first thing I noticed was that they pretty much cut the Jesse plot line. In the book, Jesse (the older brother) starts setting fires as he’s dealing with Kate’s cancer. That was cut. Honestly, I can understand why they cut that part. Movies do have to cut stuff. But then they haphazardly threw in this made-up plot about Jesse having dyslexia. Then at the end of the movie, they mentioned how he went back to school. Kind of confusing since it was never mentioned that he dropped out. I think they shouldn’t have bothered with the dyslexia plot line.
Second, the movie focused mostly on Kate’s cancer. Now, at first glance that would make sense because the book is about a girl with cancer. But it’s really so much more. The book focused so much on the family dynamics and Anna’s relationship with her mother and how she was suing her parents. It really showed how Kate’s cancer was tearing her family apart. Most of that was cut.
I could have dealt with all that. I really could have. But then they had to go and change the entire ending!!!! In the book, Anna dies and Kate gets her kidney and lives. In the movie, Kate dies. Completely different. They took a book that has one of the best twist endings I have ever read in my life and turned it into a tear-jerker Hallmark movie. I cried more at the book, actually, because of that twist ending. I did cry at the movie, but I didn’t cry much at the end because I was too preoccupied with the change of ending.
I don’t recommend it. I highly recommend reading the book. Don’t see the movie and then read the book. Read the book and then see the movie if you really want to. It’s not one I’d see again and certainly not one I would buy.
Filed under: Movies, Other Books, Really Grinds My Gears
I haven’t read the book yet, but the movie did look interesting from the previews. Thanks for the heads up, I’ll look for the book at Barnes & Noble tomorrow.
Thank you for the spoiler warning!! I did hear tons of people hated it, especially the book readers.
I liked the book. I’m not Picoult’s fan because I don’t like her writing style, but she does come up with good stories.
Hey Baja, I seem to remember you saying you don’t like reading.
I’ve been trying to read more to feel more “sophistimacated.”
I love her writing style. She’s definitely one of my top five favorite authors. I’d definitely recommend the book over the movie, it’s far more interesting than the movie.
Hehe, you should read more, MJae. Reading is awesome.
I’m trying, I’m trying.