The Host ☆☆☆

I was determined not to see this movie if I had to pay for it, so adamant that I firmly believed it would be a few years until I actually watched it. However I have a supremely kind sister who paid for me to go see it, which is why I am able to give my verdict about 3 years earlier than I expected.

And you know what? It wasn't that bad.

Don't get me wrong my expectations were below sea level prior to viewing, with the exception that I hoped Saoirse Ronan would be at least the best thing in it as I happen to believe she is a fine actress (if you've not seen Hanna or Atonement you really must). And Ronan was one of the best things by far.

To catch up those unfamiliar with the story, this is the adaptation of Stephanie Meyers abortive attempt at science fiction. Why so harsh? Because it was a rehash of invasion of the body snatchers with a love triangle and hardly any horror. I am fed up of Love Triangles, and Meyer cannot write science fiction.
You have these parasitic 'souls' who attach themselves to the dominant life form on a planet and seek to co-exist within their bodies and minds. However humans are more resistant and have to be forced out leaving the 'soul' to live in harmony with it's brethren, who have made Earth peaceful, harmonious and a really quite boring planet.

After a few years a new soul called 'Wanderer' arrives and is given the host body of Melanie Stryder, one of the last humans still resisting being taken over. However Melanie resists and instead reveals to Wanderer what their invasion has meant for the humans. Cue a love triangle between Melanie's true love and the guy who loves the alien, some impressive action sequences (very few but still good), and, as is expected from a Meyer movie, a neat happy ending.

If this had only been a film and not a book, I think I might have liked it more. But the stigma of bad writing is such that I cannot forgive the painful cheesy romantic moments because they are the fault of Meyer. There are a few of these, but luckily what out weighs them is the really great relationship formed on screen between Wanderer (or Wanda) and Mel's uncle Jeb played by William Hurt (Incredible Hulk, Into The Wild). Saoirse did the split personality very well and was how I imagined Wanda/Melanie to be. Hurt was easy going and laid back, very easy to watch in fact rather like Charlie in the Twilight movies.

The boys, Jared and Ian, were slightly less comfortable to watch, but I'll put that down to the cheesy moments they were made to be part of. Max Irons (Red Riding Hood) and Jake Abel (Percy Jackson) were pretty good and lived up to my own impression of the territorial boys in love with one of the two personalities in Melanie's body. They were also not hard to look at either.

I thought Diane Kruger did a great job as Seeker, a soul whose skill is in finding people, and her obsession with Melanie was well played out.

The artistry of the film, in the sets, costumes and general look, is also to be praised. The white and silver of the alien invaders contrasted with the earthy colours of the resisting humans, making them seem more enemy-like. The caves where the humans are in hiding were quite stunning and almost exactly as described in the book, these caves were definitely the most fascinating aspect of the original tale.

Overall this is worth a watch, especially if someone else is paying. There are tedious moments that make you want to skip through the scene, but there is also some surprising violence that was much needed and made you wake up a bit.

If what you loved about Twilight was the romance and love triangle issues, you'll definitely love The Host. If like me you have become bitter and critical then I say if you have the opportunity to see this movie take it, if only to see some beautiful caves and Saoirse Ronan showing yet again that she really can act, even when the script sometimes makes you want to gag.