The Host at The Qube, Metrocentre, Gateshead

'Our Urban Adventure Fell Flat' 

 

....  Seeing The Host entailed going beyond our Tynedale comfort zone and the vintage charm of  The Forum, to drive East for a taste of urban culture.

....  The Odeon cinema at the Gateshead Metro Centre Qube is a far cry from our usual cinematic haunt and whilst it can boast 12 screens, an Imax screen and Premier seating,  it is impersonal and lacks character.   Lucky for us then that The Forum, is quaint, friendly, oozes personality and is right on our leafy doorstep!  Unluckily though, there is no indication that The Host will be showing there in the near future - hence our urban adventure.   Our daughters were delighted to come along and behave like normal teenagers, in normal surroundings with normal refreshments.
 

Normal? refreshments!

....  But our metropolitan safari did not live up to expectations.  The Host movie was not a patch on The Host book.  Even those of us who enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's science fiction romance on paper, found that it did not translate well to the screen.  Whilst The Host pages effectively transported us to a new and different earth, the screen version failed to take us beyond The Qube.  Meyer's prose conjured up intense passion, longing, suspense and excitement but the screenplay was flat and unconvincing.  Her internal dialogue between Melanie and Wanda worked well on paper but just seemed ridiculous when portrayed on the big screen.

....  We could not criticise the cast.  Melanie / Wanda (Saoirse Ronan) did as much as she could with the script and the direction although Wanda's monotone voice grated after a while.  Fortunately Jared provided a pleasant diversion as Max Irons is easy on the eye.   The seeker 's (Diane Kruger) character was least credible.  The music seemed lack lustre, anti-climactic, dull.

....  We initially gave the book mixed reviews - a marmite story, with strong love it or hate it viewpoints.  The views on the film were more unanimous and less passionate.   A miss not a hit.   Even the soundtrack fell flat.  

....  Unlike The Twilight series, The Host was initially published as an adult science fiction story.  Interestingly, however, The Host movie went down better with our daughters who, in typical teen understatements, indicated that it had been OK.   Quite good. Whatever!   

....  If you like pink drinks, an anonymous auditorium, speak in monotones and are prepared to suspend belief for the sake of appreciating Max Irons then you might enjoy The Host movie; but if you prefer less colourful drinks and venues with character, then save your cinema money (£18.30 for one adult and one teen including £1.50 booking fee) and just read The Host.  You will find your imagination can conjure up something far more amazing than this manufactured flop.

....  No wonder it's not showing at The Forum!