Film vs. Book

     In the move versus the book, The Giver, they have many differences. In the book, while Jonas is escaping, he doesn't come in contact with Asher at all. In the movie, while Jonas is escaping, Asher tries to stop Jonas, but Jonas doesn't let anyone get in the way of his plan. Ultimately, Jonas punches Asher, because Asher wouldn't stop convincing Jonas to stay. In the book, Jonas leaves his dwellings to flee, but in the movie he leaves the Annex after talking to the Giver. Also, in the book, no one tries to stop Jonas or finds out that he's missing. These two are different because movies are made to entertain. The fact that Asher tries to stop Jonas adds to the plot and makes it more intense to the audience. On page 163, it says, "...making his way past the darkened dwellings and the empty Central Plaza, toward the river. Beyond the Plaza he could see the House of the Old, with the Annex behind it..." This quote shows that Jonas has left the dwelling and made it near the Annex without anyone finding out or chasing him, like the movie.
      I think that Brenton was probably not the best option for Jonas in the movie. He did cover the nervousness part like Jonas is in the book, but that's about it. Not just Jonas though. Asher and Fiona also were portrayed differently from the book versus the movie. What's different is that Jonas looks much older and more mature than how Jonas actually seemed in the book. I expected Jonas to look much younger. The actor portraying Jonas doesn't need to be exactly 12 but he should've been around 13-16 years old. Brenton look 17-19. I would've chosen someone kind of scrawny and young. Someone who is curious, but still nervous. There aren't many young actors out there that I would specifically choose. All in all, Brenton did do a nice job portraying Jonas, even though some of his appearances and mannerisms didn't match up in the book.
      I think that the film impacted my understanding more than the book. I feel this way because the movie was more straight forward and clear rather than the book. For example, in the beginning of the movie, they say what they're community is about and all the rules. In the book, the idea of the community is told throughout the book until you finally understand what the community is about. The book mostly drags on and kind of confuses the reader. In the movie, mostly towards the end, we don't just get Jonas's perspective, we also get everyone else's and what thy see after Jonas crosses the "memory board line." In the book, they don't explain how the memories go back to the community or how effects them when they get it back. Even though the film was more impactful, I still like the novel way better than the book.