Movie keeps inspiring messages from novel ‘The Hate U Give’

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Kylie Carrier, Entertainment Editor

After becoming a best-seller, the novel “The Hate U Give” written by author Angie Thomas was adapted for film, which hit theaters Oct. 5.

Because of its powerful story, readers have been looking forward to the book-to-movie transformation, and while the movie, directed by George Tillman Jr, kept out some aspects of the novel, it still offered the inspiring message written by Thomas: “Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you go on even though you’re scared.”

“This movie still should be recommended to anyone because it has such a great story line from the book, and the movie covered the important topic so well,” junior Belle Breitenreiter said.

The story is about an African-American teenage girl named Starr Carter, played by Amandla Stenberg, who is constantly switching between two worlds– her poor black neighborhood and her rich white private school she attends. When Carter witnesses her childhood best friend Khalil Harris, played by Algee Smith, shot and killed by the police, Carter becomes divided by her two worlds and must figure out how to do what’s right.

“I thought the movie was great and very emotional,” junior Izak Sosa said. “You really feel connected to the characters as the movie proceeded.”

Since the book is about 460 pages and packed with many events, the movie would have to leave out certain aspects to remain about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Students who read the book and saw the film, though, didn’t believe the missing parts ruined the movie as a whole.

“I personally didn’t feel like they left out too many of the main parts. They might have left out small parts, but overall, it didn’t leave out too much,” Ella Brandt, junior, said. “I think for it being a movie, they already added so much of the book in.”

Yet, some students had suggestions on how the movie could have been improved.

“I believe they should have added a little more screen time of Khalil for the audience to feel more connected to his character before he was brutally shot,” Sosa said.

While the movie eliminated some of the characters and events from the book, the movie still had an impact on its viewers.

“My favorite part was when Starr finally stood up in front of the mob of people and spoke up for what she believed in,” Sosa said, “Because that was a strong action that everybody from the audience took into consideration.”

And speaking up for what’s right was one of the points author Angie Thomas made in her book: “What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

Because the book and movie cover current issues, both lead to jaw-dropping and unforgettable feelings, so the movie has received positive reviews from its viewers who are encouraging others to read the book and see the film.

“I definitely consider this book as a 10/10 because I recommend it to everyone for the topics that are heavily discussed and talked about. The book and the movie are from a perspective that many people forget about,” Brandt said.

The ultimate rating for those who experienced both the book and the movie was a 10/10 for the emotions felt, the cliff hangers offered and the fact that the readers and the viewers don’t want the book or movie experience to end. Therefore, the hardest decision becomes whether the book or the movie was better.

If you missed this movie– rated PG-13 for “mature thematic content”– in theaters, make sure to check it out on DVD when it’s released in January or February of 2019. Before then, read the book.