The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 30

April 14, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 6 Rating classic book to movie adaptations Whenever people hear a book is being adapted into a film, there is a sense of both excitement and absolute dread that comes with it. Fans understand that these movies cannot be word for word what occurs in the novels, but it also should be somewhat similar. Here are my ratings of some book to movie adaptations that either brought the book to life on the screen or created something completely different. “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” Rating: 0/10 Whenever you think of book to movie adaptations going disastrously, your thoughts probably land on this atrocity. The only part of this movie correctly portrayed from the novel written by Rick Riordan were the character names. Everything else was its own original train wreck. The movie immediately begins with a high school-aged main character instead of the 12-year-old we expected from the books. From this moment forward, the movie heads in a downward spiral. However, the absolute worst part of this “adaptation” is what they did to Annabeth Chase. They took any idea the author and fans had about this character, threw it out the window and replaced her with someone completely different. The movie, even when separated from the book, is just terrible and is definitely worth avoiding. Hopefully the new adaptation of the book that is currently in production by Riordan and Disney+ will actually give this series the justice it deserves. “Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children” Rating: 5/10 As someone who is a huge fan of these books written by Ransom Riggs, I was ecstatic to hear it was being adapted into a film by Tim Burton. However, I was surprised to see how much Burton had changed -- and not for the better. Characters’ ages, personalities, looks and powers were drastically changed. Some characters were simply added by Burton and served no purpose to the plot whatsoever. While this movie did not do well in the adaptation category, it is actually worth a watch. The cast includes some of my favorite actors and the movie is aesthetically beautiful, even if it is not totally faithful to the books. The “Harry Potter” Franchise Rating: 8/10 Setting the author aside, the Harry Potter books have always held a special place in my heart and this goes for the films as well. While the movies do skip over some of the scenes some fans believe were necessary to include, the films do a decent job in presenting the movie audience with the same feelings the books give. Compared to other adaptations, I truly believe the Harry Potter movies did well and are worth a watch. Sound bite : “Get Sun” by Hiatus Kaiyote featuring Arthur Verocai It has been about five years since Hiatus Kaiyote truly began to live up to their name. After the release of their critically acclaimed sophomore project “Choose Your Weapon” in 2015, Hiatus Kaiyote refrained from releasing any new music. However, that changes now with the release of their new single “Get Sun.” This triumphant single from their upcoming album “Mood Valiant” combines the lyrical talents of lead singer Nai Palm and the orchestral skills of Brazilian composer Arthur Verocai, making for a brilliant comeback to the music scene. The self-proclaimed “future- soul” band hasn’t been completely silent all this time. Apart from touring and dropping their mixtape, “Recalibrations Vol. 1,” the band took a break from making music together to follow their own personal music paths. Palm released a bare bones album in 2017 titled “Needle Paw.” In her solo project, Palm rehashed some of the songs she had written for Hiatus Kaiyote while having her bandmates occasionally accompany her. Following this project in 2018, Palm was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suffice to say, the music had to be put on hold. However, that did not stop Palm from keeping in touch with her music. After undergoing a mastectomy, she performed a cover from her hospital bed. A few collaborations were done here and there, but of course, eventually, the pandemic began and got in the way of everyone. That’s why it is so fitting that now, a year after the beginning of quarantines and cabin fever, Hiatus Kaiyote finally released a single. “Get Sun” is a jazzy spring anthem. The horns provided by Verocai give the song an air of success and rejoicing. Palm’s poetic writing paints images of healing, opening your heart and letting the sun in. Right now, we are in a season of recovery from the hectic year we were lucky enough to survive. Everyone is rushing to get vaccinated and to avoid the bleak misfortune of catching the virus. “Get Sun” is food for the soul, powering our hopes just as much as our bodies. As you prepare for the final weeks of this semester and a school year spent in Zoom meetings in your room, take the time to listen to this new single by Hiatus J. L. Glasthal Contributing Writer Veronica Richard Contributing Writer Kaiyote. “Get Sun” is strong enough to carry you through to the end and straight to the beach for some fresh air and sun rays. Arts & Entertainment Raya and the Last Dragon: Female empowerment and Asian representation in a world of color Isabella Gomez Contributing Writer As I watched “Raya and the Last Dragon” for the first time, it felt like an escape from the real world. Disney’s latest princess, Raya, is a humorous, free-spirited and fierce lady with a pinch of relatable awkwardness. The movie is so colorful and joyous that even the extreme tribulations faced by the characters only seem like small bumps in the road that can be easily overcome. Raya is a warrior from the mystical land of Kumandra who is on a journey to find Sisu, the last living dragon, who appears more like a fun-loving unicorn as opposed to the usual scaly, fire- breathing animal that comes to mind. This dragon is voiced by the comedic Awkwafina, known in the industry for her humorous personality. Raya must travel to bring harmony among the clans of her nation. Raya is voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, whose tone emits instant benevolence, perfectly embodying the mix of sweetness, adventure and internal conflict that makes up this character. Undeniably, there is a special spotlight on the cultural representation that “Raya and The Last Dragon” offers; the Southeast Asian audience and culture that has been neglected by Disney for so long is suddenly the central influence of this new film. However, the directors of the movie seemed to be more concerned with shaping it to fit within the typical new-age Disney princess style rather than making it unique. None of them sat around waiting for a prince to rescue them, which played a part in portraying them as stronger, more independent women than the older princesses. However, the notion of “breaking the stereotype” has become the stereotype itself, and it comfortably seats Raya among princesses like Elsa, Moana and Merida. One major break from the Disney princess code is that no one in this film ever broke out into a song beyond the ritual chant. Even though it was an adventure narrative, filled with booby traps, temple ruins and ancient gems that unlock sacred powers, there are no musical moments. Compared to the prior princess movies, it felt palpable and intense rather than lighthearted and filled with song. When Raya fights, it showcases aspects of various traditional Asian martial arts styles. The sword she carries with her is the double-edged kalis, which actually has its origins in the Philippines. Although it is honorable that Disney is displaying a new region through a princess’ story, they often confuse care and carelessness in regard to cultural correctness. Throughout the film, there were numerous moments of ethnic disorientation due to the involvement of items, language, attire and other aspects of different Asian regions. As a matter of fact, most of the voice cast is from East Asia, which is puzzling for a story that is supposed to have taken place in a Southeast Asian setting. Despite these challenges, “Raya and the Last Dragon” is enchantingly captivating. One of my favorite things in this movie was actually the CGI, which was fantastic. The fluidity with which each character moved was mesmerizing. The personalities of each character were also extremely well- developed. “Raya and the Last Dragon” is a playful film that ultimately follows the skeleton of the newer Disney princess movies we have all grown to love. Raya and the Last Dragon is currently showing in theaters and is also available for streaming on Disney Plus. With permission to print from Unsplash.com