JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Me Before You (2016)

Genre:

Drama/Romance

Rating:

PG-13

Run Time:

1 hr 50 minutes

Release Date:

June 3, 2016

Presentation of:

New Line Cinema

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

Distributor:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Based on the Novel by:

Jojo Moyes

Screenplay by:

Jojo Moyes

Directed by:

Thea Sharrock

Social Media:

   

Plot Summary:

Young and quirky Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke) moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier. Will's cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living. As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined.

source

Cast:

Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Jenna Coleman, Matthew Lewis, Charles Dance, Vanessa Kirby, Brendan Coyle, Janet McTeer

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

I am speechless! I was in tears... Speechless nonetheless! LOL! I am completely in awe of the beautiful character portrayals of the entire cast. Since I first watched the trailer, I was determined to finish reading the book before watching the movie. I am so glad I did. The book was deep...with a great message..."live boldly." The film itself captured the heart of the book. Wow! I think quite a few people in the theater were in tears...along with me...haha! I seriously had to take a moment when the credits were rolling.

Jojo Moyes did an amazing job writing the script for this film. Well, it does help that she wrote the book. She pretty much has insight on it. Anyways, she was able to condense so much from the book in this 1 hr 50 minutes movie. She took most of the words in the book and made it into action and expressions. The cast were amazing in bringing her characters to life. The casting was spot on. I mean I saw the trailer, so I pretty much got a visual. However, as I read the book, and noticed the descriptions and depictions of these characters, the cast was pretty much filling in my imagination. In my eyes, the cast fit the characters, and they did a wonderful job at being these various...and quirky...personalities.

I don't want to say too much of the film...that would be too spoiler-y. What I will say is that this is a touching and unlikely love story that will leave you in tears. Me Before You doesn't just have the message of "live life to the fullest," but it also deals with a difficult issue that does happen in society today. I think everyone should watch it. But, I do have to warn you, you better bring a box of tissue. Even the toughest heart will melt after watching this...I think...lol! Well, I hope the sequel gets made into a film, too...would love to see Louisa after she goes through this!

Me Before You is a heart-wrenching and moving love story between two unlikely people brought together under strained circumstances.

My Rating:

HIGHLIGHT: Jojo Moyes Discussion, Q&A, & Signing of "Me Before You"

What a fun and exciting "last minute" event. Yes, this event was only posted about two weeks ago...haha! For many fans, this was definitely "last minute." I know it was for me!! Thanks to my good friends, I was able to attend and meet up with friends. Moreover, this event had very strict guidelines since the author, Jojo Moyes, was on a very tight schedule. The event was so strict that there was a limited number of wristbands available, a three book limit, only one book can be personalized, and no posed photos. Regardless of the time constraint of this event, I had fun! However, a small amount of Advance Screening Passes were given out! Whoa!

Yup! Ready for this event!

The event started off with a viewing of one of the trailers for the upcoming film Me Before You which was based on the novel of the same title by Jojo Moyes. Following right after was a brief discussion with a Q&A with the audience. There were the usual questions: What was the inspiration behind the book? What advice would she give to aspiring writers?...so on... I could never get tired of all the different answers from different authors. It's always interesting and informative. It was even very cool to find out that the Christopher Reeve Foundation was very supportive of the film! Wow!

Although the book and the film involves a very controversial topic, this discussion involved one very important point...having a choice. Yes, these characters have choices, but, ultimately, it is their choice. In particular, both book and film focuses on Will's choice. Yes, there is life with this disability, but it is Will's choice...no one can make it for him.

I got emotional during this! LOL! A lot of good points this book and film makes...even Jojo. I think she wrote all this with the utmost respect. No disrespect to any one, I think.

This discussion was very informative and inspiring. Come to find out that this novel was inspired by a friend in a similar situation; and that there is something in the book that comes close to being personal for her...something she can relate to. A fan asked her that particular question, if there was something in her life that she completely "obsessed" about like the bumble bee tights to Louisa in the book.

As for that advice for aspiring authors...basically, I'm paraphrasing here, she said to keep writing; make time to write; don't that tenacity to write no matter how busy life can get. Plus, don't let life deter you from writing. Very sound and similar advice that I have heard from the various authors I have met. And...look at where they, including Jojo, are now! Damn, I love being a reader...haha!

Jojo even expressed how much she enjoyed writing and being a part of the making of the film. It's not very often that the author and the director were able to work together in the making of this movie. She expressed how much she wanted to stay close to the book when she wrote the screenplay.

Oh... A fan asked Jojo what her inspiration to write the sequel was? Guess what...her response was "the fans!" Fans were always asking her about Louisa after Me Before You. And, of course, she even admitted that she even wondered that, too; hence, the sequel, After You.

Yeah! I can't wait to read the sequel. After reading Me Before You, OMG, I was absolutely emotional...haha! I seriously had to have a moment after I turned the last page of the book. <sigh>

After the discussion, fans lined up for the signing...and that went smoothly. Of course, the fact that we got passe to watch the movie helped the line to move along...haha! I'm just thrilled to have met such an amazing writer.

Jojo's signing my book!

Had a lot of fun last night! Of course, watching the movie early was a bonus! My review will follow!

View the full event album on Facebook!

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Genre:

Adult

Contemporary Romance/Drama

Series:

Me Before You, #1

Publish Date:

December 31, 2012

(first published January 5, 2012)

Publisher:

Pamela Dorman Books/Viking

Synopsis:

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she  might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

 Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very sall and rather joyless ow and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Louis about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

      

Movie Tie-In Cover

~~~

Read the sequel!

      

~~~~~

**About the Author**

Jojo Moyes is a British novelist.

Moyes studied at Royal Holloway, University of London. She won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to study journalism at City University and subsequently worked for The Independent for 10 years. In 2001, she became a full time novelist.

Moyes' novel Foreign Fruit won the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year in 2004.

She is married to journalist Charles Arthur and has three children.

Stay connected with Jojo Moyes

    

~~~~~

*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

I am tears...after reading this book! I am at a loss for words after reading the last page! I first learned about this book after watching the first trailer for the upcoming movie with the same name. I was so taken with the trailer that I just had to read the book. Yes! The trailer had me in tears, too!

Me Before You was a slow read...in the beginning. But! It worked in telling Louisa and Will's love story. For this wasn't your every day love story. I got so deeply involved with the story that I smiled, I laughed, I cried...I even got angry...along with Louisa! OMG! What a journey for Louisa! She has come out of her little shell...and has opened herself to so many possibilities. The development between Louisa and Will was incredibly touching and bittersweet. If I could just read without interruptions, I probably would have finished reading this book in one day...that's how absorbed I got with this book.

I really don't want to give too much away, especially since the movies opens in June. Besides, the trailer has already revealed a lot...haha! The funny thing I found some scenes in the book in the trailers! So, yeah, I am definitely looking forward to watching this movies adaptation. And, of course, the casting for Louisa and Will...definitely spot on! LOL! My heart ached when I finished reading this book.

From beginning to end, Me Before You drew me in to a tremendously intense emotional ride of love, growth, understanding...and ultimately loss. It was well worth the read. Thank you Jojo Moyes for tearing out my heart (in a good way)...hahaha!!!

My rating: