Without any expectations, you'll find The Host a typical B-movie with some big names in it. But if you walk in with some sort of expectation, the film turns out to be quite a disappointment.
The Host
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Max Irons, Jake Abel. Directed by Andrew Niccol.
After sucking in millions of dollars around the world with the vampire romance The Twilight Saga, American writer Stephanie Meyer sees another of her book, The Host, turned into a film _ and this time it's not about sexy bloodsuckers, but a case of humans versus aliens. Sadly, the aliens will never make it into a huge hit like the vampires.
Directed by Andrew Niccol, who has a background in sci-fi films from Gattaca (1997) and In Time (2011), The Host is a fantasy story about the future of mankind, in which each human body is taken over by extraterrestrial parasites called Souls that aim to turn the dying Earth into a new perfection. But some human beings try to escape, and Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan, from Atonement) is one of the survivors. Unfortunately Melanie is captured by a Seeker (Diane Kruger) and is turned into another Soul named Wanderer. With her fighting spirit, Melanie's mind remains in the body and she finally persuades Wanderer to run away and look for her brother Jamie Stryder (Chandler Canterbury) and her boyfriend Jared Howe (Max Irons). The Seekers, of course, are after them.
That sounds exciting enough, but the film moves with a funny pace and you don't get to know or like any of the characters. From a love triangle between a vampire, a werewolf and a girl in Twilight, Meyer this time treats her fans with a foursome between two men, one alien in a human body, and a girl. But the more is not merrier in this case _ The Host is far from being romantic. Heartthrob Irons appears only briefly and his character quickly (and surprisingly) switches from a lead role to an extra who tags along. In Twilight, girls get to go crazy with two male characters and go home wishing to be the lead girl, but you don't get that kind of thing in The Host. The storyline is too rushed that we don't get to like the couples or even hate the villain. I am not sure who to blame _ either Meyer's book or Niccol's adaptation, or both.
But one thing is certain: the movie will make you laugh, not from a sense of humour but from awkward acting and idiotic dialogue. The only good thing about The Host is that it is a gateway to introduce young starlet Ronan who saves the script with her talent. I wish her luck with a better chance in the future.
