The Host (2013)

"Choose your destiny"

Directed by Andrew Niccol
Produced by Stephenie Meyer, Nick Wechsler, Steve Schwartz, Paula Mae Schwartz
Screenplay by Andrew Niccol
Based on "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emily Browning, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Frances Fisher, Chandler Canterbury, Diane Kruger, William Hurt

Music by Antonio Pinto
Cinematography: Roberto Schaefer
Edited by Thomas J. Nordberg
Production company: Nick Wechsler Productions, Silver Reel
Distributed by Open Road Films, Universal Pictures, ChockStone Pictures, ShowMaker Works
Release date: 22 March 2013 (Spain)

Running time: 125 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $40,000,000
Box office: $63,327,201

"The Host" is an adventure romantic sci-fi film directed by Andrew Niccol and based on Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name. The story is about the humans that have been taken over by small parasitic aliens called "Souls". The Souls travel to distant planets en masse, in individual capsules, inserting themselves individually into a host body of that planet's dominant species. The Soul completely replaces the consciousness of its host, though they are able to access the host's memories. Occupied hosts are identifiable by silver rings that form in the hosts' eyes. Melanie Stryder is captured and infused with a soul called "Wanderer." Wanderer is asked by Seeker to access Melanie's memories in order to discover the location of a pocket of unassimilated humans. Surprisingly, Melanie's consciousness has not been eliminated, and it struggles for control of her body. Melanie and Wanderer are able to carry out an internal conversation with each other, forming something of a friendship.

Cast

• Saoirse Ronan as Melanie Stryder / Wanderer "Wanda"
• Max Irons as Jared Howe
• Jake Abel as Ian O'Shea
• Frances Fisher as Maggie Stryder
• Chandler Canterbury as Jamie Stryder
• Diane Kruger as The Seeker / Lacey
• William Hurt as Jebediah "Jeb" Stryder
• Boyd Holbrook as Kyle O'Shea
• Scott Lawrence as Doc
• Shawn Carter Peterson as Wes
• Lee Hardee as Aaron
• Phil Austin as Charles
• Raeden Greer as Lily
• J.D. Evermore as Trevor Stryder
• Emily Browning as Pet / Wanderer "Wanda"
• Mustafa Harris as Brandt
• Bokeem Woodbine as Nate
• Alex Russell as Seeker Burns

The director of the film, Andrew Niccol, is also known for the picture "Gattaca". As for "The Host", it showed charming views, interesting plotlines, and a difficult confrontation. Undoubtedly, the film was made beautifully. If take into account that it's the screen version of Stephenie Meyer's novel who's better known for her vampire romance series "Twilight", the saga and "The Host" don't look similar. The audience may think that the author didn't improved. But it isn't so. As I am not a fan of "Twilight", but "The Host" took me. A little pop but why not?

One of the main characters is Melanie Stryder performed by Saoirse Ronan. Or it's better to say that Saoirse played two roles - brave and audacious Melanie, and good and honest Wanderer ("Wanda"). Ronan coped splendidly with both of them. I've known Jake Abel since the series "Supernatural". Moreover, he had worked with Saoirse in "The Lovely Bones". His Ian O'Shea is a sensitive guy who falls in love with Wanda. Exactly with the Soul Wanderer, not with the appearance of Melanie. The role of Max Irons is Jared Howe, a brave fellow who is in love with Melanie. He believes that she's still alive. During the film Diane Kruger played the role The Seeker, the Soul who is avid of power. But then she becomes Lacey - a self-willed young woman. Frankly speaking, the cast of the film is outstanding. Unfortunately, characters aren't as remarkable as I expected.

Advantages

• Saoirse Ronan as Melanie Stryder / Wanderer "Wanda"
• Max Irons as Jared Howe
• Jake Abel as Ian O'Shea
• Diane Kruger as The Seeker / Lacey

Disadvantages

• New "Twilight"?

"Strangenesses"

• Just like we've seen it before

Clue Moments

• Wanda and Melanie

If we're different, it doesn't mean that we can't live together. It gives opportunities of developing ourselves, learning something new, understanding one another. Yes, possibly people don't like strangers. Anyway, at first. Have ever thought why? Almost each of us fears changes. It's unimportant what they are: positive or negative. That's the fact. Our world view has an influence on many things in our life. However, it depends only on us how we will take it.

Soundtracks

1. Antonio Pinto - Outer Space
2. Antonio Pinto - Soul Inside
3. Antonio Pinto - Wanderer
4. Antonio Pinto - Inside Your Mind
5. Antonio Pinto - Soul Mates
6. Antonio Pinto - Escape
7. Antonio Pinto - Walk
8. Antonio Pinto - Fading
9. Antonio Pinto - Into The Cave
10. Antonio Pinto - Mirror Mirror
11. Antonio Pinto - Glow
12. Antonio Pinto - Sun Inside
13. Antonio Pinto - Dying Soul
14. Antonio Pinto - Catch Us
15. Antonio Pinto - Im Alive
16. Antonio Pinto - Kiss Me If You Can
17. Antonio Pinto- River Fight
18. Antonio Pinto - Star Crossed
19. Antonio Pinto - Trust Me
20. Antonio Pinto - Healing
21. Antonio Pinto - Kill Me
22. Antonio Pinto - Soul Outside
23. Antonio Pinto - Goodbye Wanderer
24. Antonio Pinto - One Strange World
25. Antonio Pinto - Home
26. Antonio Pinto - The Store
27. Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

Quotations

* * *

Wanderer/Wanda: You tried to kill me, and now you're protecting me?

Ian O'Shea: Strange world, isn't it?

Wanderer/Wanda: The strangest.

* * *

Wanderer/Wanda: You're angry when I kiss a man you do love and angry when I kiss a man you don't. It's very confusing.

* * *

Wanderer/Wanda: You have always tried to extract it by force. The secret is, you do not remove it. It removes itself. You coax it out. You have always seen it as the enemy. It can feel the hate. It can only be captured by kindness, love.

* * *

Wanderer/Wanda: You know, it's not really me you like. It's this body. You couldn't care for me.

* * *

Jared Howe: What the hell has gotten into everybody? Huh? It is the enemy. Don't forget it.

Ian O'Shea: You don't feel bad at all. I half-killed her.

Jared Howe: It doesn't matter. It's not human.

Ian O'Shea: So we stop acting human?

* * *

Jeb: This ain't a democracy. It's a dictatorship. It's a benign dictatorship, but it's a dictatorship just the same.

* * *

Melanie Stryder: We could be taken at any moment. We only have this. Now.

* * *

Jeb: The earth is at peace. There is no hunger. There is no violence. The environment is healed. Honesty, courtesy and kindness are practiced by all. Our world has never been more... perfect. Only, it is no longer our world. We've been invaded by an alien race. They occupy the bodies of almost all human beings on the planet. The few humans who have survived are on the run.

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 5/10

Entertainment: 6/10

Acting: 6/10

Originality: 6/10

Music and Sound: 6/10

6/10