Shahrukh Malik

The phrase "the book was better than the movie" has taken on a whole new meaning for me after finishing Netflix's adaptation of "My Oxford Year". I don't even know where to begin. First of all, they changed the main character's name and backstory? Why? Secondly, EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING fell flat in the movie. From how Jamie and 'Anna' meet and fall in love, to the banter, to the supporting characters, and just the general tone of the movie. I adore Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest, but they had zero chemistry. The relationship their characters had, and the love that they shared; the weighted anguish of it, was just not translating on screen. Everything was so watered down, I was shocked. I'm genuinely upset because as a book, the story sung. It sung so beautifully, I was in tears towards the end and I felt everything from joy and melancholy to anxiety and relief. Every page was layered, every scene flowed, and I felt the weight of each character. This. I don't know what this was, but if anyone is teaching a course on "what not to do when you're adapting a book into a movie" - HERE'S YOUR MATERIAL.

Is it different from the book? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Does it stay true to the essence of the book? Yes. It is a truth universally acknowledged that movie adaptations are rarely as good as the book it’s based on. Casey McQuiston’s book was one my favourite reads from last year, and I cherish every word of it. I do lament over the fact that when you’re taking the written word and putting it on screen, the process usually involves changes and omissions, and I went in knowing that this wasn’t going to be the same. I made space for another version of Red, White and Royal Blue and I’m glad I did. I thought that the movie captured Henry and Alex’s relationship beautifully. I swooned, I laughed and cried - Taylor and Nicholas had an undeniably ridiculous amount of on-screen chemistry and portrayed their characters perfectly. The story flowed in the same sequence of the book, and it stayed true to the core of the story: Alex and Henry’s journey. I do wish they had more time to include bigger roles for some of the side characters, but alas, we can’t have it all. Overall: I loved it. Alex and Henry will forever have my heart.