Warm Bodies - Movie vs Book

When I reviewed Warm Bodies, (click here to read), I decided to save the spoilers for this post. It’s hard to compare a movie to the book without spoiling something, so I’m not pussy footing around here. If you don’t want the movie or the book spoiled, you best not read further.

In my opinion the movie was better. Rare, I hardly ever feel this way, but given the fact I wasn’t a fan of the book, the chances were higher. Warm Bodies as a book came across as much darker. All of the weird shit that I didn’t like so much about that book got cut out of the movie. So that’s why I ended up liking it better.

Examples of said weird shit… I talked in my review about how I enjoyed the pov from a Zombie, and how R was holding onto a thread of humanity. That was interesting, but then you get to the airport and holy fucking whacko! All the Zombies are retaining some sense of humanity. Which is fine, but I felt the movie portayed that better. The movie showed the zombies doing some of the things they would have done in their past lives. Like waving a security wand, or walking around pushing a mop for no reason. That is understandable and almost endearing. In the book, the zombies are stripping down and slapping into each other like they are having sex. Limp parts flailing around and all. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t make me laugh. It did, but wow. haha. Not only that, you have them taking on wives, adopting the child zombies and showing them the ropes. They even gather outside the airport in a circle almost simulating the community of religion. R actually has a zombie wife and adopted zombie kids in the book. they are not mentioned in the movie, however you do get a glimpse of two kids which is as close as they show that in the film.

The movie puts off this fun comical view of it all. I really liked that. It did make me laugh. I think if the book was written more like that, I would have liked it more. One thing that annoyed me about the movie though was when R first sees Julie. There she is shooting it up, and the corny music starts playing, he’s in love. Ha! Not really, he doesn’t even notice her in the book until he eats a piece of Perry’s brains. That leads you right back to why I didn’t buy their romance. Without that snack, I don’t think R would have given Julie a second glance. She’d just be dinner.

Another thing the movie did right, Perry and R. In my review I express my annoyance that Perry seems to be in R’s brain and is talking to him in the second half. Maybe it’s just me, and I hate to compare. I think it started with the movie poster that looks so Twilight-ish. But the whole Perry talking in R’s head strongly reminded me of Stephanie Meyers The Host. I still think I would have made that connection without the movie poster. Not saying it was a copying issue, it was just odd. So out of place and not needed in my opinion. I’d say that’s just me, but obviously it’s not, because whoever wrote up the movie agreed and cut that shit mostly out. #Winning!

There were a lot of things cut out, but it didn’t bother me. Some stuff was moved around for the benefit of better flow, and even the ending was changed a bit. I don’t understand why they kept Julies dad alive in the movie. He was a prick. He deserved to bite it.

Now for the big scene. The gag “Kiss” gag. In the book, I laughed and rolled my eyes, because they kiss and it's like magic. The boney’s stop and the Zombies begin to heal and wait for it… WAIT FOR IT!!! R and Julies eyes turn gold! Omg, I wanted to ask them if they just drank deer blood. No lie. I was cracking up. That alone was the best part of finally picking it up and finishing it.

Low and behold, that was also cut from the movie. R’s eyes just turn back to normal. They left out the part where he realizes he is alive and gets a stiffy. Instead he just bleeds from a gun shot wound. That is the last complaint for the movie that I have. The boner should have stayed. Lol.

So really this post was just so I could rant my frustrations. I hope I don't lose any Warm Bodies loving friends over this.