I Am Number Four
Summary
WhenI Am Number Fourcame out in 2011 , it did n’t take custody of the cultural mindset like other YA dystopian movies , but the upcoming reboot has the chance to be skilful than the critically panned original . Based on the unseasoned adult sci - fi Quran seriesLorien Legaciesby Jobie Hughes and James Frey under the pseudonym Pittacus Lore , the first book in the enfranchisement , I Am Number Four , was a peachy succeeder . The series went on to accrue a aggregate of seven books , giving the revitalization the power to metamorphose a dissatisfactory adjustment into the next peachy dystopian cinematic creation .
The celluloid did n’t execute terribly at the box office , but when compare to the dystopian thunder and the success of movies likeThe Hunger Games , the studio did n’t find a sequel was worth putting the time and crusade into .
Many fans of the books and the movie hoped there would be anI Am Number Foursequelin the years since the first film ’s release , but one never happen . The cinema did n’t perform terribly at the box function , but when compare to the dystopian boom and the success of picture show likeThe Hunger Games , the studio did n’t experience a subsequence was worth putting the sentence and cause into . There has been a decline in the popularity of this music genre of picture in late year , so adjudicate to make a reboot today is an interesting choice .
However , with better engineering science and a more faithful book , there are plenty of ways the new moving picture can improve . Thethings that live wrong withI Am Number Fouraren’t a lack of astuteness or machination in the reservoir stuff but emergence of timing and the red tape of Hollywood . Learning from the failures of the first film will cater perceptivity into what works and what doesn’twhen adapting YA sci - fi and phantasy series . Many youthful up - and - come actors could easily ill-treat into the use , making the parting their own and cultivating a orotund following to spark a fresh franchise .
I Am Number Four grossed $ 149.9 million at the box office [ viaBox Office Mojo ] and has a 33 % critic seduce onRotten Tomatoes .
6Updating The YA Dystopian Tropes For A Modern Audience
Viewers are very familiar with the genre and are looking for a fresh take
In the 2010s , YA dystopian picture were everywhere , and while not all of them have had the seniority ofThe Hunger Gamesfranchise , they ’re a meaning part of that period . While this does mechanically generate nostalgia and interest in a reboot of a bury series , it also means that audience wo n’t be forgive when they see the trick and trope of the musical genre . I Am Number Fourwas release in 2010 , so there are n’t just aspects of the storytelling that need update but also necessary changes to make the plot and characters more illustration of the modern reality .
Most of the story ’s beats recreate out predictably , and John ’s erotic love interest , Sarah ( Diana Agron ) , is constantly put in the spot of damsel in suffering .
Most of the movie takes billet in Ohio and rotate around the everyday aspects of teenaged life history in rural America . The primary theatrical role , John / Number Four ( Alex Pettyfer ) , experiences bullying and ostracization at the mitt of the popular kids in school , but the film does n’t delve into the tumid themes of isolation common in adolescence . Additionally , most of the fib ’s measure play out predictably , and John ’s lovemaking interest , Sarah ( Diana Agron ) , is constantly put in the position of damsel in hurt . However , these issues can be determine while staying true to the heart of the original text .
Image by Yeider Chacon
Sci - fi book adaptations can be hit or lose , but one serial deserves a reboot even after its $ 150 million box office letdown back in 2011 .
5Maintaining Momentum After The First Movie
Instead of stalling out and being forgotten again
When adapting a book series , film can become overeager in their attempts to verify their task turn into a franchise . While it ’s natural for a film based on a novel with sequels to guess about the voltage for extra films and where the narration goes after the events of the book , it ca n’t all check the narrative . In some way , I Am Number Fourwas less concerned with make a strong standalone movie than ensuring that multiple sequels could be made . Ultimately , this backfired on the filmmakers because the disconfirming critical reception prevented the theory of sequel .
The film maker behind the reboot are likely already think about the theory of sequels . There ’s plenty of source fabric to get from , and with the achiever ofThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesas a prequel toThe Hunger Games , there is an appetence for a retort to the YA musical genre . To take advantage on this renew interestingness in YA stories , I Am Number Fourmust not vex about the sequel while wee-wee the first movie . Once it instal itself as a alone oblation , the reboot must pounce on the chance and not let timing break the account ’s potential again .
Book
John Smith is an alien, sent to Earth as a child along with eight others, to escape a deadly threat on his home planet. He and the others are known as the Garde, but when John is a teenager, the enemy learns of their existence. The Garde must be killed in order, and the first three are dead. John, the fourth member, is next.
Year of Publication
2010
The Power of Six
2011
The Rise of Nine
2012
The Fall of Five
2013
The Revenge of Seven
2014
The Fate of Ten
2015
United as One
2016
4Faster Pacing & More Action
The first act drags and the exposition is clunky
InI Am Number Four , John / Number Four is one of eight aliens sent to Earth after his home major planet is destruct , and he lives as a human .
Like any sci - fi or fantasy storey , there ’s a lot of world - construction and expounding to get through for the consultation to understand the rules and account of the world . InI Am Number Four , John / Number Four is one of eight unknown sent to Earth after his home satellite is destroyed , and he lives as a human . However , the catalyst of the photographic film ’s plot is that the Mogadorians , the aliens who destruct his major planet , come to Earth when they discover out John and the other aliens survived . Though John is being hunted , he has enduringness and magical powers that protect him .
This is a lot of information to communicate to the consultation in a short time . to boot , many humble details and caveats complicate the story as it progresses . It takes too long for the Mogadorians to be introduced and for them to in the end get boldness to nerve with John . The first number of the movie drags as too much time is spent on John ’s human life . Once the activity pop , the history speeds up and rushes through the climactic battles . Even split the first book of account up into two movies would have been a more good path to assure the write up .
3Decentering The Romantic Relationships
Though Sarah and John’s relationship is important, it’s not the most interesting
Most of the best scenes inI Am Number Fourdon’t necessitate the teenager angst and budding romance between Sarah and John . While Diana Agron is charming and one of the better actors in the picture show , she does n’t have much to do , and their human relationship is draw . It does n’t make sense that John instantly falls in love with her and assign his life on the lineto be with a girl he just knows . Any dependable YA phantasy story includes a romance , and the best one ofttimes allow a tension - filled sexual love triangle chock - full of long looks and steal coup d’oeil .
However , these romanticistic entanglement are a little part of the narrative that supports the protagonist ’s ontogeny . Some of themost annoying dear Triangle in moviesrub the hearing the improper way because they make drama for the sake of drama and do n’t communicate anything authoritative about the theatrical role . It would be unmanageable to omit their relationship , but both their characters want to have more in common and more in full realized disjoined lives for there to be a reason that they ’re together . pore amorous relationships within a narrative about the luck of the universe can be a disservice to the audience .
2Better Visual Effects
Though the original effects aren’t terrible, today’s technology must be utilized
give to a sci - fi or phantasy serial publication many years later almost guarantees that the CGI and practical effects will await completely different . Every yr , visual effects artists and animators make leap and leap in their abilities to bring the imagination of filmmakers and writer to life . Of all theLorien Legaciesbooks , I Am Number Fourisn’t the most visually complicated as so much of it takes place at typical Earth locations and events , like high shoal . However , creating intricate and engaging optic panache for the Mogadorians and portraying John ’s ability well will be tremendously important for the film .
Part of the appeal ofI Am Number Fouris that it tell a fantastic floor within the confines of the human world .
However , theI Am Number Fourreboot must be careful not to over - rely on CGI and green screen technology to produce over - the - top battle sequences . Part of the appeal ofI Am Number Fouris that it say a fantastic story within the confines of the human human race . It gives the audience the feeling that these nonnatural events could find anywhere at any clip , make the story more accessible than stories that take place in alien worlds . This means that virtual and ocular effects must be combined to create a unseamed world that is credible within the confines of the story .
Not every movie adaptation of a new grownup book of account serial can be a Harry Potter or Hunger Games . Some , for well or worse , only lasted for one pic .
1Stronger Characterization & Performances
New actors and updated characters that are relatable to the audience
Outside the issues of report structure , I Am Number Fouris irresistibly bloodless , and the worker do n’t give compelling carrying out . Thoughthere are in force actor in the original cast , like Agron and Timothy Olyphant , many of the performances palpate disjointed . It ’s as if the actors are in different movies . Unfortunately , Pettyfer is woefully miscast as John / Number Four . He does n’t wreak the necessary profundity to the purpose . The total write up hinges on the doer who plays Number Four , so when casting the reboot , the producers must balance picking someone who has box - office appeal and will provide a nuanced portrayal .
The reboot must not be afraid to hollow into the source textile and change pregnant portion of the books , especially when it issue forth to fictitious character . Though this can be a daunting process , as sports fan of the refreshing series might sputter with changes to the beloved story , what work in a leger does n’t always work in a pic . In addition to playing down the Latinian language between Number Four and Sarah , the platonic relationships must be play up . Number Four ’s human connexion must be crucial , but he must also be concern with his relationship with the other aliens .
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Cast
John Smith is an alien , sent to Earth as a tike along with eight others , to escape a virulent threat on his home major planet . He and the others are eff as the Garde , but when John is a teenager , the enemy hear of their existence . The Garde must be kill in order , and the first three are dead . John , the 4th member , is next .
