Fifty Shades of Grey (The Movie) Genres: Erotica Buy on Amazon|B&N|Kobo
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Editorial Reviews:
Fifty Shades of Grey is the hotly anticipated film adaptation of the bestselling book that has become a global phenomenon. Since its release, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has been translated in 52 languages worldwide and sold more than 90 million copies in e-book and print—making it one of the biggest and fastest-selling book series ever.
Stepping into the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, who have become iconic to millions of readers, are Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson. Joining them in the cast are Luke Grimes as Christian’s brother, Elliot; Victor Rasuk as Anastasia’s close friend, José; and Jennifer Ehle as Anastasia’s mother, Carla. Fifty Shades of Grey is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E L James, the creator of the series. The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel, with revisions by Patrick Marber and Mark Bomback.
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LOVE it or HATE it? Let’s see what my partners have to say about Fifty Shades of Grey Movie.
Ooops! And don’t forget to enter the AWESOME giveaway at the end of the post.
What was your initial reaction when you heard that FSoG would be made into a movie? Were you thrilled, or were you a bit leery that the movie would spoil how you envisioned the book?
Pam: I was excited! I truly love these books. I read them 9 times and I am working on my second round of audible. I am going to read them for the 10th time! I can’t resist. I knew going in that they would be different. The movie is never going to be the book. I took the movie at face value and went in with an open mind.
Jenn H: Personally I was ecstatic. To have a series that I adored, and one that literally changed my life in so many ways on the silver screen? It doesn’t get much better for a fan girl!! C’mon, who wasn’t holding their breath to see Christian Grey larger than life? Can you say weak in the knees with anticipation?
Jen O: I was so excited. I always say that I’m the worst critic when they turn a book into a movie. I never thought when they announced it that they would be able to ruin it for me. I love this series so much.
(Before seeing the movie) Were you convinced that Jamie and Dakota were the perfect choices to play Christina and Ana? And how did you feel after seeing them together onscreen? If you were given the opportunity to pick the characters, would they have been your first choice or are there other actors you would have chosen?
Pam: Hands down 100% yes! When they were picked I thought they were perfect. I still do. I get a lot of flak for that but I don’t care! If I was presented with these two then yes I would pick them again. I am sure there are others that could play Ana and Christian but my heart is with these two. #teamjamie #teamdakota
Jenn H: Okay, I will be honest here. No, I wasn’t sold in the beginning, and have since had to eat a healthy portion of crow (bows head in shame). I was very unsure about them both. I didn’t feel Dakota at all. Jamie grew on me as I learned more about him. I will now go on public record and say that I was wrong on both fronts. Jamie was perfect, there’s a mysterious air to him, makes you want to know more (uhm hello Christian!!) and Dakota? She knocked it out of the park! In my opinion, she stole the show!! Her “inner goddess” was such an integral part of the series that I was worried they wouldn’t be able to capture that on screen. Her comedic ability nailed it and gave us that snarky voice that we got to see as an aside in the books. She was amazing. Honestly, at this point who I would have chosen is simply a moot point, because they are Christian and Ana! They were and are perfect, they brought these characters to life in a perfect blend of duplicity and rawness. They added amazing layers to the story and gave us so much more than I expected. BRAVO!
Jen O: I was one of the skeptical ones. I didn’t hate them, I just didn’t know them as actors and I was afraid that they wouldn’t be able to pull off these two characters. Boy was I wrong. Dakota Johnson was amazing and I think she embraced Ana. I was very happy with her performance. Jamie was a better choice for me than Charlie was. I just didn’t feel him as Christian as much. His acting is good, but he just wasn’t Christian for me. I also have this thing with an actor’s accent coming through and his did a few times. I find it distracting and it breaks character for me. I wanted Alex Pettyfer and Alexis Bledel. That is who I envisioned them to be.
What are your thoughts on the chemistry between Jamie and Dakota? A lot of people are questioning the connection between them, but for someone who has seen the movie multiple times (haha), how would you rate them?
Pam: I thought they did well. We have to remember that in book one Christian was a little standoffish. We warm up to him in book two. I think Jamie’s character development will reflect that in the upcoming movies. Dakota was a doll. So funny. We lose the “inner goddess” in the movie but she more than makes up for it with her humor!
Jenn: I think the chemistry between them was exactly what it was supposed to be. You feel their pull to one another and their undeniable attraction from their first scene together. You felt their desire, yet you also felt their vulnerabilities to something neither of them could explain. I think what most are describing as lack of chemistry is quite frankly amazing acting ability, an amazing book, and an excellent screenplay. They were supposed to be stand-offish at parts, it was a new taboo relationship for them both. I think the ending scenes proved the chemistry was there is spades. I mean seriously, if the chemistry wasn’t there, who could have pulled that off?
Jen O: I think the chemistry was good. If you’ve read the books, you know that it’s not an instant love. Christian is fighting his feelings. Therefore I think they did a wonderful job at portraying the first books emotions.
Let’s get to the fun part… We are all fans of FSoG, and I think we are all pretty familiar with how the sex scenes were in the book. How close was the adaptation of these steamy scenes in the movie? (Some say they’re HOT but others say they were lacking and left them disappointed).
Pam: Well, the feel was there and we get a taste. Could there have been more? Sure. But we have to keep it R. We aren’t watching this in the back room of a dirty bookstore. They were tasteful and got the point across.
Jenn H: They were amazing. People need to realize that the screenplay had to be written within certain guidelines, I think given those guidelines, this movie pushed boundaries. I believe that they were spot on. They were intimate and raw, they were hot and provocative. Remember folks, the book is always better. But I for one have already purchased the DVD. With such a controversial plot and unfamiliar subject matter for most, the love scenes (because in my opinion, these were about so much more than sex) were amazingly sexy and tastefully portrayed.
Jen O: Ugh, this one is a hard one. I think as far as the book goes, the movie was tame. I think that’s what everyone means when they say it wasn’t hot. To me, it was amazingly hot (maybe too much considering I saw it with my mother-in-law). The last scene was perfect. It had me holding my breath and tearing up. I need to see it again!
Are there scenes in the book you felt were imperative to the story but were left out and should have been included in the movie?
Pam: For me there were two key plot points missing in the movie. Ones that were major plot points for the second and third books. I know you can’t have it all but I did question why there were left out and has me wondering where movie two will take us.
**spoiler**
No talk of her job? We are missing the main cray cray for the next two books. We need a crazy boss please! I was also waiting for the conversation with Jose after the bar incident. Her going to his show is what pulls Christian and Ana back together in book two. We lost her asking Christian about going. I am excited to see how it all plays out.
Jenn H: Did I miss certain aspects of the books? I did. Mrs. Jones would be on the forefront of my mind. Do I feel that leaving her out took away from the movie? Not at all. I think the script did an incredible job of portraying what was needed for the movie goer, I can’t imagine being given the daunting task of condensing a book that entailed so much into two hours. I also have faith, that we will get all that we need in the future movies.
Jen O: This is the only negative I have about the movie. It is such a long book, so I get that they couldn’t fit it all in. One of the scenes that was changed for the movie was when he told her about his mother. The part where he tells her a bedtime story and explains why he prefers brunettes. I didn’t like how they did it for the movie. So much was left out for the non-readers.
There are a lot of issues and negative comments from people who are not in favor of the topics depicted in FSoG. Others even go so far as to question the morality of the people who have read the books and watched the movie. BDSM is really a delicate and complicated subject to discuss, and I know that we aren’t experts in this field, but share with us your personal views about it.
Pam: This is a love story. It’s about strength, trust, and growth! These are consenting adults. People like to run their mouth but as the saying goes… people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Usually the people that yell the loudest have the most to hide!
Jenn H: There is so much debate about this right now, even in my own personal life. For me, life is about finding things that make you happy. These books, this movie, made me happy. Whatever my reasons are, they are simply that, my reasons. I would like to point out to the nay-sayers that this is in no way about violence or domestic abuse. If it were, do you honestly believe that it would have resonated with so many women? Neither character is ever asked to do something that they are uncomfortable with or don’t want to do. This is simply a love story about two very different people. The beauty in this story is that they recognize this and instead of giving up or giving in, they fight to find what works for them. They write their own story. It may not be conventional, but that’s what makes it powerful and beautiful. They fight not only for themselves, but for one another. They put their pieces together in a way that makes them whole and in turn, they find out exactly who they are. They find themselves. Love is difficult, and I for one, couldn’t hope for more.
Jen O: I’m no angel, but I really don’t think I’m bad for reading these books. I once said that these books are not new. I remember finding my sisters’ Harlequin romance book when I was young and I couldn’t believe what was in there. I was maybe eight or nine. I think that my generation is more accepting of it and the terms that authors use today. I also think that it brings the BDSM world more exposure and allows someone who practices it more of an acceptance. Knowledge is power. I think the thing that most people are forgetting is that this is a life choice. It is a two sided relationship where the female chooses what is done and had the ability to say stop. I think these couples have a great relationship because of the communication that needs to happen in this life.
If you had a friend who has not seen (or is still contemplating watching) the movie, what would be your recommendations and what would you tell them?
Pam: Watch it! I would give the movie 4.5 stars. It’s a great representation of the book. It’s filmed beautifully. Some of the camera angles are breathtaking (I cried when she first sees Christian and Charlie Tango on the roof!! It was an amazing shot). For me, Jamie and Dakota were perfect. Dakota was adorable, funny, and stole the show. I am looking forward to Darker.
Jenn: See this movie!! Take a chance, give it and yourself the chance to learn something new. This movie is a heartfelt look at love. It’s about two people that maybe shouldn’t be together but despite it all find a way to make it work. It’s a story about fighting the odds and fighting for your heart. It’s about growth and understanding, it’s a story about compromise, and realizing sometimes you have to trust yourself to know your own limits. FSoG shows us that sometimes you must relinquish the very control you seek to become the Master of your own Universe.
Jen O: You really need to go into this movie with an open mind. Don’t listen to the negative reviews and I really recommend reading the book first.
I rate this movie 5 Stars! It is the best movie I’ve seen as far as book portrayal goes. Dakota blew me away with her acting and portrayal of Ana. Jamie aka Christian, I roll my eyes at you. Please punish me!
We have heard rumors about book two, Fifty Shades Darker, being brought to the big screen, which I know is every FSoG fan’s favorite. After seeing the first movie and all the controversy surrounding it, do you plan on seeing it?
Pam: Well I would hope so! Grey ended just like the book. Any fan went running to one click or purchase book two ASAP! I wish I had that option for the second movie!! Is it 2016 yet?
Jenn H: Is that even a question? Can I have it now please? **sulks in corner because my inner goddess is mad that she will have to wait! ** I will be stalking fandango for tickets!! I for one just want to wish all involved amazing congratulations on a job well done. These books and this movie, means so much for so many. Remember people, you should never judge a book by its cover. What works for some will not work for all. When love and respect are at the core, who are we to judge? *CHEERS* and Laters Babies!!!
Jen O: OMG! Do you even have to ask? I will see it (probably more than once). I will order it on Blu-ray and impatiently wait for its release. I can’t wait to see what they do with this book. It is my favorite of the series.
You can watch other trailers, highlights, other TV Spots and Character Interviews here.
CASTS:
Christian Grey: Jamie Dornan
Anastasia Steele: Dakota Johnson
Kate Kavanagh – (Ana’s BFF) Eloise Mumford.
Elliott Grey – Luke Grimes
Mia Grey – Rita Ora.
Grace Grey – (Christian’s adoptive mother) Marcia Gay Harden.
Jose Rodriguez – Victor Rasuk.
Ray Steele – (Ana’s father) Keith Rennie.
Jason Taylor – Christian’s bodyguard Max Martini.
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2 comments on “Movie Review and Giveaways: Fifty Shades of Grey”
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Omg this is a awesome giveawa. Thanks for the chance