I like doing these posts every now and then, especially when I see a pattern in the films I like. The theme “Kids that will make you cry” might seem a little out there, but sometimes I watch young actors and actresses and I am just in awe of the emotions they can evoke in me. Just because there are kids in these movies, doesn’t necessarily mean they are kids movies. I hope that makes sense?
A Monster Calls
Within the book community, Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls is a pretty popular book. It destroys your feelings and leaves the reader in tears in 9/10 cases. It took me some time to get to the movie, but in my opinion they did an amazing job with the adaptation. Even for the smallest roles, their cast is beyond stellar and despite a couple changes (as they always tend to happen), it felt like a pretty faithful film to me.
Handling themes such as death, loss, grief, guilt and the anger that comes with it, is never easy for kids (not that it gets any easier once you are older), but I feel like A Monster Calls provides a nuanced approach to it. It’s a dark tale that might not be for everyone, but it is a beautiful movie.
I Kill Giants
I Kill Giants is a movie that really blew me away. It perfectly plays between what is real and what is fantasy, but ultimately leaves it up to the audience to decide which one they want to go with. It deals with similar themes as A Monster Calls (terminal illness, loss, grief, etc.) and is based on a graphic novel of the same title (which I haven’t read though, so I cannot give any comparison).
I think something that hindered this movie from becoming really successful is that people expected it to be action-packed, which it is really not. It’s not so much a fantasy adventure as it is an exploration of how far a child’s imagination can go to help them cope with stressful and traumatic experiences.
Bridge to Terabithia
Do people still know about this movie? I feel old recommending it, but it was one of my favourites when I was younger and fits the theme perfectly as it also deals with the sudden death of a loved one, guilt, grief, bullying (which I forgot to mention for the previous movies) and how a vivid imagination can help children cope with what they are going through.
This movie is also based on a book, which I have read but never reviewed. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I actually enjoyed the movie more and struggled with the way the book was written. Also, it has been far too long to memorise the differences between the two.
Have you watched any of those movies? What is your take on them? Do you have some recommendations in the same field? Let’s chat!
Life and Other Disasters 
Omg Bridge to Terabithia!! That movie ripped out my heart and stomped on it as a kid! I thought it would be FUN and LIGHTHEARTED by nooooooo! POOR LESLIE!! Whhyyyyy 😭😭
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RIGHT!? I was not prepared for that gut punch at all when I first watched the movie. I thought it was just about friendship and imagination and fun .. but NO!! I didn’t want to give away what exactly happens in this post, but with the whole theme, I hope I made it clear that this is sad territory haha
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yeah, no need to spoiler it for people. They need to experience the shock and pain for themselves! 😬
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Definitely! Why should we be the only ones traumatized??
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yes exactly 😜
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Ahh Bridge to Teribithia was my childhood! That and Never Ending Story and Narnia xD So I was sorely disappointed when I couldn’t build a tree house or realized my closet wasn’t magical xP I saw the trailer for I Kill Giants and thought it sounded a lot like Bridhe to Teribithia – is it? Great recs!
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Ah yes, The Never Ending Story and Narnia were big for me as well! I was generally disappointed with a lot of things that just didn’t happen in my childhood haha
I Kill Giants is like a mix between Bridge to Terabithia and A Monster Calls in my opinion. I could definitely see resemblances to both.
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I loved Bridge to Terabithia when I was a kid!! Great post 🙂
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I am so glad people still remember that movie! Sometimes I feel like a relic in the blogging community and this reassures me haha
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Ugh I LOVED A Monster Calls, although the book was much more heart-wrenching, the movie was perfect in making you cry.
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Books are often able to convey inner dialogue and struggle better, which in turn makes them better at really conveying emotions, but yeah, the movie was still super sad!
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Absolutely agree!
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OH my god, Bridge to Terabithia. I don’t think I ever cried that much while watching a movie…. I just didn’t expect that thing to happen? It completely broke my heart and I feel sad whenever I just think about that movie, I don’t know if I will be able to emotionally handle re-watching this. I do love Josh when he’s a little baby aha he looks adorable. It was a great movie though. It was tough and it broke my heart but it was a great movie haha.
I haven’t watched, nor read A Monster Calls and… I know, what am I doing. I need to do both at some point, I feel like I’d love them, but… I don’t know if I am emotionally ready for it? I’m glad you enjoyed it so much though!! ❤ ❤
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It was SO sad for a movie and I think they were smart in not marketing it that way. It’s so interesting to see that no spoilers got out haha
You really should read A Monster Calls ahaha but I get that you have to be in a certain mindset. But don’t fool yourself, you’ll never actually be emotionally ready haha
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Yeah…. you’re right, I don’t think I ever will be ready for that one. Someday I’ll just get to it haha, hopefully, I know I have to! 😀
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A Monster Calls is one of the most faithful adaptations I think. It did its own thing but still kept true to the emotions of the book. (I do recall the author had a heavy hand in the writing of the movie too, so maybe that has something to do with it.) And I loved the book of Bridge to Terabithia! I haven’t watched the movie as I’d assumed it was just an okay adaptation, but maybe I should try checking it out since you recommend it. 🙂
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I really wasn’t that much of a fan of the book (Bridge to Terabithia) and I don’t think they were actually that much alike, but it’s been too long to really compare them. I did adore the movie though and can only recommend I Kill Giants as well. It’s basically a mix between A Monster Calls and Bridge to Terabithia.
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Ooh, I’ll definitely add it to my movies to watch then! 😀
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Great Post! 💕 It’s a shame that I haven’t seen the adaption of A Monster Calls yet 😱 I loved the book so much and have been eagerly anticipating it coming to the big screen! I think it’s also time for my annual reread soon! And … don’t even get me started on the Bridge to Terabithia, it has been years and I’m still crying 😭
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I was so waiting for A Monster Calls to release in Austria and then I completely missed it when it was in cinemas haha but oh well, it’s still a lot of fun on the small screen.
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Me too! My library has the movie, but it was checked out whenever I wanted to get it 😅 One of these days, I’ll get it though 🙂
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Bridge to Terabithia scarred me haha. I had NO idea that that was going to happen and uhhh lil me was NOT about that haha
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I think it scarred us all and I am not sure whether it was genius marketing not to reveal that twist or a terrible, terrible mistake in misbranding it? But I did love that story in the end.
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So I haven’t actually seen any of these films but I have A Monster Calls on my to-watch list (and I actually downloaded it from Amazon Prime so it’s on my iPad ready to go!) It sounds amazing (and heartbreaking but of course right?) and I loved the book so honestly I’m not sure why I haven’t watched it yet. 🙂
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It’s a really great movie! Obviously not 100% the book, but I think they did very well regardless.
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I don’t think there are many adaptations that can say they’re 100% true right? As long as it’s a good film I’ll be happy with that. 🙂
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I think they made the stories the monster tells beautifully. It’s not easy to incorporate stories within stories.
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No, it worked well in the book but I imagine it was challenging to bring that to life in the film.
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I like what they went with in the end 😀
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I have never watched any of these movies but I Kill Giants looks really good. I always confused Bridge to Terabithia with another movie the same actors but with The Rock. I don’t know. And I have yet to read A Monster Calls but I want to read it before watching the movie.
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I Kill Giants is great, if you go in with the right kind of expectations. Apparently a lot of people were expecting an epic fantasy thing, but it’s definitely not that.
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I mean I didn’t expect epic fantasy but more like magical realism. But once you explained that it is supposed to be along the lines of A Monster Calls, I understood. I’m still excited to watch it!
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I really need to watch the film version of monster calls, but I just know it’ll make me sob! And Bridge to terabithia *breaks me* every time!
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The trailer already makes me cry 75% of the time, so the movie just wrecked me haha
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haha I totally relate!
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