Tag: film adaptation

Project Hail Mary – WOW! by Kitty Bucholtz

A couple Christmases ago, John gave me an autographed copy of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I was so excited, but had a few books in my TBR pile that I wanted to finish first. Then I heard the movie was going to be made, so I wanted to wait. I don’t like reading the book before I watch the movie because the movie ends up feeling just a little disappointing. Reading the book after watching the movie also adds all the details the movie couldn’t add, so that makes me happy.

The day before my birthday, John and I went to the big cinema and settled in for the show. About three-quarters of the way through, I leaned over and whispered, “It’s not even over and I already want to watch it again!”

Project Hail Mary had me laughing and crying and gasping all the way through! As luck would have it, I was able to watch the movie again the next week — and it was still just as amazing! By then I had also started reading the autographed book — and like I’d hoped, it was even better! Then my friend and audiobook narrator, Catherine Gaffney, told me the audiobook narrator, Ray Porter, was incredible. I listened to just the 5-minute sample and was blown away!

This is a first for me: I own and am reading the hardcover, I own and am listening to the audiobook, and I have watched the movie twice in the first month of release. (And I am sooo buying the DVD when it’s released!)

I know there are a lot of romance readers and writers on this blog and let me tell you, Ryan Gosling’s character, Dr Ryland Grace, and his new friend Rocky — wow, they’re amazing examples of love and commitment. The characterization of everyone in the movie was heartwarming and made me feel connected to the story on every level. I hope you give it a try in whatever format you prefer.

I love Andy Weir’s The Martian and own it in paperback and on DVD, and I’ve watched the movie many times. But I love Project Hail Mary even more. Rocky’s expression sums it up for me: Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!