Is the Paper Towns Movie Like the Book? Thoughts on Adaptations

In which John discusses the Paper Towns movie adaptation, the idea of faithful adaptations, and the lost art of the movie novelization. Special attention is paid to the novelization of the film The Goonies.
Also, in a stunning turn of events, I find myself in an airport.
----
Subscribe to our newsletter! nerdfighteria.c...
And join the community at nerdfighteria.com effyeahnerdfigh...
Help transcribe videos - nerdfighteria.info
John's twitter - / johngreen
John's tumblr - / fishingboatproceeds
Hank's twitter - / hankgreen
Hank's tumblr - / edwardspoonhands

[@Moonbeam143]

"My Harry Potter is just mine" As a lover of books, I just wanted to say that I love this line so gosh darn much.

[@arunkhanna7210]

I know, it should be on a shirt or something.

[@stocktonjoans]

Moonbeam it's just a shame the book used as the example is lazily written trash

[@TheTayTro]

***** Harry Potter is actually better than many other books. It might not be the best book in the whole entire world but it is well-written.

[@YotantaPlays]

Lana imo, the first few books were pretty average. I might even go so far as to say that the first was bad. However, Rowling did get a LOT better by the end of the series.

[@Moonbeam143]

The Harry Potter books are okay. This just gets into whether or not the books are your thing. If it is, great. If it isn't, then that's okay, too.

[@Ravenclaw1991]

Everyone's Harry Potter is theirs... unless they picture the movies when reading. Even after all these years, when I read Harry Potter, I don't visualize anything from the movies.. Except Maggie Smith as McGonagall. She was just perfection.

[@daffo595]

Ravenclaw1991 and alan rickman.

[@Gizmos941]

Since i watched movies before reading books, i always imagined them as actors. I guess my harry is not just mine T_T

[@heathernoname5884]

I was really upset to find that they had hoops for quidditch and not nets and that the stands didnt match my interpretation so i was really upset with watching the quidditch bits of the movie

[@Ravenclaw1991]

Daff OOn Alan Rickman was great, but I don't picture him as Snape because he was a lot older than Snape was in the books Wingchell I watched the first movie before reading the books but I've never imagined the actors or anything in my head.

[@daffo595]

Ravenclaw1991 the age is something but his acting was so spot on that i didn't even notice!

[@bicooo1]

'My Harry Potter is just mine!' You could make another t-shirt with that text :P And the Goonies was awesome!

[@JoyfulMenace]

I would so buy that shirt!

[@arunkhanna7210]

There should also be a contextiseverything poster

[@josepenalonzosomoza1772]

Yeah I need that t-shirt 😂

[@bicooo1]

Woww so many tumbs up, they should probably make this happen! But I think there are so many things that John has said in his vlogbrothers videos and written in his books that would make good t-shirt quotes.. he could make thousands of different ones! :)

[@TaylorJohnsonvideo]

"I'd rather have Paper Towns be good than be faithful." This video is the greatest defense of film adaptations I've ever seen. You have convinced me to have an open mind when approaching them. I haven't even read Paper Towns but now I feel like I need to.

[@Xenolilly]

John, ("you" if you're reading this) often calls us to think of others complexly. I think this thought while not native to Mr. Green, is his greatest contribution. So often we hate or love each other based on exaggerated ideas. This creates all sorts of chaos for the human species. I hope we all really take to heart the message of viewing others complexly. I know I have. I've felt it before John expressed it, but it is easier for me now that I have the words to articulate it.

[@VelvetWay]

Xenolilly I think in many ways we do this because it simplifies our life, and helps us categorize our experiences. Being on either side of the spectrum, white or black, is much easier than distinguishing between the various shades of grey. It's more convenient to hate someone based on surface assumptions than delve into their psyche, or even learn more about them to understand what motivates their actions.

[@vikop4]

+xenolilly; i understand exactly what you mean. For me when trying understand the complexity of others helps me understand them better as simple human beings and thus it is easier to accept and tolerate everyone for who they are.

[@KannikCat]

Xenolilly Hear hear! I love that John continues to prod and poke and remind us to do just this. Classifying and labeling things -- or people -- can be useful but it can also be a pitfall when we forget that we were the ones that applied the label. Especially with people, where not only are our labels often too quickly and simplistically applied, but people are not like rocks, unchanging. It can be "quick" and "easy" to live in a world of discrete good, bad, right, wrong, you're this, I'm that, this is how things are... but it misses out on richness, possibility, and connection to others and a world greater than ourselves.

[@leatherback8]

Xenolilly I've just realised how relevant the theme from Paper Towns is to our perception of John and Hank.. “What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person.”

[@purplequeerturtles]

I just finished reading paper towns today! It's my favourite book by you so far :) you also signed it when you came to my school, the international school of Amsterdam! Can't wait for the movie.

[@arunkhanna7210]

I'm embarrassed to say that I read that as something else

[@purplequeerturtles]

Arun Khanna how else could it have been read?

[@ashleymoonstarsxo]

Madison F I think the "F" in the name made the word "lucky" look like the f word lol

[@daleksunshine]

I think my only problem with the books becoming movies, is the fact that the characters become hollywood actors. Like to me at least the great thing about john's books are the fact like the characters seem like real people and are relatable and flawed. But with a movie the characters are played by 'perfect' looking people, which makes it kinda unrealistic. (I realise these actors are real people and are probably lovely) I think I just don't like the fact that these characters won't stay ordinary people, and will seem to far away from the viewer.

[@arunkhanna7210]

That is true. For example, J.K Rowling even said that she imagined Hermione to be much more nerdy(and not as beautiful) as Emma Watson.

[@daffo595]

daleksunshine i totally relate! Like in divergent (I'm not a big fan of it tbh) Triss was supposed to be super plain looking and really short and Shailene Woodley is anything but! And then the movie goes and changes your entire visualisation of the novel.

[@docnevyn5814]

Arun Khanna Emma Watson is just as nerdy as Hermione. Read the quotes about her mouthing the boys lines during the first movie, turning in an very long character analysis to the second director, or the fact that she did well at Brown.

[@arunkhanna7210]

I'm sorry if it came out in a negative way. I meant more geeky and approachable. Hollywood actors and actresses are usually much more attractive and beautiful onscreen than as books imagine them.

[@arunkhanna7210]

Another example is Nat Wolff. He is much hotter(read: shirtless scene in movie) than what the book portrayed him as

[@JackHawkin5]

This was actually a really eye-opening insight on book-movie adaptations. Too many people get caught up in whether a film was faithful or not, rather than the actual quality of the film itself.

[@MarioTheStoryTeller]

*This channel is so AWESOME it never get old. It like watching something for the first* *time and BAM you are already addicted to it:)*

[@MarioTheStoryTeller]

The Vlogbrothers are awesome:)

[@Quixotic1018]

Different girl... plane crash... John, did you rewrite Q into Donnie Darko?

[@Madamuuu]

Quixotic1018 Omg, Donnie Darko 2: Paper Towns. I'd be all over that XD.

[@jomarie12]

😂😂😂 I could see that

[@elizabethm8519]

Black Santa Collection confirmed, I repeat, BLACK SANTA COLLECTION CONFIRMED.

[@lizzcarter4490]

I really love that you can so precisely express my thoughts about movie adaptations. I usually just end up saying, "It's a different format of course it's different," before collapsing. But I just thought of a good analogy. It's like a painting vs a photograph. I'm going to go try to flesh that analogy out now, so I can use that in the future...

[@arunkhanna7210]

For some reason these new videos remind me about the 2007 vlogbrothers videos.

[@Tigermond1]

Arun Khanna Yes, they made several airport videos back then, too... I like how some things just never change. :D

[@robertbrummett2591]

John I really appreciate how you approach the perception of people who read your books as they are the ones that are interpreting the words how they want to and have ownership over their feelings of it along with how movies are not supposed to be the same thing because they are not meant for the individual but the masses

[@arunkhanna7210]

JOHN, PLEASE REMEMBER TO DO YOUR PUNISHMENT. NERDFIGHTERS, UPVOTE FOR VISIBILITY

[@Tigermond1]

Arun Khanna I agree, but you have to consider how stressed out he must be right now. He said he'd do it soon though (on reddit and in the comments), so don't worry, he didn't forget it.

[@arunkhanna7210]

You probably are right.

[@sterling-9259]

Arun Khanna Yes John it has been months.

[@CSgirl322]

Yes, he should do it. 15 hours in Walmart (like Hank's full day in Target as punishment) should do it.

[@linthenerd]

AHHHH! This is the foundation of the book club I co-founded. I loved novelizations as a kid, too; and I loved movies that were based on books and the books they were based on. I still do. I am so looking forward to your second movie!

[@KaylenaOrr]

So excited to see Paper Towns ^__^

[@zeiger256854]

Me too:)

[@WTFBustahBrown]

Kaylena Orr u got a date or...? (jk XD)

[@WTFBustahBrown]

Kaylena Orr ayee just checked out ur yt and u have some awesome interests, totally retract the jk

[@KaylenaOrr]

WTFBustahBrown You're so kind! Thanks for checking out my channel :]

[@WTFBustahBrown]

No probs, I like how you reply to a good amount of your subscribers comments. Keep doin you (channel really reminds me of Mental Floss btw)

[@Hannibanani97]

I am so excited for this movie! Paper towns is one of my all time favorites, and you can see it in the copy I own. The cover is worn and most of the pages are folded and I've completely lost count of how many times I've read it. I've even gone through it and highlighted all of my favorite quotes.

[@juststeveschannel]

Change can be good, I'll grant you, but the loss of Kaitlyn in the TFIOS movie was still criminal. Still looking forward to Paper Towns, though.

[@docnevyn5814]

juststeveschannel You're not up there with the Tom Bombidall (LOTR) or Madge (Hunger Games) book snobs, but still...

[@pintpullinggeek]

Doc Nevyn The LOTR movies are probably one of the best examples of keeping faith with a series but cutting appropriately. I was so glad there was no Tom in Fellowship but I know I am in a book-lovers minority on that one.

[@docnevyn5814]

I anticipated he would be cut and was fine with it.

[@kingxdedede7327]

Doc Nevyn What about Prim in Mocking Jay. Now THAT, was cold.

[@docnevyn5814]

To what are you referring? Prim was in Mockingjay part 1. No spoilers for part 2 which is not out in US

[@bonnywren5464]

I'm so glad you told us about the changes that will be in the movie, because usually when I come across an unexpected change, I spend the rest of the movie confused and I don't absorb it at all.

[@TheGeekyDad]

Hey you guys!

[@MiddleAgedNerd]

The Geeky Dad Sloth loves Chunk!

[@delvesdg]

The Geeky Dad Rocky Roooaaaad, ah ha, ha ha!!!!

[@sydneyca]

"I love the dark. But I hate nature!"

[@KaijaSchmauss]

The Geeky Dad Do the truffle shuffle!

[@Sindizwe]

The Geeky Dad Always separate the drugs!

[@AsdAsd-qi5kk]

Today at the Buenos Aires National Book Fair there was a big pannel with your face promoting your book, and i couldnt belive it because i dont even know people from here who watch your videos! im glad to see you have advertising in latin america, you always speak with respect about us and i think you deserve it. Completely off topic but whatever!

[@HarperNguyen]

John.... Please release your screenplay!

[@chiquitapaulita]

Kevin Nguyen Yes, I want to read about this plane crash, it sounds absolutely horrible... :)

[@skygonecrazywithstars]

Kevin Nguyen P4A perk?

[@LoraK31]

Kevin Nguyen I actually asked about this in a comment before and he said that he doesn't own it, so he can't release it sadly. But that would have been awesome to read!

[@iThumbMichaelBuckley]

Since Hank pointed out the blank space on the wall it has made me crazy. Glad we got another airport video. I love these.

[@TheNeiraaa]

I am really looking forward to seeing this movie. I liked reading about the rise and fall of the concept of Manic Pixie Dream Girl. I ended up disliking her as a person, but maybe that's because I was in a cynical place when i read it. The best thing is that neither options are presented as the right choice. You as a writer allowed me to decide for myself and you didn't spoon feed me what I should think. Now I am even more sure that they managed to translate that to the big screen.

[@Novjuly]

I hesitate to say this because I love so, so many books, but I think "Paper Towns" is my favorite. It really changed the way I see myself and other people and life. I was introduced to Whitman and introduced to teenagers who think about literature in a really cool way I had never seen before. I loved the mystery, but I can never experience that mystery again, unfortunately. So when I reread it, I remembered who I was while I was reading it and how I changed as a person; and I was able to see the meaning of the book so much more. I literally did not understand the parts title, the strings, the grass, and the vessel the first time I read it because I was too caught up in the plot and characters. But when I went back, I had such a richer experience, trying to decide what MY metaphors are. (I ended up going with the vessel.) So, thank you, so so much for writing this novel, John. AND producing the movie. Oh, it brings me so much joy to see the characters come to life so, so perfectly. Wonderful casting and direction. And John is right; the changes are perfect. Seeing the relationship between Radar and Angela was awesome; and I loved the ending. We got to see after the book ended! It was like reading an AU! And, no matter how much us fangirls wish it, there can never be a perfect movie adaptation that shows every second of the book. How boring would it be just to sit there and watch Q read Whitman for two hours? (I'd prob still watch it; let's be honest.) But anyway just thank thank thank you. :) Much love and best wishes.

[@laurennicole04]

Movie Margo is different from book Margo in my opinion. I feel like Cara didn't get enough screen time and lines for me to get to know her character, which made the book and the movie seem like two different stories in a way. I really loved both of them though!!

[@ashbrookehinkle619]

Videos like this are what keep me coming back to this channel and keeping up with you two. I find that instead of walking into a theatre thinking that the movie is going to exactly like the book just disappoints me and so now I just don't even think about the book and watch the movie as it is.

[@mslatngrl]

Love this video - love anyone talking about The Goonies!!

[@meaganmcleod1155]

Thank you for making this video. I think that it helps a lot of nerdy people like myself enjoy a movie more when we know that the author agrees with and appreciates the adaptations which the producers/writers/directors make. I am so glad that all of your philosophical amazingness and pure life wisdom will reach the audience of the movie, as well as the audience of the book. You rock 👌👏

[@andreanneveillette9664]

I'm one of those people who want the movie to EXACTLY like the book... But you do make a very convincing point. Maybe I'll try it your way next time John Green. :)

[@speedstacker51]

This video is great. When I read TFIOS, I imagined a lot of things differently but it didn't upset me when I saw the movie because, like you said, it was my TFIOS. My favorite thing about book to movie adaptations (like you also said) is that I can feel what I felt while reading the book but this time with actual visuals. And when movie people get the right formula and effectively take the emotions of a book and make them again in "real life", I think that is just invaluable. During the eulogy scene in the TFIOS movie, I felt what I felt when I was reading the book even though I pictured things a little differently, and I left fulfilled because of that. That's what makes book to movie adaptations work- emotion, because emotions are basically the same everywhere.

[@sierrahall8791]

Awmahgawd!! I love the concept behind these Vlogs the more I watch!! What an amazing/funny/sweet way to stay in touch with your sibling! Not to mention I (we all) totally benefit from this arrangement. BAH. I'm pleased.

[@lukasdon0007]

I imagined Harry Potter to be green and have frizzy hair, and Hagrid was more of an ogre like Shrek. I guess I imagined it that way because I was very young and didn't really pay attention to the visual descriptions given by the author. Imagine my distress when the movie wasn't faithful to my Harry Potter.

[@cadenceroy6686]

Dear John Green, My name is Cadence Roy. I know that you don't respond to snail mail and things like that but I just wanted to tell you that you are a huge inspiration to me. As an aspiring writer you have taught me how to write with a sophisticated and witty style. I thank you for that. I probably shouldn't have read your books since I'm only eleven and some books have mature themes. It's just hard not to. They are interesting, witty, and total page-turners. I thank you for bringing he gift of your books to the world. It would mean so much if you replied. Thank you.

[@jacella7538]

Cadence Roy I read his books when i was 11. To be honest it doesn't really depend on your age, it more or less depends on the height of your maturity or understanding of the story (Unless you want to read a book and not understand it and miss the context completely)

[@RithSV]

Aw man.. Spoiler alert, John. Spoilers!

[@RithSV]

***** Everything after 2:40.

[@vampirica89]

Simon Vin Based on the video title you should've know that reading the book before watching it was advisable. Having said that, John was very careful not to reveal anything important, so don't worry.

[@RithSV]

Scattered Moon Shards Haha I've read the book, don't worry. The comment was in jest. Even for the final Harry Potter movie I thought they showed way too much in the trailer so I've always liked to go into movies with fresh eyes, even if I know the source content. I mean it's still new, isn't it?

[@sarasthoughts]

YES JOHN. YES. YOU'RE SO GREAT AT TALKING ABOUT THE STUFF THAT'S TANGLED INSIDE MY HEAD. Im fangirling okay bye

[@toboroboproductions]

I shall call him Harry and he shall be mine and he shall be my Harry.

[@abeta201]

I don't really know why, but somehow I think I love the videos you make in airports most.

[@nolanthiessen1073]

My Harry Potter is a puppet.

[@MichaelFinkCMT]

I read the book before seeing the movie with paper Towns, as well as with TFIOS. I'm normally apposed to doing this because when I love a book, I'm generally disappointed when the movie leaves out some of my favorite parts, or things I thought of as key elements. Also, the book allows for the detailing and in depth development of relationships, which movies often end up having to rush through to get to the core of he story. I didn't find this to be true with TFIOS and, from the trailer, don't get the impression that it will be so for Paper Towns either. I'm REALLY looking forward to the movie! John, you do a FANTASTIC job with the talents you possess! Thanks for sharing your creativity with the world. It's a better place for it.

[@901lillypop]

I think it's fine that the movie was different and I knew there would be changes BUT!!!!! I think it was just way to... Idk.. Short ig.. And why even give Cara the notebook to hold at the end if the movie isn't even gonna bring it up! It's like u have to read the book to know anything about that! I personally was disappointed not by how much was changed but instead how much wasn't there.. /: But yea LOVE the book! Movie is eh... But the book 👌🏻😘

[@901lillypop]

I'm still gonna buy the DVD though because I did love the book and even tho the movie wasn't everything I was hoping for... I still want the movie for my own 😂

[@amberamey7549]

John has the right attitude about adaptations. Things always have to change when moving something to a different medium for so many different reasons. People always get hung up on the smallest things that are actually inconsequential to the big picture. Some movie adaptations have even suffered from sticking too closely to the source material. I've started looking at adaptations the way i look at comic books- the same way that Marvel and DC have (or rather had) their different comic universes and their cinematic universes, so too do my favorite books that get movies. And I can overlook a lot and not nitpick by separating them in my head that way and look at the movie as a movie. All that being said, I'm super excited for the movie. As long as John's happy with it, I know I'll be happy with it.

[@estellet1406]

(SPOILERS) As long as Q and Margo don't end up together, and Margo refuses to come back with Q, I'm happy.

[@maryklemic5218]

Estelle T Yep

[@estellet1406]

Mary Klemic Are you youtube stalking me...? xD

[@maryklemic5218]

Estelle T PSHHHA Noooooooooooo

[@eringeraghty3076]

John I completely agree! It also feels like you have a nice little secret between the author and other readers of the novel, something intimate that the people who've only seen the movie don't get.

[@arunkhanna7210]

I want to hear about the airplane crash

[@FantashticIdeas]

At the moment, I'm doing an adaptations course at university and each week we talk about issues of medium specifity, fidelity, ethics (historical events and real people), motivations and overall quality of adaptations. It's a fascinating course and I completely agree with you, John. Not all changes are bad and in fact, that is what audiences expect from adaptations. As Linda Hutcheon writes, "adaptations need to be something familiar yet different," in relation to the original text even if the "original text" is an adaptation itself. Perhaps I should make a video about it?

[@joshpearson2928]

So on a scale from Game of Thrones to Eragon, how good is the adaptation

[@samjeffreys2946]

Probably around Harry Potter.

[@Tigermond1]

Josh Pearson Haha, oh god...Eragon was just... I mean, I only saw the trailer, but that was enough to make me cringe.

[@docnevyn5814]

Josh Pearson The Chronicles of Narnia are probably the most faithful adaption ever. But that's because an entire children's novella can be put into a movie (except inner dialogue) and not have it be too long.

[@sugdenedits]

***** Where does Percy Jackson fit into this scale. Because MY GOD. Worse movie adaptation ever (haven't read or seen Eragon so I can't say if it's worse)

[@sugdenedits]

***** oh :) The director of Percy Jackson never read the book. Completely changed the entire plot. Instead of them having to fight monsters to find the Underworld, they look for pearls to get themselves out of the Underworld that they find right away. The person who ends up stealing the bolt and helm (main plot) is Ares who never appears in the movie. LIKE WTF camphalfblood.wikia.com/wiki/Percy_Jackson_and_the_Olympians:_The_Lightning_Thief/Differences_from_the_book

[@abbifreeman1022]

"I would rather it be good than faithful, but I genuinely think it's both." I'm gonna be honest here John, I have been a bit on edge about the movie thing but that sentence put me at ease. So thank you and I'm very much looking forward to the movie xx

[@AndyT.Nguyen]

The book is infinitely better

[@ErikVanRent]

Just saw it last night, I was surprised with your intro thanking Belgium! We should thank you. I adored the movie.

[@PurpleLover523]

Only 76 comments...I don't know what to do with myself. Hi, nerdfighters!

[@falkkiwiben]

JuliaTheBookMonster hello

[@PurpleLover523]

Benjamin Macdonald Hey!

[@cenedra20]

JuliaTheBookMonsterHi there^^

[@PurpleLover523]

cenedra20 Morning! (Or good night, depending on where you are)

[@PurpleLover523]

***** I'm getting replies and it's making me happy. HI!

[@MikhaelEternal]

Thank you, John, you've given me better methods of approaching film adaptions of books.

[@ryanstan9380]

There should be a DFTBA emoji!!!

[@ashrivera8432]

Use black Santa. We will know.

[@BabyBirdx]

🙅 this is as close as we have currently ha

[@ashtuatara]

I love this video so much! :) I love what he said about "My Harry Potter is different from your Harry Potter and everyone else's Harry Potter." It's so true! I see the character and the story in a different way than everyone else, which reflects a bit of myself. I don't mind so much when it's different and it works. However, if it's something that's changed just because and wouldn't make any difference to the story, (like giving all of Ron Weasley's good traits and lines to Hermione... Grrrrrr. Still makes me sooo mad) then it's different. Movies tell a visual story, books a textual story.

[@camelopardalis84]

I am confused. Does John like change or not? Haircut crisis all forgotten?

[@lukasdon0007]

Marie Lastname I guess he changed his mind on whether or not he likes change... Which makes me wonder: if you do like change, can you change your mind to *not* like change? Would you like that change?

[@Tigermond1]

***** Actually a very good question... O_o

[@camelopardalis84]

***** Stop that train of thought right there or the universe will implode.

[@HeavyMetalMouse]

Marie Lastname Change is scary, and change can be a good thing. These aren't mutually exclusive.

[@sterling-9259]

***** WORMHOLE OPENS

[@chuuchuububble1572]

I was searching after The Goonies for years! And now, I just watched a video and you're telling me just like that how the name of the film is. John Green you're awesome. Thank you !^^

[@bicooo1]

Why didn't they want Sea world to get good publicity?

[@punketten]

bicooo1 Probably because of the whole Blackfish thing, I'm guessing?

[@viqhoo]

Watch the documentary "Blackfish". There's the answer.

[@12Rman21]

bicooo1 because, like some game making companies, they utterly fail to understand the value of being portrayed and somehow weirdly view it as some mystic revenue they are missing out on if the movie going public isn't paying for those views of their park. Speculation but that is probably their completely out of touch reasoning.

[@arunkhanna7210]

They probably would have had to pay them royalties

[@HedendaagseHippies]

Arun Khanna well I hope it was not about royalties, but about the fact that sea world is abusing wild animals...

[@pianofluteflute]

John, you are a wonderful person!

[@jamescharlick7087]

I can send you some artwork for that wall if you like :)

[@arunkhanna7210]

Posting your email on KZbin isn't the best idea :)

[@jamescharlick7087]

I take photos, mostly of derelict sites. You can see some of my best work on Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DerelictPhotography

[@elmo2488]

James Charlick QUICK! Artistic nerdfighters, unite and send mass quantities of artwork to cover the wall! A la Lauren Fairweather's dorm wall :)

[@akeleti8]

James Charlick That's some cool art. It looks gothic with the shade and the mist and the powerful nature scenes.

[@nii333]

I relate to this video on a spiritual level. John is just such an amazing person.

[@eimearsthename]

would anyone else love chloe grace moretz as alaska?

[@docnevyn5814]

***** Too small. I imagine Alaska as a larger woman. I will grant you, however, Chloe's I don't give an f-bomb badass is world class.

[@sugdenedits]

***** Personality? Yes. Looks? No. She's more of a Lara in looks.

[@RessaFace]

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is probably my favorite example of how exact details aren't necessary to have a good adaptation. I vaguely remember a quote by Adams, though of course I can't find it now, which basically said the only similarities between any version of Hitchhiker's is that is completely different than the others. Which is undeniably true, plot-wise. However, for the most part, the theme and the feel of the story persists in any incarnation, and I just love that.

[@audreyviolet4772]

hah when I was reading harry potter for the first time I hadn't seen the movies yet and I read slytherin as "sly-ther-ine" for the entire first book

[@arunkhanna7210]

I also mispronounced Hermione and pretty much most of the spells.

[@arunkhanna7210]

You know what they say, "Books belong to their readers"

[@zoejeffers6857]

I read accio as "ass-EE-o". I barely recognised the actual spell when I heard it the first time.

[@raysh-w6342]

I read disapperate as 'dis-asparagus' *oh 9 year old me, you've come so far*

[@estellet1406]

I thought Hedwig was like "head-widge" and I pronounced Privet Drive "private drive"

[@bandgeek8408]

Pretty much everything you said in this video is why I started comparing and analyzing books and their movie adaptations on my channel . . . a treatment I fully plan to give to both TFIOS and Paper Towns. Looking forward to the movie!

[@DrummingKid78]

the ending in the book was so much better. movie was great, but ending sucked compared to the one in the book.

[@samanthaburke3558]

I am so very excited so see such and wonderful book with such a good theme get made into a movie. Yesterday as I debated my math teacher on the importance literature this is exactly the type of book I was thinking of the type of book that reminds us to imagine others complexly. So thank you for this great book and DFTBA:)

[@sarkasticchik9133]

I don't mind that the Seaworld isn't hapening in the movie, since it's an animal exploitative company! I hate Seaworld!

[@toinfinitebeyonds]

When I first heard that you were making a movie adaptation of the book, my fear was exactly what you expressed with Harry Potter. Your Harry Potter is just yours. My Paper Towns, the book that has gotten me through so many struggles in my life, is just mine. And I was afraid that seeing it on the screen would take away from that "specialness", my own visualization. Hearing what you have to say here makes me less scared. No matter what people have to say about the movie, no matter what the media does, no matter what happens on screen, my version and visualization of the book is still mine, and therefore still special.

[@himshie2368]

The book and film are mostly similar but a few things were missed out which I would of liked to have seen, like Q and Margo going to Sea World at the beginning and I also thought the ending was too short when Q actually found Margo in that town.

[@superspoony94]

my favorite part of this video is john's eyebrows. they're transfixing. they're mesmerizing. they're... so pointy... it's fabulous.

[@theoriginalnetsirk]

I now have a strong urge to read many books right now. So many worlds to build with my mind. Also glad it only took 5+ years to get comfortable vlogging openly at the airport....there's got to be a medal for that right?

[@aliciamarcus6755]

You've definitely motivated me to embrace change John. In other news, you did not sign off with specifically 'Hank, I'll see you on Friday' but I'm trying to be okay with it. Failure, it appears, is part of life.

[@DelaineyNeddow]

I hope one day I meet you in an airport and I get to watch you film one of these. I wouldn't even interrupt, just watch in a non-creepy way, filled with admiration and respect.

[@abcdefsoph]

I really like the way you described the whole book vs movie thing. I really agree, you can never make a movie just like the book because they're not the same. It's like when someone plays a character and then someone else plays that character it's still the character it's just the person has brought something different to the role

[@leatherback8]

YESSS so happy to hear that Seaworld was not involved in the movie. And Angela going on the roadtrip sounds really exciting! I thoroughly enjoyed this video, I think it will make me reevaluate some of the qualms I've had in the past about movie adaptions of my favourite books, and ask myself, 'why did they choose to change this? Does it work better on screen than staying faithful to the original text?'

[@MrsZiganna]

Thank you for this! I am currently reading Paper Towns in preparation for the movie and I spend a lot of my non reading time thinking about people as mirrors, how I felt when I read Leaves of Grass the first time, and how the movie is going to explore these ideas. It feels like I have permission to just let the movie be what it is and not what the book is.

[@Carolyn_Burt]

I just listened to 6hrs of the Paper Towns audio book while driving up the coast and I am so excited for this movie now. I seriously cannot decide whether to finish the book now or save it for my trip back.

[@snowdra]

always exciting to watch a vlogbrothers video. :)

[@JacquieVlogsHere]

Aw, I love the Goonies. And also I'm glad for the heads up about some of those small differences. I feel like it's easier for me to enjoy them if I know to expect it ahead of time and can tailor my expectations accordingly.

[@Hopcroftable]

Hank was in the pre-roll ad, mind blown

[@malloryjordan1177]

I I went on a long trip and read Paper Towns straight through and loved it so much!! Can't wait to see the movie!

[@WOBBLINDATNOLA]

You know i like to thank the vlogbrothers. im right now in treatment for drug addiction and they are a welcome piece of help in my recovery. So thank you very much

[@MadelineWilson611]

This is so interesting to me as someone who's taken graduate-level classes in translation. We talk all the time about what it means to create a "faithful" translation. Faithful to what? The words? The themes? The author's intent? Which of those things should take precedence? Should any of those things be sacrificed if they will be less important/accessible to the audience using the translation than the audience that used the original? There are no easy answers and sometimes it makes you want to tear your hair out, but I find it endlessly fascinating. :) DFTBA.

[@Tamaraniac]

I really really agree with this view of adaptions. As I re-read some of my favorite books for the 50th (or 500th) time I like to imagine how I would make them into movies, and there are definitely scenes I know I would have to cut. Things cannot move from medium to medium seamlessly. A lot of times things have a totally different feel when put in different mediums too, which is something that is interesting/difficult to combat...

[@juliabustos-gusse8821]

I'm so happy that Angela will be part of the road trip! I've always thought that Angela was such a great character, and I wished she had been involved more in the book. I can't wait to see her in the movie!

[@Imallwrite212]

THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I'VE ALWAYS FELT! Thank you, John!

[@silvereaglexi3888]

i always wished that Angela had come along on the road trip. Also lately of been talking with alot of people who are reading John's books but aren't Nerdfighters. This brings 2 points to my mind 1. the views of people are awesomely varied. 2. The expansion of Nerdfighteria through these people.

[@MiriamGallacher]

THIS JUST MADE ME REALLY REALLY SUPER EXCITED FOR THE FILM GAHH I CAN'T WAIT

[@triplea309]

As if I could love John Green any more than I already do. 1. THE GOONIES!!! 2. So humble and grateful, so inspired and inspiring. 3. Apparently I should just hang out at the Indianapolis airport

[@ItsMeToryD]

So glad that you mentioned the Goonies

[@sophiasher1982]

I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SEAWORLD SCENE SO MUCH 😔😭😭😭😭

[@SummerLeppanen]

I think people often forget how different film and text are, and I'm glad you stress it all the time. Plus, I mean, a tirelessly faithful adaptation runs the risk of being almost... well, boring. Part of what I find exciting about film adaptations of books is seeing what was changed and what was kept. I don't always agree with the changes, but it's exciting to see them.

[@MikeJackman]

Lies about Sea World. The Sea World scene was the key to the whole story. How it was about the journey and how it's never as good as you imagine it when you arrive. And you cut the part where Margo says her strings were broken. And Q being worried that she was dead. During the drive, the rushing in and out of the Exxon seemed contrived since there was no true sense of urgency. They had 12 hours to get ready for prom or 5 hours, no need to run in and out in 6min. Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie but I really love the book. Think the casting was PERFECT all around. Maybe there will be an extended/director's cut blu-ray?

[@Peripatetic45]

It is good to meet an author that speaks positively about a screenplay of his book; it is also typical of your magnanimity and open-mindedness. May the awesomeness continue.

[@MelissaNgai]

John, your videos are so entertaining. I adore you.

[@makeupforever2050]

Super happy to hear that Angela goes on the road trip to find Margo... When I read the book I had wished that she did

[@TheInfiniteFish]

The echo in the video XD Getting enthusiastic, methinks, John XD

[@TheRexisFern]

Thank you John. I think it is very necessary to realize that a movie and a book don't have to go hand in hand every step of the way to make either good. People expect too many scenes to be exactly the same as a chapter in the book, which doesn't translate well because one is a purely written medium, while another is a visual medium. Your words make me happy. HIGHFIVE!

[@HeyItsPaige1127]

"Changes are not necessarily for the worst." I like this quote...a lot! 📝