Doubts had arisen when news came out of Shailene Woodley (Hazel) and Ansel Elgort (Augustus or Gus) snagging the main roles. Apparently, both young actors have starred in a recently released movie based from a YA novel titled Divergent. They played the characters of Tris and Caleb Prior, siblings from a faction called Abnegation. Upon hearing the casting announcement, fans reacted in various ways. The most prominent one being the might-be awkward feel due to the previous roles of the two. “It’s like incest,” some had joked. However, both Shai and Ansel demonstrated what versatile actors they really are. They could have been easily born as Hazel and Gus themselves. Shai portrayed a smart, realistic, and struggling girl suffering from Stage IV thyroid cancer, and Ansel acted the role of witty, pretentious and oblivion-fearing Augustus Waters. Both had successfully managed to tug at the hearts of viewers and possibly rob a tear from most.

The movie was very consistent in translating page into picture. Fans couldn’t help but smile, sigh or squeal while hearing the lines of their favourite novel being voiced out and coming to real life in the big screen. Some parts and details were omitted in the movie’s final cut (including the author’s cameo appearance), which was inevitable given the 125 minutes running time of the film. Nevertheless, compared to other adaptations, these were fewer and just minor ones which didn’t deal the story much negative impact.

TFIOS couldn’t have had a better soundtrack. It includes different songs from Ed Sheeran, Birdy, Charlie  XCX,  Kodaline and a lot more great artists. The score was as impeccable as well, by American indie band Bright Eyes. I personally believe that music is a crucial component in films, being able to evoke some deep and guttural kind of emotion. The Fault in Our Stars did just that. 

Time also revealed Philippines as the “Most Obsessed” country with TFIOS in an article, and I have no shame in agreeing with that. Filipinos even fabricated the hashtag #ICanSeeTheStarsFromThePhilippines (altering some lines from Ed Sheeran’s “All of the Stars”, a part of the movie’s OST) to show support to the film’s premiere in the country.  

With a great ensemble of cast and an evenly good cinematography, The Fault in Our Stars is indisputably the book-to-movie adaption of the century.