As a dedicated fan of Colleen Hoover’s work and having read both “It Ends With Us” and its sequel, “It Starts With Us”, I must say that I was initially taken aback by the change in the hospital scene for Atlas and Lily’s encounter in the film adaptation. The revelation of Lily’s tattoo, a symbol of their young love and a reminder of her past trauma, is a pivotal moment in the second novel that carries significant emotional weight.
As a passionate reader who has always been captivated by Colleen Hoover’s heartwarming and emotional stories, I must warn you: if you haven’t read “It Ends With Us” or “It Starts With Us,” beware of major spoilers ahead! For those who are eager to experience Lily Bloom’s journey, the movie adaptation is currently playing in theaters. But if you prefer the written word, you can grab both of these enchanting novels by Colleen Hoover at your favorite bookstore. Having read and cherished them myself, I assure you that you will be moved and inspired by her unique storytelling abilities and the powerful relationships she crafts between her characters.
In the novel “It Ends With Us,” an open heart serves as a significant emblem. It represents the budding romance between Atlas and Lily since, during their teenage years, Atlas crafted it from wood for her, and later on, Lily had it inked onto her collarbone. However, this tattoo holds a dark memory as it was where Ryle inflicted a bite during his most aggressive episode, tarnishing the pristine narrative associated with it. In the initial book by Colleen Hoover, Atlas remains unaware of this; he learns about it in the sequel novel, “It Starts With Us.” However, this dynamic changed in the recently released film adaptation, which premiered on the 2024 movie schedule. Colleen Hoover shared her thoughts on this alteration.
In the movie version of “It Ends With Us”, Brandon Sklenar’s character Atlas drives Blake Lively’s character Lily to the hospital, just like in the book, following an incident with Ryle. During their time at the hospital, Atlas notices her tattoo – a detail that is significant in the movie but carries more weight for readers of the book, as it plays a crucial role in the second novel by revealing scars and ultimately leading to the first adult kiss between Atlas and Lily. This scene is poignant in the film, but for book enthusiasts, it comes as a shock due to its importance in later events.
During my interview with Colleen Hoover and Brandon Sklenar regarding “It Ends With Us” for TopMob, I couldn’t help but inquire about a significant transformation. In response, the author shared her initial feelings about it, stating that it initially left her feeling somewhat unsettled. She began her explanation by mentioning:
It seems to me that I can’t recall whether I read the first script before the second book or vice versa. However, I do remember that reading the first draft provided a lighter, more enjoyable moment between the characters compared to seeing it on film, which offered a different experience altogether.
In this particular scene, a lighter mood doesn’t seem fitting. Instead, it’s a moment heavy with emotion, particularly for Lily, as Atlas uncovers the significance of her tattoo and those scars. Hoover shared with me, “This is not a time for fun; it’s a moment of complexity and depth.”
During the editing process, we decided to tone down the dialogue about it since I felt that moment was quite significant, as his reaction to the tattoo and its scars would be emotional for him. It wouldn’t likely remind him of pleasant times shared between them. Seeing it for the first time left me a bit taken aback, but after editing, that scene became one of my favorites.
In “It Starts With Us”, Atlas displays a mixed response upon seeing Lily’s tattoo. He admits he failed to notice it during the night he took her to the hospital in the initial book. This scene carries an intense emotional weight as it becomes clear that this symbol of Lily’s affection for him had previously caused her distress, particularly in relation to her past with Ryle. In the sequel, here’s how their interaction unfolds:
‘I overheard you mentioning to the nurse that he bit you, but I wasn’t near enough to witness the incident… Unfortunately, I also didn’t get a chance to see your tattoo when we were closer. Was it perhaps his reaction to the tattoo you got in my honor?’ Atlas finds it hard to continue, his emotions running high.
In the midst of speculations about a potential feud, director Justin Baldoni shares his thoughts on who should direct a sequel to “It Ends With Us,” and indeed, his choice seems fitting.
In the novel “It Starts With Us,” the encounter between Atlas and Lily becomes their first kiss, a moment that carries significant weight. Initially, when Hoover decided to shift this dialogue into the hospital scene of “It Ends With Us,” she felt a bit taken aback because it initially seemed light-hearted. However, during the film’s editing process, they managed to strike the correct tone, resulting in the conversation in the movie being remarkably similar in tone to their discussion in the second book.
In all adaptations from books to screen, alterations are common, but the transformation in Colleen Hoover’s series left me most stunned. Yet, I also found it appropriate, and it appears she agreed. This modification enriched Atlas and Lily’s relationship at the outset, and it introduced a degree of complexity to their bond as they contemplated those scars and tattoo, deepening their storyline.
Having read both “It Starts With Us” and “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover, I can confidently say that I am eager to see how they adapt these captivating novels into a film. Given my background in the entertainment industry, I have a keen interest in how productions handle changes, especially when it comes to rearranging scenes. If “It Starts With Us” were to get moved up, I’m certain that the creative team will approach this challenge with care and respect for the source material, considering the positive reception “It Ends With Us” has received as a faithful adaptation of the book. As a fan, I can hardly wait to hear Colleen Hoover’s thoughts on how her story is brought to life on the big screen.
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2024-08-11 02:07