'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'

The book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” came out in February of 1999. This was the first book I could say I actually liked and read more than once. Now, it has been adapted to a movie and is set to come out Sept. 21, 2012.

The story is about a teenager going by the alias of Charlie, who is writing a series of letters to an anonymous "friend." Charlie is a shy, unconventional wallflower starting high school until he befriends a couple seniors who introduce him to life.

Stephen Chbosky who wrote “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” also wrote the screenplay and directed the film adaptation. This gives me some hope that the movie will do the book justice, but I still won’t be seeing it.

Photo courtesy of coolspotters.com

Photo courtesy of fanpop.com

I feel seeing Chbosky’s interpretation of the characters will ruin the connection I have with the first book I liked when I was 11 years old. Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Paul Rudd aren’t even close to how I picture Sam, Patrick or Bill.

My other favorite book, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” was also made into a movie. But it follows the book line for line and is a perfect representation bringing the book to life. Johnny Depp plays Raoul Duke perfectly and you can’t imagine it any other way.

English teacher April Milow said, “As an educator of young students, I am torn about books being made into movies. Very few movies based on books have lived up to the same quality experience that individuals get from reading and by using your imagination, visualizing, and predicting.”

Milow was extremely disappointed when one of her favorite books, “The Lovely Bones” was transformed for the big-screen. The different levels of heaven were omitted, which is a key part illustrated by the book.

Charlie’s mix tapes are a central element of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” It's impossible for all of these songs to be included due to cost. Modern tracks to fill in the gaps won't fit.

Charlie's Mix Tape Infographic by Kelly Sterner

“The author chose those songs for a reason,” said college senior Kelly Campbell. “This issue is particularly important to me because I have a soundtrack to my own life, and I choose those particular songs because they fit a mood or time well.”

Books to movies are a hit or miss. Most of the time people don’t even realize a movie was based off of a book unless it’s a high profile publication like the “Bourne” series or “Harry Potter,” just like a lot of people aren’t aware they are seeing a remake.

I’m sure this movie will create a slew of bandwagon fans. There’s nothing I despise more than bandwagon fans. Being a Colorado Rockies fan since birth, I know a lot about the old bandwagon.

It will be an interesting mix of 20-somethings who read the book when it came out, and teenyboppers who don’t know there is a book, when “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” hits theaters. Sadly, people probably won’t read the book now that there’s a movie.

Infographic by Kelly Sterner

A lot of things can go haywire when a book is adapted to film. This book has some of the best quotes I have ever read and I hope they are preserved. I wish “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” the best of luck and I hope it stays true to the original.