Page to Screen: Fifty Shades of Grey Trailer

Ever since hearing that Fifty Shades of Grey would be turned into a movie, I was really curious to see what the movie would be like. Now that the official trailers been released, we've got some insight into the mysterious world of Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and his encounter with Bella Swan Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson).

Source: Universal Pictures UK Official Trailer

The trailer doesn't really give off much - it's tame and the scenes a little disjointed. I guess because Christian Grey is all about being mysterious, the trailer's turned out that way, but also because they've probably had to tone down things a lot. It starts off with the first encounter between Anastasia and Christian in his office. I've never enjoyed Anastasia as a character, because she is the generic Candy - the girl next door who's invisible and plain, only to be noticed by the alpha male. Seeing her on screen and hearing the dialogue really made me even more irritated.

"I'd like to know more about you." 

"There's not much to know about me (giggle). Look at me." 

"I am." 

Like really, really?! I don't remember everything about the novel but just seeing real life people those lines makes me cringe and eye-roll.

Then comes all the other moments between them, from when Christian gives her joyrides in his helicopter and airplane, to their more heated encounters - cue elevator kiss and thigh grabs. I do love the scene where Christian tells her that he "exercises control in all things" and she replies with "you must be really boring." It's the smirk on his face that gets me, because we both know nothing could be more boring than what he's actually doing.

Source: Universal Pictures UK Official Trailer

I wasn't interested enough in the movie to find out who the actors were, but right now I am feeling very underwhelmed with Christian. I did not picture Jamie Dornan to be Christian, and whilst he may be a fabulous actor, he just doesn't seem right. I'm not saying his unattractive, just that he doesn't have that manly, charismatic look. In fact Jamie looks more like the guy next door, sort of rugged and cute - not at all "intimidating" as Anastasia describes him.

The trailer doesn't hint at the kinkier side of things until the last 30 seconds, where the red room is (barely) revealed and then all his toys come out to play. There's nudity as well, although for the trailer it's just Dakota Johnson's naked back. Surprisingly, the trailer actually puts this aspect of the story into a better light. It comes off as a logical and romantic as opposed to just being erotica. In fact, dare I say, it looks almost classy or at least not as explicit as I thought it would. There's more of a sultry feel to it, which definitely comes from the background music - a remixed version of Crazy in Love by Beyonce - that sets the tone and puts viewers in the mood. I think the best part of the trailer was the song actually.

I'm not going to lie, this trailer has actually increased my interest in this movie. It's certainly not a film I'd want to see in a cinema, but I'm not outright against watching it. I actually think the cinematography is pretty well done, which boosts the quality of not only the film, but the plot. I mean Fifty Shades of Grey pretty much lacks depths in terms of storyline and plot development, and its characters are pretty flat, but at least with the film the actors might be able to give some in life into the story. If it's filmed in a visually appealing and tasteful way then it has a big chance of turning people's opinions from being a pornography disguised as movie into an actual movie, just with a bit more sexual scenes - if that makes sense.

Source: Universal Pictures UK Official Trailer

I think my biggest interest lies in how everything will be filmed, what will be omitted and kept in the books, and if it'll actually be better. This trailer really does make me feel like the movies has some potential. I know I'm not the only one interested as the trailer now sits at around 17, 800, 000 views! 

Fifty Shades of Grey will be released on Valentines' Day, 2015. Watch the trailer below and tell me what you think!

If erotica isn't your thing though (trust me, it's not mine either) check out my reaction video to Mockingjay Part 1, the teaser trailer titled "Our Leader the Mockingjay". Video here!

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Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L James

Plot:

Setting: Seattle

At 21, college student Anastasia Steele has never held hands with anyone let alone had sex. So when she meets attractive and rich CEO Christian Grey her shock at his unusual erotic ways leads to a relationship she never dreamt of entering. While Ana slowly understands the world that Christian lives in, she is torn between giving into her desires or finding what is right for her.

Review:

Perhaps Fifty Shades of Grey is not suitable for someone my age but these days it seems everyone is reading it, regardless of how old they are. E.L James originally wrote her novel as a fan-fiction based on Twilight. A few chapters in and you can see the resemblance. Most parts of the novel are exact mirrors of events Stephanie Meyer plays out, minus the erotic scenes.

There's not much positive that comes out of this book. Not from my perspective anyways. I'm not a literary genius but I've read enough to know what's good and what's bad. Overused words and phrases, frustrating terms (double crap ..) and strange expressions, James' writing could do with some improvements. It becomes a distraction from actually reading the novel itself - so much that the plot is lost.

The characters resemble those of Meyer's Twilight series. It becomes easy to pick out the parallel characters between each. It's either you like them or you don't. Personally, I feel no connection to any characters. Maybe only a slight likeness for the minor roles. Both Ana and Christian are characters I grew to dislike.

Fifty Shades of Grey is centred around the erotic activities between Ana and Christian. I understand that James targets an older audience but even then, the idea behind the sexual relationship they have is truly shocking. As a young lady of the 21st Century, the fight for equality between both genders is at a crucial turning point. While it has not been achieved yet, but there is more awareness towards the issue. Yet, here we have a novel on the dominating stance a man wants to have over a woman. Even worse, the woman succumbs to it. What's more, he is attractive, wealthy and powerful - the perfect catch despite his 'condition'. It seems just a little degrading, that somehow ones morality cannot preside over the shallow desires of many.

Only towards the end of the novel did I really find it heading somewhere. So far, there was never really a solid plot. All it was was just sex in every kind and every way. Perhaps it has a more promising field in the second novel.

E.L James' Fifty Shades of Grey is definitely a page turner despite its flaws. It's entertaining and very different, outselling even J.K Rowling. It just didn't fit my liking, maybe it will yours.

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