The Host(2013 - March 29)
Action | Adventure | Romance
2 hr 5 min
Rated: PG-13 Some sensuality and violence
Grade: C-
Director: Andrew Niccol
Writers: Stephenie Meyer (novel), Andrew Niccol (screenplay)
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel | See full cast and crew
When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie will risk everything to protect the people she cares most about, proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world.
Let's say for novelist Stephenie Meyer it's a hit, hit, hit and a miss. Whether you liked the Twilight franchise or not, the one unequivocal thing that can be said about them is that they were a financial success.
The audience with whom I saw The Host was mostly women. Pretty much what you would expect from a Stephenie Meyer movie. I also expected that they would be appreciative fans. That perception was blown away very early on in the film. As soon as Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) started having a conversation inside her head with Wanderer (also Saoirse Ronan) the tittering started. As the film progressed the they moved on to chuckles and giggles that they attempted to keep amongst themselves but soon there was outright laughter. 
Here's a basic rundown of the plot:
Parasitic aliens called 'Souls' have invaded the Earth and have begun to possess the minds of their human hosts. Melanie Stryder's is critically injured while trying to escape the Seekers (humans who have already been possesed) her body is implanted with a Soul named Wanderer, but she refuses to fade away. Wanderer assignment is to call up Melanie's memories so that the Seekers can locate the hold out humans. Wanderer sees in Melanie's memories, her loved ones and eventually finds a connection with them, too. Melanie and Wanderer are trapped inside the same body, speaking to each other mentally and vying for control, when both decide to set off and find Melanie's loved ones. Melanie wants to get back to her little brother and the man she loves, meanwhile Wanderer falls in love with another man.
This scenario in The Host is just begging for a parody on Saturday Night Live. It's really the dreadful dialogue between the two women Melanie/Wanderer that leads to the laughter from the audience. It could also be bad acting but when the lines are so ludicrous it is hard to deliver them in a manner that isn't embarrassing. I don't think The Host is quite as bad as the critics say it is and it has been panned almost unanimously and I give it credit for not dragging traditional morals through the mud and Meyer (just a little pun) and for keeping the profanity to an couple of hells and damns, Bravo!
I confess that I have not read the novel and I am told that the book is intriguing and deals with the material in a far superior manner. However, I was also put off by the seriously over done eyes of the possessed humans. It immediately brought to mind crazed eyes in the cult classics, Reefer Madness (1936) and Trapped by the Mormons (1922). The Host has the feeling of a Broadway drama that needs another month (or two) of rehearsals and revisions before opening night. 
With a budget of $40 million it has the look of a bigger budget made for TV movie or Mini-series. The southwest desert scenery is awesome.
The major blame for The Host's short comings rests on the shoulders of Writer/Director Andrew Niccol.
The Host, like Stephenie Meyer's other chick flick movies has a lot of eye candy in its leading men and this film is no exception. In this video (below) they talk about casting the male roles and includes some fans opinions on the "Men of The Host".
Stephenie Meyer talks about making the The Host.
Jed Stryder Jamie Stryder
The Seeker Aaron
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