Almas marcadas: Rule + Shaw

Definitely missed the mark of what the book encompassed. They twisted what made their relationship so hard and yet so rewarding by making it more fluff. They left out how important their history was and how that really ruled Rule and his actions. Both families dynamics, which play a major role in their relationship was completely changed to more fluff. There was not character arc to be found. Both remained flat and you don't understand why they would or wouldn't be together to begin with. It followed the books in the most basic sense of bad boy tattooist and good girl looking for a wild ride. But the story line was difficult to follow and didn't flow well. Not the actors fault. They work with what they got. But the essence of the story was no where to be found.

I didn't read the books but it caught my attention that it was directed by Nick Cassavetes with a history of really good movies and his masterpiece of a love story such as "The Notebook", so I gave it a try. The story seemed it was intended to the teenage audience with traumas haunting them, insecurities, on and off relationships on which on of the partners serves as a therapist that only can take so much until the other side realizes they were wrong and try to mend things and get back together to live happily ever after. The project is filled with beautiful people that made me forget the lack of talent of some.

I probably really would've like this movie when I was 14. The story is straight out of the Wattpad 2013 handbook: the names, the angst, the manufactured dark backstory for the MMC, the cliche bff that does nothing other than live for the FMC to return home, and the characters that sound like they just learned how to cuss. I really wanted to like the movie if only to honor younger me, but older me was disappointed. For a 1.5 hour movie, it was watchable and I only picked up my phone a couple times. The movie writers could've used the books as a jumping off point and written the script with more substance. Perhaps my biggest gripe with the movie is its lack of using Alexander Ludwig to his fullest potential.

I just couldn't continue. It was horrible. And definitely not recommended if you like the books at all. I rented it to support Jay, but I would rather not have a movie than have one that's so different from the books we love. I'm not expecting a 1.5 hour movie to have everything from a 6-8 hour read, but I also wasn't expecting such a deviation. Character deviation, plot deviation, and not for the better.

The dialogue is absolutely asinine, there's so much cursing (like every other word) and very little substance. I should have read Reddit before purchasing, and I suggest you do too.

Those who gave any rating above a 3 must be bots or paid.

It actually would have been super funny if the main male character was called Mark ... anyway and no pun intended ... this is based on a book (or series of books I suppose ... can you tell I have not read them?) ... I reckon if you liked the book you may find something in here that I was not able to discover ... on the other hand, I would like to imagine (again no pun intended), that the book is less cliched.

All that said, if you criticize action movies and thrillers and what not for being predictable ... well I have a (love) story to sell to you ... no literally just the one (trick pony) thing ... I don't blame the actors and as you can see from my rating I don't even feel that this is the worst movie ever (by a stretch and then some) ... but apart from being predictable, it also can be quite annoying at times. And while a movie does not have to be ... well sexual, I do wonder how the rating was given based on this being ... too sexual? Must have missed something - still if you were not raised in a church or strict in general, nothing here will make you blush ... so do not expect too much from that department.

Some things happen too easy ... others are way too complicated ... mark my words ... (also why men? I mean I get that there are more than just our main guy ... the others do not really play too much of a role though ... again no pun intended ... and a shame when it comes to Alexander Ludwig ... but you can see and enjoy him in many other things)