Taylor Bushey: In the movie Age of Adaline, the main character, Blake Lively portrays her character in a very classical and traditional way. Her mannerisms in the movie demonstrate her real time period and it makes to be very important in the grand scheme of things.
Kelly Klipp: I agree, Lively’s portrayal of Adaline makes her seem to be very timeless. She’s naturally graceful which makes her role as Adaline very believable, considering her character has lived through many eras.
TB: I also think that Michiel Huisman did well playing the male lead. Him and Lively matched up nicely for the movie. Although, he was good, he wasn’t somebody I would expect to play that role. I expected an actor I was more familiar with because I had never heard of him before.
KK: I personally did not like Huisman as an actor and I especially did not like his take as Ellis. I didn’t like his look or his acting. However, he did mesh well with Lively and they seemed to have real on screen chemistry.
TB: I understand where your coming from. In the beginning when Ellis and Adaline first met I thought they had a weird chemistry but, as the movie progressed they actually became one of my favorite movie character couples. They brought out the best in each other which every love story should do in my opinion.
KK: I also greatly enjoyed the love story between Ellis’ young father, William, and Adaline. Young William played by Anthony Ingruber, and Adaline had an even stronger chemistry than that of Ellis and Adaline. Their story also adds to the sadness of the story because you really see how Adaline’s condition affects her ability to be loved.
TB:Yes, the plot in the story is extremely different than other love stories. Many times there will be a love story in theaters regarding divorce or death, but never one with a magical essence like this one. The idea is unexpected which is what first captured my attention to go see the movie.
KK: I agree with that completely. There’s never been a movie with this sort of concept. The characters and there stories are captivating. The third-person narration gives it a storybook feel, which I found very compelling.
TB: Also the use of flashbacks adds interest. I felt that throughout the movie I kept wanting to know more about Adaline’s past and the use of little flashbacks in the entire thing helped to keep my interest. As I think about it, I think it’s what really made it for me. I especially love a look back at other time periods and how people act towards each other now versus how they interacted back then.
KK: The film is well put together and executed. The story line flows and though it is slow moving it kept my attention the whole time. I agree with you, the flashbacks kept me interested and they were well shot. You could tell they spent a great deal of time making each clip true to the time period it was representing.
TB: The amount of detail that is put into each shot is incredible. The fashion in each of the scenes were my personal favorite. There was so much elegance and beauty throughout. I agree when you say the movie is well put together. My only dislike was that the ending was a little predictable.
KK: I will also have to agree with you on that. Adaline is in a car crash and stops aging, she’s in another one and she begins aging again. But, I am pleased that she finally is able to grow old with someone, since she expressed to her daughter that she wanted that.
TB: She finally started living again and that’s when her aging resumed. I think the character’s lesson in the movie was to let go and just live which can be applied to many in reality.
KK: Just before her second crash, that resumed her aging process, Adaline told her daughter she was tired of running. She was finally ready to accept her imperfections, in this case her inability to age, and let herself be loved. It was a charming idea for a movie because, contrary to other films nowadays, the only thing actually stopping her from finding happiness was herself.
TB: Yes I totally agree with you because in other films it’s always other people trying to keep love away. I recommend this to all people who love the romantic genre as well as people who aren’t usually attracted to this type because it’s much different than others.
