22 years ago, in 1993, it was just a dystopian YA novel. 19 years ago it won a Newbery Medal and sold over 10 million copies. Last year, The Giver was released on August 11 as a science fiction movie, earning $4.7 million on its opening day. Grossing up to $12.3 million  later during the week, the film finished fifth place at the box office. The film was modestly successful, with an estimated budget of $25 million, and grossing up to $70 million by the end of the year.

The story starts with an 18 year old Jonas, who will eventually lead the whole story. Jonas is portrayed as a boy who is very eager to know what career he will be assigned to. When the graduation day comes, everyone is assigned a career, and Jonas is briefly skipped. However, after assigning a career to everyone except Jonas, the elders announce Jonas as the new “receiver of memory.”

Jonas later learns of the Giver’s experiences, thoughts, and past interactions with a girl named Rosemary. Rosemary preceded Jonas as the Receiver and was so distraught from the memories that she committed suicide. Jonas begins to teach his findings to his friend Fiona, with whom he decides to share the idea of emotions. However, Fiona is unable to comprehend the idea of emotion.

One day Jonas kisses Fiona, which is forbidden and unknown in the community. Later he starts sharing memories with the baby that his father brought home, Gabe. Jonas develops a close relationship with him especially after finding out that both of them share the same mark on their wrist — mark of a potential receiver of memory.

Jonas decides that everyone should share the memories. The Giver and Jonas decide that the only way to do this would be to get past the border of what they call “elsewhere.” One night, Jonas sneaks out with Gabe, but Asher, his other longtime friend, tries to stop him. Jonas also tells Fiona his plan and how he wants to runaway with her, but she refuses.

Meanwhile Jonas’ mother goes to the Chief Elder to report that Jonas is missing. After Jonas crosses into elsewhere, Asher is assigned to find him and “lose” him. When he finds Jonas he drops him in a river, setting him free. Later, just when Fiona is about to be released, the Giver steps in and stalls the Chief Elder with memories of his daughter, Rosemary, trying to call out the Chief Elder, but it doesn’t work. But eventually Jonas crosses to the land of elsewhere, releasing memories and color to the community, and saving Fiona. The Giver would have the job of helping people comprehend this feelings back in the community. The story ends with Jonas and Gabe returning to the house of his memories, where they encounter people singing a Christmas carol.

Some of the comments on this movie include:

“The Giver movie is a surprisingly generic addition to the young adult film genre – especially for a story that champions individuality and self-expression.”-Ben Kendrick·Screen Rant

“The Giver is the seed of a good film weighed down in Hollywood cruft.”-Adi Robertson·The Verge

“The Giver is a challenging film, to be sure. It deals with life, liberty, free will … and euthanasia, after all. But it never once wavers in its responsibility.”-Paul Asay·Plugged In

“The Giver was ahead of its time as a book. But as a movie, it’s too late.”-Joe Neumaier·New York Daily News

A lot of people also thought that “The Giver” was very similar to “The Hunger Games” and the “Divergent” series. However, many people would disagree because this book was written in 1993, long  before “Divergent” and “Hunger Games.” Moreover, the Divergent series involves more action whereas “The Giver” includes more thoughts and ideas and is not as concentrated on romance.