Movie adaptations of books are both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. I am doused in joy at the chance to physically, rather than mentally, see some of my favorite characters, but also have to prepare for the versions I have built up in my head to die. 

Change is part of the package with the movie adaptations. Some basic aspects are changed, so they still hold the message and heart of the book, but are a fresh idea to hook the old fans. Netflix’s adaptation of The School for Good and Evil was subject to plenty of change that hooked me. 

The School for Good and Evil follows two best friends, Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie), who live in a small town named Galvedien. Sophie yearns for more than their small town “knowing” she is destined to change the world; meanwhile, Agatha wants to fit in and just make it through life in the town that hates her and her mother. Agatha is made fun of and called a witch, and Sophie believes she is a princess.

The first change from the book comes into play now; in the book, the girls know about The School for Good and Evil: a place that trains the heroes and villains from the story books they read. Every four years, two kids are taken to that school in the middle of the night, but in the movie, no one knows about the two schools and instead, the girls find out from the owner of the book store, and Sophie’s wish to be taken to the school for good sets into action the premise of the movie. 

Sophie and Agatha are swooped into the sky and dropped into their respective schools, but Sophie is dropped into the evil school, and so, Agatha is dropped into the school for good. The rest of the movie is about Sophie trying to win the heart of Prince Tedros (Jamie Flatters) and get into the good school while Agatha tries to help Sophie. All the while, they are also attempting to get home. 

The School for Good and Evils fashion left my mouth hanging open

The School for Good and Evil's fashion left me with my mouth hanging open

The main part of the school is the fact that the students are all descendants of prior alumni and fairytale characters; Tedros, for example, is the son of King Arthur. This is not a new idea; we have seen it with the kid’s show Ever After High and Disney’s Descendants, but this movie had somewhat uncommon players. Also, I am a sucker for this trope. I, an avid reader, am obsessed with the magic that accompanies this movie genre. 

Besides, The School for Good and Evil strayed from a typical plot. It focused on the two girls and how the good are not as pure as they seem. They took an unoriginal plot and put an enchanting twist to it. 

Another superb aspect of the movie was the characters. Agatha had a loud personality; she voiced her emotions clearly and respectfully, pointed out the flaws in the system, and refused to subject her morals to change in order to fit in. Sophie was, simply put, simultaneously a wicked icon and the most annoying character; my feelings are as complicated as she is. 

Tedros is most likely my third favorite character, my second favorite being Hort portrayed by Earl Cave. He attends the school for evil and is the son of Captain Hook. Hort is meant to be a comedic relief character. He follows Sophie around like a love-sick puppy. Most of the time this would drive me insane, but Hort is still his own person: humorous, charismatic, and ignoble in a sort of sweet way. I was immensely disappointed in the lack of time we had with him in the movie compared to the book, but I am grateful for any moment in his presence. Obviously, Agatha is my all-time favorite and claims the number-one spot. 

The most enchanting aspect of the movie would be the set and how gorgeous everything was. I have already ranted about the fashion in a lifestyle last week but clearly had to go on. Both the costumes and the sets made me want to be transported to their world; it is clear Netflix spent a pretty penny on this film, and it paid off. 

Everything about this movie astounded me. Netflix truly shocked me with how well they adapted this series that was a small but monumental part of my childhood. This book-turned-movie was heartwarming through and through.