How I Live Now

I really do enjoy a lot of MacDonald's work. He has a nice sense for beautiful shots and interesting ideas. This film just misses being something more. Performances are OK all around, and some of the scenery is breathtaking, but I can't help but feel disconnected from the watered down nuclear attack and terrorist insurgence.

I definitely think it was a solid movie, but not overly memorable. There were moments though (spoilers ahead), like when they started shooting up the house unexpectedly.. and everyone does a good job, with Ronan doing an especially good job. It's an interesting tale of... um, incest, but I guess it's touching. I actually like that it's not real explicit about what's going on, because it ended up not really being about that.

Well-made teen apocalypse story which loses momentum as it goes on. Saoirse Ronan's outsider grunge heroine is likeable from the start, but sans adults, most of the relationships she makes with her British cousins seem stilted. The terrifying onset of war is executed effectively, but the journey part of the movie which follows is long and a bit directionless. More suited to a teen audience's expectations, but the production design elevates it to a level jaded adult viewers can appreciate too.

That modern young-adult magical-dream-fable stuff that presumably works better for them than me. Enjoyed the photography and Ronan's dependable as always [ohg tbbsl obbzre zbenyvgl naq 'jung xvqf arrq gbqnl vf zber gvzr bhgqbbef -naq n tbbq jne!' zrffntr jnf n fvpxrare.]

Pretty enjoyable, mostly due to the cast, director, and concept. It needs some suspension of disbelief though. The script isn’t great, with the film feeling a bit disjointed, and having some questionable creative choices. I’d recommend it as a good way to pass the time, as long as it’s not taken too seriously.

Saoirse Ronan desperately needs a fine director to work with and just stop doing shitty films.

I liked it through its faults and considerable wasted potential, and thought it had some moments of high quality. Ronan carries the film well, the background setting is interesting and it's pretty easy on the eye too. I didn't particuarly feel like this films target audience, but still got something from it, so it can't be too bad.

Could have been called "Homeward Bound III: Incest During Wartime" with Michael J. Fox and Sally Field doing the voices inside Saoirse Ronan's head.

How I Live Now is filled with awe striking beauty. I could randomly take any frame and use it as a decoration. I love the color filters and the lighting. At one point, Daisy's poncho color complimented the nature behind her making both look stunning. This beauty makes the state of siege more powerful because of the contrast. I liked the voice over effect and how it revealed the main character's psychology. This movie is unique, and I really enjoyed it.

A pleasantly dark surprise. I went into the plex, not having read the novel, expecting teen romance bullshit and vague, hamfisted war allegory. Instead, I got a meticulously directed and wonderfully edited one-two punch: sharp coming-of-age character drama, and brutal, dark war-crossfire intensity. Saiorse Ronan is revelatory and carries the film well, convincingly angsty and fierce as and when required. But it's the wonderful, gasp-inducing story that takes top billing: thrilling and involving.

An impressive, haunting and depressing film with some superb acting of Ronin. http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.be/2014/08/how-i-live-now-2013.html

Seemed kind of racist and nationalistic to me. "This is ARE country! Fuck globalisation! Let's all stay in nice family countryside houses and fuck our cousins".

Interesting setting and a good actress aren't enough to make a teenage melodrama interesting.

How I Live Now looked half decent and although I haven't read the book I'd heard many good things about it. Sadly I can gather that this is a poor film adaption of what must be a much superior book. I like the idea and the initial premise, but the execution is dull, uninspired and it builds towards nothing. Saorise Ronan however gives a commanding performance and she carries the film well. But ultimately this film lacks identity and I'm undecided who the intended target audience is meant to be.

It did not do a whole helluva lot for me. Had a bit of a YA tinge to it. Seemed, at times, like a live-action, less depressing, vaguely futuristic riff on GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES. Seemed, at other times, about as subtle as a shovel upside the head. Mostly, though, it was just dreary. Very, very dreary.

Interesting bu totally forgettable... a great potential wasted

Top badass moment? Spider-Man gets killed! I didn't see that coming. This film wastes itself. It’s nicely made and acted, and looks lovely with South Wales deputising for the South West; (although what’s wrong with the actual South West)? However, World War 3's going on and all we get is some kids playing in a river and walking in a forest. And whenever there’s a problem, Daisy dreams about her boyfriend to sort it out. It’s all a little bit weak. 3 cats, no chainsaws or decapitations.

Good coming-of-an-age story. The vague depiction of the surrounding war adds to the suspense that is build on the growth of the main protagonist, a neurotic young women trying to navigate the world and his feelings.

A dystopian look at a post (limited) nuclear attack Britain that's tailored for a teenage girl audience. Which is, I suspect, a fairly small niche.It also has the "crowbarred in American character" that British films on the look out for a bigger audience can't resist

The ending sucks

Saoirse Ronan is a great young actress and at times, How I Live Now is interesting. Overall the film lacks a power that it promises. The content is nothing new, although much more plausible then most dystopian films. Just doesn't step out of the box enough and constrains itself to an audience that doesn't include me.

I thought this was just fine. I wasn't so sure at first, but it did eventually get better as it went along. Ronan is really good and I liked MacKay. The whole family and characters were castes really well. The love story doesn't get too cliched and the war in the movie isn't really dogged into but it does get pretty tragic. It does definitely feel like a YA novel. It's not amazing but it's not a bad movie at all.

The sci-fi version of bad girl going good. I know nothing about the book, but I have a feeling that those who have read it feel like a ton of details are left out. Had some interesting moments and I'm applauding the kids in the cast. *Okay