I Am Number Four

Imagine a situation where you know that others are dead and you are the next in line. Based on the novel of the same name, I Am Number Four represents the first in a series of five young adult science fiction movies. Harper Collins published the book in August of 2010 and the tome quickly advanced to the number one position on The New York Times bestseller list. DreamWorks bought the film rights to the book before it came off of the printing presses. The movie depicts Earth as one of 18 life-sustaining planets in the universe, with planets Lorien and Mogadore playing significant roles in the film adaptation of the book. Lorien has only two castes, the Garde, who possess supernatural powers, and the Cepan, who perform the mundane administrative tasks that keep society afloat. The Garde pose a threat to humans since they are exceedingly stronger and much more agile than the human race. They resist anything flammable and project telekinetic prowess that can control human behaviour. The bellicose Mogadorians invade Lorien to procure the rare resources of the planet. During the invasion, the Loriens send nine Garde children to Earth to develop their powerful skills. The Mogadorians discover that Garde children inhabit Earth, and they send a fleet of warriors to hunt the children down, one by one. After a child dies at the hands of the Mogadorians, the next in line to die receives a scar. While the book received generally favourable reviews and was a hit for its target audience, the film version did not fare as well with critics. Some critics contend the movie plot was too predictable, and the character portrayals not believable. The film scored 30 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with many responses lamenting the familiar plot and unconvincing performances. Nonetheless, I Am Number Four grossed three times the cost of its production.