The first thing I must say is that while they stayed mostly true to the book when making the movie, I was disappointed by the change in the ending. The book's plot resolves with the ending to An Imperial Affliction. The movie's plot resolves with a eulogy for Hazel by her dead boyfriend, Gus.
This change in resolution means a change in the plot and main conflict. The book's main conflict is the search for meaning and significance even after death. This makes for a great plot.
On the other hand, the movie's resolution means the main conflict is the love story thwarted by death. This cheapens the plot in my opinion and is indicative of what sells in the movie theater.
The second thing I must say relates to the attractive title. John Green borrowed this phrase from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, in which Cassius says to Brutus, "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings." If Green's book represents our culture, then our culture says, "Fate has caused our problems, not us." Shakespeare's line on the other hand claims that problems in our lives are not due to crossed fates, but are because we are fallen beings.
So which is the truth? If we experience problems in our lives, is the fault in our stars? Is our fate to blame? Is the Sovereign at fault? Or are we the problem? If this world is not a "wish-granting factory," are humans to blame?
"We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)
So according to Scripture, if this world is broken and nothing goes our way, we are to blame. Collectively and individually, humans are impure and fallen. We must be careful not to blame our problems on the stars, fate, God. This world is broken because humans are underlings, sinners, fallen. But this is encouraging, because fate cannot be redeemed. Humans can be redeemed. So we know that this broken world is only temporary.
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