The Lovely Bones...discussion

[Professor Zoom]

My wife and I saw a screening of the movie last night. Neither one of really liked the movie.

We thought that Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon are great in the movie. We thought Marky Mark and Rachel Weisz were dull.

Overall, though, are biggest complaint was the near constant voice overs explaining everything, including things that I don't feel needed explaining. It just became to much, made me a passive viewer. I wanted to react and connect emotionally, but every time there was a voice over stating exactly how people felt it shut me out.

And every so often, things would grind to a halt, people would move in slow motion, say nothing, and just look into each other's eyes.

This felt like a very precious adaptation, so much so, it felt claustrophobic.

I can't say I would really recommend it.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

*sigh*

Since Peter Jackson, directed this I was looking forward to it....

It's interesting, though, that I think the high point of Jackson's films was the Lord of the Rings trilogy; I didn't think King Kong was that great.

 

[Starbreaker]

I was intrigued until I saw the mixed reviews. Looks like it's another King Kong.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Hurm. Well, I was really looking forward to this. Alice Sebold's book really moved me in such a way that I had never been moved before whilst reading a book. I had entrusted Peter Jackson mostly because of Heavenly Creatures, which this material most closely resembles, and not his work on Lord of the Rings. Oh, well. I guess I'll have to see for myself when the film opens.

 

[The Evil Dead]

I understand they've changed a fairly major element of the book and the movie sounds...weaker for it.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I understand they've changed a fairly major element of the book and the movie sounds...weaker for it.

I'm not sure which element you are referring to...

...BUT...I will say this, I read the plot synopsis on Wiki of the novel, and I liked the structure of events in the book than in the movie.

I don't want to get into spoilers, but, because of the reorder, it feels like things are going to happen in a certain way, and when they don't, it's more of a disappointing than a surprising.

Of course, those that have read the book will know everything that happens...so...I don't know...

Oh, one fun thing: Peter Jackson's cameo...

 

[selina]

I'm looking forward to the movie. I'm reading the book and I love it. Every day I have to commute between my working place and the place were I live, so I read it in the train - and I've got to pull myself together not to start crying because it's a really moving book. I'm dissapointed to hear that there is a lot of explanation in the movie, which is something I generally don't like. But I will probably go and watch the movie anyway.

 

[Hunter X]

I thought the novel was three quarters of a really good book and one quarter (the last one, unfortunately) of a really bad one.

And every so often, things would grind to a halt, people would move in slow motion, say nothing, and just look into each other's eyes.

Sounds like typical Peter Jackson to me. And, as a disclaimer, I like The Lord of the Rings a lot.

 

[Teelie]

I've read the book but I have not seen much in terms of how the movie follows the book or seen reviews for it yet. If the above is true then it sounds like it might be a disappointment.

 

[SiorX]

Have they left in

Spoiler: The Lovely Bones

the former-classmate-possessed-by-ghost sex scene?

Cause that seems to be the bit that makes most people go "wuh?!" in the book.

 

[Dream]

I thought the novel was three quarters of a really good book and one quarter (the last one, unfortunately) of a really bad one.

Yeah. The book's ending was really bad. The only reason I read the whole thing was because I don't leave books unfinished. It's like the author got tired of the story and just wanted to get it over with.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Actually, I rather liked the ending, as weird and out-of-left-field as it was...

Spoiler: ...the ending...

... I felt like Susie was trying to rectify her rape. She wanted a real experience, something tangible and authentic. It was like she wanted the last thing she felt as a human to be genuine and respectful, and not the violation that was the rape by Mr. Harvey. I think after that she was finally ready to move on.

That was my persective on it, at least.

 

[Top41]

I loved the book, so I'm a little nervous about the adaptation. I missed My Sister's Keeper this summer (another fav) but wasn't too upset about that because I hear they totally changed the ending. I hope that not too much is changed here. I found this book really moving and so beautifully written--I hope the film captures that.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Have they left in

Spoiler: The Lovely Bones

the former-classmate-possessed-by-ghost sex scene?

Cause that seems to be the bit that makes most people go "wuh?!" in the book.

The answer:

[SPOILER="The Lovely Bones] No. That's been changed. It's now just a kiss. And it happens at a moment that you think: really, you want a kiss NOW, when THAT is happening????[/SPOILER]

 

[The Evil Dead]

Have they left in

Spoiler: The Lovely Bones

the former-classmate-possessed-by-ghost sex scene?

Cause that seems to be the bit that makes most people go "wuh?!" in the book.

The answer:

[SPOILER="The Lovely Bones] No. That's been changed. It's now just a kiss. And it happens at a moment that you think: really, you want a kiss NOW, when THAT is happening????[/SPOILER]

This is what I was referring to earlier in the thread...The idea in the book just seems more powerful to me whereas the movie versions feel a bit wishy washy and Disney-fied.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Have they left in

Spoiler: The Lovely Bones

the former-classmate-possessed-by-ghost sex scene?

Cause that seems to be the bit that makes most people go "wuh?!" in the book.

The answer:

[SPOILER="The Lovely Bones] No. That's been changed. It's now just a kiss. And it happens at a moment that you think: really, you want a kiss NOW, when THAT is happening????[/SPOILER]

This is what I was referring to earlier in the thread...The idea in the book just seems more powerful to me whereas the movie versions feel a bit wishy washy and Disney-fied.

Yeah. AND...[SPOILER="The Lovely Bones] And if it wasn't happening while Mr. Harvey was rolling the safe into the sink hole...which is next to the house the "boyfriend" and the girl whose body she takes over are moving into...the whole time the kiss is happening, I'm thinking to myself, "tell him your bones are in the safe, catch the guy" but no...apprently the kiss is more important...gr. [/SPOILER]

 

[JacksonArcher]

^That's disappointing. I figured Jackson would alter the ending somehow, but I dunno. I guess I'll wait until I see the film to judge, but my expectations have been significantly lowered, now.

 

[Dream]

The movie currently has a 42% rating over at Rottentomatoes.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1189344-lovely_bones/

A common complaint is that the heaven scenes and all the scenes on earth feel like they belong in two different movies.