When a storyline from a book is turned into a movie, the movie becomes its own text. The basic storyline may be the same, but when changes are made in order to fit the movie within a time limit or to highlight an element or theme that the people involved in the movie feels is important—they make the story their own. I will focus these features on movies made based on books I have read—I want to look beyond whether I think the movie is better or worse than the book. I want to appreciate and review the movie as a companion to the book
_____________________________________________________
Genre: Drama, Romance
Actors: Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Izzy Meikle-Small, Charlie Rowe
Director: Mark Romanek
Scriptwriter: Alex Garland
Date DVD Released: February 1, 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Movie Info: IMDB
Order Online: Amazon.com
Rating: 2 Stars
Borrowed from the library.
In A Nutshell:
I do not know what I expected from this movie. I am glad I watched it after reading the book, but I do not think I would watch it again. I did not find it compelling or gripping--just okay and a fairly accurate telling of the story in the book.
Review:
I am not sure what I hoped to gain from watching the movie since I was not overly impressed with the book. But when I saw it at the library--I decided to take the leap.
In some ways, I felt the movie explained the program better and more quickly than in the book. Miss Lucy explained what the Hailsham students could expect out of their life fairly clearly near the beginning of the movie. It was heartbreaking as the camera panned across the faces of the students as Miss Lucy talked--the look on their faces as they absorbed what she said mixed with the innocence of not quite understanding the full impact of what they are being told.
However, it did have an impact on the later scene when Tommy and Kathy go to see Miss Emily to ask for a deferment because they are in love. In the book, this scene was so powerful because it was the first time the program is really explained in the book. Since the movie explained the program in more detail earlier--this scene in the movie lacked some of the power of the book.
Recommendations:
After watching this movie, I felt the need for a good laugh--and thought of another Keira Knightley movie:
I haven't read the book, so I can't compare the book and the movie. But, I liked the movie, although it would not make it to my favourite films but I do not regret watching it at all.
ReplyDeleteI definitely didn't regret watching it, but I don't think it is one I would run back and watch again. For me--I am glad I borrowed it and didn't buy it. :)
ReplyDeleteBut the person I watched it with said that there were little things he didn't quite get that I thought were clear--so I think reading the book helped me get parts of the movie more. :)