The Lovely Bones

[Shaun]

"The Lovely Bones" is a novel written by Alice Sebold that became a worldwide bestseller on it's release a few years ago.

 

Peter Jackson, director of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, has made a movie version of it and it has been released / is being released worldwide. The trailer is below:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUWKi0W5_g

 

Having read the book a few years ago and being absolutely gripped by it I was eagerly awaiting seeing the movie version, especially with a director such as Jackson at the helm. Sadly having watched the movie last night it comes no where near the book. Jackson glosses over far too many details and misses huge chunks of the book out entirely. There are several gripping scenes and the depiction of "the inbetween" is well done as is the sister's investigation scene. I just felt too many plot threads were started and left unanswered at the end of the movie. Obviously, if you've read the book, you'll understand this is a difficult subject matter to bring to the big screen but I just feel Jackson hasn't done enough.

 

I hope on the DVD there's s directors cut which explores the characters storylines a bit more.

 

Has anyone else read this book or seen the movie?

 

What were your thoughts?

[Frida]

I read the book about 5 years ago i think and remember I really liked it, sorry to hear that the movie isn't up to par

[amyja89]

I chose to write my A-Level English Literature coursework on The Lovely Bones (did a comparison with The Virgin Suicides), so it's pretty much drilled into my head! It's dissapointing to hear that the filim doesn't do the book justice, perhaps I'll give it a miss!

 

On the whole, I can't think of many book to film creations that have been great. Girl, Interrupted is the only one that immediately comes to mind.

Edited January 25, 2010 at 11:55 PM by amyja89

[peo]

LOVED the movie!!!!! Now I need to read the book.

[Scramasboy]

I read the book about a million times, and have loved it each time. Alice Sebold is a brilliant writer, I really want to read her first book, Lucky, a novel which is based on her own experiences.

I have yet to see the movie for the simple fact that I know I will compare it to the book. Its like Twilight, I read the entire Twilight series as the books came out and watched the first movie and was devistated by how horrible I thought it was, and I felt that way cause I compared it to the book too much. The second one, New Moon wasn't as bad

Anyway, I will probably watch it when it comes out on DvD if not before, but I am cautious.

[f_leary]

I haven't seen the movie nor have I noticed the book in the bookstores. But my curiousity really has been aroused by the good feedback about the movie and more of the book. I surely am going to watch it now and will probably also read the book. But I do expect deviations from the book as with other book-movie tie ins...I remember Of Mice and Men where the ending was changed.