If you can get over Hayden Christensen's Keanu Reeves school of acting, then this is a totally watchable film. The landscape shots are incredible from the top of the Sphinx to the bottom of the Colloseum and the effects when they jump are really impressive. Jamie Bell is really good, though I still can't figure out where he was meant to be from (accents may vary) and the lost little neglected boy that Haydn does so well actually works quite well. The jumping drive through Japan is on a par with other really impressive car chases. Samuel L Jackson's hair is just terrifying and the normally brilliant Diane Lane is just as deadpan as the rest.
Round the world in an hour and a half with a freaky looking Sam Jackson, Anakin Skywalker, Summer and Billy Elliott :) Silly, impressive and a great piece of mindless film making.
3 out of 5 FOBLES
The Lovely Bones
This is the story of Susie Salmon (like the fish) who is murdered at the age of 14 and then watches over her family as they try to cope with their loss.
Now this is not quite as bad as the Time Travellers Wife conversion from book to film, which conveniently removed all the brilliant but dark moments which made the book so compelling, and it at least didn't pull a My Sister's Keeper and change the ending - but it doesn't do the book justice, mainly due to its 12A rating. I happily (and unhappily) watched it though so wouldn't say it was a bad film at all. The plot of the book is a dark one and in making it 12A, it lost a lot of its darkness (Susie's murder is entirely cut and left to your imagination while the book graphically details it). There is also no explanation of how much time actually passes which confuses matters somewhat when characters suddenly have new hair cuts or new lives.However, what the film manages to do well is the dreamlike land Susie finds herself in and the sweet, naive way she sees the world. The large dollops of cinematic cheese are forgiven because that is how she sees the world. The way the family crumbles is honest and watching Mark Wahlberg crumble under his love for his daughter is heartbreaking. The fantastic character of Grandma Lyn is done justice by the only woman who could - Susan Sarandon.
It also sticks to the ending, which many would have tried to change I'm sure. Well done to Peter Jackson for that!
Worth a watch - but if you read the book, give it a few months before daring to see the film - otherwise it might anger you.
3 out of 5 FOBLES
3 out of 5 FOBLES
I think I gave jumper about 2 out of 5 because i haaattte Hayden Christiansen. Even in the cinema it failed to impress.
ReplyDeleteNice site by the way :)
Haha thanks - yeah youre not the first to tell me that! @But the effects and scenery make it watcheable plus Jamie Bell :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Jumper, but have read and seen The Lovely Bones. Apart from some excellent individual performances, I didn't feel the film had much to recommend it and was really disappointed. I don't think I'd even recommend it if I hasn't read the book, which, by the way, is excellent. Going to seek out your TTW review now. Grrrrr.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of this novel is a serious shock!! Though the story is interesting and moderately well written, it is not for readers that like to read enjoyable books. The charecters suffer one heart ache after each other and never get relief.
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