Putting the bones back together

When I saw The Lovely Bones, I knew going in to it that not very many people thought it was the best movie of all time. Coming out of it, I didn’t think it was as bad as people say, so I’m taking a moment to respond to some of the most common criticism being thrown at this movie. These snippets are taken from actual reviews and critics.

"Director Peter Jackson's incoherent and ultimately pointless adaptation of the bestseller is just an intolerable mess from start to finish."

Who, whoa, whoa, wait just a minute. Really? I don’t think the movie is half that bad.

"If you have read the novel, you will be horribly disappointed."

Ok. I haven’t read the book. So I’m looking at the film, not the adaptation. Granted, a lot of the negative feedback is coming from people who read Alice Sebold’s novel.

"It was a story about young girls being raped and murdered yet he (PJ) wanted us to feel happy about it?"

Does heaven make us happy about death? Or does it make us happy about eternal life, where thieves do not break in and steal?

"This unsatisfying movie seems to glorify death and celebrate victimhood."

Again, perhaps we’re celebrating redemption, but no one said we’re celebrating death. From what I saw, the film in no way says, or even hints, that the murder was a good thing. The fact that Susie was victimized is extremely sad. It’s sad that she is no longer with us. But isn’t Susie is in a better place?

"Peter Jackson chose not to incorporate the rape and murder into his film. He does not ignore it occurred but doesn’t film the incident either. By removing this portion of the story from the visual portrayal he in a sense desensitizes the audience". AND… "The tale is too dark for this and the film comes across as almost genteel in its approach. There’s no real sense of impending doom for Susie and no sense at all of the terror she must have felt."

I understand the book includes the murder in detail, but I believe the decision to not show this horrible thing was a good one. Including it would not add to what this story is telling, in my opinion. Besides, seeing the tension leading up to it was quite enough. If you want to see the crime, you’re at the wrong movie. Which leads us to the next criticism.

"I mean, what exactly is this movie? It’s a thriller with no thrills." AND… "This movie is meant to be a thriller, edge of your seat, holding your breathe while something happens. It wasn't."

This movie is not a thriller and isn’t meant to be. It’s just not in that genre. If you are after a thriller, I could see how you could be disappointed. After all, the film is narrated by the innocent voice of a fourteen year old girl. If you come into this looking or a rush, you wont get it.

"With all the wonders of CGI at his disposal, Jackson gives us an afterlife of swirling colors and shifting landscapes, all of which is presented with a slightly surreal vibe that is more bad acid trip than beautiful hereafter". AND... "(the director’s) obsession with CGI not only destroys his own film but the work of the actors who put their trust in him."

For one thing, the CGI’s screentime is not as prominent as many seem to say. It almost seems like people are on a bandwagon with this criticism. It shows up now and then, but not in a way that takes me out of the movie. We have already accepted that Susie is in another world. And the CGI that was there was wonderful! I particularly thought the bit with the boats in the bottles was great.

"I found some of the CGI effects second rate like something I would find in a television commercial: it just did not grab me and was surfeit."

That was this viewer’s take and I can see where he’s coming from. Again, I didn’t have a problem with it. I thought it was fun.

"Her descriptions are at best unnecessary and at worst just stupid. It's some of the worst use of narration…"

I think this movie was as appropriate as any for a narration of this sort. This thing is largely Susie’s story, where she is looking back on what happened. What better way to make it work that to put her sweet voice behind the action?

"The actors looked like they were playing dress up."

This isn’t a common objection, but I’m using it as an opportunity to say that, I loved Saoirse Ronan’s wardrobe. I thought it was one of the best things about her character. It worked well.

(About the villain’s ‘lair’) "The idea that he could do all this construction and not leave in it any clue for the police stretches the imagination." OR… "Where did he put the dirt?"

People are all over this one. Yes, it may stretch the imagination (that’s if you’re trying to figure it out in the first place, which I really wasn’t). Is this supposed to be a true story? Or is it supposed to be an anecdote that we can take for what it's worth. It’s not like this “plot hole” was a grossly overlooked error that ruined the film.

"When a safe is taken to be dumped into the sink-hole dump, why does he park so far away, and who built an antique floor safe that appears to weigh as much as a filing cabinet?"

Ok. Well if we want to talk about what is realistic (even if it is a movie), then I would have to agree with this. :P

(About the character of the grandmother) "Her mannerisms and actions are so bizarre that they never find a place in this film and remain on the outside looking in." AND… "Her insertion causes an abrupt mood shift from the somber and reverential tone."

I have to agree with this as well. It seemed out of place. It was probably put there for a moment of comic relief (which I don’t think was really needed). The background song certainly didn’t help with continuity either.

"The Lovely Bones has so much that could go right with it that it's most disappointing how wrong it goes."

The Lovely Bones is not a flawless movie. But I think it was a good effort. Personally, I might have put more emphasis on Susie’s ‘interaction’ throughout the investigation process. Like a “Reservation Road” with the victim looking on at the proceedings and trying to “weigh her demand for vengeance toward her creepy killer against a loving desire for her immediate family to heal from this horrible tragedy.” Couldn’t have put it better myself :).