Friday, July 22, 2011

The Lovely Bones

I rented The Lovely Bones over two weeks ago, but I've had a hard time bringing myself to watch it since I knew it was about a girl who is murdered by a serial killer. It didn't sound like a pick me up movie, but I was curious to see it since it was directed by Peter Jackson and I wanted to know if there would be any Orcs or Hobbits in it.

This movie is entertaining, but it is almost like there are two separate movies. There is the story about the girl's abduction, murder, and how it impacts her family. Then there is also the part about her being in a transition state where she roams the earth trying to bring her killer to justice and comfort her family. The scenes that feature the girl in a limbo state between heaven and earth were weird and reminded me of What Dreams May Come. They were just too busy with special effects and CGI.


This movies takes place in the 70's and has an authentic feel too it. So much so, that it made me wish all the characters would take showers and get haircuts.

There were a few scenes that really bothered me. First, what was up with the scene at the end where dead Susie finally gets to kiss her boyfriend via the weird girl? It was kind of like the scene in Ghost with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.

Second, was I hallucinating, or did I really see a short comical music video montage featuring the grandma (Susan Sarandon) attempting to do housework while making messes? I felt like I was watching an episode of the Brady Bunch when it showed her trying to do laundry with suds all over the room. It just didn't seem like it should have been included in a serious movie like this.

The casting was very interesting. I have never seen Stanley Tucci in a role like this before and he was super creepy and did a good job as the killer.  I struggled with accepting Mark Wahlberg as the dad in this film, but his performance was still good.  Overall, I can't say I really enjoyed this movie and I'm not sure if it was because of how the movie was made or just because of the subject matter, but I give it 6.5 stars.

2 comments:

ShanimalsCrackers.blogspot.com said...

I enjoyed this movie...except for the part where the girl's in the other world. That part, well, I just fastforwarded it all the way through. So, I guess I liked half the movie. 5 stars from me.

Cheeseboy said...

Oh man, I HATED HATED this movie!

 
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