Review: The Lovely Bones

Affecting and pervading sense of deep unpleasantness but just a total fail on everything else.
The casting is questionable, the directing is anonymous, the dialogue at times is an abomination and the entire feeling switches from "Ooh everything is so floaty" like heaven designed by Tim Burton, to a surburban drama, to a surburban comedy, to a detective story, to a horror film. It's all over the fucking place.
It's main failing though is what I would call it's McDonalds spirituality. Pretty but ultimately shallow and soulless, there's no point to any of it. It's the kind of afternoon channel 5 melodrama my mum would like.

The ending really fucks me off in a major and multiple ways. Firstly with the abuse of Song to the Siren, whose inclusion perfectly sums up the constant theme of "It's pretty but it doesn't belong here"
Secondly, I haven't read the book but did they seriously go with the Ghost ending? Oh and the bloody icicle? Give me a break!

* Looks through credits and see Spielberg *
Ah well that explains a lot. The last 5 minutes takes it from a film I didn't really care for into "Hated it" territory.

That's odd Nick - I thought this had been and gone too.

Jackson get a lifetime pass (valid for his lifetime, not mine) for Braindead. What a film.

The Frighteners is good fun as well.

The Frighteners is much better than it gets credit for!
I think I was just expecting way way more from this. It's not nearly as good as the book, but my friend who hadn't read the book, loved the film.

I like Peter Jackson, he gets a free pass after Lord of the Rings. Will see this and probably like it, despite Marky Mark's Boogie Nights hairdo.

Really must dig out The Frighteners and give that another go.

The advertising for this has been pretty awful. Seriously, I thought this film came out two months ago because that's when all the hype was and then it all died down because all the critics hated it. I was really surprised to find that it hasn't even been released yet.
I'm really not convinced by this. I've heard so many good things about the book but everything about the film suggests it's style over substance. Plus it's got Mark Wahlberg in it and that's never a good sign.

Oh and you below, Hepburn is awesome. Far and away my favourite actress ever.

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. It has some surreal moments but generally the afterlife is presented kinda beautifully (if a little reminiscent of What Dreams May Come).

I didn't think the ending lived up to the rest of the story but I haven't read the book so I don't know if it's Jackson or Sebold I'm disagreeing with.

I adore the book so am kinda unsure how i feel bout the film- all my favourite books are being made into films and are often ruined- my favourite The Bell Jar is being made next- with possibly Rose McGowan as the lead- all wrong!
Will see this as it is a great story and I do love abit of the Tucci- but am thinking it may not live up to my expectations.

*rimshot*

I have heard he was dealing with a company that an aquantance works with, and wouldn't even look at the creative director, just talked to one of his people, who passed on the questions.

You know, like "ask your father if he wants to do this" from your mother when both are present.

Dunno, *if* it's true, it's something I can never see someone like Kevin Smith doing.

He'll redeem himself with something gloriously gory.

"but apparently he doesn't talk to the little people any more"

They weren't real hobbits, y'know...

I liked it. It's got some problems, but overall I thought it was a good, solid movie.

I still want the big budget Jackson zombie flick he's been promising, but apparently he doesn't talk to the little people any more after becoming a big shot success.

Edited at 08:13 on 20/02/10

Marky Mark in a 70s wig makes me laugh into my fist. Does he whisper to convey deep thoughts and look like he just found a poo in his pocket to indicate anger?

Loved Stanley Tucci in Julie & Julia. One of his best is a little-known gem from the 90's called Big Night. I might hold out on this one, though. Something tells me it might work better as a NetFlix rental.

Wildly different reviews have me interested in this one tbh. Looks like more than your average hankie-fest and I'm really starting to like Stanley Tucci (just not in that way). Snoochie Tucci.