"Precision of Language, Jonas, Please."
The young-adult science-fiction film genre has begun, finally, to eat its own tail.
If you’ve never read The Giver, first of all, you’ve missed out on an important part of young-adult literature. It was one of the first books I ever read that genuinely upset me. I think I must have been nine the first time I read it, young enough where twelve, the age of the main character, seems like a pretty grown-up age. The strength of The Giver is not the story, the story has been told many times over, but rather the presentation. To read a description of snow told from the point of view of someone who can’t even comprehend what it means to feel cold…that’s real magic, on a page. To read about suicide, and infanticide, and the revision of history when you’re nine is a jarring, incredible experience. It changes you. But Lois Lowry refuses to talk down to her readers. She trusts you can handle it.
It is important to note that The Giver has influenced so many books that came after its publication, and it was written in my lifetime. 1993. A recent year for such an important work of science-fiction.
Within the past ten years or so, filmmakers have been rediscovering the science-fiction genre in film. This genre has always lent itself to more of a pulp treatment, and now it’s not much different. The only difference is the audience: young teenagers, particularly young women. A series of films has made its way to theaters, lusciously shot and pensively paced, based on books written for young adults. The trend has produced some winners: The Hunger Games series are very good films which at points outshine the novels they are based on. But the genre has seen more failures than successes. The Host. Divergent. Beautiful Creatures.
These movies, despite critical failures, keep getting produced. They have adopted a coded style, a consistent and safe style that no other genre really shares. And producers are running out of current material, so they’re beginning to cherry pick from the past.
You don’t need me to tell you that this movie is no good. Maybe you had hope, but I never did. The Giver is one of the strangest choices for film adaptation that I’ve seen in years. I will give the filmmakers credit; they tried their best. The use of black and white and slow additions of color are interesting, and attempt to give us an idea of what’s going on in Jonas’ world, but nothing can compare with seeing the words a person uses to describe the color red when they don’t even know what a color IS.
The Giver has influenced many books. Those books have been turned into films. And now those films have influenced this film to the point where if you had never heard of this book before, it would seem just like a knock-off of the Divergent series. This story of the dangers of living in a Utopia has been transformed into just another Dystopian adventure film, complete with chases, scheming villains and oversaturated dialogue.
I’m sad. Although, confused or anxious would be more precise words to use.
DRINK:
Pick your favorite color. Create a lovely cocktail that features that color. Red is the most important color in this film, but feel free to go nuts.
POSSIBLE RULES:
-Drink whenever someone breaks a rule.
-Drink whenever the "I apologize"/"I accept your apology" dialogue is exchanged.
-Drink whenever someone says the word "love".
-Drink when the camera cuts to the surveillance systems.
-Drink whenever someone gets wet.
This review was written by Hollis Beck (Krissy Pappau). The Giver is produced by Walden Media and the Weinstein Company, and distributed by The Weinstein Company. This film is rated PG-13 with a runtime of 97 minutes.
It is important to note that The Giver has influenced so many books that came after its publication, and it was written in my lifetime. 1993. A recent year for such an important work of science-fiction.
Within the past ten years or so, filmmakers have been rediscovering the science-fiction genre in film. This genre has always lent itself to more of a pulp treatment, and now it’s not much different. The only difference is the audience: young teenagers, particularly young women. A series of films has made its way to theaters, lusciously shot and pensively paced, based on books written for young adults. The trend has produced some winners: The Hunger Games series are very good films which at points outshine the novels they are based on. But the genre has seen more failures than successes. The Host. Divergent. Beautiful Creatures.
These movies, despite critical failures, keep getting produced. They have adopted a coded style, a consistent and safe style that no other genre really shares. And producers are running out of current material, so they’re beginning to cherry pick from the past.
You don’t need me to tell you that this movie is no good. Maybe you had hope, but I never did. The Giver is one of the strangest choices for film adaptation that I’ve seen in years. I will give the filmmakers credit; they tried their best. The use of black and white and slow additions of color are interesting, and attempt to give us an idea of what’s going on in Jonas’ world, but nothing can compare with seeing the words a person uses to describe the color red when they don’t even know what a color IS.
The Giver has influenced many books. Those books have been turned into films. And now those films have influenced this film to the point where if you had never heard of this book before, it would seem just like a knock-off of the Divergent series. This story of the dangers of living in a Utopia has been transformed into just another Dystopian adventure film, complete with chases, scheming villains and oversaturated dialogue.
I’m sad. Although, confused or anxious would be more precise words to use.
DRINK:
Pick your favorite color. Create a lovely cocktail that features that color. Red is the most important color in this film, but feel free to go nuts.
POSSIBLE RULES:
-Drink whenever someone breaks a rule.
-Drink whenever the "I apologize"/"I accept your apology" dialogue is exchanged.
-Drink whenever someone says the word "love".
-Drink when the camera cuts to the surveillance systems.
-Drink whenever someone gets wet.
This review was written by Hollis Beck (Krissy Pappau). The Giver is produced by Walden Media and the Weinstein Company, and distributed by The Weinstein Company. This film is rated PG-13 with a runtime of 97 minutes.
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