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When Leslie died in the book, my elementary school class was just absolute shock for the whole day. Seriously, I remember one girl just broke down in tears and had to be leave the room for a while to calm down. Most of us were just sitting with our jaws on the floor in disbelief. I saw a couple guys try to subtly wipe their eyes. I was one of the people who read that part at home before anyone else so I knew it was coming. It still kicks you right in the feels though. I personally love this movie all the same. Also, Rob is right, Doug: Leslie died for your sins!
+Shwah Gamers My class had the funniest reaction. We were kids that came from the grit of the 90s where Mortal Kombat was a daily routine. We read that Leslie died and the class reaction was "...really? That's how she went out? Lamest death ever." However we did end up liking the story more since there was one thing the 90s media rarely showed, the reactions and life of the people that lived. That was the part that made us think.
+Buffalo Ruffalo I remember reading that book and first page or so the teacher asked the significance and I said: "Lenny can't learn. This fault will most likely lead to his downfall." Called it.
Leslie's death was based on a true death. The author's (Katherine Paterson) son had a friend, 8 year old Lisa Christina Hill, who was tragically killed after being struck by lightning on a beach in Delaware in 1974.
In the review: "Oh my god, what's up with all the sulking? Somebody better be dead." "Your friend Leslie is dead." *blank silence* "Send your angy emails to..."
In all fairness to the novel, _Bridge to Terabithia_ was banned in several schools and libraries and has been the subject of many censorship debates. As mentioned in the video, the Disney version is indeed toned down from the original literary work. Disney probably didn't want to deal with the issues that have followed this story since it was published in 1977.
lisambofoh Like the video states, Disney watered down the intensity of the story like they did with the original Little Mermaid. Particularly, the book BtT was banned for it's themes of atheism, death, and other deep topics that some people think kids should be shielded from.
It was Don Bluth that once said, "It's okay to scare kids. But DON'T scare them JUST to scare. Teach them a lesson through being scared." Not the exact quote but that was the gist of it.
Doug, Rob, the book was inspired by an event in which the author's kid's friend died by being struck by lightning. I think she looked at the way her son reacted to what happened and decided to write a book about it. It's interesting to note that this very son was the one who helped co-write the film. Suddenly a lot of the "angelic" and "nostalgic" feel of the kid characters makes sense, because a huge part of it probably came from the screenwriter remembering what it was like to play with his deceased friend.
Something I found interesting is that the author never intended for it to be a children's book. She wrote it to help process her *own* grief regarding the event.
I saw the movie before I read the book (I didn't even know it was a book at the time.), so going in I didn't know that Leslie was going to die. I was also completely oblivious to the movie playing up her "angelic qualities" like Doug and Rob said as I was ten years old at the time. I was in stunned shock for the rest of the movie, but I was fine once I got home. I read the book about a year later after I found it in my school's library. Going into the book I kind of convinced myself that Leslie's death wasn't in the book. I kind of thought "Well, they change things in movie adaptations all the time. They probably added her death for shock value or something." Guess what? I was completely wrong and she did in fact die. You wanna know what else? It had more of an effect on me than her death in the freaking movie! I started crying on the school bus reading that line and spent the rest of the day at school sulking about it.
I just saw your comment and I'm like, there's no way you could have commented two years ago, the review only came out--OH MY GOD I AM GETTING SO OLD, TIME IS GOING TOO FAST
I'm Gandalf and Magneto deal with it that sounds shocking and kinda different surprised I and no one ever saw or talks about this film as it seems its different kinda slipped under the radar
"That's like doing Star Trek 2 and then at the very end, Spock's like, 'Oh, whoop, sorry. Just a mistake, no, I'm fine. I'm good." That's especially funny given that Into Darkness did pretty much exactly that.
I actually was one of those kids who saw the previews and thought it would be like Narnia, only to wind up incredibly depressed by the end. My little sister and i were so upset that we started trying to write our own sequel about how Teribithia was real and the girl was actually alive, and basically all the stuff that shows that we were kids who completely misunderstood the point of the story. Then I read the book and that's when it clicked for me what was really going on.
I didn't either. If I swore, my parents found out by that afternoon and I got in trouble. I really don't get why Rob made the point over and over that he desperately wants to see more kids swear. Like, we should protect our kids' minds, and anyone who says otherwise usually hasn't had kids. Doug followed it up with it not working and I think that most people think simply doing something makes it gritty or something like that. Some people think if you have a plot-twist then it's a thrilling and genius movie. I think this same assumption is made that swearing means it's gritty. I've had plenty of intense childhood moments that had nobody swearing that if it was in a movie there would be some serious complaints about how messed up it is or how gritty it is. There is horrible stuff in life and intense moments in life that have nothing to do with saying swear words. He made the points that kids' should smoke. I never did and I, to this day, have only seen 3 kids, literally like 2 or 3 kids in my entire life who smoked, and they might've been almost in high school, or late middle school. Beyond that, I've never seen kids smoke. I get it, Rob is talking about the 70's, and it was different then, but seriously, there are kids who are so oblivious that life is like a Disney movie to them. I wouldn't forcibly try to make it gritty for them, because soon enough reality will hit the kids, and they need to learn from it. We shouldn't desire to beat reality that adults are exposed to into them and make them adults at the age of 5.
I one hundred percent agree. I never swore or anything like that when I was a kid, and neither did my friends. Even the kids who knew curse words, never really said them. I didn't hear that much cursing until I entered high school. Some kids do swear, smoke, etc., but it's not the most realistic thing in the world to have kids swearing. In movies some kids should swear and some shouldn't, just like in real life.
Fred Jan I agree for the most part but at the same time I think this is why so many 16-20 year old people commit suicide, theyre raised in dinseyland and when reality sets it they can't take it because they never learned. Don't shelter your kids, care for them and teach them to understand. I agree that children shouldn't be adults at the age of five but there shouldn't be the opposite either.
***** I actually liked my girl. I remember it being a good coming of age story. I haven't seen it in years, but I remember it being dark in parts. I mean I don't think disney would let them get away with a grandma that has Alzheimer's or the fact Vada killed her mother being born. One of the most uncomfortable parts of the movie is where the grandma wonders out into a funeral and starts singing. There is no way that would be in a disney movie nor would all the coming of age things. I mean you see Vada go through puberty and gradually want to become more like a woman instead of a tom boy. Vada might have been a little non-realistic with her poetry, but for the most part she acted like a real kid with worries. The whole point of her being a hypochondriac is because she's been around dead people all her life. The movie might have been silly at parts, but it had it's serious moments. The second my girl really sucked though.
***** Could be or they just hate coming of age stories. From a female prospective I think it did a good job. The end with the bees overshadows the rest for obvious reasons, but I think most of the movie holds up.
"My Girl" was a beautiful movie. It had the guts to do what many kids' movies fail to do: Show children as real children in normal situations. It was a great coming of age story with a simple premise, with some rather morbid humor sprinkled in at points. If people do hate this movie, it probably has to do with the Macaulay Culkin backlash. Either that, or the majority of the internet simply hates children and thus hate any movie starring children. And come on, that kiss was adorable. Awkward, but still adorable. Maybe I'm getting soft and more sentimental as I grow older (I'm 19, not that old I realize), but I love stories about kids simply being kids and the struggles they have to go though. Many kids' movies are pandering and will just throw anything stupid on screen because "kids are stupid", so movies like this are a breath of fresh air. I just saw "Boyhood", and while its style is not for everybody, it was astounding. And one of my favorite movies is "Moonrise Kingdom". So, yeah.. That's why I can't find it in me to hate "Bridge To Tarabithia". How it was marketed is irrelevant to the actual quality of the movie. It's not perfect, but I at least respect it and it was fairly faithful to the book. The book is beautiful, by the by.
The way they marketed it as a happy fantasy adventure was really misleading. I know when I seen the movie and it was nothing like the previews it made me really dislike the movie. I was expecting Narnia and got My Girl. Oh and another movie where the marketing was supper misleading was Fluke. They marketed as a happy taking dog movie with the super happy disney voice over guy and everything. And that movie was DARK. The movie was about dealing with death and betrayal and learning how to let go. It was like a darker, sadder Jack Frost with a dog.
@@stoneyboydAnd yet the author and her son hated the old film with her son describing it “like the crazy cousin of a mental hospital that nobody talks about” and saying “no one on our side was either involved with it or happy with the final product.” So I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s more faithful if the author and her son obviously disown the film.
You were partly right about the Leslie only being "hurt" part, it was some of the companies the director met with that wanted this to happen instead of her dying.Also the director is the authors son and the book is actually based off of when his best friend got struck by lighting and died when he was 8.
When I saw the movie, it had been out for years, but I never read the book or heard anything besides what I had seen in the trailers. So yes I thought it was going to be Narnia. What's worse, Leslie looked IDENTICAL to my best friend, face, haircut, clothing, even her voice was similar. I spent the night in tears.
I remember in 6th grade, my History / English teacher was having everyone take turns with reading Where the Red Fern Grows, and my teacher almost started crying in the middle of class.
I feel so bad now, I HATED that book. It was too boring for me. Then again I was in 7th grade and couldnt be bothered being forced to read a book when I had more interest in things like the 39 clues or percy jackson
+Varis Thunderheart A couple months ago I read that with my high school friends. When we went to go get lunch and head back i was like no i dont want to read on. My throat was clogged and hurting at the same time not willing to go on and finish it.
Rob reminds me of myself: I'm the anime nerd that's read all the books the movies are based off of and I'm usually very cynical of the movies that are adapted from books. My brother's the one who only occasionally watches the films. Also I think it was the author's son who lost a best friend (struck by lightning).
I honestly can't stand the movie, simply because of the letdown of its premise. I love fantasy films. I love fantasy/sci-fi worlds, it's my favorite part of fiction. You know the joke during the review where Critic mentioned the CGI footage that fooled Narnia fans into seeing this elephant turd? That was sort of me. I'm not the biggest fan of Narnia, but I expected this to be a legitimate fantasy film. The world was fake, and they did damn well to hammer that into you. The difference between this and other "fake" worlds like in the "Wizard of Oz" or "Alice in Wonderland" is that they felt structured. They had a sense of logic, story, and rules, to the extent that I felt satisfied enough with what was presented to me before the big reveal. The big reveal was also placed at the end. Here, they're just making this up as they go along, and they constantly phase in and out of real life and Leslie's psychotic fantasy. If you want to make a tragedy involving two quirky kids becoming friends, that’s fine! All the more power to you! If you want to make an adventure in a fantasy realm, great! But don't try to mix the two, because that's what this film did, and it ultimately failed at being either.
Interestingly there are zero fantasy elements in the novel. The make-believe world is never really touched or detailed, it focuses on the reality elements which makes it much more powerful in my opinion.
Thank you Rob, for calling out the advertising. I only remember the betrayal of being promised a cute wonderland film and getting slapped with no cute wonderland scenes and SUDDEN tragic death. I don't remember anything else from it.
"It's like the director was like I just want to get to this part" It's almost like the screen writer was the person who's life experiences inspired his mother to write the book.
We read so many tragic books from elementary school to high school, and the ones like this book and so many more just messed me up because they were so honest and real and made you think about life differently. I didn't like how this movie had to take place in present day, I believe at one point the little sister was watching Hannah Montana on tv, when the book took place in the 1970's around the time it was written and the actual tragedy it was inspired by took place. The movie seemed too cheerful and forced and the kids didn't talk like real kids.
*this entire video talking about how watered down the movie is* and here i am, in Trumptown USA, where parents got it banned from the schools for cursing
There's no cursing in the film, actually. You're thinking of the novel. The novel has been repeatedly censored. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(novel)#Literary_significance
I remember being homeschooled when the movie came out and my mother was heavy on the whole "read the book then see the movie". My brother was really hurt when Leslie died and for me, the shock didn't really effect me until I saw the movie. At the time, the only other role I had seen Annasophia Robb in was an American Girl movie, so it was really unexpected.
Here's a list of movies would love to see them talk about: Street Fighter Mortal Kombat Space Jam Pokemon The First Movie Kazaam Godzilla 1998 Jingle All the Way Twister Either Rock-a-Doodle or A Troll in Central Park Either the 90s Ninja Turtles movies or TMNT Short Circuit Last Action Hero We're Back A Dinosaur's Story Warriors of Virtue (I just wish to see them talk about that goofy-ass villain) Cool As Ice Congo Casper Quest for Camelot Flubber Home Alone 3 Theodore Rex Care Bears 2 Th Langoliers James and the Giant Peach Dog's 1st Movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad Jurassic Park Master of Disguise
I have to disagree with this list. Mainly because I can't really see their opinions being much different from what they conveyed in the reviews. Besides let's face it: most of those movies were a waste of thought and money especially Warriors of Virtue, Cool as Ice, Theodore Rex, and Rock-a-doodle.
SuperCHARged Productions Ehh you'd be surprised. To this day people are so angry that Doug didn't quote unquote "get" the movie, that he took it too seriously. Rob has said on the forums that they knew it was a parody, they just didn't think it was a good or strong parody
***** Think about it. The kid crosses water to meet a man who seems to makes the world seem more mysterious and magical. There are actually quite a few comparisons that can be made there.
Tyrant-Den I just watched that movie not too long ago! It definitely had a similar vibe to it and I was invested into the friendship between the two boys. 😯
I remember hearing about Leslie dying before seeing the movie. However, most of the film was so light-hearted that I almost convinced myself that it somehow wouldn't happen, and the contrast between the ending and the rest of the film made it all the more devastating.
While I didn’t hate it as well, I sure didn’t like it either. But I think I wouldn’t have disliked it as much if the trailers weren’t misleading. The trailers made it sound like ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ meets ‘The Goonies’ (or at least that’s how I took it when I saw the trailers). But when I watched the movie, I became immediately disappointed that it was nowhere near what I was expecting. Now, I don’t mind, that usually can be a good twist, and I probably would have been onboard with it, but the trailers were obviously just trying to get an audience by lying. The whole film to me was just boring. The only part I actually felt had potential was when the girl died. Other than that, this movie just had nothing for me to like. Also, can you guys do Hook next?
I guess I'm a weird person because I've thought about my own mortality since I was four years old. I'm not kidding. One day, I was playing a computer game and I thought that I would die one day and I really didn't want that to happen. I went to my mom to talk about it and that's what got me on my path to Christianity. I've just always wanted to know what there was.
Ummmmm are you sure this is before cool Disney came along? Meet the Robinsons and Enchanted were released in 2007. Phineas and Ferb, which basically jumpstarted the Television Animation arm's era of coolness, began in 2007. I think when people talk about how much Disney is on a roll, they keep it to the animation. And the Marvel movies. Not the non-superhero live action. Because then you're saying The Lone Ranger, Maleficent, Into the Woods, and Alexander and the Terrible No Good Very Bad Day is part of "Cool Disney". And I don't think you intend that
This was definitely around the transition. Disney can't just flip a switch and become "Cool Disney." I will say that this attitude they gained definitely started with their television cartoons.
Scott Sandler enchanted is the one where the fairytale princess goes to newyork, right? yeah, nothing was new to it that hadn't been done like that already
***** Which started when Phineas and Ferb debuted. A cool parent gives you freedoms but doesn't take it to unreasonable extremes. After they meddled the fuck out of American Dragon Jake Long for stuff they deemed "Too Jetix", they let Dan and Swampy get away with stuff on P&F that respects the audience. It continued with Fish Hooks, Wander, Gravity Falls, Penn Zero and Star vs. The Forces of Evil
Do Thomas and the magic railroad! Apparently there was a lot of stuff cut from that because they thought kids would find it scary...Kind of ironic as the final product is a total mess!
Even with stuff cut(assuming it was, too lazy to look into it) I know that movie was quite scary to kids, gave both of my brothers and one of my friends nightmares when we saw it as kids.
Someone probably mentioned this but the author of the book, her son's best friend died. She wasn't fully sure how to help him deal with that, and ended up writing the book to try to help her son cope.
My problem with American drama films, books/ media is that they try way too hard to make them tragic. The best recent example of this is The Fault In Our Stars. I got dragged to see that movie and I couldn't even sit through the whole film. It oozed of pretentiousness. Yes, I know that drama needs to have, well drama. But even Shakespeare recognized in his plays that drama has to be tempered with comedy to be successful. How can you feel the impact of the drama, if you haven't laughed with the characters, or taken any time to understand their characters? There aren't many films I can think of that have successfully done this. And that is why I really couldn't get into this movie or book.
Emma Downs I see this soooo often. Make it darker! Add more death! Add more darkness! From Hallmark movies to comic books. I get apathetic to it all, really
Tareltonlives I feel you there. I'm kind of tired of the whole dark/ edgy/ sad genre. But then again, I am not a teenager, which is what a lot of these movies, books, etc are targeted at who are all kind of going through the angst stage so...yeah. To each their own.
Emma Downs There's a term for it: Death by Newberry Award. It's the children's literature equivalent to Oscar Bait. Here it generally involves killing the main character's best friend or pet so that the characters can talk about the nature of death and friendships and Bladdy, Bladdy, Blah. For examples see "Where the Red Fern Grows", "Old Yeller", and "When the Soldiers Were Gone". I recommend the book "Shiloh". In it a kid befriends a beagle named Shiloh and tries to get the dog away from his abusive neighbor and the dog's owner. Eventually, the protagonist ends up working for his neighbor to buy the dog off him and, Spoilers!: Nothing happens. The kid buys Shiloh in exchange for his hard work and the story ends on a happy note. This is one of the few Newberry award winners to avert the trope that the dog/friend dies at the end of the story.
Wesley Stuckey The Giver is another example of a story that deals with complex modern issues but has an ending which isn't necessarily sad, just thought provoking. There are a lot of examples like that, especially in young adult literature. But for what ever reason, the books with the 'sad' content always gets made into movies and receives all of the attention. I'll never get it. Shiloh is a good book and a decent movie. I enjoyed both.
I never read the book. But I remember being a kid and watching the movie and being so shocked that the girl died. It took me a moment to even comprehend what had happened. I could only imagine what the movie would have been like if it hadn't been disney. Perhaps it would have had and even stronger impact on me.
Yeah, I remember seeing the commercials for this thinking it's like a Narnia'esc story, then finding out it's all make-believe and just deciding, 'Nah. That sounds stupid.' and skipping it. Doug's 30 Second review of it was the first time I heard about the twist o.0
Whaa? Zathura was a terrible movie, the only good thing was that Kristen Stewart wasn't phoning it in like she did in almost every other movie she's been in (not that she can act, but at least she was *trying* in this movie). But the plot was recycled from Jumanji (except that the premise made even less sense here, what with the game clearly being a 1970's style mechanical board game instead of "ancient and mystical"), the characters were one-dimensional instead of two, and the dialogue was boring crap.
The plot similarities stem from the identical concept in the books. I find it hard to fault the film with that in mind. In any case, both of the films are primarily character driven, and the characters are of different archetypes.
I remember seeing this in the theatre with my friend for her birthday as a kid and then when Leslie died I started crying. First time I ever cried in a movie. I was one of the kids ensnared by fantasy and had no knowledge of it at all because I hadn't read the book. I read it years later in like the 8th grade so it was obviously was below my reading level but I feel like I need to go back and re read it now
You guys should review The Mortal Instruments. That movies so bad it's good. It's a failed attempt to recreate twilight, and it's hysterical. Hint: watch the portal punch scene. So many jokes you can you do for this movie
The books were based on the writer's HORRIBLE Harry Potter fanfiction. And the writer is BFF's with Stephanie Meyer. If that doesn't deserve a hacking, nothing does.
You complain about the book like it was even a proper adaptation of it, I watched KrimsonRouge's review of it and spoilers! It wasn't, in fact it spoiled a major plot twist in a later book!
As much as I would like to see NC review The Mortal Instruments, I don't want it to be constantly compared to Twilight. Sure, the similarities make jokes about it inevitable but I would like to think that it would still be recognised as it's own story, since the books are separate from Twilight and, in my opinion, much much better. The only thing that connects them anyway is the love triangle, werewolves and vampires, all plot devices that Stephanie Meyer isn't exactly the creator of. The movie was bad, but if NC did review it, I would hope that he would see it as it's own story, since the plot devices that many people (who usually don't know about the books) use to compare it to Twilight weren't founded by or exclusive to Stephanie Meyer or her books.
When i watched the movie (haven´t read the book) i actually found taht the "perfectness" of Leslie makes for a nice contrast to the second half. Yeah, she IS that Pippi Longstocking whimsical girl who changes his life. Then she dies.I think this has more impact that way.
In the book Leslie was really boyish looking. I remember in the chapter when Jess first met her he thought she was a boy. She had a short hair and wore plain clothes. I remember that as a kid because I never knew Leslie was a boy's name as well. I was read this book when I was in the 4th grade and the movie came out at the same time. I bought the DVD and I hated it.
"It's too dark,they're not gonna like..." I loved this movie growing up,it was my childhood,and part of the reason I adored it was because it was different. It was whimsical,but it was dark,and I loved it.
How they're describing the girl is so dead on, when I saw this movie I spent most of the movie half suspecting she was an actual fairy from Tarabithia or something, so when she died I was thinking "wait a minute, was she human??"
I read Birdge to Terabithia in 6th grade. I was that kid who always read ahead, but when reading that book, I made myself promise I wouldn't do that. One day while reading out loud, my friend was turning the pages, trying to find what chapter we were in. She found out that Leslie died and I was like what? We didn't tell anyone else, we wanted to see thier reaction. Sadly, the tracher made us read it at home. My class blamed Jess for Leslie's death. It didn't really affect me as a child.
Watching The Bridge to Terabithia in 5th grade is why I have trust issues as an adult. I legitimately went in there expecting a nice fantasy and then BAM! I don't think I've ever cried so much in a movie theatre. There was not a single kid not weeping.
God, one time in language arts class we were discussing "Lord of the Flies" and the teacher asked us why Simon's death didn't really resonate as much as Piggy's. Since I had just seen the Nostalgia Critic review of "Bridge to Tarabithia", I raised my hand and said "It's probably because Simon was "too perfect" of a character, so we didn't really connect with him; it's kind of like in Bridge to Tarabithia, when Leslie dies..." Immediately there was a collective "oh my god Leslie dying was literally the saddest thing ever!" *Sigh*
I remember watching 2 adaptions of Bridge To Terribethia in the fourth grade a really werid 70's version (where the girl looked like a guy) and this one .......I honestly can;t say for the life of me wich one was worse =P
Well, if you honestly can't tell which is worse, you seriously need to rewatch both of them. The 2007 version is clearly far better. At least the kids in that version can actually act. The 1985 version didn't even feature genuine actors. The way they deliver their lines is so awkward and unnatural, it sounds like they're still reading the script. Even the sound quality of the 1985 version is poor, (however this might be due to tape degradation). Ultimately, the 2007 version is properly made feature film, while the 1985 version is an after-school special that looks as though it could have been made by high-school film students.
+Anything. Lucy Yes, she dies in both versions. Initially, in the 2007 version, Disney treid to talk the screenwriters and filmmakers into letting her live with a coma or broken leg, but The filmmakers just could not budge on this point - she had to die. It's where the story finds its heart and soul.
@@fishofgold6553Plus, the author and her son, no surprise, really hate the made-for-TV film with her son even going as far to describe it “like the crazy cousin in a mental hospital that nobody talks about”. 😬 Yikes! You know you’ve MESSED UP when the author’s son compares you to a crazy mental patient.
AnnTheAnonymous i've seen it like 4 times now so you tell me good sir... at least 5 actual flaws for said movie to be considered actually horrible, diferences from book to movie adaptations don't count lol
@Luke - That may be it. If you've read the books, the movie doesn't hold up as well. Honestly I preferred the Netflix series. (Jim Carrey isn't HALF the Count Olaf of Neil Patrick Harris)
Actually the Disney bridge to terabitha was a remake it had been shoot as a film prior to this verision coming out that I watched in school when I was really young. But it was done a really long time ago so I don't think a lot of people have seen it. The original film is coming up on it's 30 years anniversary apparently it was shoot as a made for tv movie in middle of 1985 for PBS.
That was a very interesting review. I saw that movie a long time ago. I thought it was so boring. Due to the hype, I expected it to be a full blown fantasy movie, like Narnia. I was in the Harry Potter generation, so I am used to that. This movie was so boring because there wasn't enough fantasy scenes. If the story was supposed to be more realistic, they should have been honest about it. I have just learned that it is a book. Now I am kind of curious. I like to know more about what parts are grim. I have a strange interest in learning about the uncensored R-rated stories that the Disney movies are based off of. My favorite example is the Little Mermaid. BTW the Peeta actor is named Josh Hutchinson. Looking back, it is interesting to see him when he is younger and he has his natural hair color. It really blows my mind that naturally Josh Hutchenson is dark haired, while Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) is blond. This coloring is reversed in the Hunger Games movies, in order to fit the characters. I am so used to that. I do remember references in Dougs review to Bridge to Terebithia. The Josh kid is called "Hunger Games joke". He hits a bully, who teases him about Leslie's death. Then Doug has one of his most hilarious berserk freak outs. He agrees in the justification of hitting. He ends by saying, "Don't make him get out his cake decorating kit," It has been a long time since I read the Hunger Games Books or saw the movies. From what I remember the movies had decent accuracy. At least they kept the grim tone and atmosphere from the books. If Disney tried to adapt it, it would get weird. Maybe Katniss would sing happy songs, and she competes in a sports tournament, where nobody gets killed. Maybe she can even have a mockingjay as the cute funny talking animal sidekick.
Yeah, Rob pretty much said my problem with this movie. Whoever caused this problem basically completely missed the point and themes of the original book.
I never read the book, and honestly I believe I'm emotionally stunted so the movie didn't affect me. but there is one movie that makes me cry at the end. My Dog Skip. it's the only movie that can get an emotional response on that level from me
The funny thing is that Miramax is owned by Disney, even though their output is way different than anything the Walt Disney Company would ever make - for the most part - so Rob suggesting this movie be made more by Miramax than a Disney branded type production is an interesting idea, but if you want a good dark movie for kids, maybe dream higher than - reasonably modern day - Walt Disney or Miramax, Touchstone/anything else Disney owns but wisely takes their name off of.
I guess you can say that I'm one of those people that didn't like the movie because it wasn't as it was advertised in trailers and commercials. I never heard of the book nor read it when I first saw the trailer and I thought it might be a cute fantasy adventure film and be willing to watch. Then, after I watch it. I was kind of disappointed because the movie was so different than it was advertised. Not that I didn't hate it. It's a fine movie and I can tell what story they are trying to tell, but I seriously don't think it needs any fantasy elements or stuff like that. I guess these are one of those movies based on a book that probably should stay in the book and not on film.
JohnStripedfur yep your right it was just like another famous book they turned into movie franchise at the time that wa sa success holes a gritty book turned into a pg movie marketed by Disney for kids with trailers showing the first half and happy parts and not mentioning the real plot and also having music videos on Disney channel for the movie showing clips with happy music but not actually being in the movie
Our teacher actually read this book out loud to us in 1st grade, WAY BEFORE this movie ever came out. We did watch A movie from the 80s made in canada. This version didn’t come out til later like 2006 or 07 so when it came out, I actually didn’t know it was that same story, until I looked back.
Just to mention a good example of a period piece done well, my favorite movie Cloud Atlas was Released in 2012 the same year as one of the stories in the film. But the book it was adapted from is from 2003 so the 2012 story was vastly different from now (obviously) but the Watchowskis and Tom Tykwer( forgot his name and witch segments the 2 did) Edited the 2012 section to be more "modernized" than the book
