The film The Lovely Bones honestly was not my type of movie. I felt it didn't include sufficient action or thrilling music to keep me at the edge of my seat. However, there were many camera techniques and angles used throughout. In particular, I recognized many extreme close-ups and establishing shots. The close-ups were usually used on Mr. Havery or Susie Salmon. The establishing shots were mostly in front of the Salmon home or the cornfields. Furthermore, the film included high and low key lighting. However, despite the role of the movie to be a despondent film about raped young girls, there was a lot of high key lighting. In addition, the filmmaker assigned many point of view shots. Usually they were depicted on Lindsey and Havery. Her reaction to his glares were very obvious through this shot.
Also, the movie maker used a lot of panning and rotating in general. When Havery convinced Susie to go into the underground house, the director made sure he tilted and rotated the camera in the entire house. It was completely scary and built up suspense immediately. As an outsider, I felt myself in Susies position. It was clear she would not make it out and either way she would be killed. There was a Birds Eye Shot when the director took the shot looking down into reality. Susie was in the sky and she was gloriously looking down into her house.
While searching for camera terms, I noted down a few of the songs used in the film. In particular, "Alice" by Cocteau Twins, "Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil and "I Hear You Knockin" by Dave Edmunds were all played in the film. My favorite was "I Hear You Knockin" which was a rock song played in the middle of the movie.
All in all, I really wished I could have experienced a Deus ex Machina in The Lovely Bones. After all the only time I found a problem was abrupty solved was when a block of ice fell on Mr.Havery and forced him to fall of a cliff and thus die. Now that was funny and we didn't need Fenerman or Mr. Salmon to kill him, the ice commited the crime for all!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Movie Review Reaction for The Lovely Bones
On December 11, 2009 the New York Times writer, A. O. Scott posted the Movie Review,
"Gazing Down, From a Suburb of Heaven, at an Earthly Purgatory". I agree partially with Scott's ideas towards The Lovely Bones. In particular, Scott states,"The filmmakers’ evident affection for the book expresses itself as a desperate scramble to include as much of it as possible, which leaves the movie feeling both overcrowded and thin. The anguish in the Salmon household is dutifully observed: dad smashes his collection of model ships, mom withdraws and then flees to California, and in the middle of it grandma arrives, a brassy boozer played by..."(Scott). I fervently believe the filmmaker became too enamored with the book. There were parts throughout the movie I experienced Oh Yeah moments. They happened in the book so imminently and in the film like Scott acknowledges, they were intermixed and abruptly forced to fit in. However, I do disagree with Scott's belief that the filmmaker overcrowded the movie. I in fact, felt closer to Susie and sensed her death more and more each time certain sections of the book were elaborated and visually placed in the film.
Furthermore, Scott explains about the lovely bones and its relation with the title,"The title of “The Lovely Bones” refers to the relationships among these people that knit together in Susie’s absence. In Mr. Jackson’s version, though, they are hastily and haphazardly assembled, so that nothing quite fits together"(Scott). I completely agree with Scott's explanation for Jackson's version of the bones. In the book the only body parts found by Detective Fenerman were her teeth and her elbow. In other words, even though these are key elements to find her assassin, they were really hard to place together. The teeth were found in Connecticut while her elbow was found in another state. It became very difficult for Fenerman to ultimately accuse any one person. Moreover, Scott's symbolism for the title The Lovely Bones, does become obvious throughout the film as well as the book. For example, while Susie is dead, Lindsey and Samuel become engaged, and even her mother and the detective make out. Clearly many individuals bonded while she was absent.
In addition, Scott critiques about the film,"Mr. Jackson’s film, from a script he wrote with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, his frequent collaborators, shows less audacity and too much art"(Scott). In simpler words, Jackson took the art, the imagery, and the metaphors to another extent. For example, there was a part in the film where Susie appeared in a magazine in this world of bliss and ever-lasting peace. I think Jackson could have limited his fantasies by having equal amounts of fantasy and reality. The fantasy in fact confused me but brought laughter at certain points.
Overall, Scott's review for The Lovely Bones really broke down the film and criticized Jackson's techniques. This movie review reveals many truths about the film, but it also doesn't recognize the complexity of the movie. It is a film already filled with confusion and suspense, for its a raped teenager living in both worlds.
Work Cited Entry:
Work Cited Entry:
Scott, A. O. "The Lovely Bones - Gazing Down, From a Suburb of Heaven, at an Earthly Purgatory."
New York Times [New York] 11 Dec. 2009. Movie Reviews, Showtimes and Trailers - Movies - New
York Times - The New York Times. 11 Dec. 2009. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.
<http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/movies/11lovelybones.html>.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Not Soo Lovely Bones 150- 328
Summary:
In the second half of The Lovely Bones, Susie Salmon's family completely breaks apart. Her sister Lindsey has changed dramatically and excludes herself from her former activities. Mr. Salmon has became very sick but still has hopes in placing Mr.Harvey in prison. Jack Salmon doggedly hunts Detective Fenerman for information on his daughter. Mrs. Salmon has completely lost her role as a mother aswell as a wife. In fact, she no longer has the energy to cook the delicious meals she once did, does not take care of herself physically, and decided to move away from her family. She felt the idea of being in solitude far away from her family would help her regain her composure and mental stability. Mrs. Salmon moved to California and was obliged to return when she discovered Jack had suffered a heart attack. Before Abigail left to California, she began to bond with her mother. They had never been close and all of a sudden began to take walks in unison and help eachother with dishes. While Abigail was away, her mother took charge of the household. Lynn tried to plant the love Susie's younger siblings Buckley and Lindsey yearned and needed. Lynn even promised to stop drinking alcohol which was a difficult task for her at the instance. Moreover, Lindsey one day sneeked into Mr.Harvey's home and discovered a sketch of the cornfield where evidence was abundant. She then imminently showed it to her father and the detective; However, that didn't suffice.Whenever they searched Harvey's home, he seemed to have things meticulously planned. Harvey had the perfect excuse for every accusation imposed on his behalf. Over time, Harvey moved out of the neighborhood one night Fenerman and Abigail were making out at the mall. After his departure, it became very difficult to track Harvey again. In particular, Harvey would come around the vicinity at night time when everyone was sleeping in hopes of making Lindsey his next target. Furthermore, throughout these last few chapters, Lindsey divulges her love for Ray Singh. He was the Indian boy once accused of her death who she created real-life hallucinations with. In addition, Lindsey and her loyal boyfriend Samuel became engaged; Susie makes clear that Lindsey is no longer the naive sister she once left on Earth. After all, Alice Sebold reveals Havery killed many more girls then just Susie, he even killed an 8 year old. Also, while Jack Salmon was hopitalized, Fenerman found another piece of evidence that convinced Mr. Salmon that Harvey for the last time murdered his daughter. He found a keycharm Salmon had bought Susie years ago and to prove this fact, Lindsey ironically had the same pair on. Overall, Susie's malicious death unveiled the murders of many other dejected and despondent victims.
Quote:
"The crime was in December 1973. The murder victim was Susie Salmon, fourteen... We found an elbow... Connecticut has teeth"(Sebold 229).
Reaction:
This quote is very meaningful not only for Susie, but for Alice Sebold aswell. To start with, Susie has been hinting and leading us through the entire book where to find the evidence to encarcerate Havery. However, at the start of the book, no one would believe such an aloof person would commit such crimes. In other words, Detective Fenerman could no longer doubt Havery commited the crime, in this quote was the evidence to finally put him in jail. Furthermore, as the title of the book The Lovely Bones , we have finally reached that point in our journey. Those Lovely Bones symbolized Susie's elbow and teeth which at certain sections throughout the book felt impossible to find. This was a connection and a use of symbolism I was quickly able to pick up through the title; The suspense Sebold drained us with felt as if evidence would never be found, but after all, the title gave me the glimpse of hope I lacked all along.
In the second half of The Lovely Bones, Susie Salmon's family completely breaks apart. Her sister Lindsey has changed dramatically and excludes herself from her former activities. Mr. Salmon has became very sick but still has hopes in placing Mr.Harvey in prison. Jack Salmon doggedly hunts Detective Fenerman for information on his daughter. Mrs. Salmon has completely lost her role as a mother aswell as a wife. In fact, she no longer has the energy to cook the delicious meals she once did, does not take care of herself physically, and decided to move away from her family. She felt the idea of being in solitude far away from her family would help her regain her composure and mental stability. Mrs. Salmon moved to California and was obliged to return when she discovered Jack had suffered a heart attack. Before Abigail left to California, she began to bond with her mother. They had never been close and all of a sudden began to take walks in unison and help eachother with dishes. While Abigail was away, her mother took charge of the household. Lynn tried to plant the love Susie's younger siblings Buckley and Lindsey yearned and needed. Lynn even promised to stop drinking alcohol which was a difficult task for her at the instance. Moreover, Lindsey one day sneeked into Mr.Harvey's home and discovered a sketch of the cornfield where evidence was abundant. She then imminently showed it to her father and the detective; However, that didn't suffice.Whenever they searched Harvey's home, he seemed to have things meticulously planned. Harvey had the perfect excuse for every accusation imposed on his behalf. Over time, Harvey moved out of the neighborhood one night Fenerman and Abigail were making out at the mall. After his departure, it became very difficult to track Harvey again. In particular, Harvey would come around the vicinity at night time when everyone was sleeping in hopes of making Lindsey his next target. Furthermore, throughout these last few chapters, Lindsey divulges her love for Ray Singh. He was the Indian boy once accused of her death who she created real-life hallucinations with. In addition, Lindsey and her loyal boyfriend Samuel became engaged; Susie makes clear that Lindsey is no longer the naive sister she once left on Earth. After all, Alice Sebold reveals Havery killed many more girls then just Susie, he even killed an 8 year old. Also, while Jack Salmon was hopitalized, Fenerman found another piece of evidence that convinced Mr. Salmon that Harvey for the last time murdered his daughter. He found a keycharm Salmon had bought Susie years ago and to prove this fact, Lindsey ironically had the same pair on. Overall, Susie's malicious death unveiled the murders of many other dejected and despondent victims.
Quote:
"The crime was in December 1973. The murder victim was Susie Salmon, fourteen... We found an elbow... Connecticut has teeth"(Sebold 229).
Reaction:
This quote is very meaningful not only for Susie, but for Alice Sebold aswell. To start with, Susie has been hinting and leading us through the entire book where to find the evidence to encarcerate Havery. However, at the start of the book, no one would believe such an aloof person would commit such crimes. In other words, Detective Fenerman could no longer doubt Havery commited the crime, in this quote was the evidence to finally put him in jail. Furthermore, as the title of the book The Lovely Bones , we have finally reached that point in our journey. Those Lovely Bones symbolized Susie's elbow and teeth which at certain sections throughout the book felt impossible to find. This was a connection and a use of symbolism I was quickly able to pick up through the title; The suspense Sebold drained us with felt as if evidence would never be found, but after all, the title gave me the glimpse of hope I lacked all along.
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