RELEASE: 2009; GENERE: Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Drama, Horror; RUN-TIME: 2 hrs, 15 mins RATED: Rated: PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language:
SYNOPSIS: On her way home from school on a snowy December day in 1973, young 14-year-old Susie Salmon is lured into a makeshift underground den in a cornfield and brutally raped and murdered, the latest victim of a serial killer--the man she knew as her neighbor, Mr. Harvey. From a gorgeously landscaped limbo state outside heaven’s gate, Susie keeps watch over her grieving family and friends, as well as her brazen killer and the sad detective working on her case.
REVIEW: We viewed this movie with neighbors and all concluded that artistically and technically, this film was superb. The special effects of the "Heaven" scenes provided some wondrous visuals and compelling ideas. We also thought that it provided some rich performances. However, for all its brilliance, The Lovely Bones remains elusive. The film doesn't quite cohere because it is awash in ideas and themes and subplots and characters. However, in spite of this, it is nevertheless compelling. Suzie's afterlife takes place in a dreamscape that is half Salvador Dali and half Norman Rockwell. The visual effects in these sequences never seem like visual effects, but rather "float" across the screen like as seamless threads of a dream, switching back and forth between the real world. The 1970's period detail in and of itself is so good that it almost creates a counter dream for those who grew up in that era. Not having read the novel, one would have to assume it was much more detailed and complex than the actural movie. We all agreed that it was good that the producer saw fit not to show the "bloody" details of the rape and murder. In the end however, even assuming that the family eventually learned of the killers death, we were all a little disappointed that the family was never really able to obtain closure from having the body of Susie found. Though most reviewer never gave this movie much more than slightly above average rating, we liked it and thought it was very entertaining. We give it [3.75-Stars]
SYNOPSIS: On her way home from school on a snowy December day in 1973, young 14-year-old Susie Salmon is lured into a makeshift underground den in a cornfield and brutally raped and murdered, the latest victim of a serial killer--the man she knew as her neighbor, Mr. Harvey. From a gorgeously landscaped limbo state outside heaven’s gate, Susie keeps watch over her grieving family and friends, as well as her brazen killer and the sad detective working on her case. REVIEW: We viewed this movie with neighbors and all concluded that artistically and technically, this film was superb. The special effects of the "Heaven" scenes provided some wondrous visuals and compelling ideas. We also thought that it provided some rich performances. However, for all its brilliance, The Lovely Bones remains elusive. The film doesn't quite cohere because it is awash in ideas and themes and subplots and characters. However, in spite of this, it is nevertheless compelling. Suzie's afterlife takes place in a dreamscape that is half Salvador Dali and half Norman Rockwell. The visual effects in these sequences never seem like visual effects, but rather "float" across the screen like as seamless threads of a dream, switching back and forth between the real world. The 1970's period detail in and of itself is so good that it almost creates a counter dream for those who grew up in that era. Not having read the novel, one would have to assume it was much more detailed and complex than the actural movie. We all agreed that it was good that the producer saw fit not to show the "bloody" details of the rape and murder. In the end however, even assuming that the family eventually learned of the killers death, we were all a little disappointed that the family was never really able to obtain closure from having the body of Susie found. Though most reviewer never gave this movie much more than slightly above average rating, we liked it and thought it was very entertaining. We give it [3.75-Stars]
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