The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones

 4

I read the book twice - the first time I hated it and the second time it grew on me. I was looking forward to seeing the movie, but felt some trepidation after hearing the test audience complain it was gory enough (I've seen Bad Taste - I was expecting the worst, especially of the murder.) I was however, very relieved. The depiction of Susie's heaven was amazingly done, and following the family as they cope (or not) with the murder was very intense. I recommend the movie, although I would read the book as well to complete the full picture.

By Theresa

Dissapointing

 2

Well i personally thought that the film was pretty lame, and didnt live up to how great the book is . I guess I wish I had read the book after watching the film. The book was much more thrilling and had me hooked from the time I started reading to the end. The film left HUGE chunk's out from the book, which was very dissapointing. Otherwise good visual affect's. Not one of your best PJ. Unfortaunately not a film I would watch again. But see for yourself

By Anjel

Brilliant and Awesome

 5

This movie is awesome! It has had lot of effort put into this and the actors/actresses are superb! An awesome movie, but very sad! It made me cry! DEFINITELY a five star! Or maybe MORE! More like a TEN star!!

By Holly

So disappointing ............read the book instead!

 2

I read the book first which had wonderful depth and told the story beautifully. I think they crucified the book with this movie which was dull, skipped huge chunks of the book and didn't hold my attention. I felt very detatched from this movie, not Peter Jackson's best work...........begs the question "why this movie?" Seems like a half hearted attempt to me

By Victoria Palmer

Great story line.

 5

Loved it, and that's the 2nd time Ive been to see it, its sad that, that sort of thing really happens in our world. Awesome visual effects!!!

By pandygreenstreet

Fantastic!

 5

Don't listen to the rest, this film is a masterpiece - long, but not noticable because of the stunning visual effects - it has Peter Jackson written all over it. Admitedly the storyline is a bit touchy feely for my liking, but none the less a more than worthwhile film.

By Nicola

The Lovely Bones

 4

I would like to know the name and hear the song that was played in the begining of the movie. It was a very cheerful song and it reminded me of my youth.
PS I am 60 years young.

By Lillian J.Herrera

IS THIS HEAVEN OR IS THIS HELL?

Actually, it's limbo. Thirty minutes in and I knew I'd made a mistake. Not a lot was happening but like paint it took a long while to dry. No suspense. Well, how could there be? We already knew what was going to happen - we got it in voiceover! And visually it wasn't overly special. The scene in the field could have been a cracker, but it turned into a wet squib. Jackson should take a look at North by Northwest and see how suspense can really build. No voiceovers there, Peter. Another film about serial killers that is playing right now - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - gets everything right and keeps you guessing right to the end. It grips. Lovely Bones doesn't come close. Chick flick - bring three hankies.

By REXH

Rather long-winded

 3

Quite a few unnecessary scenes, couldn't really hold my attention, really dragged out and pointless...far too much attempted symbolism, strong cast but not much of a story :(

By Mario

Rather long-winded

 3

Quite a few unnecessary scenes.

By Maria

Don't Listen To Other People's Opinions

 4

I was not going to see this after so much criticism.I am so glad I did.
I thought it was a beautiful & quite emotional movie.
Well done Peter jackson. There was no need for the death scene to be any more than it was; as some people wanted. I will never listen to other people's opinion when it comes to movies, especially PJ movies.

By Athina

wretchedly dull

 1

a mish mash that doesn't connect on any level, THE LOVELY BONES is an hour too long and full of cliches ('song of the siren') in place of inspiration.

so many elements feel ripped off from other films and directors and the fx are lame in both concept(heaven as a Windows 98 screensaver) and execution.

Sir Peter, Dame Fran and um....ms. Boyens should crawl back under the safe zone rock of transcribing more talented people's tales concerning wizards sand elves for their next project before they waste 2hrs+ of viewer's lives on embarrassing junk like this

By don

Wonderful

 5

Absolutely beautiful movie. I was especially impressed with Saoirse Ronan's acting. Peter Jackson has once again created a masterpiece.

By Samantha M

Flicks reviewer exactly right.

 3

The Flicks review exactly nails this movie correctly. The movie doesn't pack the punch that I have come to expect from Peter Jackson and that may be simply the main problem. I haven't read the book though so I can't say if the movie lives up to that or not.

The CGI effects are out of place for the movie and too similar from What Dreams May Come loosing any original appeal that might have had. What Dreams May come is the better of the two for me in acting and originality and value of graphics. If I hadn't seen What Dreams May Come I might have liked The Lovely Bones more.

Still despite my personal disapointment, it's still a good movie and better than many out now and as long as you don't go in with too high expectations or expecting a feel good movie, then it's worth seeing.

By Mr G

Outstanding

 5

To film a story in this way is true genius, song to the siren deserves to be in this movie as it's a perfect fit

By Henk

not quite as bad a book-to-screen adaption as PERFUME, but...

 2

...still pretty stinky.

St. Peter said in a recent interview that he wanted to make LOVELY BONES a pic his 13yr old daughter could watch.

-he reminds me of Roberto Begnini in LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, turning a Nazi deathcamp into a jolly romp to hide reality from his son. Perhaps LOVELY BONES should be retitled [AFTER]LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

By Frances

Amazing

 5

What a brilliant film. I can't believe the critics have been so harsh. Emotional and moving.

By Bill

Umm

 4

I liked it but it wasn't waht i excepted.. I exspected it to be more sad and sometimes i didn't get it..!

By Leah loves brendan

Totally absorbing/amazing

 5

It was all and more than I expected.
Amazing visual effects.
Totally absorbing.
Highly recommended. Well done PJ.

By robbie

groan-inducing cliches

 2

only paid up lifetime members of The Official Sir Peter Jackson Fan Club would be so blindly undiscerning as to give this colossal misfire 5 stars (yup- up there with CITIZEN KANE).

What happens when you take a story about rape and and take out the rape and murder?

What happens when you make a whodunnit but the audience knows who done it from the beginning?

What happens when you throw in sequences that wouldn't look out of place in THE WIGGLES DANCE IN HEAVEN movie?
A: you get LOVELY BONEZzz

By jack

for FX's sake

 2

There is a more interesting version of this film trying to get out- one where the characters have lives beyond what we see on screen, one where fx helps the story telling, not substitutes for it.

The performances were so so, some really clunky music choices (song for the siren never felt more cliche or expected) and way way too much CG detract from whatever it was the director wanted to say...

By gary

fantastic adaptation

 5

Personally, the adaptation by PJ was better than the book. i thought the material flowed much better in the movie . I agree with sue cook that it would be better to read the book after the movie to see exactly what i mean. PJ's knack for incorporating visually stunning effects and suspensful camera shots and angles makes for a thrilling and exciting movie. Those who have called it dull obviously were watching a different movie because it was anything but dull. An excellent adaptation by an excellent director. well done Sir PJ!

By KP

I can't believe it's not butter

 5

Went and saw this hyped up film and as it was starting I felt myself fall into the world that this chick was lviing in, felt myself feeling what she felt. Overall I think peter did A great job! The movie was upto the books expectations and it was a movie that I would gladly watch again, I think some people are into it and some people aren't but I wouldnt go by what these reviews tell you, go and see for yourself and judge it without the opinions of others. cheers

By Jase Dean

completley Exceptional

 5

Firstly, tackling the subject of heaven cant be that easy. I think this film was really good. The visuals were top notch and i thought about the movie for days afterwards. It did the book justice, thank god, and the overall result for me was WOW. Really well acted. Saoirse Ronan was amazing, Rachel Weisz and Stanley Tucci were both really good, even though Tucci was a creep, and Sarandon just made me laugh. The film really showed Jackson's versatility with directing, considering how different it was from most of his other projects..anyway, if you feel like an intense, well layed out, brilliantly acted well photographed complex drama, don't miss it.

By JackW

Bravo! Sir Peter Jackson

 4

Just seen the movie. I found it fantastic, I'm into the paranormal, but I can see the non-believers would find it a load of codswallop! The movie showed how a murder of a young family member affects all the family and was very realistic, some very close friends lost a just 21 year old and his mother couldn't touch anything in his room for a year, all part oI her grieving. I loved the whole production and Brian Eno's music/soundtrack was awesome.

By Cynthia Smith

PROFOUNDLY SHALLOW

 1

the only thing this film lacked was some songs and dance numbers. The filmmakers threw in everything but the kitchen sink over an interminable 2+ hrs but it just doesn't work on any level.

Susan Sarandon's introduction (aka the 'Mrs. Doubtfire' scene) shows just how deaf, dumb and blind the director is when it comes to maintaining a movie's tone.

Abysmally cringe!

By Mark

song to the siren

 5

great film

By gab

Poor effort

 1

Dull, slow moving, pointless!

By Rod

Good

 4

I liked it.
did the job of a good movie , transported me totally for 2 hours . thanks PJ

By kate k

Average , very average.....

 3

Not a total waste of money and I generally enjoyed it but there were a couple of OTT moments that detracted from the film. The sentimental ending really irritatede me. Sarandon and Weisz are excellent as is McIver. Go see it if it is raining but don't waste a summer's day on it.

By Benny

"My name is PJ, and am an addict...

 1

...i am addicted to special fx.

My addiction has ruined all my relationships that are special to me. My relationships to characters, motivation and drama. I have even sacrified story to satistfy my addiction. please , someone help me...."

By paul

Frodo's not dead.

 1

If only Peter Jackson could go past Lord of the Rings. It just does not transcript the book at all unfortunately. Too many special effects just kill the storyline and characters and all the might of Weta Digital cannot replace a more traditional cinema which The Lovely Bones should have been: more terrestrial.

By Bonux

Heaven looks like an air-freshener tv commercial

i too, was at the Wellywood premiere, Sue. The film i saw was laughably bad. A ham-fisted, kitsch misfire. I couldn't beleive that a story about child rape/murder got turned into such a pointless exercise in Wetawank.

what sort of prepubescent mind could Disney-fy the subject matter to this degree? Oh well, the good news is that at last the public will finally realise that the Emperor's new clothes have always been of a pair of Tintin shorty pajamas. Hackson Jackson- please stop making movies...you really are lousy.

Somewhere up above, ...Ryan Gosling is smiling...

By mick

 4

Peter, Fran and Philippa do the book justice with this difficult subject matter - how to portray heaven on the big screen. Outstanding performances by all the cast - a standout for me was New Zealand's own major talent, Rose McIver. Susan Sarandon steals her scenes with all the witty one-liners and she injects humour into this otherwise serious drama. If you haven't read the book you'll be on the edge of your seat, there's definitely some thrilling scenes - and I recommend you read the book after watching the film. I'm not a reviewer but was lucky enough to attend the Wellywood premiere.

By sue cook