# The Lovely Bones (film) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577 "2010-01-04T03:37:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/1 "2010-01-04T03:37:38Z")
I have not read the book, so my viewing is purely on the movie alone. It was good, but not as good as it should have been. In fact, I think there was a way better movie in there, perhaps the best of the year, but it got chopped up too much in the editing room. For once, I wish a Peter Jackson film was longer. šŸ™‚ Anyway, I felt that the movie was quite effective and it did make me and my wife quite emotional at parts. Itā€™s true that they cut away when Suzie gets killed, but it is actually rather effective the way it is handled. I liked it. You? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/2 "2010-01-04T14:33:30Z")
Iā€™m in the opposite position of you. Read the book - and hated it - so have no expectation of seeing the film. Having said that, a part of me thinks it might be a decent film. What bugged me mst about the book was the number of folk who said it had so much meaning within their belief system. Whereas I thought the premise - dead person hangs around earth and seeks vengeance - was pretty disgusting. Are ā€œbelieversā€ finding similar comfort from the movie? But, like I said, as just a thriller film diversion, it could have merit. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_White](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@Sue\_White](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_White)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/3 "2010-01-04T15:14:58Z")
Can I ask where you were able to see it? Any sort of premiere? Iā€™m in Chicago and havenā€™t been able to track down an opening date for it here. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/4 "2010-01-04T15:20:39Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Whereas I thought the premise - dead person hangs around earth and seeks vengeance - was pretty disgusting. Justice, not vengeance. Thereā€™s a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/5 "2010-01-04T15:21:51Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Iā€™m in the opposite position of you. Read the book - and hated it - so have no expectation of seeing the film. Having said that, a part of me thinks it might be a decent film. What bugged me mst about the book was the number of folk who said it had so much meaning within their belief system. Whereas I thought the premise - dead person hangs around earth and seeks vengeance - was pretty disgusting. Are ā€œbelieversā€ finding similar comfort from the movie? > > But, like I said, as just a thriller film diversion, it could have merit. I didnā€™t like the book either, and I found the whole premise kind of lame as well. As well asā€¦ The rape/murder victim possessing her friendā€™s body to have sex with the guy she likes. Grossā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/6 "2010-01-04T15:22:31Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Justice, not vengeance. Thereā€™s a difference. Perhaps debatable - especially when self-imposed. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/7 "2010-01-04T15:27:25Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Perhaps debatable - especially when self-imposed. I donā€™t think itā€™s reasonably debatable that thereā€™s a difference. Moreover, She wasnā€™t seeking to impose any punishment of her choice. In the book, and possibly in the film, it is implied that she did eventually settle for meting out her own punishment, but thatā€™s not what she sought to do in the course of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/8 "2010-01-16T16:13:18Z")
Has anyone else seen it, then? I think it has hit wide release this week. Ebert hated it, and even though I disagree with his overall impression, I rather see his points. [Lovely Bones 1 1/2 Stars](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100113/REVIEWS/100119992) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/9 "2010-01-16T19:56:15Z")
Critics are ravaging it pretty well-too bad as the lead actress makes for a very appealing heroine. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/10 "2010-01-17T19:58:34Z")
We caught the film yesterday - pretty full theater for that time of day. Having never read the book, we went in with no expectations and liked it - although it did seem a bit long in parts. However, in talking about the film afterward, we both said it was sort of like watching a ā€œvery special episode of Ghost Whispererā€ and several times we wanted to yell to Ms. Salmon, ā€œGo into the light! Go into the light!ā€. I think the other problem was the fantasy world - probably looked pretty good while they were creating it, but now with Avatar out and fresh in peoplesā€™ minds, the fantasy world looked pale in comparison. Still - worth the money to go see Lovely Bones in the theater. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/11 "2010-01-18T00:19:39Z")
I saw the film two or three weeks ago. Never read the book, and itā€™s not really my sort of film in any case; I probably wouldnā€™t have gone if there hadnā€™t been the local connection. šŸ™‚ But for all of that ā€“ I thought it was a powerful film, and I enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/12 "2010-01-18T01:15:00Z")
To be honest, Iā€™m just glad it is here so that theyā€™ll stop running the adverts for it. If it fails, it wonā€™t be due to lack of marketing. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/13 "2010-01-18T01:18:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Has anyone else seen it, then? I think it has hit wide release this week. > > Ebert hated it, and even though I disagree with his overall impression, I rather see his points. > > [Lovely Bones 1 1/2 Stars](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100113/REVIEWS/100119992) Saw it Friday and agree entirely with his review. Iā€™m told itā€™s faithful to the book (according to a friend who was with me) so Iā€™d probably hate that too. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/14 "2010-01-18T05:20:00Z")
I liked it. I agree that it might have been too short because it was obvious much was cut out. I havenā€™t read the book, and Iā€™m an atheist who doesnā€™t believe in an afterlife, but the thought of one is very comforting and I donā€™t blame people for liking the idea. I donā€™t see why Ebert has such a hard time with the writer wanting people (young girls in this case) to go to a beautiful, wonderful world after dying (in this case, being raped and horribly murdered). If I hadnā€™t known that was Stanley Tucci, I never would have guessed, not in a million years, and Iā€™ve been a fan for ages. Iā€™d seen him several times before 1996ā€™s **Big Night** , but that was when I said ā€œThatā€™s Stanley Tucciā€ and always knew his name after that whenever Iā€™d see him. He was unrecognizable in this! > [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > The rape/murder victim possessing her friendā€™s body to have sex with the guy she likes. Grossā€¦ Thatā€™s not what happened!They just kissed. They were interrupted before they could kiss at school, so this was the kiss that Susie missed. And that girl wasnā€™t her friend. I donā€™t know that theyā€™d ever even interacted prior to Susieā€™s death. > [@Sue\_White](#): > > Can I ask where you were able to see it? Any sort of premiere? Iā€™m in Chicago and havenā€™t been able to track down an opening date for it here. Thank you! It opened in Chicago on Friday. I saw it at River East 21. Even if the movie had been terrible, and I donā€™t think it was terrible, it was thrilling to hear the voice of Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil). Twice! First [ā€œAliceā€](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd4_NcnPfto) (by Cocteau Twins) and then singing This Mortal Coilā€™s version of Tim Buckleyā€™s [ā€œSong To The Sirenā€](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mUmdR69nbM) in the meadow/tree scene. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/15 "2010-04-26T19:41:31Z")
(Thought Iā€™d dig up this old thread since the film just came out on DVD last week.) What a load of mediocre thatā€™s already been done to death. I wondered why they even bothered making a movie so clicheā€™ 90s. If youā€™re going to make a ā€˜murdered person communicates from beyond the grave to bring their killer to justiceā€™ type movie at least give it an angle (love story: Ghost, thriller: Stir of Echoes, horror: The Ring). This thing didnā€™t know what it wanted to be. Youā€™d get the whole tense/tragic mood going of a rape-murder then theyā€™d have a montage of wacky mother in law Susan Serandon attempting to clean house. wtf? And the cheesy f/x of ā€˜in-betweenā€™ land that looked like a cross between _What Dreams May Come_ and _Spy Kids 3D_. It had some decent tense moments (second daughter rumaging through killers house) but even that felt low budget thriller. I guess it was watchable but (borrowing from an online review) felt like an exteded episode of the Ghost Whisperer. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/16 "2010-04-26T22:02:45Z")
I found it to be interesting and moving in parts. Not a super great movie, but good enough. Ebertā€™s review is bizarre in itā€™s wrongness. He seems to have some sort of problem with how the afterlife is shown. He criticizes what he calls heaven for the very attributes that makes it obvious that it is not heaven but instead a pre-heaven limbo. And his comments about how the afterlife canā€™t have colors WTF!? Give me a break. I think Ebert is starting to go senile. The movie might not work for other reasons, but not for the bizarre reasons he gave. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/17 "2010-04-26T23:39:12Z")
The only thing I could appreciate about it where the 70s style / decor and the actress that played the victim. The rest was too esoteric and banal. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/18 "2010-04-28T17:44:38Z")
I really liked the book, and people here keep saying itā€™s pretty faithful to the book. I guess I should go see it then, huh? ---
**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/19 "2010-04-28T18:46:40Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > I really liked the book, and people here keep saying itā€™s pretty faithful to the book. I guess I should go see it then, huh? Itā€™s not faithful to the book in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577/20 "2010-04-28T18:55:29Z")
I liked the book quite a bit, in spite of some of the aforementioned spoilers. Even if the story is somewhat banal, the lyrical quality of the writing was enjoyable (IMO). I felt the movie lacked any emotional depth whatsoever in favor of often-cheesy special effects, and the casting was weird and distracting (Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon and the lead girl were all fine; Marky Mark and Rachel Weisz were way off.) I also think they skipped over some important parts of the book. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lovely-bones-film/523577.md?page=2)