My husband asks me if I plan on watching the new movie, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was one of my great reads (Great Reads) and I really enjoyed the trilogy. I hesitate on watching movies based on great books. A great read is great because of what and how the author wrote their book. It's how the author wrote their story that forms the images in my mind of what I am reading.
But I will not watch this movie. Not because it's poorly made. Not at all. Movie reviewers and critics have given it glowing praise. No, I don't plan to watch it because it has some extreme acts of violence. Not the fighting, bloody shootings or explosions of stuff. I can handle all that. Please.. I watch that all the time on Burn Notice. No, I mean the despicable repugnant act of violence that is rape. The rape scene in the book is a central and essential part of the storyline of the main character. Thus making it an essential scene of the movie.
But it's just one scene. Just turn away and close your eyes. Yes this one scene cannot be unforgettable in one's mind. You see, reading is very different than seeing.
"...reading about the awfulness perpetrated on her (the main character) in a book and watching it transpire on screen are entirely different experiences. Films - especially ones that depict acts of violence- have the power to burnish images into our subconscious forever. Books undeniably create powerful visions in our imagination, but there's a more visceral jab to the senses when packages visuals come at us on screen." Quoted from a Commentary by Randy Myers in the Contra Costa Times
Yes, I was taught early on that just as you don't put 'everything' in your mouth; you don't let your eyes see 'everything' either. 'Everything' has it's consequences.. positive or negative in nature. So I recommend to choose wisely.
On the other hand, I loved Stephenie Meyers, The Twilight Saga books and the film versions were just as amazing. I saw the first three films by myself. (My husband is not a fan of vampires.) Breaking Dawn Part 1 was very true to the book. Thank you my dear 'hao peng-yo" for coming to see the fourth installment with me. Let's make a date to see the last one! Can't wait until this November for Part 2 to come out!
ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 . Random winner will receive a BIG prize!
5 comments:
sooo agree with you on the visual images added to the emotions burning that into the subconscious forEVER! that is why we chose to not watch certain t.v. shows...and why we wouldn't let our kids go to certain movies.
Have you read the Hunger Games trilogy? If not, give the first one a look. Everyone I know that has read it, loved it, including me.
Yes, The Hunger Games is on my Great Reads To-Read list..hoping to do some of that soon.. writing takes so much time.
I loved your recommendation on "The Help." Couldn't put that book down either and had Owen rent the movie from Redbox. Loved the book more than the movie.
I used to say to our niece, when we were her guardians and she wanted to go see grossly violent movies, Garbage in...garbage out.
And "just a little bit of ________" was met with my brownie analogy:
I'm gonna make you some brownies that are special. You can eat all you want but I have to tell you about the special ingredient. I put just a little bit of dog poop in them. You don't want any? But there is just a little bit.
It usually ended there and I have never been forced to actually make them.
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