The Light Between Oceans

[Lisa]

*EDIT: Actually, I've changed my mind regarding my feelings on the filmization.... I could've done without it and wish I had spent the 2 hr 13 min on something else.

Would still love to hear anyone else's opinion on it though :)

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Lisa wrote: "*EDIT: Actually, I've changed my mind regarding my feelings on the filmization.... I could've done without it and wish I had spent the 2 hr 13 min on something else.

Would still love to hear anyo..."

I'm going to watch it someday, but I'm not in any hurry, especially after your review :)

Seriously, it's a ways down my Netflix queue and I'm probably not going to move it up anytime soon.

[Nik]

I like being able to compare and don't want to wait so long that I've forgotten what I read (which for me isn't very long at all), so I plan to watch the film soon.

[Lisa]

I look forward to your take on it Nik :)

[Cassandra]

I'd be interested in watching the movie, but I hardly ever watch movies so it'll probably end up being two years before I get to it. :)

[Nik]

Okay, so … Lisa, I'm really interested to hear *your* thoughts on the film, given your revised take on it, because—and maybe I'm just really thick—I thought that, save for a few inevitable bits, they stayed pretty true to the book.

(view spoiler)[I thought they made Tom more expressive in the film, more ready to share his feelings and more passionate. He was still the strong, silent type, though, so I thought it was okay. I found film-Isabel more likeable than book-Isabel, but that could be because I really like Alicia Vikander.

One thing I disliked is that the idea of speaking on their behalf was film-Hannah's instead of book-Knuckey's. I thought that it would have taken as much time for him to tell her that they didn't have much time and wouldn't make it without her as it did for her to talk about forgiveness. Although, then they wouldn't have been able to make the point that she was doing it in her husband's memory and to honour the kind of person he was. I guess.

Two things super annoyed me:
- That rattle. Who the heck would give an infant or teething baby that rattle, with little chewable, breakable, swallowable bits hanging off it?? Couldn't they get a proper solid sphere and make it fancy?
- I forgot the second thing whilst typing the first thing. Oops. I may come back later and edit, if I remember. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, the thing I thought was lacking in the film—surprising with such talented actors in the lead roles—was heart. I know it's hard to gauge honestly whether I would feel the same if I hadn't read the book, but I feel like even if I hadn't, I'd have found the film a bit dull.

[Lisa]

Actually, my biggest critique of the movie was the lack of heart, like you yourself mention.

(view spoiler)[ In my opinion, Director Derek Cianfrance was going for a very... uhm... (for lack of a better word) "abstract" way of telling the story with the use of scenographic symbolism and music to enhance our emotional response to what was happening... and it just didn't work for me.

I had expected overwhelming emotion and passion and instead I was left feeling very "meh". It all felt very stoic and lethargic. I wanted more raw emotions, more drama, more... something!
For instance, the scene where they come to arrest Tom, and he goes to Isabel and tells her what he's done, her reaction, while grief-stricken and in chock, felt to me a bit lacking.

You really thought Tom was expressive? Hmm.. I guess he did have that tortured soul kind of feel to him but I found him a bit too resigned and defeated.
Interesting that you liked Isabel more in the movie. I thought she was much more passive in the movie, and with little will to fight for anything... less... ferocious I guess?

Eventhough I agree that it stayed quite true to the book I still think there were some discrepancies.
1. I thought the first miscarriage took place at the house in the book?
2. Also perhaps my memory fails me, but didn't she have 2 miscarriages and 1 stillborn baby before Lucy arrives? In the movie there were only 2 crosses.
3. Where is Bluey-the traitor in all this? It's Ralph that delivers Tom's letter to Isabel. Which means that there is no throwback to the theme of forgiveness...

I understand that some things have to be changed, cut short, etc. but some parts were skipped over for the benefits of parts that didn't really contribute anything to the overall movie.
For example, I would've loved the inclusion of Hannah's and Tom's backstory in some way. That brought it full circle for me in the book.

And I was really missing the fight for Lucy. The struggle with decisions, Hannah's sister's role. ... (hide spoiler)]

Hmm I think that was all for now :) (can't find order in my own notes - lol) I'll be back if I think of anything else :D

[Nik]

Lisa, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

(view spoiler)["I had expected overwhelming emotion and passion and instead I was left feeling very "meh". It all felt very stoic and lethargic. I wanted more raw emotions, more drama, more... something!"

Yes! I agree completely. And you're right about the discrepancies. I was surprised to see Isabel at the foot of the tower. I forgave the number of lost children because it seemed to me like they might have lost the audience's attention. I thought maybe one miscarriage and one still birth was more than enough devastation to show …? And I figured Bluey's role was given to Ralph to save time. You're right about the throwback to the theme of forgiveness; maybe that's why they had Hannah bring up clemency instead of Knuckey? (hide spoiler)]

Now that you've called out the specifics, I agree with all the points you made. I think perhaps, though, you feel more strongly than I that the omissions and changes degrade the film's quality. I'm still glad I watched it, but I wouldn't bother recommending it.

[Lisa]

It occurred to me that perhaps if I hadn't seen the movie so soon after, with the book so fresh in my mind, then maybe many of the specific things I noticed wouldn't have weighed so much... I don't know.

But hey, I rated it 5/10 on Imdb, because.. well, it still deserved praise for what is was, artistically. And like I said, my biggest annoyance was that I wanted more heart :)

I always find it interesting to watch a movie adaption if I've read the book, just to compare creative decisions taken and the differences in the two forums.
You can't know how you will feel about both if you don't do both, you know? :)

Btw. If you like Alicia Vikander and haven't seen "A Royal Affair" I recommend it :)

[Nik]

"But hey, I rated it 5/10 on Imdb, because.. well, it still deserved praise for what is was, artistically. And like I said, my biggest annoyance was that I wanted more heart :)"

Agreed. I gave it a 6 on IMDb. =)

"I always find it interesting to watch a movie adaption if I've read the book, just to compare creative decisions taken and the differences in the two forums.
You can't know how you will feel about both if you don't do both, you know? :)"

Agreed!

"Btw. If you like Alicia Vikander and haven't seen "A Royal Affair" I recommend it :)"

Oh, great, thank you very much, I'll add it to my watch list. =)

[Mary Pat]

Great conversations here! Any last thoughts as we head into the last week of February?

[Lisa]

Not really on the book itself, but I really enjoyed my first buddy read! I must admit I was a bit apprehensive but I enjoy the sparring and discussion aspect so I need to join in more buddy reads in the future :)

[Mary Pat]

That's great, Lisa! Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts!

[Nik]

I agree with Lisa. :D