synsueson Reviews

The Pillars of the Earth (2010)

Don't watch this series if you want to "see" the book

[4/10 · 20 December 2011]

I recently re-read "Pillars of the Earth" (one of my favorite books) and started watching, with great anticipation, the series within days of completing it. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! It was as if the screen writer was given a two-page outline of the 973 page book and then wrote his own story using the same characters. I understand that changes often need to be made in translating from print to screen, but the plot changes were extensive (not minor, as other reviews have indicated.) I think the change that bothered me the most was the subtle, yet vital, change to Prior Phillip's character. His fault may have been pride, but it was never dishonesty (i.e. lying about the saint's skull). Other changes were so numerous, that there is not room to mention them, except that King Stephen made only one or two appearances in the book (and never went mad) and Queen Maud never had a scene in the book. Also Waleran never self-flagellated and William and his mom never "got it on." Now to the actual series. I thought that Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen and Natalia Wormer were great in their roles. Rufus Sewell, although a very handsome man, was just that, too handsome for a rough-hewn, though, brilliant builder. Hayley Atwell is a lovely young woman and did a good job acting, but she was not the character that I imagined. And as for Eddie Redmayne, I really tried to like him, but all I kept wondering is: "What's wrong with that poor boy's mouth?" If you have never read the book, you will probably enjoy the series. But if you love the book as I do, please be warned that the series IS NOT the book.

He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

I wanted to slap them all upside the head

[4/10 · 15 February 2009]

I have just come from this movie. When will I learn not to pay money to see movies like this? When will directors learn that a good ensemble movie is very hard to make? Where is Robert Altman when you need him? I found it extremely hard to relate to or to find sympathy for the characters. Some of their actions were so unbelievably stupid that I just wanted to smack them. And what shallow lives they lived! Work, bar-hopping and texting. Character development was equally shallow. What epiphany did the Justin Long character undergo to realize that he was really "into" the Ginnifer Goodwin character? One confused meeting with the wait staff does not an epiphany make. The same goes for the Jennifer Aniston character realizing what a catch Ben Affleck's character was. So he washed some dishes. And why did he suddenly want to marry her....Because she suddenly didn't want to??? I would have thrown that engagement ring at his head. And what did the Jennifer Connelly character ever see in that wishy-washy (although good-looking) chump of a husband? The Scarlett Johansson character needed some serious therapy for that self-involvement problem of hers (or maybe a good slap upside the head). I guess the best thing about the movie is that it has given me a forum to write just how lackluster it was. I guess that will have to do.