The Lovely Bones (2-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray] [2010]

Before reading the reviews I presumed this film would be depressing, a little creepy and maybe a shock value film praying on people's reactions to it. I avoided it. Time passed and then considering daring to view it (I knew it was about a topic personal to me that upsets me). Yet reading the so so reviews on Amazon of 'The Lovely Bones' I thought this film would be below par and continued to avoid. I finally took the plunge and watched the film without regret or any hesitation when viewing. On both counts, how wrong could I have been to be worried about this film if it was 'sick' or in bad taste. It simply isn't. It is a fantastic film and definitely one of the very best I own. It is a powerful piece of film production in every sense of the word.Whilst watching, I cried most, if not all of the film. Yet I'm a grown man, quite hardened by life and not easily 'emotional'. Previous films I liked covering sudden loss were 'Untamed Heart' (featuring Christian Slater) and another favourite 'Message in a Bottle' (featuring Kevin Costner). I would recommend those films. Yet this one focuses on one area of the aforementioned and concentrates it significantly to the point the entire film becomes a continuous building tragedy or trauma - but as a reflection on the past. This may seem unpleasant or 'weird' but it's needed and it's what makes the film unique. Nothing is like this film that I have ever seen in that respect, nothing.'The Lovely Bones' therefore had a profound reaction in my soul, it touched me deeply. It is the sort of quality film one could give to a friend or partner who might not understand your past (if you have one like the family of character 'Susie' in the film) and you will not have to explain to them why you weep when watching it as they will weep too. Especially if they are connected to you spiritually on a deep level. I think I will do this myself in the future now.This movie could be (to some) an opportunity to be a voyeur into someone's emotional pain, in terms of understanding when people die young, why this is so unfair. Why there is a huge difference between a person living to only six or sixteen, rather than seventy six with children and grandchildren of their own. Why never experiencing a kiss, a first date, a first day at work, a first home, marriage, children, achievement...... why it is all matters so. This movie touches upon all those 'never had's' of the person now gone, yet it does so without bitterness and fury but instead a slow reasoning of 'that is life', because ultimately, it is 'just' life. We all are created, born, and then pass away yet we believe as children it will never happen to us directly, or our family. Instead we believe tragedy happens to ''other people'', as the movie itself says.I cried through the film because my sister died in tragic circumstances, and every single nuance of the film brought back memories of this. Not memory of terror and fear, but just memories that I cannot describe. Maybe these are the ethereal supernatural energies this film touches upon. Whatever they are, they are indescribable. (Just as a dream/life/heaven state could/would be if one had to describe it).During the film, the approach to death is heavily narrated and and in parts, played out, but not in the style of 'who done it', because we know from the very first few minutes who did it. Thankfully, there is no gore or suffering shown which was a relief. The director sensitively and sensibly leaves the 'act' of murder up to your imagination. Instead we are shown the subsequent loss and the regret of the consequences of when people die and leave us. The static family situation of post death, the denial, and finally the eventual moving on.Perhaps people who don't understand this movie, maybe see it in the wrong context? I can understand that this is easily possible and why some just don't 'get it'.The wrong context would be how some have described this movie as being about a child killer getting away with murder.The right context would be this film is nothing to do with types of criminal or justice for victims of crime.This film is more about memories of past and present of those who die and those who love them. It's about what we do with these memories, what they mean to us, how we hold onto them and how sometimes we shouldn't. Memories that you the viewer may create into simple or fantastic emotional feelings as you watch the film, whilst mesmerized by what you are watching. That, is surely the mark of good if not excellent film is it not? To be kept in your seat unable to turn away, to be concentrating, to be observing. To be....feeling.In some ways, this film is a metaphorical 'key' to access tears, tears often compressed and rarely accessible due to the routines of life we all must take part in, to survive.In this respect, people considering this film should be aware of that. It's not your average sad film, it's an unparalleled film (in my opinion) that may release significant grief.Such is the power of this film, I would not recommend it as a family viewing experience even for a couple,or siblings who are very close. This film (again in my opinion) is one to be watched alone and to be appreciated alone IF you have experienced tragedy of a similar nature. In this setting, it can be appreciated without any concern of how people might think you are reacting, e.g. that you might become very tearful and emotional. For me personally I won't be watching this film with my parents. I may not even tell them I watched it because for some people loss is not a thing we should 'poke' out of it's hiding hole too frequently, especially if decades have passed. One should be mindful of this. Play with caution if a death in your family is to this day something you don't openly discuss because you haven't all closed the chapter on your loved one passing away. This may take a life time, or never happen at all. Either way it cannot be prematurely induced, even with a movie like this.In conclusion this film leaves me with a sense of acceptance of when people leave you without saying goodbye, that is what I get from the film. Closure. Even if that closure is an illusion because of course, this is only a movie. Yet one that excels in spectacular visual imagery (special effects), narrative ('Susie's' voice over narrating the story) and realism of what tragedy is for those left behind to pick up the pieces and carry on.In essence, this film is the epitome of emotion wrapped up in digital format that a book cannot create. I appreciate how exceptional books can be. Yet books don't have powerful music scores, books don't have audio narrative, and books don't have faces of great actors that make you know them, despite these people being 'just' actors. If they can act (as all of the actors do in this film so well) they make you part of their family for the time you are staring at the screen. They place you there, in their home.Nowadays I rarely think of my own sister on a daily basis, as I have moved on and time in some respect, does heal. But she will always be there in my heart, just like the character 'Susie Salmon' is to her family in The Lovely Bones.10/10 movie.Flawless and highly recommended for the right audience.

Good to watch but be ready to cry

A strange film, with a far-fetched, often unpleasant, story line, saved, I think, by its extraordinarily top flight acting cast.A 1960's - early 1970's murderer of a number of pre-adult girls of different ages called Mr Harvey is played by Stanley Tucci. There is a hint that Mr Harvey is also a sex offender, but, fortunately, there is no sex or nudity in this film, and we never get to see the gruesome murders actually carried out before our eyes on screen.The Salmon family comprises Mr Salmon played by Mark Wahlberg, Mrs Salmon played by Rachel Weisz, the mother of Mrs Salmon, referred to as "your mother" by Mark Wahlberg, and a very formal "Grandmother" by the Salmon children, is played by Susan Sarandon, and the three Salmon children, two daughters and a son, include the murdered girl called Susan / Suzie Salmon played by Saoirse Ronan.The main credits do not mention the younger sister, Lindsay Salmon, and you really have to look hard to find out that she is called Rose McIver in real life, which is strange in itself because she has an important, albeit utterly far-fetched, role in that she finds the evidence that proves that Mr Harvey is the abductor and murderer of her slightly older sister, Suzie. She is also scene stealingly beautiful and attractive. All credit has to go to the film director, Peter Jackson, and the film crew in, arguably, getting it "just right" when filming Lindsay Salmon / Rose McIver, because any more of her and the film would be entirely about her just on her looks and physical attractiveness alone, given that she is also a first class actress in her own right. Saoirse Ronan is excellent throughout, but could easily have found herself, (and, it has to be said, the other women in the film), completely eclipsed by Rose McIver if Peter Jackson and the film crew had spent even a little bit more time and attention than they did on Linsay Salmon / Rose McIver.In this film the murdered Susan Salmon watches over her family and through will-power directs them, in particular her Dad, but also her younger sister Lindsay, towards the murderer, who, although not caught by the authorities, meets a satisfyingly grisly end. In real life, I would contend, it would not be the deceased who watches over the family, directing them, and, it has to be said, the authorities, particularly in a functioning modern state, in the right direction, but an Angel.Mr Harvey is a solitary figure, but in real life the kind of bloke who does this sort of thing almost always has a woman, along the lines of Fred and Rosemary West in the UK.In short, a very good film, marred, I thought, by modern stereo-typing and political correctness, (on all fronts ... the new age-type religion that has the deceased Suzie Salmon hanging about directing the living, the intrepid / extra-ordinarily brave teenage girl as played by Lindsay / Rose McIver when getting the evidence from Mr Harvey's house, the creepy middle-aged bloke who lives on his own, abducting, sexually abusing, and murdering young girls, the central Asian looking girl murdered by Mr Harvey in what was obviously very white parts of 1960's United States who pals up with Suzie in that new age inbetween religious state that comes between dying here and going to heaven ...), with only the strength of the acting cast saving an often truly far-fetched, unpleasant, storyline from total oblivion.

Watched a few time ! Great film

A brilliant watch.

Having read some bad reviews about this film (these people obviously do not know anything about anything, please can someone take their phones away from them tsk tsk) I went into this film with mixed opinions, however, I did not expect this to be quite the cinematic masterpiece it is. 'The Lovely Bones,' beautifully captures the connection of 'Susie Salmon,' with all her loved ones, and shows her unique experience of the afterworld (or her purgatory) conveying a very sentimental value of relationships and how, even in death, her soul remains connected to everyone. I smiled, I cried, I gasped in horror. This film also conveys the tragedy of what goes on behind the scenes of murder, and as the film progressed I was left on the edge of my sofa wondering what happens next. Every single actor is brilliant and every single scene is brilliant. Would I recommend? Yes babes, yes I would. Please watch this and experience every single one of your emotions within 2 hours. Thank you Peter Jackson, you da bomb