Movie Mention Monday; The Lovely Bones

For anyone who has read the book, know that there isn't another story-line like this one. The Lovely Bones, is without a doubt the most original book I had ever had the pleasure to read. I read this book back in high-school, grade 10 I think so when I was a sophomore I believe for you US types, and I remember then that I wasn't able to finish. Right from the first sentence this book grabs you; "My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." (1, Sebold), intense right? Books of this intensity and brutality usually have me running in the other direction, sue me but I like happy feeling books! However I took a chance on this book. Since my horrible high school days however this book has generated quite the buzz, and when I heard this was going to be a movie I was pretty excited to see how they were going to make this film appropriate.

For such a disturbing premise, the producers and actors were able to portray this book in a tasteful and eloquent nature, which was quite surprising and enjoyable to watch. I thought that Mark Wahlberg did a fabulous job, and Saoirse Ronan who plays Susie Salmon did an amazing job for such a young actor!

This movie was fast paced, there wasn't any boring lulls or particularly slow moments in the movie. There was a couple changes made from the book, but nothing big, for an example she has a brother and grandmother in the movie and she didn't in the book, and other small things like extra stock characters. I was also really curious to see the movie because I wanted to see how they created "heaven", as Susie spends her afterlife up there watching over her family. The "in-between" was done very creatively; it wasn't flashy and crazy green screened, I was impressed.

All in all, I enjoyed the movie. I would definitely see it again, however next time I will be better suited with some kleenex.