[Minor spoilers ahead for newbies] As a fan of the 2009 novel I was initially disconcerted about this entire movie. So many of the book’s fundamental traits had been either drastically altered, or in some cases removed entirely. No more “Sixteen Moons”, no Marion Ashcroft, and no winter formal (that last one is a surprise, seeing as how it’s a teen angst goldmine). I spent the majority of the 124 minutes scrambling to find anything that translated well onto screen, and trying to justify the creative direction that director Richard LaGravenese had taken, but looking back after a second viewing, I can see this film for what it is.
It’s not a faithful adaption by any stretch of the imagination. The initial meeting between Ethan and Lena is rushed, not a slow realisation of a bond that the two of them share; the hostility of the Gaitlin community is reduced to a few religious zealots and a few snide remarks here and there; so many characters have been forgotten about, the most important of which are Marion Ashcroft, who is almost a driving force in the book itself, and Ethan’s father, who is only ever mentioned by name; and the dark curse becomes this vague idea of Lena turning into a sluttier version of her former self.
Removed from the source material, Beautiful Creatures holds up a little better. I read elsewhere that it acts as more of a homage to the novel, and less as a faithful adaption, which is probably the best way to describe it to anyone heading into it with unrealistic expectations. After all, it is a pretty dense story, not every detail is going to work on screen. Some aspects did work in their own right; I enjoyed the atmospheric nature of the southern mentality, and the artistic directions taken with Ridley’s seduction of Link, and Saraphine’s possession of Mrs. Lincoln.
The performances of the cast members are solid as well, the two leads showing more personality in 10 frames than Stewart and Pattinson did in 5 years. The supporting players each brought something special as well; Emma Thompson hams it up like crazy as Mrs. Lincoln and Saraphine, Jeremy Irons brings Macon to life in an almost uncanny way and Viola Davis is just a great as she’s ever been, even if she’s seen the least. It’s Emmy Rossum who steals the limelight as Lena’s vamped out cousin Ridley who, minus the lollipops and blonde hair, is just as fun as her paper counterpart. It’s just a shame that her best moment in the novel is removed and replaced with something a little different in the movie, but I think she’s still as strong a character here as she could have been.
For all its flaws, I’d still love to see where the film could go from here. I’m not all that certain it’ll get the chance, but there is potential. So if you’re a fan of the series, don’t go into this expecting to see the book you loved play out in front of you. You’re still going to like it for what it is, but as a film adaption, it’s quite fluid. For casual viewers, I think there’s still something here, though it might take a little leniency and an open-mind to find it.
6/10
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I'm glad to hear the book surpasses the film, which is common enough that I should have just assumed. I guess I will go ahead and read the copy I bought right before seeing the movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Rossum's Ridley stole the spotlight. Whether as a manic seductress, angry and laid-back at an uncomfortable family dinner, or an innocent young girl running from her birthday curse, Emmy definitely commanded the screen. There was room for more of her, especially since she was acting as an agent of the primary villain who was in hiding. It would have given the film more concrete and tangible conflict other than the mere notion that Lena's days were on a countdown or that the townies were mean. Which I think was one of the movie's biggest problems: so little of the villains and a little too late. I wanted to know more of both what Lena was up against and what she could become. Instead we got tiny glimpses of vague "evil powers" and then a really quick power-up and final battle at the end. If only Seraphine and Ridley had been better used I think I would have liked this a lot more. What was there was well-acted and intriguing; it's just there wasn't much there.
Still, I couldn't help but feel by the end of it that the movie was pretty unique - at least far more unusual and offbeat than the trailer made me believe - and that the romance was genuine. There was an authentic feel to Lena and Ethan's young love, which is something Twilight never had. I think it had to do with the fact that Ethan was just so damn sincere. And I think that quality really served to lure in the lonely, distrusting, and wounded Lena. Which in itself is interesting because usually in gothic romance those roles are reversed in gender. Kind, pure-hearted girl; powerful, dark and jaded guy.
All in all - a bit of a mess, but also a bit refreshing IMO. I guess I'd give it a C+. And I just saw Twilight: Eclipse for the first time ever, so, for the curious, that's so far below an F it's at the bottom of the alphabet. People make fun of it all the time but, Jesus, I didn't know it was honestly *that* bad. So cheesy and dull all at once (and all the way through).