The “it” factor in Hollywood elite nowadays seems to be adapting YA literature into cinematic form. The Giver is just one in a string that appeared at the Cineplex in 2014 alone. Based on the 20 year old novel of the same name, the star-studded cast is one of the greatest appeals of this story.
The story focuses on one hero along with his two best friends. We open on graduation day for Jonas (played by Brenton Thwaites) and his pals. Life as he knew it is about to change as he accepts the destiny he has been carefully monitored for. His family lives in a perfect society where everything is the same so as not to cause dissension or jealousy among the people. Void of feelings – of love, of hope, of lying – the children are taught to be precise in their language and are even given daily injections to avoid these feelings. Jonas’ friend Fiona (Odeya Rush) earns the role of caregiver at their ceremony, only Jonas’ number is skipped over. As it would happen, there is reason for that: Jonas has a purpose much greater than that of his friends. He has been chosen as the next keeper of memories and his training with the Giver of Memories (Jeff Bridges) begins the next day.
Photo: The Weinstein Company
Prior to watching this, I read nearly the entire book in one sitting. Unfortunately, I didn’t really get tugged into the story (either because I wasn’t in much of a reading mood or as a result of the story itself). I’m not sure which it was. In part because of this, I’m not sure this is going to go on my list of favorite stories ever… however, like with so many dystopian stories, this one again manages to beat out my ranking for The Hunger Games (speaking specifically to the book). Those who’ve read Lois Lowry’s ‘Giver’ quartet in full will be able to correct me if this is in error, but I gather that this book was really the beginning of the dystopian genre. If that’s true, I am impressed with this film (by way of its book). There is a quality to the storytelling that is compelling and uninhibited – the latter being used in a positive connotation. At the very least, this is certainly one of the earlier dystopian genres and knowing that sheds an unencumbered opinion on the story and definitely allows for it to be separated out from its peers. As a work of film, I really did find this brilliant. Here’s why.
Photo: The Weinstein Company
The production was breathtaking with its stark contrasts of color and black-and-white filming. How it wove in an out of the opposing filming methods was brilliant, really. There are moments beautifully translated from book-to-screen that fall into this technique, which makes the film seem more “alive” than its counterpart tone. This quality is definitely more vibrant and important visually since the description of Jonas’ world doesn’t come across the same in print. Same with the pacing; the book was a slow-moving impact that hoped to have a quieter entrance into our minds, whereas the film didn’t shy away from its source though it definitely kept a better stride. Somehow in HD magnificence, The Giver was a little bigger, more breathtaking, and equal parts exciting and impactful. It had that capacity to be “more” and it took every liberty it could to fulfill that.
The cast also sells the production. Brenton, Jeff, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes and even a brief (more like cameo) appearance by Taylor Swift is all this adaptation needed to be brilliant. That alone keeps the film stuck in our memory far after fading to black. Brenton carries the film well and I appreciated that his character seemed older in this than the impression the book gave. It helped the film overall, especially since that seems to be what is more marketable to the audience studios were wishing to nab. The biggest issue I took with the story was its message. It hits eerily close to some of the same things we’re facing today. What I admired most about the script, was the hero we meet. Jonas gives us someone to champion and be enthralled with. His quest is something he believes passionate in and I admired him for not letting the powers that be silence his world any longer. Because of this, the story “feels” right. I liked the progression of Jonas’ change and how he begins to deeply be affected by his training, and all the secrets it showed him. Bottom line, I’d give this a gold star for its interpretation of the book. I suspect those of you who count Lois’ book as a childhood favorite will have many quibbles with the adapting. But for a girl who hadn’t even finished the book when she started watching it, I’d say filmmakers did the iconic story proud.
Overall Rating
“Hello Gorgeous.”
Romance Rating
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a
matter of chance.”
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I was very interested to read your thoughts on the film vrs the movie. I read the book almost a decade ago, but loved it. When the film came out, I took it off my shelf to re-read before seeing the movie.
Once again, the book drew me in, but what was fascinating was that I could sympathize better with why society took away everything that is brilliantly good about life in order to take away everything that is horrifically awful. It was a different reading experience.
I felt the movie fell short by the way of being more bias than the book. In the book, the society created felt more gentle and serene than the movie made them. In a book club I would love to debate the right and wrong of what this society did, but in the movie there’s nothing to debate. They were less kind and less naive then.
It was interested to read your take, that having a clearer black and white made it more interesting. Your review makes me wish I had seen it in HD! I did love the way they wove in the gray/black/white verses the color. I wondered as I read the book again how they would do that.
Hi, Jessica! 🙂 Thanks so much for reading.
I’m glad you liked the book so well. I honestly think if I’d read the book in a different setting (I binge read it), I’d like it more. That being said, the visualization of the film was really striking. For that reason I lean more towards liking the adaptation. I see your point about the book being more gentle than the film in terms of what the society was like. Perhaps the book does a nice job illustrating the society vs. the film. Then the movie tries to be “harsher,” too much like some of its dystopian peers. Maybe a competitive edge got filmmakers thinking more about that than the material.
The contrast of colors was brilliant. I don’t know if my watching it was in the best HD (just saw it on a computer), but even at that, I was so impressed with the production. For me, it really set the film apart. I’m not sure if it was because it’s that much more interesting on film (compared to the book) or if the production just did a nice job weaving in and out of the contrasting colors. Either way, it was lovely.
This movie is filled with wonderful moments, and the performances by the entire cast were great.
Indeed it was! I’d like to watch it again in the near future and would agree about the cast. So talented. 🙂
I agree, this movie did a fantastic job of contrasting the black and white versus color. Even at the beginning of training, you can see a subtle color change. Not much, but squint your eyes and you’ll see it. The color change is excellent in the scene where Asher is chasing Jonas and Gabriel. The colors switching from that bright desert yellow to dim black and white was great.
But the cinematography was the only good part, in my opinion. The story was the same, but there were so many changes in the movie, and it’s impossible to list them. Not just that though- Jonas’ character remained the same throughout the entire movie. Yes, he was more daring afterward, but the way he spoke and moved was the same as in the beginning. The script was also predictable, which was unfortunate and is a great disservice to the book too.
I still agree with you, though, as the movie’s visuals were amazing. I just wished they stuck more with the book. Whatever! It came out less than a decade ago, lol.