The Lovely Bones

It's taken me a little over a day to compose my thoughts to a point where I can give this the effort that it requires. Based on the 2002 novel by Alice Sebold, the Lovely Bones was directed by Peter Jackson (the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and stars Saoirse Ronan, Mark Whalberg, Rachel Weisz and Stanley Tucci.

Saorise Ronan plays the main character, Susie Salmon, who also narrates the story as a memory. The story revolves around the life, death and afterlife of Susie Salmon, as she first struggles with the trials of a 14-year-old girl and then with the notion that she's been murdered. Her father, Jack Salmon, (Whalberg) also struggles to find closure and justice for the death of his daughter and the two help each other find what they are looking for throughout the course of the story.

Let me take a step away from this for a moment to say that I haven't read the book so I have only the film upon which to form my opinion. I have heard that the book is "wonderful" and "terrifying" so I may have to give it a whirl....when I'm finished with the waist-deep stack of other "to-be-reads" that I have waiting for me already. But the movie did not bring to my mind words like "wonderful" or "terrifying." It was sad, but by no means a tear-jerker (although there were others in the theater who would disagree with me).

In true Peter Jackson fashion, the imagery was incredible. The "in-between," where Susie is "stuck" is actually something out of my own dreams (or nightmares, in some cases). The colors are vivid and striking where vivid and striking are appropriate but stunningly monochromatic where they weren't.

Brevity, however, is not Jackson's strong point. Even the Frighteners was a two-hour adventure. I bring this up only because there are long movies and there are movies that feel long and at 2 hours and 15 minutes, The Lovely Bones was both. I found myself begging for the end. And yet, I'm still not 100% decided that I didn't like it. I definitely don't think it will be one that I will buy at full price for my collection but maybe if I find it in the $3 bargain bin....

So, that's it. That's what I've come up with in my 28 hours of pondering and chewing. I've come up with nothing. I still don't know whether or not I enjoyed the film and am definitely unclear on whether I should see it a second time. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.