*** Official THE LOVELY BONES Review Thread

The Lovely Bones

While I normally agree with the general consensus of critics on most films, I have to differ here.  This film is getting panned pretty bad, and I have to disagree.  Perhaps it's far too different from recent Peter Jackson efforts (although quite similar in some aspects to one of his earlier films, Heavenly Creatures).  I can't really understand why this film is so disliked.  Granted, I went in with low expectations based on the reviews, but I really enjoyed this film.  The performances of Saoirse Ronan and Stanley Tucci were outstanding.  

I have not read the book that film is adapted from, so I can't comment on how true it is to the original story.  I found the story compelling and feel Jackson did a great job with the "limbo" visuals.   I'd give it 8/10.

I think this film is about 20 minutes too long, as it unravels the death of

Susie Salmon, a 14 year old girl who goes missing, but Susie appears to be

stuck in some form of purgatory and with almost ghost-like aspirations in

revisting the real world for her unsolved murder.  It's sort of muddy when

we are subjected to Susie's voiceovers, and the subplot involving her

father's search for possible murderers seems almost like an exaggerated

after-thought (meaning I just never felt the film paid enough respect to the

father's quest for Susie's murderer, as it kept floating back to Susie's own

internal monologue of sorts).  That being said, there are some fine moments

of suspense and a helluva money shot, it's just too bad it felt like there

was just too much meandering in the midsection.
 

I give it 2.5 stars or a grade of C+.

My sentiments exactly.  I also agree with Jeff Adkins.  The performances of Saoirse Ronan and Stanley Tucci were outstanding.