I must admit I didn't enjoy this film as much as I thought I was going to. Prior to watching the film I'd read the book, and I found the book to be much more enjoyable. I felt the charaters in the film were under-developed and, compared to the book, the plot was weak and incoherent.
Taken alone, the film is reasonable, but having read the book I can't help but feel it's rushed and not as good as it could have been.
Has anyone else read the book? If not, I recommend it.
I am currently in the middle of the book, and I'm really enjoying it; however, I know since it's a translation there has to be some mutation of the text and I'd rather read it in the original Icelandic. If I could.
shareI bought the book when I was up there in Akureyrí a few years ago, and I couldn't put it down. I stayed in that town for a week, and a good, solid two days were spent reading and devouring the book. The best part, in my humble opinion, is how he rates women by how much kronur he would pay to have sex with them...
Hilmir Snær Guðnason really isn't the one to play the part, physically, I mean. His acting is excellent, but I thought Hlýnur was supposed to have a narrow nose and blonde hair, not to mention a constant donning of a leather jacket... whatever. I usually make it a point to watch movies adapted from books before I read the books, simply because I have no expectations that cannot be met during the course of the film. For instance, I wasn't disappointed at all that Jackson left out Bombadil in The Fellowship of the Ring, but once I read the books, I was really sad to see parts of the Two Towers taken out... That's a huge aside, but whatever.
I read the book and I have to say, I was left feeling very cold from it, I didn't enjoy it at all.
Would like to see the movie now though.
As enjyoable as I found the book ( I´m Icelandic), I must say the author´s second novel "Hofundur Íslands" ( the icelandic author), is by far better and more mature. According to amazon it´s not been translated to English yet, but I recommend you keep one eye open. Whoever went to the troublo of translating 101 R. is sure to do the other one, too.
Just thought you might find this interesting.
I caught this film when I, myself was an unemployed bum and used to stay up watching crap late night TV. Anyway, one night, the good old Beeb put this film on and I fell in love with it. Only last night whilst rumaging in Oxfam, I happened across the book. I was totally unaware that it was based on a book and I was somewhat sceptical of how the book would be. I must say, I think it's an absolute gem of a read but it is a translation, so as CleverScreenName pointed out, there may be some deviation from the Icelandic text. Either way, the film's bleakly inspiring and so's the book.
shareI liked the film as well, but I did think there was a lot that they missed out, I'm sure someone died in the book didn't they? And he lost his trousers somehow? I read it a while ago so I can't remember but I definately like the book a bit better. There was a few bits in the film that I don't think would of made sense to me if I hadn't already read the book.
shareand was slammed by critics and many book readers in Iceland when it was published initially. For those who think he´s a looser in the movie read the book. The film is G-rated children stuff compared to the book. The book also insults about 1/3 of Icelandic celebs and is highly critical of the icelandic community. This movie is a simple love triangle with some boobs and alcohol and that´s it.
shareI've read the book like 6 times by now.. I can't stop reading it! Although the film was nice, there were some important elements missing..
shareYou are right, the movie was rushed. They left a lot out which I thought would be great to leave in. But all in all not a bad translation. I loved it.
share