MovieChat Forums > Children on Their Birthdays Discussion > Not a bad movie but over-rated

Not a bad movie but over-rated

posted 20 years ago by prettypinkwhitelilies
6 replies | jump to latest

After reading many reviews and comments of this movie, I think this independent movie is over-rated, and so is the main actress of this film.

This wasn't a bad movie but it wasn't exceptionally great either. It was centered around a pretentious and bold teenage girl named Lily. Her Southern accent was over-exaggerated and the lip-syncing scene at the talent show wasn't convincing.
This girl had an excessively high pretentious air of herself. In fact, she was so pretentious that it made herself and her behavior seem utterly ridiculous and ghastly. I've read a review in which the reviewer commented that the film was dull and that Tania Raymonde(actress who played Lily) was the "glistening centerpiece" of the movie. Too much emphasis was put on her outward appearance in those shallow reviews. She isn't even a beauty! She's just an average-looking girl. I guess the frilly, lavish ensemble of clothes(complete with a parasol) she wore during the movie made her seem "glistening" to some people. If she had just worn everyday, casual clothes or overalls during this movie, she wouldn't have had the same impact on viewers. I guess that proves that any average-looking girl can put on expensive makeup and showy clothes and look "stunning" in a movie. Also, today's technology offers the retouch-up of films and movie posters. Even in this movie, in my eyes, Tania Raymonde very much seemed to be just an average-looking girl! In my eyes, she was surely no beauty!

This movie also unrealistically portrayed a 13-year-old girl as a hero. In reality, no girl of that age could change a town so dramatically. It is just a fictional movie, but still, it's so unrealistic! I certainly wouldn't recommend this movie for young girls to watch, watching this movie would set unrealistic ideals for them. This movie would certainly have a detrimental influence on young girls.

[–] DMan345 20 years ago

I saw the movie, and I read the review you recommended everyone to read and I thought it was just pathetic. Like dude, it's a movie, its for entertainment that's all, its not supposed to be some change the world art form plus it's freakin PG! I admit that it was really unrealistic the way they lived in this perfect little small town and how the girl was a little snobish but that's a heck of a lot better than the movies now right? freakin gang banger guys nailing chicks, cussing, violence, I mean if this movie was anything like other movies you'd have lily jane being quite the opposite of what she portrayed in the movie. The way I see it, movies like this are a breath of fresh air from the kind of stuff we're bombarded with now a days. So you go ahead and rag on every movie you think isn't realistic, and I'll enjoy them for just being a nice way to pass the time.

-NOosH

[–] prettypinkwhitelilies 20 years ago

This movie is poison and couldn't be any more shallow. It's a terrible influence on young girls, this movie sets unrealistic ideals set by Lily Jane Bobbit.

[–] laurief-1 18 years ago

I think you need to read the short story to understand the little girl. It's a parody of everything Southern. Southern lit always contains examples of the bizarre and macabre and I think that's exactly what Capote gives us in that short story. You are supposed to be disturbed by the little girl, not enamoured by her.

[–] marbleann 18 years ago

I just read the actor that played the young boy is presumed dead. I came here to check what part he played in this movie. I love this movie. I was not aware that it was from a Truman Capote story. People complain about the little girl. I think she was exagerated because she was seen through the eyes of the boy who never seen anybody like her in his life and that is the way we are suppose to see her. If people notice the way other people interacted with her you can see no one sees her as a little adult except the boy. It was a nice quiet movie I caught on cable. I just wish I did not remember the movie because of the lead characters death.

[–] MeganEhrhard 17 years ago

You are absolutely correct about that. Capote wrote from sadness and sometimes anger, and Miss Bobitt was to be pitied, not admired.
FYI, never saw the movie but I laughed my head off at the trailer. She gets hit by a bus and killed first line in the story! (Its retrospect)

[–] Sherazade 19 years ago

I absolutely love this film. Tania was very graceful in her role. People keep saying her attitude was fake but I just saw her on an episode of 'That's so raven' and she still had the same aura from 'Children on their birthdays.'

You saw me mourning my love for you and you took my hand. I knew you loved me then...