MovieChat Forums > Lathe of Heaven (2002) Discussion > Not as bad as reviews would lead you to ...

Not as bad as reviews would lead you to believe!!!

posted 19 years ago by bawko
8 replies | jump to latest

Greetings!

I was recently browsing at my local video store, and came across "Lathe of Heaven". The movie looked interesting, so I rented it. Knowing absolutely nothing about the film, I decided to look up the reviews on IMDB before watching it... skipping any spoilers of course! :)

From the tone of the reviews, I was fully expecting a low-budget train wreck of a movie - some kind of b-grade sci-fi yawner with bad acting and thin plot. At the very least, I suspected I had made a mistake in renting it, and that I had probably wasted my rental fee.

To cut this short, I was VERY pleasantly surprised. The film was anything BUT shallow, boring, or b-grade. Beautifully filmed, nicely acted, and overall quite captivating and absorbing. The movie made me believe that the reviewers had somehow watched a completely different film from the one I just finished viewing... at the end of the movie I was genuinely puzzled.

Going back through the reviews, I think I've finally figured out why. Most of the people bashing this film do so because it didn't "match up to the book" or took "liberties" with Ursula's masterpiece or was a "cheapened" version of the book, etc. etc. etc. bloody etcetera.

People... what is wrong with you? Seriously... WHAT is it that keeps you from appreciating a movie based on its OWN MERIT without continually comparing it to whatever source material it came from? Why does EVERY movie that has been adapted from a book get judged based on how well it conforms to the literary (and often literal) source material? C'mon.... IT'S A DIFFERENT MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION!!!!!!

To all you "book purists", I say this. Stick to your books, give up watching movies, because they will NEVER match and there will ALWAYS be differences in storyline, plot, characters, etc. etc. etc. - in short, quit b*tching about how your favorite book was "butchered" or "trashed" when converted to film... and either give up watching book based films altogether or figure out how to appreciate the films on their OWN merit in their OWN context outside of whatever precious source material you worship so fanatically.

Lathe of Heaven is a beautiful movie... beautifully filmed and with a beautiful storyline. Forget about whatever you read in "the book" for the 2 hours it takes to watch, and find the joy in seeing the movie and viewing the story for the first time. You might just be surprised! :)

Best wishes,
Bawko

[–] buhoblanco 18 years ago

OK. The previous film (1980) also on TV con Bruce Denison like ORR seemms to me better but this new version is not so bad. Haas is a good actor and he can comunicate his perplexity very good. Bonnet is amazing (not like an actress) but she´s a beautiful woman. Straithairns and Caan totally "lost in translation" and i can say IMHO is the only goof of the film. The BIG potential of these actors can´t be used to the maximum: maybe failed the director? who knows but a six stars is a good evaluation.

[–] jeffhodapp 17 years ago

I liked both versions. The second was a more reality-based version. I hope they do another in 30 years.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] germite 14 years ago

It's been many years since I read the book and saw the original version, so I didn't try to compare this version, and I was pleased with it. You're right in saying it was absorbing and a beautiful movie. It came across as warm and poetic. However, the quietness of the movie, while captivating while watching it, gave way to a sort of empty feeling after I finished it. It was a gentle film, and as such, didn't leave much of an impression after all was said and done. But you're right, it was a pleasant film to watch.

As an aside, it reminded me a lot of "Dark City," especially the ending, but didn't have the emotional punch of that movie.

"Stwike him, Centuwion ... vewy Wuffwy!"

[–] sarastro7 13 years ago

Both versions are really good - I rate them an 8 or a 9 out of 10. Great story.

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[–] huwdj 12 years ago

I liked this film. It's pretty low key but it really held my interest and I thought everyone was good in it. I don't think there was a big budget but the look and feel of the sets and costumes was effective and consistent. Now I must read the book to find out why the David Strathairn character was aware of the shifting realities.

[–] StrontiumAE 12 years ago

I went into this film not know anything about it.. and i enjoyed it.

Review AE http://www.reviewae.blogspot.com & http://ireview-ae.blogspot.com

[–] Brendan3 10 years ago

You are defending the film adaptation of a book against those offended by the changes made... yet you never actually read the book and have no frame of reference to support your argument.

you have no understanding of how drastic the changes were and how little it resembles the original story, yet you lecture those of who do.

They had a great story.. they chose not to tell it, but kept the name anyway.