This movie is awful
oprah should have left this book alone, this movie is so bad
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...you also can't appreciate a message that isn't being delivered to you on the screen. If the content or material is insufficient in getting certain points across, you're missing out.
The many points and messages displayed in the book are priceless. If an adaptation is not better than the book(which is rare), then the least it can do is do the story justice.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
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The book was a classic and read long before Oprah or Halle came on the scene, and will still be read once the movie's forgotten.
During that summer, irony played third base.
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The book has been read by and loved by many people before Oprah decided to make the movie. It wasn't some unknown book that Oprah just picked up. I remember reading it in high school...it was required reading for us. That movie really did the book a disservice.
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...Their Eyes Were Watching God is a classic.
The novel has been highly reguarded and its themes considered and taken into account for a long time now. Based on your immature tone, I imagine the book is far older than you, and most of it flies over your head. Just because you're just hearing of a book that speaks wonders of the journey a black woman goes on throughout her life, doesn't mean others are just doing the same. People have known about, and have been reading the novel for decades now. It's even required reading in many schools throughout the country.
I'm watching the film as we speak(or type, rather..), and while it's a decent movie, it barely does justice to the book. It's no wonder two famous, "blacks" ("Oprah and Halle") felt the need to exclude the book's various black themes, and focus solely on the ones aimed at love. It's solid, but hardly because of Oprah or Halle-- more because of the content and material.. not to mention the director.
Don't be so shallow and ignorant. Statements like "no one would have read the damn book" is absurd. The novel was a classic long before Oprah or Halle even knew how to read.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
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Can you tell me where you're finding national statistics that shows DreTam2000 as being one of the only people in the country who read the book and hated the movie? Cause I'd sure like to see that. If you paid any attention at all, you would notice that DreTam2000 is not alone, there are quite a number of people on this board who have read the book and hated the movie. There's no consensus about the movie. You may have liked the movie and thought it was great, but that does not mean that everyone else did as well and that is not the end of the discussion.
During that summer, irony played third base.
I just finished reading the book on Friday and was very impatient with the movie. I just didn't feel like the movie was making me feel the strong sense of desired love that Janie yarned for. Neither were the scenes between Teacake and Janie were so strong. I'm not saying it was a bad movie but I was a little disappointed. But in all fairness, I’m still very much emotionally tied to the book. Once again, the book was a Masterpiece. The exchange between Jody and Janie when he was putting her down and she responded with “you the one who was taking up under my clothes”. – That didn’t come off as strong as I expected it to be. I don’t want to be to critical at this point but the point I’m making or rather supporting, is that, not everyone who read the book loved the movie. Not true and not end of discussion.
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Thank you. Very well stated.
shareFour people on one message board is hardly everyone in the country (and by my count it's 10 people). You also have said that film critics' universally hailed the film as great, but the reviews I have seen have been less than positive. I think most people realize that movies and books are different formats, but looking at it just as a film and not comparing it to the book, it's a pretty mediocre film with many flaws. The film felt rushed, even at two and a half hours. Berry and Ealy were not as good as they could have been, and there just wasn't much emotional depth to the movie.
During that summer, irony played third base.
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After viewing the film last night, I can't much say that I disliked it. It was decent. In fact, many of the scenes came to life for me in it. A lot of things I imagined in the book happened exactly how I thought they would. So that's a plus.
Indeed movies and films are two different mediums. I think the movie did an alright job. It's not as bad as I expected. And it's a lot better than "Soul Plane" or "Barbershop."
That last sentence is truly an understatement as far as addressing black cinema is concerned.
...you made that post in response to mine. But you can't be talking to me because at no time did I say I "hated the movie."
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
That was the whole point of the movie. She was telling the love story. And everyone needs to remember that alot of movies get dissected when they are limited on time. Give 'em a break. A lot of us women "love" the love stories. Lighten up, quit being so critical, and open your hearts. Everyone sees every story in a different light. This was Oprah's version and opinion of her favorite part of this book.
shareWhat are yout talking about? are you serious? First of all the reason it was turned into a movie in the first place is because many people have read the book. The book was out looooooooooooooooong before Oprah was even born, so you need to get your facts straight.People have been reading this book for many years. Lastly, if I hadn't read the book before seeing the movie, I would not have wanted to read the book! OPRAH AND HALLE DID A TERRIBLE JOB! 0 stars
shareThe movie was good in my opinion
and I've read the book
It wasn't as 'in depth' as the book, but it is a Made-for-TV-Movie - chock full of commercial breaks. of course Zora would have things to say about it, criticisms, challenges... (any author would) but, in the end the importance is getting the story out there. They came nowhere near butchering the tale and it will introduce a whole new audience to Zora's work (remember Zora died broke and unacknowledged/unappreciated).
I'm glad Oprah made the movie - she should be proud.
Halle surprised me - I will almost forgive her for Catwoman & Losing Isaiah & her over-acting in Queen...
...oh and BAPS and for ruining Storm and all of her sane moments in Gothika...
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Chewing gum is really gross
Chewing gum i hate the most
I did not read the novel before viewing the film tonight, since I did not choose the literature course at my school that reads this novel. However, I thought the film, in itself, was wonderful. Even though I'm Asian-American and cannot relate to the setting/characters of the film very well, I really felt the sense of emotion and the issues illustrated by the overall concept. The love -- for one another and for life itself -- shared between the two central characters was apparent, and this really wasn't just your typical romantic film filled with cliches and corny dialogue...there was a lot of depth and truth behind every sentence, and it truly touched my heart.
But after hearing from you and others that the film "sucks" compared to the book, it only makes me want to read the novel right now :) Since I enjoyed the film, I'm sure the novel would really be that much better!
I read the book. It WAS a classic WAY before Oprah or Halle got their hands on it. It was written in the 1930's and experienced some acclaim at that time but was essentially buried until Alice Walker uncovered it AND Hurston--almost literally by tracking down her unmarked grave!--in the 1970's. This was required reading in my AP English class, in my Modern American Lit Honors Seminar in college, and it is a staple of my own classes.
My students had been waiting to see a movie of this book and were eager to see a book they ALREADY LOVED adapted to the screen.
I hope they weren't too disappointed.
"Harpo" productions shifted the focus, made up random symbols, and sucked the humor out of it. I read it. I was disappointed. For those of you who loved this love story "adaptation," please, read the *real thing*. You will be MORE than satisfied.