In the book, little Jane's imaginary friend was actually an adult male - not a little boy! I guess they decided to change it up for the film version because that would probably not be considered appropriate, lol...
shareThat's what I thought too.
GabbyLunaPotterSanderson
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They didn't get anything right in this movie. Nothing like the book. Movie was terrible, in my opinion. I was very disappointed. I found no chemistry between Jane and Michael in the movie that I felt in the book. They also made Michael out to be this immature man-child. He was not presented that way in the book.
And yes you're right, Michael was an "adult" with young Jane. The only thing that bothered me about that in the book is when Michael says when Jane grabs his hand he feels like a "dad". Yet, he falls in love with her later on...
That line in the book always gives me a strange feeling because it sounds like he feels like a dad to her. Otherwise, one of my favorite books.
RIP Michael Jackson
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It wouldn't have been creepy at all if Michael were an adult when Jane was a child. Look at The Time Traveler's Wife! That was lovely.
shareI'm not saying it was creepy that Michael was an adult when Jane was a child. I'm saying it was strange to me how Michael felt like a "dad" when Jane would hold his hand. Then later, he falls in love with her. I'm just nitpicking here, I know it probably means nothing. ha. There's nothing at all creepy about Michael and Jane's "relationship" when she was a child. It's a fantastic story.
I feel that the movie should have had an adult Michael rather than a child. It changed the whole point of the story.
RIP Michael Jackson
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ALL LITTLE GIRLS HAVE AN IMAGINARY RAPIST PEDOPHILE FRIEND. OR AT LEAST THATS WHAT THEY TELL THEM.
shareI kinda like that. I think it's meant to show a contrast between how he feels about her when she's a child and how he's so confused about how he feels about her when she's an adult. I mean, he doesn't understand anything that's happening to him, but especially not the romantic feelings he's suddenly developed for Jane. To me, it's just a good way to show the progression and maturing of their relationship.
"Well!!! Since when did you become the physical type?"
which is why Hugh makes no sense...he's supposed to be playing Michael...I'm only a few minutes in, but wtf?
___
I LOVE Alyssa Milano and I think that she was perfect for this part...BUT...
They totally chopped up my favorite book! They put it through the blender! I know that they had to make changes, so that people would find it more..."Appropriate"....but the book is sweet and charming.
If there weren't so many pervy people in this world, this movie could have been made just like the book.
I wonder how much money it took for James Patterson to just hand over his work to these chop artists?! (Actually...I know that Alyssa produced this, so I think I'm just shocked by the changes.)
Jane...was more of a tortured soul.
Michael...was more heroic and knowledgeable about people he wasn't an idiot man-child with no place to live.!
Vivienne...Jane's mother, was much more of a controlling diva...with lots of exes and Jane's father wasn't a cheater who left them.
Hugh...was a much bigger and nastier jerk.
Please...just read the book! I bought it for my best friend, I bought it in regular text and on CD...and I've read it like five times...and after watching this movie....I'm going to read the book again!
LIZ 10:“I’m the bloody Queen, mate. Basically, I rule.”Dr.Who
what i felt was weird.....maybe it is just my own imagination at work but....
to me an imaginary friend would always stay the same age. So if michael was a little boy like how the movie portrayed it why would he grow up like a real human. He is imaginary he would be trapped forever in the same age state that the person imagined him. Unless she did indeed imagine him to grow with her.
the other thing I didnt get was if he was her imaginary friend wasn't he just hers alone. but yet he talks about living with other families and taking care of other kids. Ummm your imaginary friend is your and yours alone. i mean you dreamed them up no one else can have the exact same imagination as you. what would stop him from falling in love with any other little girl he was friends with.
to me an imaginary friend would always stay the same age. So if michael was a little boy like how the movie portrayed it why would he grow up like a real human. He is imaginary he would be trapped forever in the same age state that the person imagined him. Unless she did indeed imagine him to grow with her.
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Hmmm, if a guy in his 20s babysits a little girl and they have a close relationship, then lose contact when she's about 10 and reunite 20 years later and fall in love. Is that NOT creepy? I think it is, as is any situation where you once saw someone as a child and then when they grow up have a romantic relationship with them.
Then again, this is a cheesy book/movie so real life logic doesn't really apply.
Michael was supposedly 'Imaginary' (or whatever we want to categorize him as)...so he was only real to Jane and a few others. Years later when he becomes 'real'...he even wonders about his relationship with her. That's the problem with people these days...some people just can't read a sweet book with innocence.
Now, in real life situations...what IS creepy is like Woody Allen and Soon Ye...OR...James Woods who is dating the daughter of a friend...he's been around her since she's been born, changed her diapers, watched her grow up and started sleeping with her when she turned 18...he is 63...now that is creepy!
BUT, I know a few family friends who are older and I've known them since I was a child. They are older and I would date them. Especially since...they never did anything inappropiate with me as a child, they never changed my diapers and they never were in charge of me or babysat for me. Heck...my mother even wants me to date these wonderful men.
Michael didn't age, he stayed the same age and Jane caught up to him biologically...he wasn't a creepy old pedaphile and he didn't do anything pervy with Jane when she was little. He was her friend and watched over her. And since it is an adult fairytale...I think we can treat it as such. I mean...remember Sleeping Beauty? Technically..she was much older than her prince, Snow White lived with 7 grown men and originally...Rapunzel's family traded her for a head of cabbage!
Let's just look at the book with as much innocence as we all have left and enjoy it for its sweetness.
LIZ 10:“I’m the bloody Queen, mate. Basically, I rule.”Dr.Who
Hmmm, if a guy in his 20s babysits a little girl and they have a close relationship, then lose contact when she's about 10 and reunite 20 years later and fall in love. Is that NOT creepy? I think it is, as is any situation where you once saw someone as a child and then when they grow up have a romantic relationship with them.
I thought maybe he was the age he was when Jane was a child because her dad had left. Wouldn't you create an imaginary friend to your specifications?
When I saw the movie, I thought it was charming, so I quickly found the book at the library. What a difference! I cannot believe that James Patterson would even allow his name to be put on the movie as it was so different. Or, maybe he hoped people would buy the book not realizeing the changes that were made.
My one big questions is that Michael would have no history -- no social security number, no birth certificate, etc. How was he supposed to continue in 'real' life with none of those things. Oh right... it was just a book.
Penny
I cannot believe that James Patterson would even allow his name to be put on the movie as it was so different. Or, maybe he hoped people would buy the book not realizeing the changes that were made.
Yes he was, thats what I was thinking when I started watching the movie...Well anyway I think so far, cause Im still watching it; The movie is better than the book...and I NEVER say that about a book.
shareThe book has so much more depth than the movie. The book has more turmoil, compassion and explanations. The book is grittier, the movie is just...well...cute.
(Strange thing too...in the book and even the Kindle version Michael has green eyes and Jane has blue eyes, but in the audio version...Michael's eyes are blue and Jane has dark eyes.)
LIZ 10:“I’m the bloody Queen, mate. Basically, I rule.”Dr.Who