View from the Side: Movie Review (“The Revenant”)

Although I had already read several unfavorable reviews due to the supposedly bad/lousy adaptation of the Book to the Movie, I was compelled to see the movie for various reasons:

1. To see the adaptation per se; meaning – to see is to believe.
2. To determine what are the major changes (book versus movie). 
3. To answer the question: Would the story of the movie stands alone without the book?

First. The ‘Revenant’ book is based on the true story of Hugh Glass, an American trapper for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1823.   After watching the movie, I would say that the movie presented “distorted facts” based from the book that I read.   While watching the movie, I was wondering if the movie is referring to the same book.  Then I had concluded that the bad reviews in the adaptation of the book were all justified. 

But at the end of the movie, I saw the credit “Based in part on the novel by Michael Punke”.   So, that explains everything. 

"...the filmmakers have wandered freely from the facts, which in a way does capture the spirit of the Hugh Glass story. A whole lot of creative remembering went into the production of the man who died and came back." - - - Jon T. Coleman, Notre Dame Historian, HistoryBuff.com, 2015

Second. Since the movie was based in part on the book, then there were many differences.  I was pondering if it is still necessary to make a comparison.  But for my personal curiosity, I still did the same.

Theme

Revenge (Book & Movie, the same)

Major Reason for Revenge

Book: Death for those who abandoned and robbed him of his treasures.

Movie: Death for those who killed his son.

Characters (Native-American Wife/Son)

Book: None.  There is no evidence that she had a wife or a son for that matter.  Little is known about Hugh Glass before the bear attack.  What is known was that he had been in the Western wilderness for several years before he signed for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company.  He was considered as an experienced guide for the expedition.  He was described as a loner and independent.

Movie:  He has a wife.  He has a son who was killed in front of him.

Climax

Book: In a courtroom in Fort Atkinson.

Movie: Hugh and Fitzgerald engaged in a knife fight.

 

Revenge or Forgiveness

Bridger

Book/Movie: Glass forgave Bridger.  Somehow, he knows that it was Fitzgerald who convinced young Bridger to leave him.  And he had glimpses of Bridger, healing him with something.

Fitzgerald

Book:  As to Fitzgerald, he was able to catch with him at Fort Atkinson.  Unfortunately for Glass or fortunately for Fitzgerald, the Army would not allow Glass to seek his vengeance since Fitzgerald has already enlisted in the US Army.  Anyway, Glass was able to get back his rifle.

Movie:  Glass had the opportunity to kill Fitzgerald, but he didn’t either.  He left Fitzgerald for dead.  It was the Indian that killed Fitzgerald.

Third. Well, for those who were not able to read the book, it seems that the movie stands for itself.  But for me, I still love the book more than the movie.  The book is inspired by true events while the movie is an invented fiction.

Some images downloaded from the Internet:

#KeepReading

View from the Side: My Favorite Movie Quotes

“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get!” – Tom Hanks 

“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”                   – The Godfather

“May the odds be ever in your favor.” - The Hunger Games

“Do, or do not. There is no "try"! – Yoda

“May the Force be with you!” – Han Solo 

"There's not a second goes by when I'm not thinking of you!" - Ottoway

“Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It's fair!” – The Joker (The Dark Knight)

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends." - Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it!” – Rafiki (The Lion King) 

“The truth is... I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart... and I never really got it back.” – Reese Witherspoon (Sweet Home Alabama)

“Sometimes I wish I had never met you. Because then I could go to sleep at night not knowing there was someone like you out there.” – Good Will Hunting

“I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest... Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly...stupid.” - Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)

“I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that sooner or later one, or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don’t ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life  because I know in my heart you're the only one for me.” – Runaway Bride

"If you love someone... you say it, right then, out loud. Otherwise... the moment just passes you by." – My Best Friend’s Wedding

“There's three ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way and the way that I do it.” – Robert De Niro (Casino)

“I live in a world full of people pretending to be something they're not!” - Cinderella

"When a defining moment comes along, you can do one of two things. Define the moment, or let the moment define you." – Tin Cup

“Every story has an end, but in life every ending is just a new beginning.” – Uptown Girls 

“What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew, was the only someone for you?” – Sleepless in Seattle

“It is not our abilities that show what we truly are... it is our choices.” – Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!” – Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind)

“Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad, but it's what's in the middle that counts. So, when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will.” – Birdee (Hope Floats)

“If you want to be the best, you must... lose... your... mind.” – Dave (Ski School)

“I kept dreaming of a world I thought I’d never see. And the one day… I got in!” - Kevin Flynn (Tron Legacy)

“Greed - for lack of a better word - is good. Greed is right. Greed works.” – Michael Douglas (Wall Street)

View from the Side: "The Hunger Games"

My Thoughts on the Movie 

“The Hunger Games” movie is an adaptation of the first of a trilogy best-selling books of Suzanne Collins. I completed reading all three books months before the showing of the first installment of the movie series. I am a fan of Katniss and Gale from the start, but it’s not the love story that caught my attention. I was particularly interested on the aspects of the political and social issues presented: the struggle of the poor and the oppressed for freedom of hunger; and the struggle of the politician to control the poor/oppressed to stay in power. This situation is not different from what the current reality of today.

Anyway, my intention in writing this blog is not to dwell on the content of the book, but just to provide a short contrast between the book and the movie. While I enjoyed watching the movie with my friends, I can’t help myself feeling frustrated that there are things that had been omitted or given less significance that I believed are critical in shaping the whole story.

• The origin of the mockingjay pin is certainly not correct. In the book, it was given to Katniss by Madge (whose character was not even mentioned in the movie). The mockingjays are important symbols in all three books. It is a secret sign that a fight for freedom from the Capitol is still alive. The movie downplays the importance of the mockingjay pin i.e., Rue believed that she could trust Katniss seeing her wearing the pin; Cinna exerting extra efforts to help Katniss because of the pin, etc. 
• The avox girls were not around, they were the symbols of the cruelty of the Capitol and they had helped Katniss; 
• The three (3) finger salute is unique to District 12; 
• The “bread scene” from District 11 was totally omitted, but this is critical in the succeeding books; 
• The duration of the game was 2 weeks only. In the book, as long as it takes;
• The movie rushed some scenes from books 2 and 3: President Snow in his rose garden; the riots breaking out; and the cruel death of Crane; 
• The ending of the movie was not as intense in the book. I was expecting the scene that shows how much the game had affected Katniss emotionally and mentally. In the book, Katniss and Peeta were as good as dead when they were declared winner. They had to undergo physical, mental and emotional rehabilitation before they were allowed to go home. This situation will later impact greatly their succeeding lives in the next two books. 

Despite the shortcomings of the movie, I was impressed with the performance of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. Her famous role as to date is "Ree Dolly" in Winter's Bone. She has also played in X-Men movie – First Class. Woody Harrellson as Haymitch played the character well. I was a little disappointed with the portrayal of the characters of Gale and Peeta. I was expecting more of Peeta, since he has important role to play in the ensuing 2 books. 

Well, I just hope that the next adaptation movies will still stir my interest. Let the game begins… MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!

View from the Side: "UnOfficially Yours"

My Thoughts on the Movie

Does a relationship need a formal status? This is the tagline of the movie. However, after watching the movie, I came to realize that it tackles the current social norm according to the younger genre. Relationships, as I gathered in some of my talks with knowledgeable persons are of many forms.  Any relationship can be close or open, casual, single or engaged, etc. As my informers are rattling what is the meaning of each relationship, I cannot fully comprehend. Maybe it’s because I was more of a conservative type which I see relationship as two forms only: “in relationship or no relationship at all” and “bad or good relationship”. But the most unexpected lesson I learned came from my teenage niece. Another type of a relationship according to her is “FLIRTATIONSHIP” meaning “more than friends but less than a relationship”. Oh… my head is spinning with all these new learning. Perhaps, I should get a crash course on “Understanding Relationships of Today”!
“UnOfficially Yours” stars John Lloyd Cruz (aka Macky) and Angel Locsin (aka Ces). It is directed by Cathy Garcia Molina. I am not a fan of both actors, but since the movie is the talk of the town and subject of Facebook posts, I obliged myself to see it. Besides, I am still hesitant on having another round of Tagalog movies because of my dismal experience with another movie.
I saw the story as tackling over the thin line that separates morality and immorality. It highlights some form of casual, open relationships and “one night stand” which the Filipino culture does not yet openly accept. Due to this culture, the story came-up with reasons to justify the actions of those involved. In the end, the movie yielded to the accepted norm with the two lead stars falling in love with each other. It is a clear case of “the end justifies the means”.
John Lloyd who is known as one of the matinee idol in Philippine movie and television networks, debuted in this movie to mature role. However, I like him more in his “pakilig” and “pa-tweetum” roles. I had a fair share of laughs while watching the movie especially their taglines.  But I must admit that I love more the tandem of “John Lloyd and Sarah Geronimo”. I felt more “kiligs” to their movies and I am excited to see more of their team-up.
Here are some of my unforgettable conversations or quotes I heard from this movie:
     Ces mother: “Paano ko makikilala yung taong para sakin, yung taong magmamahal sa akin kung sa bawat sakit na mararamdaman ko ay susuko agad ako.”
     Conversation 1:
           Macky’s friend: "Sus naman …one night stand nga, eh! Ano pa bang gusto mong mangyari? Nakalimutan mong mag-thank you?
           Macky: "Ah ganoon ba… kailangan ba mag thank you?"
     Conversation 2: 
           Ces: "Sa isang bagay kasing pinipili, may isang libo kang tinatanggihan."
           Macky: "Eh paano kung patunayan sa iyo ng isang pinili mo na higit pa sya sa isang libong tinanggihan mo?"