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raye0274
Reviews
The 39 Steps (2008)
Disappointing update of a classic
I have to admit that having watched this tonight on BBC1 as part of their Christmas line-up I was incredibly disappointed. The story was changed dramatically from both the 1930s and the 1970s versions, the dynamic action that appeared in both previous well-known incarnations was lacking. They sexed the characters up (I would be the first to admit that I love Penry-Jones in almost everything and he certainly carries off a suit and a uniform extremely well) and in doing so managed to fit the story into 90 rather dull minutes that actually skipped the meaning of the 39 steps completely. Wouldn't recommend you watch this unless you are a fan of Penry-Jones or any of the rest of the cast, stick to the previous versions to get the excitement and drama of the original tale.
Flowers in the Attic (1987)
Horrified
I know that this is supposed to be a frightening movie, and if it had been written, directed and cast properly then that may well have been the case. Unfortunately in the case of this particular film that was not the way it went.
The book was intense, full of plot points and written in such detail that even the least imaginative among us would have been able to see the story being acted out.
When I heard that they were making a film of one of my favourite novels of the time (I admit that I was just 10 when I first snuck into the library and read it), I was overjoyed. It's such a pity that by the time I was old enough to go and rent the film I was also old enough to judge what was good and bad in the world of film-making, at least by my standards.
This pile of garbage doesn't even rate a -100 on my scale of films, and that list includes films like 'Crossroads' with Britney Spears and 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'.
How they managed to make such a dire film when the material they had been provided with originally (the book) was so good. They missed out the most important parts of the book, killed off the mother before her time, and ignored the fact that the children spent their formative years in an attic...they would have physically changed in that time, yet in the world of the film it was as though only seconds had passed...
I just ask that if there is a remake ever made, please please please don't make the mistakes that were made with this one. Don't ignore the parts that perhaps will cause a few problems with the censors...even incest will be, if not overlooked, only watered down rather than completely written/cut out.