The first question that arises after seeing the movie, The Lovely Bones, is why was it made? True, the 2002 book was an instant best seller, so it makes sense to want to make a movie. What doesn’t make sense is for the movie to be so tragically different from the book. Peter Jackson apparently must have enjoyed the story to want to buy the rights himself and have a script developed before approaching a studio to make the film. So why did he want to change so much of a book he must have enjoyed?
That question may or may not ever be answered, but it actually has nothing to do with the fact that it did get made, and it did disappoint. When this reviewer watched the movie, it was without the knowledge that it was based on a beloved novel. As the events unfolded, it became more and more diluted. The viewer feels as if parts are missing. Susie Salmon is the omniscient narrator throughout the film. She knows everything that is going on, but much of the story still seems to be missing. You can stream it for free at 123 Movies by the way.
Half the Story is Missing
Why did her mother suddenly decide to leave and pick fruit? How did her brother know that Susie was in-between? Why is her murder so vague? What did Harvey do to her after he pulled her off that ladder? Why did her murderer leave her hat behind, when he was so careful with everything else, and why would he leave her in a safe in his basement for years? There was a sinkhole nearby where everything was dumped, so it made the most sense for him to dump her there.
Why was so much time wasted showing her heaven, when all that did was slow down the plot? Years later when she switches places with Ruth, a girl who could see her spirit, why didn’t she tell Ray that her murderer was outside about to dump her body in the sinkhole? All she wanted was to get her kiss at that exact same moment? None of it made sense.
The Book Answers all these Questions
Well, after reading the synopsis of The Lovely Bones book, all those questions were answered. It really is no wonder that fans of the book were so displeased with the movie. Jackson took it upon himself to exclude major parts of the story, as well as changing other key parts. Her mother didn’t leave to pick fruit. She actually had an affair with the detective in charge and eventually left to work in a winery. Susie appeared to her brother several times from her heaven, which is why he knew where she was. Harvey actually brutally raped and dismembered Susie, which was all left out of the movie. He didn’t leave her hat behind, but did toss her body into the sinkhole, where a dog later finds her elbow.
The wasted and boring time in her heaven was not in the book either. This was merely Jackson’s excuse to waste screen time with spruced up footage of New Zealand. Lastly, when she did finally spend time with Ray while switching places with Ruth, they not only kiss but also make love. It wasn’t conveniently placed in the story as Harvey dumped her body, since that was done years earlier.
Harvey’s Death Should Have Been More Horrific
The only thing that seems to the same for both the book and the movie is when Harvey finally gets his just desserts. From heaven Susie has an icicle fall on him, which causes him to slip off a cliff to his death. The title refers to how her family was able to heal and grow after losing their daughter/sister. It’s just a pity that the wrong director made this movie. Done correctly, it could and should have been a beautifully touching story.
