Tag Line: Dark secrets will come to light
Release Date: 14 February 2013
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 124 min
Genres: Drama, Fantasy Romance
Series or Standalone: Series (assuming)
Where Seen: Theatre (screening)
Production Company: Alcon Entertainment, Warner Bros. Entertainment
Distributed By: Warner Bros. Entertainment
Director(s): Richard LaGravenese
Writer(s): Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Kami Garcia (novel), Margaret Stohl (novel)
Stars: Alden Ehrenreich (Ethan Wate), Alice Englert (Lena Duchannes), Jeremy Irons (Macon Ravenwood), Viola Davis (Amma), Emmy Rossum (Ridley Duchannes), Emma Thompson (Mrs Lincoln/Sarafine)
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Castor Chronicles Series Order (assuming based on book series order)
Film 1: Beautiful Creatures
Film 2: Beautiful Darkness
Film 3: Beautiful Chaos
Film 4: Beautiful Redemption
These days it seems like any popular young adult novel is bound to be turned into a movie and while there are times in which I love the idea there are others where I'm just not entirely sold. Beautiful Creatures is one of those movies where I wasn't entirely sold because I have yet to be able to finish the book. I've started it numerous times but was never able to get into it. Though this is one case where I was also almost glad for the movie as it is a very long book and movies always cut things out in an attempt to make things more cohesive in the time allowed.
I was surprised at how entertaining this movie was as I was expecting it to be pretty serious throughout. But there were lots of moments where I, and the audience, were all laughing out loud. I am a sucker for a good one liner and Beautiful Creatures was filled with them. However, these moments were often overshadowed with overly cliched scenes/soundtrack overlays that would sometimes have me rolling my eyes. However, I felt that there was a severe lack of a decent soundtrack to this movie and the whole thing could have been made better with a different score and actual use of some pop culture music.
The acting was all really well done by everyone in the main cast with notable nods to Alden Ehrenreich (Ethan), Jeremy Irons (Macon), and Emma Thompson (Mrs Lincoln/Sarafine). Emma Thompson alone is almost enough of a reason to pay theatre prices to go see this movie. She is exceptional in her role and stole almost all of the scenes that she was in. The biggest disappointment came from Alice Englert (Lena) who was often a bit lifeless on screen. There where some pretty intense magical type scenes and her face would just show no emotion. It was hard to get behind her as a person and care about if she turned light or dark. It was also hard to believe that she was in love with Ethan as much as he was in love with her.
Overall, I enjoyed Beautiful Creatures and watching it on screen has made me want to try the book one more time to see if this time is the one in which I make it through until the end. I'm curious to know where all the changes from book to screen where made. Though according to the friend I went with they did change the ending up a bit and merge a couple of characters together. Knowing that, I am not sure how fans of the book will react to the adaptation but I think those unfamiliar with the story will enjoy it for what it is.
Final Verdict: A good movie but might be one to rent on DVD.
Glad you liked it! I have no plans to see this in theaters and likely never as DVD either but I'm glad it doesn't sound as cheesy bad as the trailers make it out to be.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you couldn't get through the book yet like the movie. If I see this one, it will probably be a rental.
ReplyDeleteI really didn't like the book that much, so I am not excited by the movie. But I think I will probably rent it someday so that I can if they made it better. :)
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