The Giver does not deliver
Correspondent | Friday September 26, 2014 16:24
Movie: The Giver
Genre: Drama,Sci-Fi
Age Restriction: 13
Release Date: 12 September
Director: Phillip Noyce
Main Cast: Jeff Bridges (The Giver), Meryl Streep (Chief Elder), Brenton Thwaites (Jonas-The Receiver), Odeya Rush (Fiona) and Katie Holmes (Jonas’ mom)
The drama genre is one that always produces re-liveable films, movies that depict real life situations. Though this genre does not command a huge following like other film classifications such a comedy action it does, however, dish out some spectacular true life story telling.
It was no different with this latest instalment of melodrama The Giver. This movie is a must-see. It is a movie adaptation derived from Lois Lowry’s 1993 award-winning novel that won the Newbery Medal and has sold more than 10 million copies in Australia, Canada, and the United States, which spelled, potential for a movie.
Book adaptation films always turn into big screen sensations; notable examples are the Twilight and Harry Porter movies that were well received. This one is no exception.
However, in relation to that, for this particular drama movie the star-studded line up of cast and crew made it a bit more fascinating to watch.
This is simply because it prides itself with award-winning actors like Jeff Bridges (The Giver), Meryl Streep (Chief Elder) playing leading roles alongside emerging actor Brenton Thwaites (Jonas-The Receiver) not forgetting to mention a special appearance by singer Taylor Swift.
All the above actors have entertained us in movies like Iron Man 2, The Devil Wears Prada and The Signal among others respectively.
Despite that, Phillip Noyce the same director who gave us the action thriller Salt featuring Angelina Jolie in 2010 directed this film.
In this book adaptation the storyline is that at first through Jonas’ eyes, his community appears to be a utopia. In the year 2048, after a war, the community has decided to get rid of different races and feelings.
All the citizens have had their memories erased; except for the Receiver of Memory. As the Receiver of Memory is the only individual in the community who has the memories from before, he must advise the Chief Elder, and the other Elders, on the decisions for the community.
When Jonas is 18-years-old, he is chosen to be the community’s next Receiver of Memories. He enters into training with an old man called The Giver. From the Giver, Jonas learns about colours, pain and all other fortunes that make life bright in the ‘real’ world.
He quickly realises that his community is fake and that memories of the real world should be released back into the community to live life, as it should be rather than being restrained.
Meanwhile, after watching the 97-minute film, it left a lot to be desired. The only positive that I grasped from this movie is the fact that it conveyed a meaningful message portrayed under a theme that signifies the importance of other elements like memory, love, colour and so forth that add meaning to life.
The theme for The Giver is the significance of memory to human life.
The fact that there is need for bad memories in order to rejoice the good reflects on all that makes life what it is today.
Life without different races, pain, nor colour, music elements distorts the concept of life as perceived by pale black and white scenery through the opening minutes of The Giver depicting hopeless empty brainwashed thoughts.
Despite the drama having all the star power from the likes of Katie Holmes, Taylor swift their performances fell short of excitement.
Last but not least The Giver movie concept is a carbon copy of movies like Divergent and Elysium. In other words this movie fell victim to other sci-fi movies that premiered before it which relayed a similar scenario of life in the future.
Finally, with regard to the box office reception The Giver was not sought-after as even during the screening we were only a handful in the theatre.
The film is a flop and the figures speak for themselves from a budget of $25 million dollars it accumulated only $4million on its premiere day, and $12 million by end of week one.
And all together with six weeks at the cinema it has grossed $53 million worldwide. The movie dropped down the pecking order to 13th spot last weekend. The Giver is in its second week in Botswana, for this production it would be fitting to award this movie a 4/10 rating, as it does not exceed expectations.
It had all the right ingredients of cast, crew and book-adapted script to make a great movie, however, the implementation into screenplay was the major let down.