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The Giver
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Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep
Release Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG-13
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Comments (6)
Leave a comment“The Giver” as a book, I feel was trite and not even a decent allegory as in the “Lord of the Flies”. No rational explanations are given as to how the society at large is controlled, only certain emotions with meds as in anti-lust. Lots of rules is certainly an inhibitor but would not account for the allout control described. “Logoan’s Run” had a happy ending and the change in perspective of the main charcter was realistic. I don’t remember if “Brave New World” had a happy ending, but “Farienheit 451” was at least hopeful.
TG seems to be saying to middle school kids who have to read this mess of a story that giving-in to the rules is OK or if not, killing yourself is the way to make an impact on your society. Even with help from the Giver the community will have lots of those who choose to release themselves as they can’t cope with even pastels once memories are upon them. Huh, really? The book won an award, so the film probably will also, the more depressing and stupid the more Hollywood and Education loves the story.
I’m sure lots of kids will never consider “releasing” themselves for any reason after reading the book or seeing the film? 🙁
p.s. And I thought “A Separate Peace” and “The Catcher in the Rye” were a waste of time.
What a show of ignorance, not to mention oozing pretentiousness. The ending of the book is ambiguous. And Lowry added another three books to the series, two of which depict Jonas as alive and well. Next time you feel the urge to take up the mantle of social activism, do your homework first. Maybe a repeat of 7th grade would help.
It is hard to believe and even harder to understand how or why all of the Salem Radio Network radio talk show hosts’ websites promoted this film. I think I will pass, thank you………….
I saw the film two days ago and still think it was better than 95% of today’s super-hero explosion-filled spectaculars. Is it pretentious when you try something that tries to promote thought?
Thank you Kimberly for your synopsis of the book. I appreciated it. And, no, Brave New World does not end well. I don’t think it is read much anymore, and it is understood even less. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College, was appalled when he had his students read Brave New World. They thought the world it depicted sounded kind of fun and a place they might like to live; more utopian than dystopian. If you want to understand what Brave New World is about, read C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World Revisited. It is a much more sinister place than Professor Kreeft’s students think and surprisingly relevant for a book written in 1932.
and with a review like that…yet another reason why I don’t care for your talk show. I did love Hollywood Vs. America, but the way I saw the book was the way they put it in the movie. It followed close to the book.