The Movie
Peter Jackson deftly combines fantasy with harsh reality in his much-anticipated adaptation of The Lovely Bones, based upon Alice Sebold's book. It's 1973 and Susie Salmon (a radiant Saoirse Ronan) is a better-than-average teenager innocently dreaming of her first kiss when she is lured to her doom by predatory neighbor George Harvey (Stanley Tucci, Oscar-nominated for his performance here). From a not-quite-Heaven "in-between" world, she watches over her family as they grieve, neither the living nor the dead quite able to let go. Susie discovers that Harvey is more dangerous than anyone knows, and when he takes an interest in Susie's little sister, the young spirit does all she can to help her fractured brood.
The tale is richly rendered by an unquestionably masterful filmmaker, but I found the depiction of the spirit world to be a tad pretentious, and Act III's "we'll solve this ourselves" investigation to be incongruous, and almost tacked-on. But the memorable imagery and outstanding acting make Lovely Bones worth a watch.
Be sure to read Lexi Feinberg's review of The Lovely Bones as well.
The Picture
The 2.40:1 frame is frequently filled with digital special effects, particularly surrounding Susie's transition to a highly stylized afterlife, and the fantastic images maintain their illusion in high-def. Colors are exceptionally strong, owing partly to the garish hues of early '70s fashion. Shot on a combination of film and digital media, the picture shows some harshness and the streaking associated with video, but even this is used by Jackson to his advantage, as this look seems to center most noticeably upon the not-quite-right Harvey. Some noise intrudes upon a generally solid HD master.
The Sound
Inter-channel phasing, echoes and other sonic tricks are used in this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track to suggest memories, madness and otherworldly voices. Discrete environmental effects have been thoughtfully placed around the soundfield as well, along with satisfying home theater moments such as a flock of birds sprung from the leaves of a tree flitting overhead. Dialogue is always clear, and sound effects are always well-blended with the music, both the classic tunes and Brian Eno's original score. Bass isn't stingy, either.
The Extras
The sole bonus in this set is a big one (it takes up an entire Blu-ray disc), boldly attempting to give audiences the most accurate and extensive view of a movie production ever assembled for home video. In his one-minute introduction, Peter Jackson explains that what we are about to see is a series of vignettes arranged in true chronological order, one for each week of the production. "USA Principal Photography" covers weeks one thru eight, "New Zealand Principal Photography" spans weeks nine thru 13, while "Visual Effects Photography" took two more weeks. With narration, many alternate takes, and just enough interviews to explain the finer points, we gain a sense of the daunting sweat and staggering creativity that goes into a major motion picture. A tremendous amount of work clearly went into this nigh-three-hour endeavor, too (in HD), and it shows.
Final Thoughts
An emotionally challenging but engaging story told with visual panache, The Lovely Bones takes its rightful place in the esteemed Peter Jackson canon. For its moments of splendor, this one is best savored on Blu-ray, while the brilliant bonus material might prove to be a landmark.
Product Details
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