Like most films based on novels, Peter Jackson’s 2009 film “The Lovely Bones” leaves the audience feeling as though they’ve just overheard someone’s conversation but must have missed some of the context because it does not make very much sense. Adapting a novel to film is a great task and if anyone can do it, it should be Peter Jackson, who adapted J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” novels into some of the highest grossing films of all time.

Despite being able to pull off his highly stylized and hugely over budgeted “Lord of the Rings” films, Jackson fails to adapt Alice Sebold’s 2002 novel with the same talent and attention to detail that he put into his previous films.

Sebold’s novel tells the unforgettable story of a young girl who, after being raped and murdered, watches from heaven as her family and friends continue on with their lives, while she herself tries to come to terms with her death.

Although Jackson has flawlessly cast the roles in his film, the superb acting is not enough to cover up the fact that Jackson shied away from telling Sebold’s story with bravery and raw emotion the way the author did in her novel.

The most pivotal moment in the film, young Susie Salmon’s rape and murder, is glossed over and brushed off as quickly as possible before moving on to the breath-taking CGI that comprises Susie Salmon’s limbo and heaven.

While the audience is captivated by the fantastic imagery that Jackson creates to pass Salmon’s time in heaven, the expensive CGI does not cover up the fact that Jackson, who could handle the tragic details of the apocalypse on Middle Earth, could not face the tragedy of showing the rape and murder of young Susie Salmon.

Once the audience gets past Jackson’s failed attempt at producing a film that stays true to the novel, the film can still be enjoyable to watch.

Saoirse Ronan is a captivating Susie Salmon. Just as captivating is Mark Wahlberg, who plays a devastated and broken father who never gives up looking for his daughter.

The acting is the one redeeming quality of Jackson’s film.

Overall, it is an interesting watch, especially for those that have read Sebold’s novel. Like the novel, Jackson’s film gives a glimpse into the life of a very troubled man who preys on the innocent women surrounding him. As Salmon watches from heaven, her murderer goes on with his life while her family deconstructs and falls apart over the loss they have suffered.

“The Lovely Bones” tells a fresh and undeniably intriguing story that stands out despite some poor stylistic choices made by the director.

The brilliant acting by the cast and the originality of the plot more than make up for the mistakes that Jackson made while attempting to adapt a novel to film.

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