Independent Reading Film Blog

Plot-
       The plot of the movie was almost identical to the short story, from the quotes to the experiences the characters have. Some critical things did change though, such as Chris rescuing Teddy from the train rather than Gordie. Because of this switch, the reader is not able to know what feelings it evoked between Chris and Teddy because we are limited to what Gordie's thoughts are. A scene that was not in the short story at all was Gordie's Yankees' cap, a cap he loves because it was given to him by his dead brother, being stolen by Ace Merrill before they even leave town. This added scene goes against the almost apathetic feelings that Gordie had for his brother in the short story. It said that he didn't even cry at his funeral, while Gordie seems pretty torn up about the loss in the film. This switch can change the audience's attitude toward Gordie. While the movie adds the last scene, it takes away an important one in the book. When Gordie goes to get food in the movie, he does not get in a skirmish with the store owner over his brother. This scene was important to revealing Gordie's character and yearning to break away from under his brother's shadow, but the movie does not allow the viewer this knowledge.

Point Of View-
       Like the short story, the movie is told from an adult Gordie's point of view. It was important to keep it this way in the movie because it reveals the other characters very well. Gordie knows his friends very well, and this allows the readers to know them, too. At the beginning of the movie, it shows Gordie reading about Chris' death. Because the movie is in his point of view, we know that he cared very much for Chris. It gives it a emotional element that the reader or viewer can relate to. This point of view is important to the work as a whole because it reveals the character's inner turmoils, rather than simply telling about their journey to find a dead body. It would still be good if that were the case, but it would not grasp the audience as it does.

Characterization-
       The characterization is revealed mostly through the interactions of the characters rather than Gordie's inner thoughts, like in the short story. This mode worked better for the movie because if everything was revealed through the narrator's voice in the background, it would have made for a boring movie. It is a good idea for writing, but not for something that people want to view. While the mode of characterizing was changed, the actual characters themselves did not change. Teddy was still the son of a crazy veteran who did stupid stunts, Chris was still the tough guy with a big heart and Gordie's best friend, and Vern was still the odd fat kid who was always scared to try stuff. If one element of the character's had changed, it would have been a negative effect because the author of the short story, Stephen King, created them as they were meant to be.

Setting-
       The setting is the same. The town is still Castle Rock, Oregon, and they are still going to the Back Harlow Road. The take the same train tracks, go to the same dump, and the movie keeps all of the elements of setting. This helps to stay with the theme of young boys, in a time before people worried about kidnappers on every corner, setting out to find their own rite of passage. It was important to stay with this setting, because it went from their safe little homes and tree house to an uninhabited forest with wild plants and animals. They were breaking away from safety, and venturing out to find something new, a lesson which the reader appreciates.

Theme-
       The theme also stayed the same. The boys find what they are looking for, and come to the realization that they are no longer innocent. They have seen something mature, and they feel very strongly about it. The theme is rite of passage, a fairly common one, but it is taken to a new level through the short story, and the movie continues this idea. Had the theme changed in any way, the story would not be as powerful as it was. The first thing I noticed about it was that it was such a powerful story to people who had already gone through a similar rite of passage. The characters do not realize what they are in for, but the reader does. Seeing a dead body for the first time must be one of the most humbling experiences. And the fact that the movie kept this aspect of the short story the same is a very good thing.