Director: Phillip Noyce
Writer: Michael Mitnick, Robert B Weide (Screenplay) Lois Lowry (Book)
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, Alexander Skarsgard, Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush, Cameron Monaghan, Taylor Swift
Plot: In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the “real” world.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Enjoyable
Story: The Giver starts by taking us to the community that has been formed after war where we meet Jonas (Thwaites) who about to be assigned his job once they finish school, along with his best friends Fiona (Rush) and Asher (Monaghan). Jonas has always been thinking he doesn’t fit in, you know what this is just going to be the same old young adult idea, I can see it coming.
Jonas gets given the ultimate honor being selected as the new receiver of memories the highest honor anyone could get in the community. He receives training from The Giver (Bridges) the close to retirement age meaning he will give Jonas al of the memories of human history the one thing no one in the community is allowed to have.
Becoming the Receive means he can change the rules learn about something beyond their world which could bring down the community forever as Jonas becomes confused that no one else is allowed to feel these memoires.
The Giver is another young adult film that follows the traditional style of the film with an almost check list of ABC of things to see in the movie. I did like the idea of how the world is created and could fully believe that it comes off correctly for these people. I did like how the emotions really hitting our character and how it changes him. Where it could come off negatively is that we did see this happen to often in the genre but if this is a one off film in the genre it would have been a lot popular and we would see the end of the story in later film.
Actor Review
Brenton Thwaites: Jonas reaches the age where all school student graduates and enter into the chosen careers, Jonas is given the biggest honor and that is being the next Receiver. Jonas has to go through training which is going to give him all the emotions from human history but this only drives his desires to learn more about the world he lives in. Brenton is good in this leading role fitting the traits needed for the young adult genre.
Jeff Bridges: The Giver is the outgoing Receiver that needs to train Jonas and not make the mistakes he has made before. He tries a different approach from a life time of having the memories that have consumed him free the rest of the community. Jeff is good in this role never looking too out of place.
Meryl Streep: Chief Elder runs the community and with this power she watches over everything making sure everything in the community stays calm. Meryl is good in this supporting without really getting to the highest levels of her abilities.
Alexander Skarsgard: Father is the man that has raised Jonas because in this world you don’t have parents, he is good man never understand anything he does could be wrong. Alexander is solid in this supporting role.
Support Cast: The Giver has a small supporting cast with the genetic characters you would expect to see like the love interest and the reluctant best friend going into battle. They all work well in the stories path that help along the way.
Director Review: Phillip Noyce – Phillip does give us a good young adult film which does come off like the ones we have seen before.
Romance: The Giver does use the love angle to push the character to finally achieve the freedom desired.
Sci-Fi: The Giver puts us into a world where emotions are banned and well we have seen before but everything comes off really well.
Settings: The Giver creates a world we can see isolated from the world believe they are safe in their ways.
Special Effects: The Giver has good special effects to make see the black and white mix with the color being seen by the characters.
Suggestion: The Giver is one to try if you are a fan of the young adult genre. (Try It)
Best Part: The world created.
Worst Part: It is a builder film.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: Could have one.
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $25 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
Tagline: Search for truth. Find freedom.
Overall: Another good addition to the young adult genre.
Rating
