i prefer the book (The Beach (DVD))

Member Name: Izak

Product:	The Beach (DVD)
Date:	29/07/01 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good setting, pretty well acted

Disadvantages: changed from book too much, boring (to be blunt)

A while ago I read Alex Garland’s “the Beach”. It was, and still is, a superbly written, and grippingly adventurous book, about a man who finds out about a secret beach. He finds this paradise, full of dope fields owned by the members of the other half of the beach. The action starts there, and the beach members go out of their way to keep this paradise beach a secret. After reading such a great book, I decided to watch the film, I was a little put off by the casting of the main character (Leonardo DiCaprio), but went ahead anyway.

The film turned out to be awful, for many reasons, and I don’t see how the story line of the film which was completely changed from the book, could appeal to anyone. It doesn’t even seem that the makers of the film actually read the book! The ending of the book is based on key events, which make the whole thing interesting. Many of these were left out completely! – e.g. The poisonous Octopus. Also, the absence of Jed, an important character in the book, was not included in the film at all! Even the events and relationships of the beach members that were in the film, were not emphasized nearly enough. E.g. the rivalry between Richard and Bugs was near to nothing. What I think spoilt it the most, as well as the changed ending, was that they added two completely pointless sexual affairs, (not mentioning names) just to make the film seem mildly interesting. I was much appalled by the film in comparison to the book.

However, I have to say that the film is well set, with the actual beach and lagoon a perfect match to my imagination whilst reading it, and the film is well acted, and directed, and the action isn't bad. So, if you haven’t read the book, but like a simple movie, with a little action and sex, but not much thought put into it, then watch the damned thing!

Summary: