Having brought J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth to beautiful, war-ravaged life in the 'Lord of the Rings' movies, Peter Jackson sets his sights on higher territory in his latest film, creating a stunning and original vision of Heaven in the adaptation of Alice Sebold's best-selling, heartrending novel 'The Lovely Bones.'The first trailer for the flick -- about a teenage girl named Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) who is brutally murdered by her dollhouse-loving neighbor George (Stanley Tucci) and then watches from Heaven as her parents (Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz), family and friends cope with the aftermath -- has hit the Web, and it's sure to spark some lively debate. As one would expect from Jackson, the visuals are absolutely breathtaking, the drama is not in short supply, and the performances look top-notch.
But will the movie -- and Jackson's vision of Heaven -- live up to the expectations of diehard fans of the book? Watch the trailer below and then share your thoughts. (As for us? After getting over initial disappointment that Aragorn didn't show up to mete out a little retribution on George, we dug the trailer wholeheartedly.) -- By Tom DiChiara
Reader Comments (158)
Peter at 4:19PM on Aug 8th 2009
This was an incredible and heart-breaking book. I trust Peter Jackson but this will be a tough one to pull off. The trailer looks impressive, though and I sense it will be a great film.
Evelyn at 8:11PM on Aug 8th 2009
I LOVED this book and have given it to three people I know who have lost loved ones. This book confirms my own views about the afterlife. Ironically, my neighbor's daughter just died in a car accident two days ago. She was only 15. I hope this movie's depiction of a loved one who has crossed over to the Spirit World will help them understand that although our loved ones may be gone, they are still with us and we will see them again.
tfitz at 9:46PM on Aug 8th 2009
You actually gave some crazy book like this to people who had actually lost a loved one? Recently? You give this book to the parents of that poor 15 yr old and you may get your head handed to you. Don't do it!
Bob at 10:19PM on Aug 8th 2009
Confirms your views of the afterlife?Lol,it seems to be just a similar opinion with no conformation.....
sharon at 10:34PM on Aug 8th 2009
this book was gvien to me after the loss of my 19 yr old son.. i cried and cried.. it was touching , and so true to heart..i hope the movie does it justice.. it was a wonderful piece of writing..the 12th will be his 29th birthday.. we miss him so..
evelyn at 11:00PM on Aug 8th 2009
TFITZ: I didn't give the book to my neighbor who JUST lost her daughter on August 5th, but because the mom and I are very close friends, I KNOW she shares my views on the afterlife... that the departed can see us and are aware of what we are doing and that those of us here who have special abilities are sometimes able to see them as well.
Bob: Laugh all you want. Some people CHOOSE to believe something and others have had things PROVEN to them. You don't have to share my views, but I didn't just decide what I would believe. Just because you have never heard, seen or felt the presence of someone you loved who is in the Spirit World doesn't mean other people haven't had that experience... so, don't poke fun at what you know nothing about.
Kellina at 9:32PM on Aug 8th 2009
It looks like it is going to be an exciting film. I will have to read the book again before i see it. I just hope Peter Jackson does a good job and we dont end up with another book to movie like The Da Vinci Code
amber at 8:26PM on Aug 8th 2009
My friends and I have been waiting for this trailer for the longest time. We love the book and this looks extremely close to it. hopefully it's really good.
Heidi at 8:25PM on Aug 8th 2009
The book was heartbreaking and this trailer looks great. I don't think the movie will turn out bad I think it will be just as good as the book if not better.
Linda Jensen at 8:21PM on Aug 8th 2009
This book was one of the best books I have ever read. I just wanted to keep on reading,couldn't put it down.
Laura at 8:22PM on Aug 8th 2009
I also loved the book...and I am not much of a reader, but I could not put this one down. I agree that it will be hard to "pull off" because the book is always better than the movie, but we will see!
Angela at 8:28PM on Aug 8th 2009
I read the book and it was great. It takes place in a town in southeastern PA where I just happened to be visiting. Very true to the locale. It should make a terrific film. I'll buy the DVD when it comes out. Her murder takes place in a field near Kennett Square High School. Very unusual idea about death, quite fascinating.
T.C. Nemeth at 10:54PM on Aug 8th 2009
I was raised in Kennett Square, Pa.......I must get this book........T.C. Nemeth ( Welsh )
AC at 1:13AM on Aug 10th 2009
I loved the book, but I was a little skeptical when I heard about the movie. The trailer looks very promising though, so I'm really looking forward to it.
Thea at 10:35AM on Aug 9th 2009
The book is a "must read!" Now the movie looks like a winner. Sebold should be happy with Jacksons work. The cast is very well thought out and I can't wait to see it.
Lisa at 8:35PM on Aug 8th 2009
My book club and I read this book when it was first published, and not one of us could find any redeeming qualities in it. It was not well written, it was poorly concluded, and it was a mystery to all of us why it received such acclaim. I not only would I not recommend the book, but I would not see the movie if it were free. As an aside, who on God's green earth would choose to return to high school as their heaven. Get real!
Lizette at 9:52PM on Aug 8th 2009
Okay, the conclusion is obviously done in a way where everyone will find their inner peace, meaning the family knows Susie is in heaven and they won't have to wonder where she is, even though they never find her, they trust that she will be in a safe place in heaven. As for the high school that she picked as her heaven, did it ever occur to you that she is 14 years old and life in a small town gave her a small view of the world. Since she falls in love with Ray, she envisions high school and Ray in it, duh. She barely lived her life, but what the book is trying to say is that as time went by, she matured and understood why certain things happen in life; for example, the affair the mother has and the father moving out, etc. If you do not find this book interesting, at least understand why things happen in the book before complaining about things you don't realize.
Mariam at 10:14PM on Aug 8th 2009
Your book club found nothing redeeming about this book at all? Nothing in the printed words? Then you owe it to yourself to see it as a movie for its richly compelling story of a child's love for her family and a lovely portrait of life after death. You may still dislike it, and if you do, then maybe your bookclub should consider nonfiction instead.
Miranda at 10:59PM on Aug 8th 2009
Lisa I totally agree with you on this and I am glad you shared your view of the book. I too did not enjoy the book at all and found myself wondering why it had gotten so much acclaim. I have no desire to see the movie, regardless of who is starring in it or directing it.
Vivi at 11:56PM on Aug 8th 2009
Hi Lisa,
I think you and your book club are reading books from a particular genre. You expressed that you were disappointed in the 'syntax' and the 'prose' etc. I don't think what it may be lacking in terms of written technique takes away from the overall story. This isn't Shakespeare - (whom I adore). Who cares if the word arrangement and the writing wasn't "beautifully crafted". Sometimes art doesn't have to be technically accurate. I enjoy mediums that break the rules and 'color outside the lines' in order to convey whatever it is that they need to convey. In this book it works. The voice is coming from a 14 yr old girl who continues to mature in heaven. The book is really unique and wonderful and any lack of textbook writing doesn't take away from it. Who says one cannot experiment with different styles of writing in order to convey the mood they want to evoke. Who cares if it isn't textbook. Technique is there to sharpen and bring out what lies in our imagination to life. If structure can be tweaked to bring into focus what we need to translate then so be it. The writing took me back to that era- I could touch, see, taste, smell etc. everything I read. I am looking forward to the movie.