| Author | Message | ||
     Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 319 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: |
Hello All, For those of you who were around this spot when news came down that Oprah had bought the movie rights for the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, you may remember that I was ticked, and with good reason. After the terrible job Oprah did with her movie version of The Wedding by Dorothy West by miscasting (thereby ruining the very backbone of the novel); I damn well did not want her hands on Their Eyes Were Watching God. The first down fall was that she cast Halle Berry as Janie Crawford. I like Halle, but depending on the script, I don't believe she has the chops to take on a character as complex as Janie Crawford. But, the greatest mistake Oprah could have done was repeat the one she made with The Wedding by casting actors that are nowhere, physically, near the description of the characters in the movie. Let me ask you all this, especially those of you who has a copy of the novel available, isn't Teacake a dark skinned young man? Now, look at the actor they have playing him and then get back with me. | ||
| Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 940 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
Thumper: Do they have a website up and where is it? | ||
| Bimsha Regular Poster Username: Bimsha Post Number: 36 Registered: 02-2004 Rating: N/A |
I agree - Halle is not the right choice at all --I did like Beloved - I thought it was a powerful movie - but The Wedding left something to be desired. | ||
| Soul_sister Newbie Poster Username: Soul_sister Post Number: 22 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: |
Hey All, We were discussing this today at work and agree that the woman that played the mother in "Ray" should be the one to play Janie in Their Eyes.. whatch 'all think? Clearly, Halle has nothing eles to do -- if I were her, maybe I would open an acting school or a school of deportment or modeling -- since she is not rich enough for philanthropy -- what y'all think - Peace | ||
| Steve_s Veteran Poster Username: Steve_s Post Number: 56 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Halle bought the movie rights to Kathryn Talalay's biography of classical music prodigy Philippa Schuyler (Composition in Black and White) and has signed Alicia Keys for the title role. Isn't producing a relatively new chop for Halle? She chose a good story, but then again, nobody's said they're looking for tunas with good taste. Is Alicia a good physical match? Philippa was mistaken for Vietnamese while based in Saigon as a war correspondent and tried briefly reinventing herself as an Andalusian (or was it Iberian) in order to get work. According to that standard Halle herself fits the role better, although she's the wrong age. Hey I wish her all the best. I'll definitely go see it. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 1930 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
I read Phillippa Schuyler's biography as while back, mainly because I remember her when she was in her child prodigy stage. Her life story was a compelling one particularly because of its tragic ending. There's a passing resemblance between her and Alicia obviously because they were both of racially-mixed heritage. And of course, like Phillippa, Alicia is a classically-trained pianist. But can Alicia act??? She speaks in a monotone and displayss very little emotion in her public appearances. In tackling this role, the first thing she'd have to do is to get past that phony hip-hop facade she currently assumes - which I guess in itself is a testament to her affinity for acting. Hummm. | ||
| Mahoganyanais Newbie Poster Username: Mahoganyanais Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A |
Steve_s, Halle executive produced "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" in 1999 and is scheduled to produce or exec-produced 3 other films this year. So, she doesn't have much experience, but I did like "...Dorothy Dandridge." | ||
| Mahoganyanais Veteran Poster Username: Mahoganyanais Post Number: 62 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: |
Sorry...I don't have the source for this: Zora's Due: TV Brings Hurston To Life LOS ANGELES - In producing a television movie of her favorite love story, Oprah Winfrey lined up good friend Halle Berry to star, entrusted the script to a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and lavished attention on the project. Yet the talk-show queen has a long-term hope for "Their Eyes Were Watching God," the film of the 1937 novel by Zora Neale Hurston, Eatonville, Fla.'s most celebrated resident. "My goal is to get as many people to see it as possible and to elevate Zora Neale Hurston," Winfrey says. "If two weeks after the film Zora Neale Hurston's name is on the best-seller list, we would have won." Oscar-winner Berry takes the central role of Janie Crawford, whose search for fulfillment takes place in Central Florida. The film will air from 9 to 11:30 p.m. EST March 6 on ABC. "To be a part of bringing Zora's work to life is something that will be a part of my legacy," Berry says. "It's not just making movies for the sense of entertaining. It's actually doing something much deeper." Hurston became a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century with books that used dialect to explore black culture, and "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is regarded as her masterpiece. The novel tells of Janie's tumultuous relationships with three men and includes a devastating hurricane. The film represents a major turning point in the author's legacy, says Valerie Boyd, who wrote the Hurston biography "Wrapped in Rainbows" that came out two years ago. "Occasionally, I'm still surprised how many people are not aware of her or haven't read her books," Boyd says. "This TV adaptation will change all that. It catapults her into pop culture, into the mainstream. What's more mainstream than ABC and Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry?" Hurston died in penniless obscurity in 1960. Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple," helped revive interest in Hurston with a 1975 essay for Ms. magazine about finding the novelist's unmarked grave in Fort Pierce, Fla. The fascination with Hurston has grown steadily during the past 30 years, from biographies to a postage stamp to the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities. That event, marking its 16th year, runs Wednesday through Sunday around Central Florida. N.Y. Nathiri, the festival's general manager, says the maverick heroine and older woman-younger man love story in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" are likely to hook viewers. "If you sit there and listen, you're going to be drawn in," Nathiri says. "Having it on television is almost like she (Hurston) could be rediscovered. To people not reading, it's going to make an impact." Winfrey and her colleagues went the television route rather than the big screen to reach those possible readers. "We all know the fickleness of the film industry," Berry says. "Television is easy: Turn on the TV, it's free and watch it. That was the way for us to reach the masses." Winfrey will promote the movie from her high-rated talk show , and she met the nation's TV critics Sunday to explain her passion for Hurston's work. "I love, love, love this book," Winfrey says. "Other than `The Color Purple,' I've never loved a book as much." Winfrey never picked "Their Eyes Were Watching God" for her book club because she dreamed of making a movie. She and legendary musician Quincy Jones halted a bidding war for the rights to buy them together. Jones is listed as co-executive producer. "It's important for us to see African-Americans in a light that allows not only the history and legacy of the culture but to show love," Winfrey says. "That's often not seen in a way that people can relate to." Suzan-Lori Parks, who won the Pulitzer for the play "Topdog/Underdog," wrote the teleplay. Emmy-winner Ruby Dee and Tony-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson have crucial supporting roles. Winfrey called Berry about doing the film the day after the actress won the Oscar for "Monster's Ball" three years ago. Berry agreed immediately. Berry's ability to play emotional turmoil thrills Anna Lillios, an associate professor of English at the University of Central Florida who's working on a Hurston biography. "She's my idea of Janie," Lillios says. "Janie was beautiful. There are a lot of details about her beautiful hair, about her trying to find herself. The whole book turns on the personality of Janie." But Berry says she's feeling a lot of pressure about the role because many of the book's fans have warned her not to mess it up. The novel has become required reading in many colleges and high schools. The TV film has been in the works for nine years, and shooting was put off twice to accommodate Berry's big-screen schedule. Filming took 33 days - 31 in California and two in Central Florida - while most TV movies average 18 to 22 days. "We didn't have to rush," says Quinn Taylor, ABC's senior vice president of movies. "You can't rush a performance like that. Kate Forte insists on making the movie properly." Executive producer Forte runs Winfrey's Harpo Films in Los Angeles. They have been responsible for Emmy-winning adaptations of Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays With Morrie" and Connie May Fowler's "Before Women Had Wings." Taylor describes "Their Eyes Were Watching God" as Disney-owned ABC's biggest movie this season. "People talk about cable movies - I'll put this movie against them because of its sensuality, its adult nature, its message," Taylor says. Winfrey boasts that the film contains "the best on-screen kiss I've ever seen" and applauds ABC for keeping it in. But Winfrey's thoughts keep coming back to Hurston and the hope that the film gives the author "the kind of stature that she deserved when she was alive." "More important than anything, I just hope that it introduces the book to high-school kids and reading moms and a public that probably never would have heard of her," Winfrey says. Would Winfrey ever tell Hurston's life story? "We'll first wait and see how this is received," she says of the "Their Eyes" film. "You have to introduce her to the public before you can tell her story." | ||
| Reader23 Newbie Poster Username: Reader23 Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2004 Rating: N/A |
While I am happy that the book will finally receive the attention it deserves with a movie, I am also displeased with the casting. I saw a television promo for the movie and I was very disappointed. Both Halle and the gentleman looked out of place. I hope the movie is so dynamite as to distract me from the casting. | ||
| Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 342 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, *Shaking my head* I don't have a good feeling about this at tall! I think I'm going to have to re-read Their Eyes again. Maybe just to firm up the images I get from the book in my head before the movie destroys it altogether. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 1960 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: |
You know I'm find it interesting how Zora Heal Hurston has been resurrected and put on a pedestal all because Alice Walker decided to anoint her. I loved "Wrapped in Rainbows" Zora's autobiography and she was a unique person and does deserve credit for being in the vanguard of feminism, but - the way "Their Eyes Were Watching God" is sooo revered and sacred gives me pause. To me, is was an OK book, but not that great! Surely Halle Berry can do as good a job as anybody in the role of Janie; she can certainly draw from her own personal experiences in portraying this troubled character. And she is, after all, physically-suited for the role because Janie was light-skinned and pretty with long hair. Cut poor Halle some slack. | ||
| Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 347 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, I can't believe that our Cynique is telling us to give somebody a break! I'm practically on the floor from the shock of it.*big smile* Anyway, I just saw the commercial for the movie, and I'm sorry Cynique, I just ain't moved. But, I will try to keep an open mind. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 1962 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Ha-Ha. I just took up for ol Halle cuz there's been a backlash against her ever since she won her Oscar. So, in keeping with my contrary tendencies, I had to buck the tide and say she could handle a difficult role. If someone had said something negative about Halle like calling her a "dysfunctional ditz" I, in all of my magnanimous malice, would've readily agreed. | ||
| Carey "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 446 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All Shame on you Thump, their you go again *smile*. Yeah, I was around and I remember your tune real real, thank you very much. Let it go! You've been beating up on these poor people for years now and you are still wrong. I am not going to take you all through it but Thump knows what I speak  . If a person can act the color should not matter.......unless it matters to the person with the opinion, if you know what I mean. Hell, what color was Cleopatra (sp)?. How about Jesus......oh lawd, no I didn't. Let it go Thump, haten is sooooooo ugly. | ||
| Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 349 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, Carey: O' my Ol' Grayhead, have you not been absorbing the wisdom that I have been spouting for all these years? Have you not been picking up what I've been putting down? *eyebrow raised* *LOL* Listen, you know as well as I do that color does indeed matter. We have NOT (no matter what people may think or lied to themselves about) gotten past it. Authors have reasons, be it good or bad, for giving their characters the complexion that they are. Let's take for instance the first Oprah bomb, The Wedding. Dorothy West made the main characters as white with the one drop of blood thing for a reason, to explore another dimension of what we call race. It was important to the story for those characters to have the color they did in order to get the point West was trying to make. By Oprah choosing actors that were darker for those light-next-to-white characters, she essentially eliminated the crest of West's novel. The character that Halle played in that movie was described as being a blonde with blue eyes, which was why her great grandmother loved her more than her other granddaughters because of her color. This did not translate well in the movie. And that's my point. For Their Eyes, I believe Zora made the same choice. So instead of looking at the book straight on, we instead have people trying to turn it with a 21st century politically correct, I have arrived mentality. | ||
| Carey "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 447 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All Thump, yeah you are correct but I had to give you a little sumptin' to see if you were still my same guy. If complextion didn't matter, why mention it, huh. Got ya. I stand corrected. | ||
| Mahoganyanais AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Mahoganyanais Post Number: 77 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A |
Halle stays busy... Berry & Forster Reteaming on Nefertiti Film Source: Production Weekly February 15, 2005 Monster's Ball director Marc Forster and star Halle Berry are planning to reteam on the story of Egyptian queen Nefertiti, the wife of the great Pharaoh Akhenaten who achieved status similar to that of her husband. Production Weekly says a script is currently being commissioned with shooting scheduled to begin by early 2006. Forster will first direct the comedy Stranger Than Fiction, with Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, and Queen Latifah. Filming on that project starts mid-April in Chicago. It is unknown at this time whether or not Berry will return as Storm for X-Men 3, which is expected to start shooting this summer. | ||
| Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 373 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, I have just finished re-reading Their Eyes Were Watching God. I wanted to have my visions and perceptions of the book well in place before I see Oprah's version tonight. The novel is more wonderful than I remembered. I also wanted to make sure that my early opinion concerning the characters were correct before I really came down hard on Oprah and company. Earlier, in this thread, I made a point with Carey that color does indeed matter, no matter how many of us want to pretend that it doesn't matter. I think its a poor excuse and a major cop out taking this approach than facing the real issue of racism down and shoving your fist down its throat. Seeing how Oprah cast this movie, I strongly recommend that everyone read or re read the original novel and experience the beauty of Their Eyes Were Watching God and not through the eyes of 21st century politically correct, color struck, denial that seems to be running rampant in upper-, middle class black folks of today. | ||
| Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 374 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, I am at the half way point of the movie, and I can't stand it! the movie is beautifully shot. The direction of the movie sucks though. You all already know I had a feeling that I wasn't going to like it. When I saw Oprah's introduction, I knew my dislike was more than a notion. She said that the story was her favorite love story. The novel, in my opinion was the evolution of Janie; one in which she embraced and bloomed into her womanhood. Second, the novel was a love letter to Hurston's vision of Eatonville, her hometown. Both of these elements are missing in the movie. Janie's years as Mrs. Mayor Stark is so abbreviated that if you blinked, not only would you miss it, you wouldn't even catch the scent it left as it passed you by. The porch, story telling, Joe Stark's slow and airtight imprisonment of Janie's spirit and Janie's defenses slow breaking down, is gone, and without that death, how can there be a resurrection? *eyebrow raised* Speaking of death and Joe Stark. Because the movie didn't follow Hurston's storyline, the movie version of Joe Stark's death scene made no damn sense. Why did they give Janie's lines in the book to Joe in the movie? About half way through the movie, I was more than a little pissed and disgusted so I started flipping the channels. I went to TCM and low and behold they were broadcasting the 1959 movie version of William Faulkner's Intruder in the Dust. Ironic, to say the least, because Intruder in the Dust is the mystery of a proud black man in the deep South who is accused of murdering a white man. The main point is the black man Lucas Beauchamp is a black man who took no crap from any man, white or black. Also ironic is that this movie version stayed relatively close to the book. Unlike Oprah and company, the Intruder movie maker didn't try to retell an already well told story. Only and idiot or a fool would put more salt into an already perfectly seasoned stew just because they can. | ||
| Always_lurking Regular Poster Username: Always_lurking Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2004 Rating: N/A |
I didn't read the book (it is on my reading list) and still thought the move was lacking. I understand that she wanted to tell a love story, but, IMO, it was weak. I didn't really feel anything for TK and the intensity that this great love was suppose to have was not portrayed on screen. The whole thing was blah. I wanted more and actually kept waiting for TK to die so something better could happen. Anywho, I now I know I will enjoy the book that much more. | ||
| Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 375 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, Give me a second more to stay in my state of shock…. After watching the second half of Their Eyes Were Watching God, I can’t believe that they let that movie go out into the public. Where was that voice of reason that when that script showed up to announce, “Dis mule wont plow!”? The language, the beauty and the rhythm of the language Hurston created was ignored. Why? Did people in that area and time not talk like that? *eyebrow raised* Or did Oprah and company feel that in order for us to understand the story, the language had to be watered down, dumb down. I guess pretending that folks in Florida do not talk with an accent unique to that part of the country is keeping it too real. Could someone tell Oprah and company that the title of the book is THEIR Eyes Were Watching God and NOT Janie’s Eyes Were Watching God? And where was Janie’s peach tree? What was up with the water ballet stuff? Another thing I was looking forward to was the scene where Teacake got bit by the rapid dog, which was sitting on the back of the cow floating down the river. Surely Oprah could have sprung for some computer generated animation. Speaking of which, with the technology, why didn’t we get some special effect for the hurricane? I didn’t know if I was watching a hurricane or a bad storm. Speaking of Teacake, *eyebrow raised* I’m not going to go into the fact that in the novel, Teacake was black with purple lips, or the fact that some folk didn’t want Janie with him cause he was black, but the movie version of Teacake was not a very likable fellow. What did Janie (the movie version) see in him? I couldn’t help but notice that the trial scene was missing. I’m going to try and let this go. Cynique, I gave it a chance and look how they did me. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 2011 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
I went to a surprise birthday dinner for my sister-in-law, and they had an open bar... I got home just in time to turn on the TV and watch "Their Eyes Were Watching God" - or at least for it to watch me. I'll take your word for it that the movie was a bust. But I'm not upset about it. I don't invest my hopes in other people, and the book wasn't that sacred to me. What can I say? That's show biz. | ||
| Yvettep Regular Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 46 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A |
I, too, missed the broadcast. I understand when we get this feeling of ownership about books we love. Like Cynique says, tho, "That's show biz"! And like Spike used to say to people telling him what he should have done with his movies: "That's your movie: You should make it. But I made mine." I have to give props to Oprah for bringing the works of Black authors alive to broad audiences--Too many folks who also have the $ and power choose not to use it this way. Also, I have to admit to having a soft spot for Halle. For example, check out the following: Halle Berry accepts "Razzie" for Catwoman, calls it a "piece of shit" The Razzies are joke awards given for actors and filmmakers who produce crappy movies. It's rare for a Razzie "winner" to make a personal appearance at the awards, but Halle Berry gets my vote for coolest person in Hollywood for not only showing up to get a Razzie for Catwoman, but also making a very funny speech: Berry was named worst actress of 2004 by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation for her performance in "Catwoman" and she showed up to accept her "Razzie" carrying the Oscar she won in 2002 for "Monster's Ball." "They can't take this away from me, it's got my name on it!" she quipped. A raucous crowd cheered her on as she gave a stirring recreation of her Academy Award acceptance speech, including tears. She thanked everyone involved in "Catwoman," a film she said took her from the top of her profession to the bottom. "I want to thank Warner Brothers for casting me in this piece of shit," she said as she dragged her agent on stage and warned him "next time read the script first." (http://www.boingboing.net/2005/02/27/halle_berry_accepts_.html) | ||
| Literarylicense Newbie Poster Username: Literarylicense Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2005 Rating: N/A |
The best thing about the movie, by far was the production...It was beautiful to watch. But like Thumper said, there were far too many holes. For instance, it would've greatly helped if the audience knew exactly why the grandmother wanted her to marry...the fact that Janie's mother and grandmother had been raped, would've help people to see the grandmother's insistence on stability. Anything before Teacake, seemed to be a blur in the making of this film. They barely touched on the impact of Stark's life...and the death scene, My God...was so out of the blue. Why? How or What caused him to be on his death bed? Joe went from trembling hands in the store to dead the next day. No explanation. There was no rising climax in this film. It went straight to the love affair. Perhaps they had to give us something to quench our 21st century thirst, with the love scene and outlandish kiss that was never described in the book, since many of us don't read anyway. | ||
| Carey "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 464 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All Last night I received a phone call from a friend asking me if I was going to watch the movie. I told her no and that I was going to wait and listen. I had already stumbled upon a few reviews that were not positive and I had a feeling this was going to leave me wanting. So I instead popped in a movie called September Heart starring Ving Rhanmes. It's a powerful and well acted small budget movie that most have not seen. If you have not you are missing a nice drama. Anyway, back to "Thier eyes". Today a received an e-mail from this same person that had asked me if I was going to watch it. The E-mail follows: Carey, you were right and wise in your decision to watch another movie instead of Oprah's latest demolition of another one of our clsssics. The very beginning dialogue was a lie so you know where it went from there. I realize ther is no way to duplicate the book. However, in the scenes that were included, don't just change the dialogue because it changes the meaning of the scene, not to mention the character of the person speaking. Does that make sense? Anyway, it was crap! Unless you were a person who never read the book and had no clue. Even then, although I can't say because my opinion is obviously biased, I think is was a disaster. BTW, the title to her e-mail was "their eyes were watching crap!" Okay, I think that e-mail is self explanatory and this person seems to have hated the movie......wow. Was it that bad! | ||
| Thumper "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 376 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, Yvette wrote: "I have to give props to Oprah for bringing the works of Black authors alive to broad audiences--Too many folks who also have the $ and power choose not to use it this way." Props? For what? For making a suck ass movie based on a masterpiece? *eyebrow raised* Whatever playa. Cynique: No, it's not showbiz, it's a travesty and injustice. There have been TOO many movie versions of books that have stuck close to the book and manage to be successful. The one that immediately comes to mind is The Color Purple. Oprah should have taken note of what Spielberg was doing. Carey: The movie awful, man! My best friend Arch saw it. She called me this morning and said _____ that movie SUCKED! And Arch had not read the book! There were too many holes in the story. And man, the production was CHEAP!! CAREY!! The same set they used for Eatonville the town, they used for the 'Glades! It was bad man. Carey, I have to apologize. You had always been skeptical of Halle's skills. Her performance last night reminded me of what a critic had said about Katharine Hepburn at the beginning of her film career, Halle's acting ran the emotional gamut from A to B! Carey, be glad, be thankful, you missed this one. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 2015 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Well, Thumper, I've completed my survey, and all 5 of the people I questioned, didn't have a big problem with this movie. Two had read the book and all 5 thought Halle did a credible job. The one common complaint about the film was that it was kind of boring because it just meandered along. And I suspect that this is probably what contributed to my drifting off into vodka dreamland while trying to watch it. I'm curious as to why Oprah and Halle who both claim to be such ardent fans of the book, and the Pulitzer Prize winning playwrite who scripted the movie ended up with a product that has apparently turned more than a few people off. What were their eyes watching? I also suspect that people who haven't read this novel would judge the movie on its face value and not be so outraged by how the book was condensed into a TV movie format. | ||
| Yvettep Regular Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 47 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A |
"their eyes were watching crap!" LOL! "making a suck ass movie based on a masterpiece" Really LOL! OK, OK: I'll shut up about this one! Like I said, I didn't see the movie. And I should talk: Me=the one who almost walked out of the theater during the "The Shining" because of how Scatman's (spl?) character was butchered (literally and figuratively). And "The Shining" is no "Their Eyes". (Understatement, I know.) Consider this, though: anyone trying to reduce a novel with as much complexity as that one to made-for-TV is probably going to misstep: Do we assume that had O and Co. not gotten their hands on it, someone else would have come along who would have done it justice? I'd like to think so, but my hunch is, No. I see Viacom buying rights, scheduling it for MTV, renaming it "HOLLA, if You See God-dizzle: A HipOpera" starring Beyonce Knowles and Usher... | ||
| Jmho "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Jmho Post Number: 116 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
Only saw about the first half hour of the movie, and thought it was okay. Started to re-read the book on yesterday, and just after the first couple of chapters, I thought, there is no way one could translate this to film. Haven't decided if I will view the rest of the film after I finish reading the book though. Another book-to-film that I recall that really captured the story and the spirit of the book was A Lesson Before Dying. | ||
| Carey "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 465 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All A few minutes ago I was reading the board and the phone rang. It was a friend of mine and of course she asked me what I was doing. I told her I was reading the board and specifically the beating up of the movie "Thier eyes". Now check this out. She said, her daughter watched it and said she loved it and that Halle was made for the part. Go figure, see this is just like everything else in life, some do and some don't, some will and some won't. I asked her if her daughter had read the book and she said yes, about 2 yrs ago. I guess everyones blues ain't the same. It's important to note that the person that loved the movie is not a big movie person and I think this plays into the equation, I really do. Carey | ||
| Kc_trudiva AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Kc_trudiva Post Number: 90 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
I'm with Thumper on this one...the movie did no justice for the novel. The whole time I was watching, I was also shaking my head wondering why Oprah took some of the angles in the story telling. THEIR EYES...wasn't a love story like she portrayed. The novel had so many more elements that could have been expounded upon. With the assumption that Oprah hasn't really found her true love, it's almost as if she was directing/producing/whatever vicariously through her longing for true love. Why Halle Berry and the light skin(ded) Teacake? Didn't y'all get the memo? Light skin is in! <laughing> | ||
| Edenson Newbie Poster Username: Edenson Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2004 Rating: N/A |
For those of you who remember me I am now a senior in high school... and actually a few months before the movie was released we read the movie in English class. My teacher was a black woman and she read the book to us in class... I guess this was because of the complicated dialouge in the book... but compared to the book the movie did not match up. I think the movie should have been done as a t.v. special insted of a 3 hour movie... it would've gave more time to develop the characters and gave people a chance to see where the movie was going... So many scenes that should've been in the movie weren't due to time.... and those scenes were needed to draw people in.... I think all the movie needed was time.... | ||
| Cat205 First Time Poster Username: Cat205 Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2005 Rating: N/A |
Like some of you, when I heard that Oprah was producing this movie, I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. As I told a friend, Oprah does many things well, but movies ain't one of them. Whenever she gets her hands on a movie, it pretty much stinks, or at least, doesn't live up to what it could have been. Without going over ground that's already been covered, I'll just echo what Edenson said: It should have been a two-night miniseries so that the characters could have been fleshed out, thereby making it make sense, particularly to those who hadn't read the book. Goodness knows they could've afforded it. And if it's your "favorite love story," I'd think special care would've been taken to make sure that it was brought to the masses properly. (Again, the whole "light skinned, dark skinned" dynamic, including the men's destruction of the color struck woman's diner, should have been included.) The greatest disappointment, however, is that some will view the film and say, "Oh, what's the big deal about Zora Neale Hurston?" and never pick up that book or any of her others. That would be the real shame. |
