Movies

This paper intends to criticize two movie reviews made towards the movie entitled, Oliver Twist. The first one comes from New York Times and the other one from San Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Chronicle Review
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, this movie version of Oliver Twist is not disappointing in general considering that it is made with a personal touch (LaSalle n.p.). Just like Oliver who ran away to London after being abused, the director also went through the same feelings and experience when he was not with his parents during the Second World War (LaSalle n.p.).  

The review says that the director did not turn subjective or sentimental in his version of Oliver Twist and the reason for this is the fact that the director can relate to the experience of Oliver (LaSalle n.p.). On the contrary, I think that subjectivity was present and that even added to the appeal of this version viewers felt the boys dilemma because the director allowed his own emotions to be incorporated in the movie (LaSalle n.p.). Its absence would mean the failure of this version to be felt by viewers (LaSalle n.p.).  

Furthermore, the review said that even the worst people are made comprehensible in support to their claim that here the characters are as big as life, but not bigger than life this is alright especially that this movie is expected to be seen by the young people primarily (LaSalle n.p.). The director does not really need to be too exaggerated or he does not need to be too graphic it is enough that young ones will understand who is bad and who is not, they do not have to really see an extremely bad character to know that such an act is an immoral thing to do (LaSalle n.p.). The director made a very wise decision by being not too exaggerated or graphic because the extremely young viewers may mimic the act (LaSalle n.p.).  

Moreover, the review also points out that the weak link in the film is the protagonist himself which I beg to disagree (LaSalle n.p.). Since most viewers focus is on the protagonist, it is unlikely that he is the weak link (LaSalle n.p.). In fact, viewers felt him thats why this version of Oliver Twist is the best one to date (LaSalle n.p.).      

Last but not least, the review states that this version of Oliver Twist contains too much violence and disturbing images which is very ironic since it also states that here the characters are as big as life, but not bigger than life (LaSalle n.p.). If violence was really too much then it would not be fair to say as big as life now, would it (LaSalle n.p.) The amount of violence portrayed in this version was just right, disturbing images shown were not too much as well considering the life of Oliver which was needed to be portrayed (LaSalle n.p.).    

New York Times Review
The review states that this version of Oliver Twist is never graphic but appropriately upsetting (Scott n.p.). I agree, it was not really exaggerated and it is only upsetting because it is a negative act and unfortunately it is a reality of life that everyone must accept (Scott n.p.).

In addition to the aforementioned, according to the review, most of the major characters did excellently in their portrayals of their respective roles (Scott n.p.). For instance, Ben Kingsley did justice to his role as Fagin since he really appeared to be repugnant and miserable (Scott n.p.). Ms. Rowe who played Nancy was exceedingly convincing as well (Scott n.p.).

Also, the review states that there is nothing stuffy about this film and I can only agree for me, the classic characteristic of it was very well maintained in this film (Scott n.p.).  It really did justice to the book and to the author as well (Scott n.p.).  
 
In addition to the aforementioned, the script was very similar to Dickens since it also utilized appealing idiomatic expressions (Scott n.p.). I believe that the kind of depth that the scriptwriter utilized was just right it was not too difficult to understand yet and it was not dull either (Scott n.p.). At least, it was not boring unlike other classical stories (Scott n.p.).  

Conclusion
San Francisco Chronicle did not seem to appreciate this film version of Oliver Twist very well for them, it was too graphic, subjectivity was absent, and the protagonist was the weak link of the film (LaSalle n.p.).

New York Times, on the other hand, seem to have passed its standards for them it was not graphic, it was subjective enough, and the protagonist and other major characters did justice to the book and its author (Scott n.p.).

On the other hand, for me, this version of Oliver Twist is the best one to date, the director was excellent in incorporating subjectivity to make the movie really be felt by the viewers.