Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageLord of the Flies (1963)
Director: Peter Brook
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
An underrated adaptation of William Golding's 1954 novel about a gang of English schoolboys stranded on a desert island after a nuclear holocaust. At first their unscheduled outward bound adventure is a great wheeze. But then things degenerate into tribal warfare based on class differences - the public school chaps are the hunters, and the oicks are virtual slaves. Golding's novel took Darwin's theories of natural selection to their ultimate conclusion, and while the apocalyptic parable is hardly the subtlest ever devised, the imagistic prose made it a devastating one. Brook knows he can't have his 10- to 12-year-olds mouthing philosophical and poetic paragraphs, so he shoots it like a documentary, overcoming the starvation budget, the location problems, and the sometimes awkward performances. However, the principals are excellent: Aubrey's Ralph, who just about keeps his dignity while all around are losing theirs, Chapin's beastly Jack, and Edwards' tragic Piggy, who loses his glasses and then his life.Author: ATu
User reviews of this film
-
- Lisa said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2008 10:08 see other comment
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Lisa said...
-
Posted on Jun 05 2008 10:05
Personally i found this to be a pathetic film. Compared to the book it omitted often very important scenes which helped convey the theme of the darkness of mans heart.
This film could perhaps be enhanced if the actors had even a small amount of acting talent. Unfortunately, Brook chose the boys not on acting ability or appearance since the characters do not resemble their counterparts in the novel. This leaves me to wonder what did he pick them on!!
I find the dialogue disjointed and unemotional, Ralph keeps a severe expression on his face even through the apparently fun parts.
This movie leaves much to be desired, if you haven't read the book it will most likely make little sense without reference since the dialogue in the last part was entirely omitted.
Watch it anyway and tell me what you think.. I'm sure some people like it I just don't. - Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Peter Brook
Producer: Lewis Allen
Cast: James Aubrey, Tom Chapin, Hugh Edwards, Roger Elwin, Tom Gaman full cast
Duration: 91 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
The ultimate 'Harry Potter' crib sheet
Our resident potter professor, Wally Hammond, offers the ultimate introduction to 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'
Bruno is here!
Sacha Baron Cohen hits the streets as Austria's premiere gay fashionista in 'Bruno'. Read our review of the film plus see the pics from our cover shoot
Lars von Trier's 'Antichrist': joke or masterpiece?
Dave Calhoun invites seven experts to watch Lars von Trier's latest and share their reactions
Classic Film Club: 'Smiles of a Summer Night'
Each week Tom Huddleston watches a classic film he's never seen before. The rules are simple: each film must be considered a masterpiece and each must be completely new to him.
Has Michael Mann lost it?
Adam Lee Davies mourns the passing of a major Hollywood talent as Michael Mann's 'Public Enemies' sees the great director running on empty
Why 'Ice Age 3' is really for adults
Tom Huddleston takes a look at a selection of films which bring adult problems to a pre-teen audience
Is this Summer 2009's best film?
The French filmmaker Claire Denis speaks to Dave Calhoun about her new film, '35 Shots of Rum', a tender portrait of a father-daughter relationship in Paris
Outdoor film screenings in London 2009
Derek Adams offers a guide to the best places to see films outside in London this summer
50 essential sci-fi films
With 'Star Trek' making serious waves, we thought it would be a perfect time to select 50 must-see sci-fi films
What do you think?
Post your review now