It is a character-driven story based on a novel that I haven’t read and have no intentions of reading any time soon. The only reason why I watched the movie was because it was directed by Peter Jackson. And he didn’t cease to amaze me with the visual effects he incorporated into The Lovely Bones.

In order to enjoy a character-driven movie, the viewers should feel a connection with any of the characters but I felt none from anyone in the movie. And I can’t blame the cast for it. Mark Wahlberg portrayed the devastated father well and Rachel Weisz should also be commended for her performance in The Lovely Bones.

There were no surprises as to who raped and killed Susie Salmon. This was revealed in the first few minutes of The Lovely Bones. Harvey came out too creepy that you can immediately tell that he’s the one. It managed to suspend the logical mind for 2 hours and 15 minutes but it failed to be suspenseful at all.

I got a bone to pick with one of the sequences when Harvey was about to dump Susie’s bones into the sinkhole. Ruth (Carolyn Dando) saw him and she called Ray (Reece Ritchie) because she saw Susie’s reflection. Susie goes into Ruth’s body and instead of stopping the killer from dumping her body, she asked for a kiss from Ray. I guess for a 15 year old girl, a kiss was more important than catching the killer.

Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan): These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence. The connections, sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it.

The Lovely Bones is definitely not my type of movie. It is also not a book that I would read in this lifetime. The movie had several plot holes that Peter Jackson must have spent his time developing the CGI of the movie instead of devising a good plot. I want to know from those who read the book about their thoughts of the film adaptation. Anyone?

Though Tim Robbins and Bill Murray play supporting roles, they did a good job at it. But the movie is about the two kids, Lina (Saoirse Ronan) and Doon (Harry Treadaway). These virtual unknowns did well with their parts and carried the movie smoothly.

Much like any fictional work, the plot should not be taken seriously. Only the heartless would plot an escape route like a rollercoaster ride. But if you like a feel good adventure movie, then watch City of Ember. This is one movie that you’ll enjoy with your kids in tow.

If you like Goonies, you’ll love this movie as well.

*Spoiler*
Lina finds the box left by her great great great grandfather, the 7th mayor of Ember. She and Doon then found out that the mayor is hoarding the food for himself. Then they figured out what the message in the box was and escaped out of Ember. Then when they were outside in the real world, they dropped a stone with the instructions. Fortunately Loris (father of Doon) found it and everyone safely got out of Ember.