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nimthirielThe title shall henceforth be referred to as BB, as I'm too lazy to type the whole damned thing out.
BB was a bitter disappointment, I have to say. By now, everyone will be familiar with the basic premise: Benjamin starts off with the body of an 80-year-old and gets more youthful throughout his life.
Sadly, this is merely a device. It could have been replaced with any illness and had the occasional bit of dialogue edited slightly without altering the story one bit.
There's also the symbolism of some giant clock that was made to go backwards in there at the very beginning and end, but sadly it was very poorly done so that it didn't add to the story at all. Perhaps it makes more sense in the book - I haven't read it yet.
The story itself is just a "Boy Meets Girl" affair without any real depth and no exploration of prejudice, difference or dealing with a loved-one who has unusual traits or an altered life because of congenital "defects". Some of the issues are touched on, but extremely vaguely. There is little talk of how those in his life felt about his choices or what led to them. It is mostly just glossed over, and he's generally met with acceptance and love wherever he goes (of course, a disorder like this is easy to once he's no longer an infant, so once again it doesn't really add to the story and could be replaced with pretty much any congenital defect).
Their portrayal of dementia was nearly spot-on from my experience, though one or two things didn't match up with the other symptoms.
On the positive side: There don't seem to be any gaping plot holes, and the animation used for his face as a child is very good. It took me a little while to pick it up, and I only had it confirmed in my mind when he started walking. You can tell from the time he's introduced as being a bit bigger because his face moves the same way that Golum's face does in The Lord of the Rings. It's just not quite natural.
Also, the guy that kept getting struck by lightning was awesome.
Some good moments, but over all nothing special. I don't see why it is "critically acclaimed". There's nothing new here. Some nice morals to the story, but nothing really thought-provoking.
I give it 3 stars.
BB was a bitter disappointment, I have to say. By now, everyone will be familiar with the basic premise: Benjamin starts off with the body of an 80-year-old and gets more youthful throughout his life.
Sadly, this is merely a device. It could have been replaced with any illness and had the occasional bit of dialogue edited slightly without altering the story one bit.
There's also the symbolism of some giant clock that was made to go backwards in there at the very beginning and end, but sadly it was very poorly done so that it didn't add to the story at all. Perhaps it makes more sense in the book - I haven't read it yet.
The story itself is just a "Boy Meets Girl" affair without any real depth and no exploration of prejudice, difference or dealing with a loved-one who has unusual traits or an altered life because of congenital "defects". Some of the issues are touched on, but extremely vaguely. There is little talk of how those in his life felt about his choices or what led to them. It is mostly just glossed over, and he's generally met with acceptance and love wherever he goes (of course, a disorder like this is easy to once he's no longer an infant, so once again it doesn't really add to the story and could be replaced with pretty much any congenital defect).
Their portrayal of dementia was nearly spot-on from my experience, though one or two things didn't match up with the other symptoms.
On the positive side: There don't seem to be any gaping plot holes, and the animation used for his face as a child is very good. It took me a little while to pick it up, and I only had it confirmed in my mind when he started walking. You can tell from the time he's introduced as being a bit bigger because his face moves the same way that Golum's face does in The Lord of the Rings. It's just not quite natural.
Also, the guy that kept getting struck by lightning was awesome.
Some good moments, but over all nothing special. I don't see why it is "critically acclaimed". There's nothing new here. Some nice morals to the story, but nothing really thought-provoking.
I give it 3 stars.
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no subject
Date: 2009-01-22 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-22 02:43 am (UTC)I just found it far too common-place.