"The Road Is the Most Important Movie of the Year"

[krakenslayer]

I just saw the movie last night and it kicked my ass. Absolutely stunning. Normally, I prefer to read the novel first, as it allows me to build up my own conception of the characters, whereas if I see the movie first and then read the book, I can't help but always see those actors and sets in my head when reading it. However, looking at Ned's comments, in this case I think I did the right thing by watching the movie first.

[kidgloves]

It has been a long time since i read the book but i dont remember the woman featuring much. She's just referred to isn't she? Her role in this choked me a few times. Stunning. Can't wait for the blu-ray.

[rongravy]

Still pisses me off that I can't see it yet. Everybody's saying good things about it. I wanted it on the bigscreen. I like Viggo.

[Danny]

i saw this earlier today and honestly i didnt dig it too much. there was nothing major that put me off other than viggo mortessens whispering was, at times, too quiet to hear what he was saying. that was a major put off in some scenes. The biggest problem i had, bear in mind ive not read the book, is that this movies pacing was off. the first half is just sparce exposition between scenes of small disaster which only seemed to have been added in because it looked cool. then a second half with plenty of character progression. it felt off. i reckon the very fact that its set in this end of the world scenario will give it some appeal. but just watching it subjectively it seemed like it was far too long. there was too much of just walking till they see people and viggo accuses them of stalking him. i mean i realize theres pay off for this and its meant to be a right in your face "this man will do anything for his son" but i can only imagine its done better on the page than on screen because i just never cared about these characters because i feel like ive seen more deep, engaging variations of these characters in films, books or even games ive enjoyed in the past. Honestly i cant really recommend it. its basically a film where a man and his son walk through a devastated environment with things thrown in that just come off as 'what could happen that would be shocking or iconic on screen" but it feels disjointed. i left the screening feeling completely indifferent. i didnt think its bad, dont mistake me its not a bad movie. I just left it with absolutely no major effect from the viewing of it. its odd to put in words but i could care about the plot and if asked if i wanted to see it again i would jsut say "no thanks i didnt enjoy it last time". though i do want to look up the book, i think that might be much better.

[sammylou]

When I see an adaptation of a book on the screen, I want to have an experience that I could not have while just reading the book. To me, paying $9 to see a film that does not improve the source material or make it a different experience for the screen is kind of a rip off. Such was the case with The Road. While it was excellently made and the acting was good, I just couldn't help but wonder, "Why am I not just rereading the book?" That said, I realize I am being a tough critic, and would recommend it if you are a true die hard of the book or are just interested in apcocalyptic fiction. (And I have to admit, there are like 6 or 7 shots, at the beginning of a couple of different scenes, that are just of the boy and the father walking in barren wastes that are just breathtaking. Great shots.)

[Danny]

actually i thought of how to sum this up. for anyone whos read the dark tower: the gunslinger, the portion after roland meets jake, the trip through the desert, not the exciting slow mutants or ring of stones parts, or the flashbacks to the town with the shootout,but just that walking through places where everythings dead- THATS the road to a t. it barely showed in flashbacks the movie i wanted to watch, instead it showed us the incredibly boring, semi nihilistic epilogue. Its like not watching speed, but a film about years later when keanu reeves and sandra bullock, i think she was the chick from speed, and there living as a couple who keep going "man, remember when that bus had to slow down but couldnt?, that shit was crazy" and you only see maybe 5 minutes of speed, the rest is just a boring breakdown of a couple surrounded by a depressing, boring situation. now that ive reflected on it more i can say the road is a well made movie. but its a dull movie with no major resonance or lasting impact on its audience.

[Neil]

Enjoyed it (if "enjoy" is the right word) - For some reason I didn't quite gel with it as much as I'd hope too. But still a good flick.   With the family at the end, did they have the cart the boy/father had left behind?

[EvilNed]

Neil:   The book makes no mention of it, so I'm assuming no.

[kidgloves]

Enjoyed it (if "enjoy" is the right word) - For some reason I didn't quite gel with it as much as I'd hope too. But still a good flick.   With the family at the end, did they have the cart the boy/father had left behind?   No. They were all carrying satchels. I totally connected to this film. Im glad a few others did as well.

[Neil]

No. They were all carrying satchels. I totally connected to this film. Im glad a few others did as well.   I also didn't quite get the significance, if indeed there was any, of why they were following the father/son?

[Neil]

Just had a thought:-   Isn't the ending even more profound? The boy's mother killed herself because she didn't think she/they could survive on the road? The family the boy met proved otherwise - She may had died for nothing.

[krakenslayer]

Just had a thought:-   Isn't the ending even more profound? The boy's mother killed herself because she didn't think she/they could survive on the road? The family the boy met proved otherwise - She may had died for nothing. Indeed, and also it was   the father's lack of trust in the good side of human nature that indirectly brought about his downfall. When they hear the dog barking while they are in the bunker, the father instantly assumes it's raiders/cannibals and doesn't even investigate from afar, despite his son's protestations. He just vacates the premises immediately. Later when the father has died and the son meets the family, and they tell him that they've been on his trail for days, the boy looks at the dog and realises that it was fear of these harmless people that caused his father to vacate the safety of the bunker.

[Neil]

Indeed, and also it was   the father's lack of trust in the good side of human nature that indirectly brought about his downfall. When they hear the dog barking while they are in the bunker, the father instantly assumes it's raiders/cannibals and doesn't even investigate from afar, despite his son's protestations. He just vacates the premises immediately. Later when the father has died and the son meets the family, and they tell him that they've been on his trail for days, the boy looks at the dog and realises that it was fear of these harmless people that caused his father to vacate the safety of the bunker. Yes, but to fair...   A lot of people they encountered would have eaten them, so the father's concerns weren't exactly unfounded. I mean he only had to get it wrong once!

[krakenslayer]

Yes, but to fair...   A lot of people they encountered would have eaten them, so the father's concerns weren't exactly unfounded. I mean he only had to get it wrong once! Yeah, I agree. I don't think it was some big moral message, but just a little kick-in-the-teeth type twist.

[Neil]

Yeah, I agree. I don't think it was some big moral message, but just a little kick-in-the-teeth type twist. Going to have to watch it bloody again now