12 Years a Slave

See the Movie

     12 Years a Slave is already being called the greatest film of 2013. The slew of Oscar contenders that are traditionally released in December haven’t even been seen yet, and still critics are saying hands down: this is it. I finally had the privilege to see it myself after hearing nothing but good things. Although slightly overrated, 12 Years a Slave is a phenomenal picture; infinitely better than the book as far as entertainment value is concerned.

     Solomon Northup’s memoir Twelve Years a Slave is not meant to entertain. It is meant to horrify. And horrifying it is. Northup details his time spent in bondage as a Louisiana slave. Born free in New York, Northup was drugged, kidnapped, and illegally sold into slavery in 1841. Unable to prove his freedom to white men who wouldn’t care even if he legitimately could, Northup spent 12 years a slave. When he was finally freed he was told his story was essential to teaching the country how horrible the slave trade was. So he wrote it down. He was not a story teller, nor did he have a flare with condensing infinite details into necessary information. The book is a mere eye-witness account of a piece of American history. There isn’t much of a story to speak of. It’s chronological and slightly dry. Only the truth of it makes it important and still relevant today.

     I am in no way trying to belittle Northup or his memoir; it is an integral document to the history of the country, but to a casual reader it would be a complete turn-off. The beginning is fascinating. We learn how he was drugged and kidnapped and sold into slavery, but then there is tiresome detail upon tiresome detail of his journey from one slave owner to the next. The monotony is occasionally interrupted by scenes of action, where he generally disobeys his masters and fought (literally sometimes) back, but then he goes back to explaining daily routines and such. One chapter is particularly dry, in which he describes in painful detail how to pick cotton. It reads like an instruction manual, not a story. But all in all, the truth of the story is impactful and keeps you reading through the less interesting bits. Also, his freedom is achieved in a less than exciting manner. And it leaves you thinking how sad it is that so many slaves were never to gain freedom at all.

Buy the Book

     The film is indeed excellent. The performances are stunning. So many excellent actors show up to turn in fine performances. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon with confidence, fear, and anger all balanced perfectly. Other great actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, and Sarah Paulson are wonderful in each of their roles. The one drawback of the film in comparison to the book is the presence of Brad Pitt. Pitt is an excellent actor and usually makes any scene better. However, his character is just dropped in at the end of the film simply to be the voice of reason. His character in the book is around much longer than in the film. He comes out of nowhere in the movie and turns the whole plot around. The ending of the movie feels a bit rushed but overall, it is a tight, neat, and stunning package 100% worth your time and money.

     If you want to be in on the action at the 2014 Academy Awards, you simply can’t miss 12 Years a Slave. If you want to learn from a first-hand account about some of the grittiest and saddest details of slavery, read the book. Either one will enlighten you. The movie is simply displayed with more panache. 

Ender's Game

See the Movie

     Orson Scott Card’s classic sci-fi tale hits theaters at the perfect time. Big budget sci-fi is pretty hot right now. From Prometheus to Gravity, audiences can’t seem to get enough of space flight and alien invasions. Young adult fantasy fiction also churns out big money makers at the box office. You’d think Ender’s Game would be a sure fire hit, right? Right? If only it was so…

     I’ll sit through just about any movie of any genre. I never ever leave the theater or turn off a movie because it stinks; I try to tough it out and see it through to the end. (I got up and left the theater during the Evil Dead remake, but that’s a whole different story. There aren't enough letters in “bad” to describe that movie: it’s bbbaaaddd) I really wanted to leave during Ender’s Game. It was that poor. I didn't though, so I can fully appreciate how it suffers in comparison to the book.

     I’ll tell you right now, as a huge science fiction fan, I think Card's Ender’s Game is a bit weak. A bit on the boring side. The themes are deep and raise it up a notch on the maturity scale (I honestly wouldn't call it "young adult" although many do) but let’s face it, the whole book is training. All Ender does is train to become a soldier. Most adventure movies have that training montage or sequence where the main character transforms from novice to expert. The whole book is a training montage. It works though because of the ending which is very clever indeed.  The book is so slow to the point of being confusing until the author drops a bomb as devastating as finding out Bruce Willis was dead at the end of The Sixth Sense. A great little twist ending. I also find the book a bit silly because I don’t see why kids have to be the genius commanders and soldiers. I think a regular military age man or woman could do all the things Ender and his classmates do. There’s no reason for it other than to make the book simply about growing up, in the future, in space, or anywhere on Earth in present day. The science fiction elements feel like a thin disguise to cover up what the story is really about: adolescence.

     Another huge issue I had with the book was the monotonous and brutally boring scenes where Ender was playing the virtual reality game. No one likes to watch someone play a video game, not even a gamer, so why, why Mr. Card, do you think we want to read a black and white, ink on paper description of what someone is doing in a video game. I've never encountered that in a book and I hope I never do again.

     The most interesting part of the book is easily the scenes concerning Ender’s siblings back on Earth, Valentine and Peter. They slowly attempt to take over the world with an inventive form of futuristic Internet which nicely reflects our reality today. I don’t understand why every kid in the Ender’s Game universe is a genius but it’s never more interesting than seen in Val and Peter. Which brings me to the movie.

Buy the Book

     The movie leaves all the thought-provoking elements of the novel behind and focuses on sci-fi action and mean kids in space. The same problem I had with Carrie arises here. Child actors are never convincing being mean to each other. Maybe I’m alone in thinking this but kids aren't that aggressively mean to each other for no reason, and if they are, they don’t say things that can be uttered in a PG-13 movie. I just don’t buy the bullying in the movie. Ender is clearly better than everyone and they all just act like he is useless. It makes no sense. Also, the most interesting part of the book is left out completely. There are no scenes of Val and Peter taking over the world with their political articles.

     The worst part of the movie is the injustice done to the character of Ender. Asa Butterfield is a poor actor, at least for this role (I haven’t seen him in anything else). The character has pretty much zero redeemable qualities. He’s only special because he’s a good strategist, but he isn't likable. Harrison Ford gives a lazy performance as Colonel Graff, but the role doesn't demand much so it’s pardonable. He does say the first line in the book which is an excellent opening and that’s as excited as I was during the run time, hearing those familiar and intriguing words.

     The book is a breeze to read. It’s quick and exciting and, although boring and dragged out at times, delivers some interesting and thought-provoking sci-fi ideas. The movie neglects all of these and leaves you with the barebones sci-fi story which, on its own, isn't a stand-out. The cool twist ending remains intact, but it is undeniably less effective on the screen. The acting is poor, the special effects are, in this day and age, not so special, and the payoff is meager.  If you’re looking for sci-fi thrills watch something else (Dredd, Oblivion, even the lackluster Elysium was better than this). If you want to experience a true science fiction classic, read the book, though it isn't at the top of my list of recommendations. There’s nothing coming out soon to wet the sci-fi appetite so if you’re dying for a spaced-out story, you may have to suffer through the Game. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.