I saw the ad for this movie in the back of the book not long after I started it, and I figured that since I was loving the book so much, the movie should be great! And the book... well, it was gripping and wonderful. But the movie couldn't have disappointed me more.
I know that this already sounds like your classic bookworm-with-unrealistic-expectations-of-the-movie-business encounter, but honestly, there were TWO THINGS in this movie that were NOT changed at all: the names of Travis Jordan and Morgan Elliot, and the fact that Travis used to be a minister. EVERYTHING ELSE was completely rearranged, and it made a clear statement to ME that the movie makers weren't happy with the book and decided they could make the story a little more gripping. Unfortunately for them they missed the subtlety of Frank Peretti's genius and it was completely lost in translation.
What I don't understand is why they had to change absolutely everything. The plot was changed, the premise was changed, the motives and back-stories... all completely changed. If they were to change the names of all the characters they could have saved money because they wouldn't have had to buy the rights from Peretti at all! I was the most taken aback by their rendition of Marian (not Mariam) Jordan's death (homicide instead of lung cancer), making Marian's death the most important part of her existence when in the book it's her LIFE and you don't even know how she died until the last few pages. This was because her LIFE was what created Travis as he was during the modern storyline. But the book report aside, I didn't just hate the movie for the blatant disrespect of the author's creative dignity, but for the way it was put together.
Random, almost unnecessary special effects of demons leaving bodies. Erratic and fruitless camera shots that add nothing to the storyline but extensive confusion. Not to mention the totally misleading movie case summary. That at least follows the book's plot, but it's as if they completely rearranged the plot way late in the game when they had written a summary for a plot that actually followed the book. I sort of felt as if they'd gotten bored with the book's storyline and decided to create their own. And once they've bought the rights for the story, Frank Peretti doesn't have a say in what happens in his movie. That MUST be the explanation, says my mind, because there can't possibly be any way he's happy with this movie and his name being attached to it. I would be hopping mad.
And how could I have overlooked the movie makers' total blindsiding of the viewer-former-reader with Justin Cantwell's story. Justin was abused by his father. A resounding yes from the audience. Justin hates God and Jesus for what they'd supposedly done to him. Poor unfortunate soul, the audience thinks.
Oh, and by the way, it's Travis' fault for ignoring it when Justin was at his Bible camp and told him all about it.
Some crickets and some blinking and the audience thinks, "... I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Oh yes. Didn't you know that's why Justin killed Marian and now wants to kill Morgan?
You mean Travis has a thing for Morgan now? But I thought he loved Marian?
Oh no, no, no. Can't you see that killing Morgan is why Justin went through all the trouble of hypnotizing a town by calling himself Jesus?
Ahhh. It all makes sense now!
But really, all monologues and senseless rambling aside, all I could help thinking the entire time was, "Give me a break." I feel for Frank Peretti. I feel for anyone who loved his book and then saw this movie. I also feel for any weirdo who actually took the time to read this, but mostly I feel righteously indignant at the horrendous rendition this book was stuck with. Poor Frank Peretti. Poor awesome Travis who was made into a total weirdo. No offense to Martin Donovan.
I know that this already sounds like your classic bookworm-with-unrealistic-expectations-of-the-movie-business encounter, but honestly, there were TWO THINGS in this movie that were NOT changed at all: the names of Travis Jordan and Morgan Elliot, and the fact that Travis used to be a minister. EVERYTHING ELSE was completely rearranged, and it made a clear statement to ME that the movie makers weren't happy with the book and decided they could make the story a little more gripping. Unfortunately for them they missed the subtlety of Frank Peretti's genius and it was completely lost in translation.
What I don't understand is why they had to change absolutely everything. The plot was changed, the premise was changed, the motives and back-stories... all completely changed. If they were to change the names of all the characters they could have saved money because they wouldn't have had to buy the rights from Peretti at all! I was the most taken aback by their rendition of Marian (not Mariam) Jordan's death (homicide instead of lung cancer), making Marian's death the most important part of her existence when in the book it's her LIFE and you don't even know how she died until the last few pages. This was because her LIFE was what created Travis as he was during the modern storyline. But the book report aside, I didn't just hate the movie for the blatant disrespect of the author's creative dignity, but for the way it was put together.
Random, almost unnecessary special effects of demons leaving bodies. Erratic and fruitless camera shots that add nothing to the storyline but extensive confusion. Not to mention the totally misleading movie case summary. That at least follows the book's plot, but it's as if they completely rearranged the plot way late in the game when they had written a summary for a plot that actually followed the book. I sort of felt as if they'd gotten bored with the book's storyline and decided to create their own. And once they've bought the rights for the story, Frank Peretti doesn't have a say in what happens in his movie. That MUST be the explanation, says my mind, because there can't possibly be any way he's happy with this movie and his name being attached to it. I would be hopping mad.
And how could I have overlooked the movie makers' total blindsiding of the viewer-former-reader with Justin Cantwell's story. Justin was abused by his father. A resounding yes from the audience. Justin hates God and Jesus for what they'd supposedly done to him. Poor unfortunate soul, the audience thinks.
Oh, and by the way, it's Travis' fault for ignoring it when Justin was at his Bible camp and told him all about it.
Some crickets and some blinking and the audience thinks, "... I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Oh yes. Didn't you know that's why Justin killed Marian and now wants to kill Morgan?
You mean Travis has a thing for Morgan now? But I thought he loved Marian?
Oh no, no, no. Can't you see that killing Morgan is why Justin went through all the trouble of hypnotizing a town by calling himself Jesus?
Ahhh. It all makes sense now!
But really, all monologues and senseless rambling aside, all I could help thinking the entire time was, "Give me a break." I feel for Frank Peretti. I feel for anyone who loved his book and then saw this movie. I also feel for any weirdo who actually took the time to read this, but mostly I feel righteously indignant at the horrendous rendition this book was stuck with. Poor Frank Peretti. Poor awesome Travis who was made into a total weirdo. No offense to Martin Donovan.