Sunny* Reviews

Acceptable Risk (2001 TV Movie)

Why change major plot points?

[2 November 2001]

I will never understand why movie adapters feel the need to change certain parts of books for the movie. Here is an example of a book I like very much becoming a very bad movie. I realize it's on TV and there are time constraints, but there is no need to change things like the last names of the characters or the time period of the historical element of the book. Not only that, but the entire concept of the book was distorted. Robin Cook's book was a commentary on the lengths people will go to for personality-enhancing, "happy-pill" psychotropic drugs, like Prozac or Ultra in the book, driven by the possible financial gain as well. In the movie, the drug was changed to a possible cure for Alzheimer's Disease or other mentally degenerative illnesses. And Edward is driven by a past disappointment in obtaining a patent on a drug Not only that, the main character of the book is Kim and her quest for removing the stigma of shame surrounding her accused-witch ancestor and also for personal acceptance. She becomes a flat character with almost no real action except for running away. Edward is the focal character in the movie.

Don't Go to Sleep (1982 TV Movie)

I finally found a copy!

[2 April 2001]

After feeling haunted by this movie since I was six years old, not knowing the title or really any details short of images implanted in my mind, I was able, through the IMDb, to put a title to it. And not too long ago, I found a new copy of it! It's an unassuming movie, deceptive in its made-for-TV production

The Beach (I) (2000)

A selfish paradise

[17 April 2000]

When I think of this movie, I remember a line at the end, where Richard talks about having been part of something amazing and perfect, or something to that effect. By that point in the movie, I was half-asleep and completely ready to leave. The beach inhabited by the characters doesn't represent any sort of utopian society, it's just a haven for selfish post-adolescents who have no interest in assuming social responsibility. Cavorting on a beach isn't really a valid way of life. The characters are poorly drawn and the plot is flimsy at best. The movie descends into nonsense by the time we reach Richard's animated Nintendo romp through the jungle. The end grinds to a painful halt and wraps itself up quickly by trying to affect a tense ending. At that point, you honestly don't care. Despite the occurrences on the beach, Richard remembers parts of it fondly at the end. I remember this movie fondly, similar to the way I might remember a tetanus shot or a root canal.