Lord of the Flies (1963)

Lord of the Flies is based on the famous novel of the same name. Unlike most novel-based movies, I have actually read this novel. Like the book, this film tells the story of a group of boys aged 6-12 on an uninhabited island during World War 2. Their plane has crashed and they are the only survivors. They attempt to build a society while they await their rescue but the society quickly falls apart. While mostly faithful to the book, this plot played out rather dully while it was vastly superior in the novel.

The film stars a group of people who were not, and still are not, famous. Generally I don't care for children as actors. This film is no exception. The children do a decent enough job, but none of them were even close to award-worthy.

My main problem with this film is the deviations from the novel. While it is expected that a film will deviate from a novel some, the deviations in here seem quite odd. Simon, one of the most important characters in the novel, is fairly irrelevant in this film. His encounter with the Lord of the Flies, perhaps the most important scene in the book, is mostly omitted from the film. To a viewer who is unfamiliar with the book, this film offers no reason as to why it is titled Lord of the Flies whereas the book makes that quite clear. In addition, Roger, another important character in the book, is barely mentioned in this film. The film is a little less violent than the book largely due to the fact Roger is barely involved in this film. There are other notable omissions or changes, but I will not mention any others.

This film goes to show that unless the film is quite famous, films based on famous literature don't generally work. Some of the most important pieces of literature in history (most notably the over 400-year-old Don Quixote) have never been given a decent film adaptation. This film is yet another example of a poor attempt to transform a well-regarded book into a movie. It failed. I would suggest that fans of the book skip this and I would strongly discourage anyone not familiar with the book from even considering watching this film.

42/100
F

They made a movie out of this? I read the book in high school.

I read the book in school


And seen the movie



The book gets a 67

The movie a 37

I might have enjoyed the book more if I didn't have to do a paper on it

I got something like a C-

bobrob2004 wrote:

They made a movie out of this? I read the book in high school.

There's a newer movie, too (from 1990ish).

We didn't read it in high school. I read it last week.

gs78 wrote:

I read the book in school


And seen the movie



The book gets a 67

The movie a 37

Score logged. I'd give the book more like an 85. I didn't write a paper on it though so that helps.

Reading should never be forced - it always sucks that way.

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

I read the book in school


And seen the movie



The book gets a 67

The movie a 37

Score logged. I'd give the book more like an 85. I didn't write a paper on it though so that helps.

Reading should never be forced - it always sucks that way.

Exactly


I don't think there is a single book that I was forced to do a report on in high school or college that is one my bookshelf now

gs78 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

I read the book in school


And seen the movie



The book gets a 67

The movie a 37

Score logged. I'd give the book more like an 85. I didn't write a paper on it though so that helps.

Reading should never be forced - it always sucks that way.

Exactly


I don't think there is a single book that I was forced to do a report on in high school or college that is one my bookshelf now

Remember how bad Shakespeare was in high school? Remember how bad it still is?

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

gs78 wrote:

I read the book in school


And seen the movie



The book gets a 67

The movie a 37

Score logged. I'd give the book more like an 85. I didn't write a paper on it though so that helps.

Reading should never be forced - it always sucks that way.

Exactly


I don't think there is a single book that I was forced to do a report on in high school or college that is one my bookshelf now

Remember how bad Shakespeare was in high school? Remember how bad it still is?

Nice to know some things stay the same