Agreed that the film doesn't dwell on the aftermath of Charlotte's death but the novel does. If you haven't read the nov
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paleolith — 14 years ago(May 20, 2011 10:08 AM)
Thanks for the background. Perhaps someday I'll find time to read the novel.
But the movie is not the book. When we talk about the movie (any movie, not just this one), the book may be useful in understanding, but the movie stands on its own. The fact that Humbert is the narrator is part of the movie, not just a conclusion drawn due to knowing that's how the novel is written, although it's not drummed into the viewer. But for the other details, I'll draw conclusions about the movie from the details of the movie.
I'll just note that the credits say "based on the novel by Vladimir Nabokov". Not "a novel by Vladimir Nabokov".
Edward -
Thrillseeker303 — 14 years ago(August 30, 2011 12:18 PM)
yes I feel the same way.
I just saw this movie and I find it has an interesting plot tho somehow the acting of the characters feels very unnatural at times.
For instance.. when the father of the driver who hit Humbert's wife with a car talks to Humbert afterwards saying "It wasn't my son's fault but your wife's" You'd think a moment like this would be tense with emotions but he says this so lightly allmost even with a smile as if they would be friends.
That's absurd. -
Cryptogram — 14 years ago(January 21, 2012 03:26 AM)
I've felt the same way actually. I don't think I wanna watch it ever due to the storyline and my favorite actor is in the film. I don't wanna see him portrayed in such a manner. :X
~Please treat others how you'd want to be treated~ -
highpriestess32 — 14 years ago(January 23, 2012 04:32 AM)
Well if it's ever on, you might not regret just watching a little bit from the start for it is not as bad as some might imagine. I feel it is handled very sensitively.
Like you, I too am very fond of Jeremy Irons and I felt he portrayed Humbert as a bit of a hapless character in parts as opposed to say a predatory child abuser. Obviously the story is effectively about an inappropriate relationship between an adult and a child but in Lyne's version, Lolita is extremely precocious and very much the one in control of the situation which is why we can to a degree feel some sympathy for Humbert for he actually truly loved and cared for her.
I was able to view this movie several times and not be in any way put off of Jeremy Irons because of the way he played that role. I don't think he would have agreed to be in it had he not been totally satisfied with the way it was being made, because he is essentially a family man and even though he is also an actor, I just don't see him agreeing to play such a part had it been a far more sordid portrayal
It's rarely the people at war, it's the megalomaniac leaders at war. -
kayla_neopian — 14 years ago(March 02, 2012 06:06 PM)
I feel like you missed the part where this was a widely acclaimed book first and made into a movie by Stanley Kubrick before this one. What do you mean a movie like "this"? You have problems with the tastefulness of the movie but do you have problems with junk like "My Bloody Valentine" or "Crank"?
Remember this days, boys. Remember this day. -
hmguk90 — 12 years ago(July 08, 2013 03:11 PM)
Did you read the book?
It's an incredible book, and even though I liked the movie, you cannot possibly make a film to justify the book.
I don't care how old she was when filming it. Who cares? It's irrelevant to me if she was 14 or 20. She was young. I don't see how Americans should care nonetheless. I'm European and the age of consent is 16 here. I know it's 18 in the US and with movies like these they go fanatic about it, but seriously - you watch under 18s being sexualized in the media every day in the US. Don't pretend this is outraging while watching Kendall Jenner posing in an S&M inspired shoot at 17.
The film is good. I suppose it's too 'raw' for some - it's okay to watch young girls dancing on stage in bikinis but not to actually talk about what they're doing. That's why some are uncomfortable watching the film. -
hmguk90 — 12 years ago(August 25, 2013 07:24 AM)
I am aware that the age of consent varies - my point on Kendall Jenner still stands. The age of consent in California is 18.
So is it in several states, and I do think it is wrong to sexually advertise teenagers in the media when in many states they are in fact illegal to have sex with.
I do think the US has a beep up relationship with sex. -
LangleyA-1 — 12 years ago(September 01, 2013 11:35 PM)
The American Government is a hypocrite and always will be. They try to act like lusting after a teen girl is so wrong, but in the same token they keep pushing their sexuality into our faces every day. It's all a joke and basically a lot of propaganda.
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bc_rocker — 11 years ago(May 13, 2014 11:51 AM)
I don't understand how you can think that this sort of content is "waters Hollywood should never tread."
I get that it's sensitive subject matter, but this movie is based on a very famous book. The fact that we have such great actors and film makers that can bring these sorts of stories to life is quite incredible.
Just because something is strange, disturbing, or taboo is no reason to think it should not even exist! Life is about contrast, we can't have love without hate, we can't have comfort without discomfort. When you see a film such as this that you find "uncomfortable" take it in stride as a lesson learned and try to see the silver-lining; at the very least it will help you enjoy the movies that make you feel "comfortable" that much more based on contrast alone. -
lazarillo — 9 years ago(January 18, 2017 10:38 AM)
It's not that I'm FOR ephebophilia, but is interesting this movie makes people "uncomfortable". No one gets upset, say, at a movie where TWENTY teenage girls are horribly murdered by a serial killer. The only explanation for that is it doesn't strike "as close to home" as a movie like this does.
In some cases it may because a person suffered some kind of sexual predation when they were younger, but with most menlet's face itit's probably because they THEMSELVES are sexually tempted by teenage girls. It's my experience though that if you ACCEPT that about yourself it doesn't bother you. A lot of girls between 14-18 can be quite attractive to adult males, but a NORMAL adult male has enough judgment and self-control not to have sex with them. So if you don't feel you have to overly repress yourself and you can ADMIT that Sue Lyon and Dominique Swain were mature enough to be kind of attractive, this FICTIONAL movie shouldn't make you especially "uncomfortable".
"Let be be finale of seem/ The only emperor is the Emperor of Ice Cream" -
Harlem_Nights — 9 years ago(January 19, 2017 12:53 AM)
In some cases it may because a person suffered some kind of sexual predation when they were younger, but with most menlet's face itit's probably because they THEMSELVES are sexually tempted by teenage girls. It's my experience though that if you ACCEPT that about yourself it doesn't bother you. A lot of girls between 14-18 can be quite attractive to adult males, but a NORMAL adult male has enough judgment and self-control not to have sex with them. So if you don't feel you have to overly repress yourself and you can ADMIT that Sue Lyon and Dominique Swain were mature enough to be kind of attractive, this FICTIONAL movie shouldn't make you especially "uncomfortable".
Very true.
Sadly, most people don't seem to be brave enough to admit that. Instead, when someone actually tries to explain how all of this works, people will look at him like he's some sort of pervert as well.
Without realizing that this is part of us, as human beings. No need to sugarcoat it: most adult men DO find girls between 14-18 attractive. BUT.as you said, they have enough self-control and know that there's a line that should not be crossed."You don't watch Michael Bay films. They happen to you."
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snparks — 9 years ago(January 28, 2017 10:28 AM)
Agreed. Teen girls, especially these days, look better than most adult women, with the confidence to match, but if they're not at least 17, depending on your state laws, they shouldn't be touched or considered. My own mother doesn't even find anything wrong with it as does other members of my family admit that its normal.
By the way, who's to say what the next "sexual" movement might be, since the homosexual right has been passed. Things will be interesting in the next 15-20 years with what we're already seeing now.