The Giver

Published in 1993, Lois Lowry's Newbery Medal-winning YA novel is a touching, dystopian fantasy, centered on a 12-year-old boy. Had it been filmed back then, The Giver would have preceded similar films such as Ender's Game, Divergent, and the Hunger Games franchise; today, it comes across as just another bland, teen-centric futuristic story set in a utopian, post-apocalyptic society. The Community is classless, climate-controlled, and conflict-free—an isolated world minus poverty, famine, and all other suffering. Choice is unknown; to achieve sameness is everyone's goal. Tranquility reigns, enforced by precise language, which means that people are constantly apologizing and saying, “I accept your apology.” Ritually graduating from childhood and receiving his lifetime job assignment, Jonas (Brenton Thwaits) is chosen by the Chief Elder (Meryl Streep) to be the next Receiver, who will be taught by the titular Giver (Jeff Bridges), a tormented soul holding the collective cultural memories. As Jonas learns about the pain of love and war, and the ecstasy of art and music, he becomes determined to “free” not only his family (including Alexander Skarsgård and Katie Holmes) but also one special girl (Odeya Rush). In director Phillip Noyce's disappointing screen adaption, the protagonist has been transformed from a child into a young adult, diluting the impact of the ethical/moral conflicts and loss-of-innocence theme while allowing for a sweetly plausible romance and vaguely religious overtones. Aside from Bridges and Streep, the cast is nondescript, delivering strangely stilted, unmemorable performances. An optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include producer-star Jeff Bridges presenting an original script reading featuring his father Lloyd Bridges (40 min.), a “making-of” featurette (22 min.), an extended scene (10 min.), a segment with author Lois Lowry (4 min.), an “Ordinary Human” featurette on the soundtrack song with OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder (3 min.), a text study guide, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a cast and crew press conference segment (36 min.), and bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing adaptation.] (S. Granger)