Power of One, the

 

 

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I just finished reading the book "The Power of One" then watched the movie right after! Big mistake. Compared to the book the movie is terrrible. Plus, On the DVD box it says that it has Close Captioning..... but it wouldn't work. I am hard of hearing and need the CC feature. I didn't hear much the movie. I would recommend the book but not the movie!!

. . you will probably find this movie both entertaining and evocative. The acting is good, and the musical interpretation of Doc's prison concert complimented my experience with the novel -- having overlooked the "vengeance lyrics" supposedly written by a 12 y.o. boy!
If you have read the original novel however, you may find the screenplay departs so drastically from the book that your abililty to enjoy it will be severely compromised by shattered expectations. Poignant characters and sub-plots that filled vital roles in the development of Courtney's original story have been sacrificed for the sake of entirely new and superficial hollywood constructs that do a dis-service to the story: Peekay's first experience with boxing; Big Hettie; Mevrou and Grandpa Chook; the exploits of the Barberton Blues Boxing team; the true trauma of Doc's arrest on Peekay and his campaign with Ms. Boxall to expose the fabrications of the Barberton press; the Crystal Cave of Africa and Doc's death; the schoolboy antics of Peekay and Morrie Levy, his Jewish friend living his own variation of Apartheid as the only Jewboy in a Christian school; Solly Goldman; Morrie getting the best of the police during a raid by noticing a clerical error in the paperwork . . . all gone and replaced with superficial hollywood fluff. (Just where DID they get Zulu spearchuckers taking out the police chief from??)
I understand that novels and screenplays exist in totally different worlds. But at what point is so much sacrificed from the original work that a screenplay should no longer bear the same name? This movie has crossed that line in my opinion. I think the creators/producers have done a disservice to the originator of this work and to the sector of the population that still reads novels before seeing movies. They could have avoided a LOT of shattered expectations by giving the screenplay a different name, or by letting us know up-front that this would be an interpretation of an adaptation of a story roughly based on the very excellent work of Bryce Courtney. Characters, locations and plots are only superficially acknowledged before being tossed aside for the sake of a very different story that is but a pale reflection of the orginal.
It's a story that needs to be heard, so kudos for that. But I found it very disrespectful of the original on so many points. Expectations aside, it is probably a very good screenplay. But it does not deserve to share the name of such a great literary work.

I first saw this film on TV at the age of 15 and at the time, I thought that it was fantastic. I think that I felt this way because I knew "absoludle" nothing about apartheid (and because I had yet to read the novel "The Power of One"). A few years later, i was given the opportunity to read the novel by Bryce Courtenay for summer reading at school. After reading the novel, I was blown away. It made the movie seem trite and I ended up feeling upset at the changes that the filmmakers made. One of the worst errors: In the book Peekay has no real love interest. The girl inserted in the movie served to take the place of Peekay's Jewish best friend Morrie; the film would have been a million times better showing that relationship rather than Peekay's relationship with this girl that seemed to have no basis in the original plot (to make matters worse, she was really annoying in the movie). In addition to this adjustment, the filmmakers stopped the movie early, not totally completing Peekay's power of one journey.

My opinion of the film has changed since reading the novel. I think that this would be a great film for people to see if they HAVE NOT read the book, but if they have it will just be a disappointment.

So you must be wondering why I gave this film 3 stars instead of 1. Well, #1 despite the filmmaker's total disregard for Courtenay's original plot, there was a fantastic African performance towards the middle of the film that matches exactly how I saw it in my mind while reading the book. #2 Morgan Freeman played a great Geel Piet and #3 Without this movie, I would have never given the book a chance and for that I am very greatful.

If you've read the book don't bother with the movie.
If you haven't, rent/watch the movie and then BUY the book instead.

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2.0 out of 5 stars If you haven't read the book. . .
this is an entertaining film. I'd recommend it for people looking for a "overcoming adversity" story. Read more

Published on May 19 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Opening the minds of University Students
I have used this movie in my Sociology 101 courses for 6 straight semesters now. The vast majority of my students have loved it. Read more

Published on Mar 16 2004 by Todd A. Ostler

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful story!
This is one of the best movies ever made on racial issues. I have loved this story of the struggle of the native south african since I was a little girl. Read more

Published on Mar 3 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth about our movies today
If I had never seen this touching movie many years ago, I would have never sought out the book today. Read more

Published on Feb 4 2004 by Marsha A. Mckay

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing movie...
This movie is an amazing piece of art. Both the book and the movie are favorites of mine. I have to disagree with ilsej. Read more

Published on Feb 1 2004 by Kailee J. Spencer

1.0 out of 5 stars Is this the same story?
This is yet another one of Hollywood attempts to bring Africa to the people who don't care and don't understand its complicated nature. Read more

Published on Jan 28 2004 by ilsej

5.0 out of 5 stars Cinema is a different medium, damnit...
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...and silly boogers who gripe about how a film doesn't wholly recapitulate a novel need a length of two-by-four applied briskly about the head and shoulders as a... Read more

Published on Dec 22 2003 by Dr. van der Linden

1.0 out of 5 stars READ THE BOOK
While I know that movies are always ten times worse than the book, this one really bothered me. I have not watched it, and I don't plan to. The description was enough for me. Read more

Published on Dec 9 2003 by Amy

5.0 out of 5 stars Just beautiful
I first saw this movie a long time ago and I loved it. It's a wonderful story. If you buy this DVD you won't be dissapointed, especially if you like to own movies that leave a... Read more

Published on Sep 10 2003 by Ursula B. Wagner

4.0 out of 5 stars A very powerful movie
Even today, the world is still seeing racism and hate. No matter how hard we try, the world will never see peace. Read more

Published on Aug 2 2003 by liveon14887

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