Review of Odd Thomas (2013) by Keith M — 24 Jun 2013

I had no idea this movie existed until a few hours ago. I've read the book, probably more than once some time ago and it seems to have stuck because I'm very familiar with the story (which I enjoyed).

This is a rare adaptation in the way the script gets so many direct quotes from the book. It's also fairly true to the story line as well, although plenty is left out or abridged otherwise the movie would be hours long (no Elvis too!). Combined with the cast I had hopes this might turn out to be a good movie.

Unfortunately it seems like all the direct quoting from the book made some extremely awkward conversations and very out of place lines. The book had a certain style or pace that I think would be difficult to make natural in a movie. It would have been fine if they altered the lines a bit to sound like something humans would actually say in whatever situation they were in, but it was hard not to laugh and cringe sometimes. Other times I think they could have gotten away with the literal quotes from the book if they spent the time developing the characters' relationships enough beforehand to not make certain phrases sound very weird. I know this isn't as easy in a movie as a book since books can give pages and pages of backstory before anybody says a word.

Despite all that and knowing exactly how the story would end, I still had feelings at the end. The effects were good, the bodachs were quite a bit more menancing than I had pictured them in my head. I just wish someone else wrote it.

Don't have a clue how this has like no reviews at all though.