Review of The Crucible (1996) by Caesar M — 25 Mar 2012

I have read the Arthur Miller play and have to say it was this was better than average, but inferior adaptation.

The Crucible is centered around 17th-century Salem Witch trails as a group of women get caught doing suspicious activity in the woods and soon those same women worsen the problem as they lie to avoid punishment. I personally prefer the play myself seeing what the movie burrow didn't translate that well and isn't as interesting despite the talented cast. What it does retain is the great dialogue and the always great climax in the court room scene is just as intense as ever. Unfortunately the characters were rewritten as they're not as interesting or fleshed out as in play which really hurts the movie since it heavily driven by characters. Often these characters are forgotten and aren't given proper development for all the characters. The play it's based on is truly a classic, to bad the movie couldn't be at the same level.

The cast is good for most of the movie, but we do get some over the top performances, especially from the young female cast. I felt Charlaine Woodard who played Tituba over did her part and whenever the girls pretend to see a witch they become very annoying and all you want them to do is shut up. As for the adult actors they shine and bring some emotion to the story. Which comes out uneven when the adults actors have to share scenes with the younger cast. Though some of scenes did come out good, they're not exactly Oscar worthy performances.

The Crucible is a inferior adaptation of a great play that gets enough right to be a better than average movie thanks to the cast and everything that translated well from the play. Though it fails to capture the same level of enjoyment from the play and it fails in execution.