Review of To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) by Mohammed B — 07 Nov 2011

TKAM Movie Review - Ari Bradshaw â?? 11/5/10.

To Kill a Mockingbird has been deemed a classic among many movie-watchers, and is held in high stature in comparison to other movies. It doesn't get this position for no reason, but that doesn't mean it can't also be overrated. The performances of Phillip Alford and Mary Badham portrayed Jem and Scout finch wonderfully, they each made their characters seem realistic and fun. And when you're watching other people have fun, how can you not join in? The true show-stealer, however, is Gregory Peck. Peck nailed his part as Atticus Finch, and fit the part so well, that he achieved an entire scene of him giving a speech, in one shot! No mistakes, just perfect Atticus. Finally, Robert Duvall and Brock Peters create a great supporting cast as Boo Radley and Tom Robinson.

The film's first hour or so is more describing the home life of Jem and Scout while constructing a believable transition into Atticus's position as a defense lawyer for the innocent, African American, Tom Robinson. The court case goes through all of the witnesses of the rape Tom Robinson supposedly afflicted upon Mayella Ewell. Atticus questions the witnesses and clearly proves Tom Robinson is innocent. However even after Tom gives his testimony, the jury comes back and claims Tom is guilty. The acting is superb in all scenes, and the emotions seem so real!

Aside from the acting and plot, the movie itself is overrated. Harper Lee loved the adaption and thought it was matched greatly with the book, but is that to be carried over to the general public? As a matter of fact, yes, I mean, who could disagree with the writer of the book? I can, the movie compressed the entire book into two years, and missed quite a few important events. Its a two-hour movie, and for just another half hour, or hey, maybe even just an extra ten minutes and it could have fit in more events. Also, the book projects the â??Point-of-view from a child!â?? image far better than the movie, which seems to come from an omniscient point-of-view that focuses primarily on Atticus. This would be fine, except there are millions of other stories that are set from an older POV. It takes away a lot of the unique quality that the book had, but not all of it. The movie also received the majority of its greatness from the time period it was released in, a time where the black man was struggling for equal rights and a controversial object was greatly in need. To Kill a Mockingbird was just that object, first the book and later the movie, each one changed people's opinions on our civil rights, and could be called a prime source of African-American rights. Right up there with Martin Luther King Jr.'s performances. To Kill a Mockingbird was great, and it has stood the test of time, but is it on par with other movies? Will the movie be able to compare with other novel-movie transitions such as Hunger Games, Princess Bride, Lord of the Rings, and Planet of the Apes? All of the Lord of the Rings movies have higher ratings than Mockingbird, and Planet of the Apes has a higher watcher approval! To Kill a Mockingbird is a great novel-movie transition, and I recommend that everyone watch it.

8/10.