The Giver (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)

Like the way the world is portrayed. From colourless to full vibrancy. Difference versus monotonous. A comfortable movie

Good movie

I read the book and I think the movie did a good job as an adaptation.

The movie was about the future and they were very explict on what was taking place. The character's were strong. 3 teens had a strong friendship that was focused on during the whole movie and how they changed. The story opened the door of what could take place and had a good ending.

I really enjoyed this movie. Being a big fan of the book for so long, I understand why some folks were upset that there are some major changes to the story in this film. However, I believe that the main point of the story comes across well and it even expanded upon the story well in some aspects. Some people say the acting is bad, but we have to remember that the characters in the story didn’t show emotions so these actors did their best. Also, the baby playing Gabriel was so adorable!

I really liked the story of The Giver. It really takes the viewer on a journey the character's revelation that their apparent utopia is actually a dystopian society where everything in life has been socially engineered in an attempt to remove all war, hate, and destruction by robbing humanity of its primal components of emotion, feeling, experience and memories of what it means to really be alive. In a sense evil has been socially engineered into tidy sanitized euphemisms with language that misleads the public's perception of what is really going on. SPOILER alert: When someone is euthanized in the dystopian society they are said to be “released to elsewhere”.At the heart of this movie, The Giver is a celebration of life, the discovery of the beauty of colors of sunrises and sunsets, of romantic love, of dancing, sled riding, sky diving, and all the glories of creation that testify of the goodness and beauty of life that is meant to be lived and enjoyed. One of the messages in the movie is that it is our experiences are one of the things that give meaning, purpose, and value to life itself--without which we are not really living life as it is meant to be lived.There is a real mourning in this movie for the bad choices of humanity and the fallen nature of man, but there is also the contrast of the good things in life and the challenge that we can make things better if we make good choices instead of evil ones. The movie ends with the main character at a house in the snow at winter time with the song “Silent Night” being sung in the background. The hero holds a baby in His arms. An image which is very fitting given the song about the baby Jesus playing in the background. He says that the Giver had led him to this house and that he can hear singing in the distance. He thought it might just be an echo but he knew "it would lead us all home". In the background a family is singing Silent Night and the hero walks to the house that is glowing and beckoning with Christmas cheer.As the movie ended I couldn't help but notice the parallels in this movie to what happens when someone is saved by faith in Jesus and they realize that there is much more to life than what we are taught to believe. To me the Giver in this movie is an archtype of God. Not a perfect representation but merely an echo of one who is able to impart life and the treasures of life to humanity. The Elders represent the world and the lies of the world that we have embraced as a society, and that there are things that we have been taught are ok which are actually grievous to the Giver. He is longing for us to take action and save our race. The euthanizing of the baby reminded me of the cold hard fact of legalized abortion and its general acceptance by our Elders who rule in our land. It is a heavy parallel which is only lightened in this movie by the hero’s discovery of the beauty and wonder of life in this movie. The glory of love, the wonder of beauty, the mysteries of faith, the majesty of creation all are paths into the house of the Giver. All bear witness of a song of Eden that echoes from eternity. It is both the song from where we come from and the song that will lead us home. If we listen, to it then it will lead us to a house that is real and brimming with warmth, life, love, and celebration. The Giver is calling you to come. This movie is but one of the memories He wants to give you! Check it out.

Worth watching

I felt like the ending was missing something

Nach einem anstrengenden Tag beschlossen wir uns diesen Film aus der Bibliothek auszuleihen. Mit Taylor Swift in der Besetzung und den Vorschlägen, die einem hier gemacht werden, erwarteten wir einen generischen YA-Film, über den wir uns einfach ein wenig amüsieren könnten. In den ersten 10 Minuten haben wir noch fröhlich gequatscht, dann wurde es zunehmend still auf dem Sofa. Die Tränen kamen uns (ohne zu viel verraten zu wollen) genauso sehr, wie glückliches Lachen.Unsere Reaktion lässt sich wohl am besten so beschreiben: am Ende haute meine Freundin frustriert mit der Hand auf das Sofa und rief "Warum ist dieser Film SO gut?!"Wir haben und auf jeden Fall sofort den Film und die Komplettbox der Bücher gekauft, die wir gerade alle lesen.Wer diesen Film in eine Kategorie mit Hunger Games oder Divergent steckt, tut ihm und sich selbst ein großes Unrecht. Schon alleine die Cinematography ist so großartig, dass der Film sich alle mal lohnt. Die Distopie ist in sich schlüssig, ungewohnt glaubwürdig und in ihrer stillen, unauffälligen und präzisen Ausführung so viel schlimmer, als die lauten und offensichtlichen Versionen mit ihren zerstörten Gebäuden und Hungersnöten.Diesen Film kann man sich nicht nur einmal angucken, sondern sollte es auch unbedingt tun."Wie viel sind wir bereit aufzugeben für ein sicheres Leben?"

Based on a novel written by Lois Lowry published in 1993 this ambitious, thought-provoking dystopian SF film is an intriguing exploration of totalitarianism set in an apparent post-apocalyptic world where society has been reorganised into a series of peaceful self-contained isolated communities. However, this harmonious utopian society only exists through the chemical suppression of emotion as the philosophy of ‘sameness’ demands total conformity and blandness and whose members are closely monitored for signs of deviant behaviour. The rationality behind this belief being that the eradication of war, famine and other forms of suffering, and therefore the survival of the human race, can only be achieved through control, orthodoxy and obedience The sanitisation of language (reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984) conceals the underlying brutality of the regime and the cold-blooded efficiency displayed in maintaining order has chilling overtones of the concept of the master race. Within this strictly structured society the existence of ‘The Giver’ seems incongruous, but is deemed vital to the survival of society since the person in this position is the source of past memories and wisdom. The narrative focuses on a 16-year-old boy who has been chosen to take over this position and the consequences to him and his community of being exposed to past memories and feelings. Brenton Thwaites certainly gives an assured performance as the protagonist and there are sound, restrained supporting performances from Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, Alexander Skarsgard and Katie Holmes. The cinematography is interesting and the limited use of CGI ensures that there is no distraction from the kernel of the movie. I liked it.

In the future, humans live in a high-tech mountain top community where emotions are controlled with drugs and living is safe but drab and colourless. Jonas is the lead character and is to be the next 'Giver' but on his journey he discovers the secret past of his people and realises that he needs to escape to, ultimately, save everyone.A great idea for a story even though there isn't a lot of originality. Cobbled together from a number of previous films and TV series, 'The Giver' is nonetheless a pleasing production which would have been made with a healthy budget and the production values that go along with it. This is also evident in the casting which includes many seasoned actors who give good performances.There is a lot of time spent following the day-to-day lives of the community members and watching the education of Jonas, and while this all works really well, a point is reached where the filmmakers seem to realise that they need to draw the story to a close, at which point everything speeds up. While this is OK, the plot issues start to appear towards the end when many questions are raised but none of them are answered. So you are left with some confusion about the people and how the current situation of their existence has come about, and what is really going on elsewhere in the world.The Blu-ray presentation is the typical glossy view provided by a digital shoot but I like this. The special effects are very good in general and quite believable. Note that much of the earlier part of the film is shot in black and white but bright colours are gradually revealed as things move along. The sound is delivered via a dts-HD MA track which is typically good for the medium and provides clear speech and good support for the score.In the end, a good film which could have been better had more been done with the conclusion.

After the Wars the World is a very different place for many, people live in communities seemingly idyllic ruled by order,there is no crime, no lies, no pain, no colour, no memories, no love.'Jonas' (Brenton Thwaites) and his friends 'Fiona' (Odeya Rush) and 'Asher' (Cameron Monaghan) like many students areon the verge of graduation, a ceremony where each student learns of their purpose in life.'Jonas' hears student number after student number called out, assignments awarded, 'Jonas' remains standing, eventuallylast student standing he is awarded the most important task of all, a post of great honour, a post in which he will learn ofall the memories of yesterday, he will be the 'receiver'This will be a painful and difficult journey, he will be trained by 'The Giver' (Jeff Bridges) who will teach him of things he andonly the few know of.The position allows him to lie if asked questions outside about his task and what he has learnt, it will be difficult for 'Jonas'how does he not tell his friends and appointed family of his new experiences.Watching over his progress Chief-Elder ('Meryl Streep').........the more 'Jonas' learns the greater the realization that everythinghe has known growing-up was terribly wrong.....a lie.People have been conditioned, 'Jonas' knows from what 'The Giver' had taught him, that to save all that he cares about andagainst all-odds he must leave the World he knows to save them, he will face many dangerous moments during the quest hehas assigned himself......can he find that which he is looking for ?This is a very different and indeed unusual movie, some will make comparisons with 'Divergent' I'm sure, however the ceremonyof selection is where it finishes being so in my view,This is an absorbing watch that will surely hold your attention throughout.....I'd say give it a go.Great Picture and Sound Quality...Footnote -I have followed 'Jeff Bridges' movies for years ever since films such as - 'Thunderbolt and Lightfoot' and 'Starman' the latter shouldhave won him an Oscar in my view.Features -* Jeff Bridges presents the original script reading featuring Lloyd Bridges* Making The Giver from page to screen* Press Conference with cast* 'Jonas' Harrowing Journey - Extended Scene* 'Ordinary Human' Featurette with OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder* Author - Lois Lowry on The Giver

Ich habe diesen Film auf Grund der Beschreibung gekauft. Und entdeckt beim Stöbern bei Amazon, zwischen den günstigen Filmen.Ich hab den Film am nächsten Abend gleich nochmal geschaut!Da steckt so viel Wahrheit drin, .... wenn man noch nicht ganz blind und manipuliert ist erkennt man den tieferen Sinn!Wir dürfen es nicht so weit kommen lassen, dass wir eines Tages in solch einer Zukunft erwachen und wir unseren Urenkeln von der heutigen Welt erzählen müssen, damit sie nicht völlig in Vergessenheit gerät. Aber welcher Enkel wird die Fähigkeit eines Hüters haben? Wer will denn schon aus der Reihe tanzen und anders sein. Wir müssen uns unsere Menschlichkeit unbedingt bewahren!!Hab mir auch das Buch bestellt. Bin schon gespannt, es soll ganz anders sein als der Film.Was ich schade finde ist das dieses Buch oder der Film im Schulunterricht durchgenommen wird. Die Schüler müssen eine Inhaltsangaben, Sachanalysen und Interpretationen schreiben. Was ich dazu von Schülern im Internet fand ist ziemlich traurig bzw sehr oberflächlich. So ein Film muss in der Tiefe bearbeitet werden! Liebe Lehrer achtet doch mal darauf!