While we were on vacation in July, I read the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I was moved and enthralled by the story of Louis Zamperini; I think I read the book in about two and a half days. I knew a movie was being made that would be out at Christmas and was directed by Angelina Jolie. When I saw the first trailer of the film, I got a little choked up because I was still so invested in the story.
Finally it's Christmas and Unbroken is in theaters. The three of us showed some restraint and didn't go to the movie last night. MT and I have pretty strong feelings about stores and stuff being open on Christmas, so we decided not to go to the movies on Christmas night, but we were happy to go this evening. T came with us. He has not read the book.
First of all, I thought the film was visually beautiful. The scenes with the airplanes and the ocean was incredible. The casting was very good. The guy who played Louie, Jack O'Connell, was excellent and so was the actor who played The Bird, Takamasa Ishihara. He really captured the character's insanity and the admiration/hatred Wantanabe had for Louie.
I also liked how the writers and director chose to end the film. After Louie gets back from the war, the rest of the book/his life is interesting and a good story, but not as compelling as the first part of Louie's life.
MT and I liked it and thought it stayed true to the book, although there were lots of parts that were left out in the interest of time. T thought it was two hours of watching someone get beat up and didn't really seem to like it very much. Maybe it's better if you read the book before you see the movie?
I do recommend the book. Hillenbrand is such a great author - she also wrote Seabiscuit which was spectacular - and she tells the story of Louie Zamperini in a way that emphasizes his spirit but also doesn't gloss over his faults. You don't get much of his faults in the movie. But in the movie, you do understand why the film is called Unbroken. The man lived a pretty amazing life.
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