The Book Thief

*** Spoiler Alert ***

Of course, I would prefer the book over the movie, but the movie is pretty moving as well. Its dramatic effects were a great contrast to the indifferent tone adopted by the narrator in the novel. Well, I guess this is what happens when novels are presented on big screens.

The movie was quite different from the book as the sequences of the events are changed and many touching moments in the book were omitted from the movie, but I guess it is inevitable. One thing I dislike most about the film was that it did little justice in shaping up the characters in the story.

1. Hans was conscripted not only because he helped a Jew, but because he gave bread to a dying Jew who was forced to "parade" down Himmel Street.
2. Rosa was never mean to Max in the novel, she loved him just like Hans and Liesel.
3. Rudy and Liesel had many stealing incidents which were all omitted.
4. When Max fell sick, Liesel gave him 13 presents, one of which included "a piece of cloud", which in my opinion, was one of the most moving parts in the novel.
5. Tommy Muller had only one scene (10 seconds?) in the movie.
6. The mayor fired Rosa not because Liesel entered the library.
7. Rudy, though starving, suggested to give bread to the Jews "parading" on the streets together with Liesel.
8. The instances where Rudy standing up for Tommy in their Hitler Youth days were totally omitted.
9. Liesel is definitely more impressive in the novel than how the film makers shaped her to be.

All in all, I was disappointed by how the story was altered, but was also glad to see the novel come alive on the big screen! The music and the street scenes were pretty good. Both are good, just not equally good.