- Did the film makers portray the characters and events as you had imagined them?
- Was there anything that you would have changed about the film to better communicate the message of the book?
- Which did you like better and why?
Sunday, October 18, 2009
TEWWG Movie Reflection
After watching the movie, post a reflection (at least 250 words long) comparing and contrasting the novel and the film. When writing your reflection, you may want to consider the following questions:
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Ms.Wondwossen
English 12 10/25/09
TEWWG Movie Reflection
TEWWG Movie VS. Novel
There’s no doubt that “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston was a good novel overall, with themes that are fit for all genders and ages; love, Friendship, and trying to find true identity which is something everyone has or is still experiencing. This is also portrayed in the film of the same name presented by Oprah Winfrey. It’s also obvious that both interpretations of this story have their differences for their trying to entertain two complete different audience; readers and viewers.
As a reader I did enjoy the story but I felt no connection between the title and the actual story for I feel for an title so dramatic as that one it didn’t have no emotion when mention once trough out the whole novel. Not only didn’t the novel had an clear theme but it didn’t show her reasoning of writing such story, I felt no purpose in her writing, or what she was trying to say to the world or less complex her readers?.
The film in the other hand, I loved it, from the characters for I felt that the characters were exactly how I picture them from the setting and they way they talked, it felt so real.
Even thought both interpretations revolve around the same characters, dialogue, and even theme, I didn’t felt like it did at all, for the film it had a more clear focus, and that focus was Janie, for the title was always represented trough out the whole movie, when Janie looked up the sky and when asked what she was doing she would say “watching god” and I feel that makes an story much more powerful. They were parts in the film that weren’t the same as the novel, for example some of the parts were skipped or not mentioned at all like when Janie was put on trial, but I guess it was all for entertainment purposes.
When asked which I like more I would blurt out the film for I am more of a visual learner and seeing things visually make me understand them better. The film was more simpler; a young women tries to find love with three different men and when finally finds love, she finds more than just love she finds misery of having to live with just memories and I find that more painful than anything else, but simpler doesn’t always mean better, for the novel whose content was more complex had more to offer to an reader than just a love story, it offer the reader with various interesting themes that vary from identity to a women’s freedom when tied down to a man’s power. Both interpretations even with their differences had something so beautiful in common and its love, and the wanting of feeling love and there’s nothing more powerful and more appealing to any audience; readers or viewers.
Estefany Grullon October 25, 2009
Ms.Wondwossen MHHS
Reflection
Their eyes were watching God by Zora Neil Hurston illuminates the empowerment of an African American woman who is in the search of love. Evidently the novel is brilliant and the film is pleasing to the readers. The novel engages the readers with great usage of language, well descriptive characters, and brings out the humor in one. It is no doubt that the novel met the expectations of a high-quality love story; however I as a reader felt empty towards the end.
Watching the film, I kept judging the characters for I had already envisioned them from the novel. While reading, I pictured Janie Crawford to have an “African American” look to her, with hair straight rather than curly, and more voluptuous features. Throughout the film, I realized that Janie had long curly hair, and was extremely petite for a middle aged woman. Halle Berry in the role of Janie Crawford brought more controversy to the film. Berry’s light tone of skin and thin nose illuminated Janie’s Caucasian side. Although her features were predominantly white, Janie’s usage of language reminded the reader of her black roots and for whom she was proud of it. Furthermore, the film makers didn’t portray the events as I imagined them. The film makers left behind scenes with characters such as Mrs. Turner, for she had a significant role in the novel, she was a perfect example of self-hatred.
The film was remarkable; nevertheless I would’ve altered a couple things. For instance I would’ve included Nanny’s death, and emphasized her concern for financial security, and upward mobility. This seemed very vital; being that Nanny was a strong influence towards Janie’s journey for love; hence if Nanny would’ve never arranged the marriage the outcome wouldn’t be the same. In order to communicate the message of the film better, the film makers should’ve related the title “Their eyes were watching God” to the film. In other words throughout the film I only heard Janie say “I’m watching God”, lying on the water, looking at the sky while the other characters had no involvement with God. The film had no relationship with God, and the title did not transmit, because it is in plural (their) and I felt that it was only Janie watching him.
When questioned which work of art I prefer I honestly would have to say the novel. Even though both pieces of art convey the same theme, love versus independence, the novel was well in depth. The novel made me relate to the characters, and while reading, Zora did a job well done with imagery. While discussing love, Hurston’s language put the reader in the 1920’s era. When talking about her love for Tea Cake Janie said “Not like a “grindstone” that is the same everywhere and has the same effect on everything it touches, but like the sea, the sea of distant ships with every man’s wish on board, the powerful moving sea that “takes its shape from de shore it meets,” and is “different with every shore”. This quote is beautifully expressed in both the film and the novel when Janie says “now love is like the sea, is a moving thang and is different on every shore”. It touched my heart and is a job well done in Zora Neil Hurston’s behalf.
GOOD JOB BFF . RIGHT ON TIME !
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