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Rubinrot (Ruby Red)--the movie
Oct. 7th, 2013 09:28 pmI don't do movie reviews usually because I am not terribly film-savvy, but my girls and I have been enjoying Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red series, and the film just came out on DVD. It's a German production (the author is German, even though the story takes place in London), so it never played in theaters here, and we actually had to order it from Amazon.de. It came in a WEEK, which is faster than US package service, and was very reasonably priced, so if you are dying to see it, it's not hard to get.
Other facts: the movie is in German, with German actors, but it's dubbed in English and has both German and English subtitles. If you don't speak German, I highly recommend listening to the original speech and watching the subtitles--the translation on the dubbing is extremely clunky, plus the dubbing is all done in American accents, which is horrendous, considering it's a story about a posh BRITISH family that lives in hello, LONDON. The subtitles are fine, plus you can hear the much better acting of the actors, even if you don't understand the words.
That aside: it was really well done! Yes, of course, there were differences from the book. When you make a movie, you are constrained to use different storytelling methods, so some plot lines get shrunken or presented in a slightly different way. Also, movies require a huge investment, and if you're doing a series and don't know if you'll break even and be able to do a second film (it's a trilogy), you at least need your viewers to feel a sense of closure. So there is a scene at the end that absolutely does not happen anywhere in the book (er, well, more than one) to give you this sense. As a writer, this totally doesn't bother me, as long as the heart of the story remains true. I have SO many different drafts of books, and all of them are "true" in a way--a movie adaptation is just another draft, you know?
The acting was lovely--very natural, with just good chemistry between all the characters in their different relationships. The story is about Gwen, a very normal 16YO, and her cousin Charlotte, who, it's been believed has a time traveling gene and has been preparing for a special time traveling mission all her life. Only it turns out Gwen is the time traveler, instead. She and Charlotte's arrogant boyfriend Gideon have the mission to collect blood samples from the other 10 time travelers and read them into the chronograph--the time machine--after which something of amazing benefit to mankind will happen. But everyone is suspicious of Gwen because her cousin Lucy stole the second chronograph a long time ago to prevent this very thing from happening, and they're afraid Gwen will sympathize with Lucy a bit too much. The relationship between Gwen and Gideon is lovely in the film--there's some great sniping like in the book, and some convincing concern on Gideon's part as he stops being so arrogant and starts to see something in Gwen. Actually, that was well done. Also well done is the nasty Charlotte. She is very pretty--and SO mean to Gwen. I mean, you just hate her! But at the same time, you see just how much this time traveling future meant to her, how hard she prepared for it, only to have it snatched away by a cousin who, in Charlotte's eyes, doesn't even care about it. And then Gwen sort of steals her boyfriend, too... So you feel terribly sorry for her at the same time. That's good storytelling/characterization. Another great characterization bit was the difference between Gwen and Charlotte, and what forces Gideon to change for the better. "Charlotte always did what I told her," he tells Gwen in frustration. He needs someone to stand up to him, and the story, the plot, needs someone who sees beyond just following the rules, and who will fight against the establishment a bit--yes, even though she isn't as polished or knowledgeable as Charlotte. Aunt Maddy is excellent as the nutty great aunt, and the girl who plays Leslie was perfect, IMO. Some people have complained that she doesn't have the freckles the book makes a big deal about (in the movie she's black), but who cares about freckles--she IS Leslie, one of my favorite best friends in a book. I can't read her any other way. Robert the ghost is very cute, and just...Gwen's whole family has that feeling of a family who really love each other, which really sticks out to me in the book, as well. (Aunt Glenda and Charlotte excepted, of course!)
Anyway, if you liked the books (or just want a good time travel/action movie with a little romance), I recommend it! It's not a Serious, Ponderous film about life; it's just a fun story that sucks you in and makes you smile. There's action and humor, but it's kind of a perfect girls' night movie. Enjoy!
Other facts: the movie is in German, with German actors, but it's dubbed in English and has both German and English subtitles. If you don't speak German, I highly recommend listening to the original speech and watching the subtitles--the translation on the dubbing is extremely clunky, plus the dubbing is all done in American accents, which is horrendous, considering it's a story about a posh BRITISH family that lives in hello, LONDON. The subtitles are fine, plus you can hear the much better acting of the actors, even if you don't understand the words.
That aside: it was really well done! Yes, of course, there were differences from the book. When you make a movie, you are constrained to use different storytelling methods, so some plot lines get shrunken or presented in a slightly different way. Also, movies require a huge investment, and if you're doing a series and don't know if you'll break even and be able to do a second film (it's a trilogy), you at least need your viewers to feel a sense of closure. So there is a scene at the end that absolutely does not happen anywhere in the book (er, well, more than one) to give you this sense. As a writer, this totally doesn't bother me, as long as the heart of the story remains true. I have SO many different drafts of books, and all of them are "true" in a way--a movie adaptation is just another draft, you know?
The acting was lovely--very natural, with just good chemistry between all the characters in their different relationships. The story is about Gwen, a very normal 16YO, and her cousin Charlotte, who, it's been believed has a time traveling gene and has been preparing for a special time traveling mission all her life. Only it turns out Gwen is the time traveler, instead. She and Charlotte's arrogant boyfriend Gideon have the mission to collect blood samples from the other 10 time travelers and read them into the chronograph--the time machine--after which something of amazing benefit to mankind will happen. But everyone is suspicious of Gwen because her cousin Lucy stole the second chronograph a long time ago to prevent this very thing from happening, and they're afraid Gwen will sympathize with Lucy a bit too much. The relationship between Gwen and Gideon is lovely in the film--there's some great sniping like in the book, and some convincing concern on Gideon's part as he stops being so arrogant and starts to see something in Gwen. Actually, that was well done. Also well done is the nasty Charlotte. She is very pretty--and SO mean to Gwen. I mean, you just hate her! But at the same time, you see just how much this time traveling future meant to her, how hard she prepared for it, only to have it snatched away by a cousin who, in Charlotte's eyes, doesn't even care about it. And then Gwen sort of steals her boyfriend, too... So you feel terribly sorry for her at the same time. That's good storytelling/characterization. Another great characterization bit was the difference between Gwen and Charlotte, and what forces Gideon to change for the better. "Charlotte always did what I told her," he tells Gwen in frustration. He needs someone to stand up to him, and the story, the plot, needs someone who sees beyond just following the rules, and who will fight against the establishment a bit--yes, even though she isn't as polished or knowledgeable as Charlotte. Aunt Maddy is excellent as the nutty great aunt, and the girl who plays Leslie was perfect, IMO. Some people have complained that she doesn't have the freckles the book makes a big deal about (in the movie she's black), but who cares about freckles--she IS Leslie, one of my favorite best friends in a book. I can't read her any other way. Robert the ghost is very cute, and just...Gwen's whole family has that feeling of a family who really love each other, which really sticks out to me in the book, as well. (Aunt Glenda and Charlotte excepted, of course!)
Anyway, if you liked the books (or just want a good time travel/action movie with a little romance), I recommend it! It's not a Serious, Ponderous film about life; it's just a fun story that sucks you in and makes you smile. There's action and humor, but it's kind of a perfect girls' night movie. Enjoy!
