It surprised me, but after watching Gone Girl I can honestly say, the movie was better than the book. If you haven't purchased this page turner by Gillian Flynn, I would say buy your ticket to the movie instead. What I saw on the big screen was so close to what I read on the pages of this suspenseful novel. Now, I have to admit, it has been a while since I read the book, so a few things caught be by surprise. When I got home I stayed up late, searching the internet for comparison articles about he end of the book and the end of the movie. So many people said the movie was dead on. I thought the same, but there were some parts I could not remember. Then I realized, that's what movies are for. They bring books to life. The parts I glazed over while reading the book, were the parts that shocked me in the movie. It's funny how that works.
Really a great move on those who made the movie. Going in I was confident I knew what I was getting, only to find out I was getting much more then I bargained for. That play deserves a big smile from those leaving the Gone Girl movie theatre. And I was grinning ear to ear.
Another thing that is great about this movie, it will satisfy those who read and those who didn't read the book. It's a win win situation. You have read it and you are so excited to see it, but you have to take some guy or girl who hasn't even heard of Gone Girl or read any of Gillian Flynn's awesome books. In the end you are expecting to come out thinking all kinds of thoughts you can't share because the other person didn't read it, only to find out it really doesn't matter.
One thing you won't be able to discuss is actor casting versus mind casting. Is Ben Affleck really the guy your mind saw as Nick when you read the book? I don't know if my mind did, but after seeing the movie, I was fine with Affleck. He played the part well, and I am a fan, so it worked for me. As for the actress who played Amy. She was casted perfectly. I thought it was great how she went from being all prim and proper and looking beautiful, to eating bags of chips and Kit Kats, putting on weight and looking like a hot mess.
And we can't forget Barney Stinson, oh I mean Neil Patrick Harris. He plays an old obsessed boyfriend of Amy's who serves a very big purpose in this movie. I loved Harris' character and it was good to see him as something other then the How I Met Your Mother actor full hysterical one liners. There is nothing funny about Neil Patrick Harris in this movie. It is all scary weirdo drama.
It's a must see film, and don't let the fact that it is a novel scare you. You don't have to know what's on the pages to enjoy what is on the big screen. I really did enjoy it, and when it was over I felt very satisfied, which I have to say was not the way I felt after reading the book. I did go on to read others reviews and hearing different points of view made it a little easier for my to stomach. Dark people, dark places and in the end a dark perfect harmony. I suppose the way it was always intended.
