I must first confess that I had low expectations for this but was excited before it came out because Daisy Edgar-Jones was in it; she delivered a wonderful performance and I'm glad the movie gave me actual reason to still love it after watching. I left the cinema with a smile on my face but when I looked at peoples reviews after I was disappointed a lot of them don't think it's as good. Some criticisms were based on the fact that the author of the novel the movie is based on is currently wanted for murder from what I've deduced, and I don't think that's a valid way to judge the movie, only the author herself. But there are other criticisms on the movie itself which I don't entirely agree with because I thought it was pretty good. Now of course I know people have different tastes in genres, myself included so I always try to write my reviews objectively with impartial mind. So I do know there are movies or series I like, even love, that might not necessarily be the best in the world or be peculiar like "talking to girls at parties" for example which I love and I know is weird; but this is not the case this time and I think this movie is better than it's said to be.
Other criticisms were also based on the argument it isn't as good as the book, and I don't often read those wholeheartedly because I've never heard anyone say they were satisfied a movie was as good or even better than the book. Movies rarely live up to the book's reputation so it's not a criticism I've always attached to any one specific movie.
There's a melancholic start to the movie and it carries that throughout, we see Kya growing up with an abusive father. All I knew of the movie before watching was from the trailer which only teased it was going to be a crime mystery thriller/drama, so I didn't expect it to end up being so sad and slightly beautiful in a way. Her childhood was tough and sad when her father was around, and when he wasn't anymore it got even worse, she had no family and was deemed an outcast but as the movie progresses we see her resilience. Only surviving at first but eventually prospers on her own in the marshland. The movie doesn't follow a linear timeline and at this point we get to see her suspected of murder in present day, all based on a hat, that was barely enough evidence and it hurt to see her go through that.
Things then change, it goes from being a crime thriller to a love story, and I love a good love story. I thought there were a lot of cliches; script lines like 'I care too much for you- that's why we can't be together' with Tate or finding out Chase was engaged but still pursuing Kya. Another cliche was when she was afraid Tate would forget forget her, I've always found it annoying when pretty girls/women have said they're scared about you meeting other pretty girls. At this point in the movie I was annoyed because why can't one of them just be good, anyway ticks the box for the men are trash agenda. I was so sad for the most of the movie and just praying someone stays for her. This was all cliche but I thought it was all packaged in such a way that made it so heartfelt and emotional.
As the movie goes on there are several scenes that were difficult to watch. I've seen some people say it lacks depth, while that is partially true I think there is enough of it to struck an emotional reaction from you. And it might have ended up being too long in they tried to give more. As something that's based on a novel you can tell some scenes are rushed and details left out.
The movie turns away from the love story towards the third act and focuses more on Kya's court case. Throughout the movie we get to see Kya's love and admiration of the swamp more than anything, even the people in her life but who would blame her. The ending came as a shock because the story is told in a way that would let you believe that wasn't the case.
Daisy Edgar-Jones gave an immaculate performance and the rest of the cast held up their end too. I didn't expect her to give a strong enough performance that would compare to her in "Normal People". While the story is littered with cliches I still think it packs emotional punch and for that I love it. I don't think a lot of movies like this are being made anymore, and I saw a few viewer ratings and movie critiques suggest it isn't like a movie much seen in this day and age, and for that too I love it. I hope you judge it based on the movie itself not the book's author's alleged crimes. It may not be the best movie you'll ever see but the early reviews seem a little harsh to me. It's better than the two out of five star ratings.
Just realized it's a tough life being a Daisy Edgar-Jones fan; you see her abused in normal people, then go through an apocalyptic event in War of the worlds, then kidnapped and eaten alive in Fresh, and now you get to see her hurt and lose everybody she loves in where the crawdads sing. When will it end?
Other criticisms were also based on the argument it isn't as good as the book, and I don't often read those wholeheartedly because I've never heard anyone say they were satisfied a movie was as good or even better than the book. Movies rarely live up to the book's reputation so it's not a criticism I've always attached to any one specific movie.
There's a melancholic start to the movie and it carries that throughout, we see Kya growing up with an abusive father. All I knew of the movie before watching was from the trailer which only teased it was going to be a crime mystery thriller/drama, so I didn't expect it to end up being so sad and slightly beautiful in a way. Her childhood was tough and sad when her father was around, and when he wasn't anymore it got even worse, she had no family and was deemed an outcast but as the movie progresses we see her resilience. Only surviving at first but eventually prospers on her own in the marshland. The movie doesn't follow a linear timeline and at this point we get to see her suspected of murder in present day, all based on a hat, that was barely enough evidence and it hurt to see her go through that.
Things then change, it goes from being a crime thriller to a love story, and I love a good love story. I thought there were a lot of cliches; script lines like 'I care too much for you- that's why we can't be together' with Tate or finding out Chase was engaged but still pursuing Kya. Another cliche was when she was afraid Tate would forget forget her, I've always found it annoying when pretty girls/women have said they're scared about you meeting other pretty girls. At this point in the movie I was annoyed because why can't one of them just be good, anyway ticks the box for the men are trash agenda. I was so sad for the most of the movie and just praying someone stays for her. This was all cliche but I thought it was all packaged in such a way that made it so heartfelt and emotional.
As the movie goes on there are several scenes that were difficult to watch. I've seen some people say it lacks depth, while that is partially true I think there is enough of it to struck an emotional reaction from you. And it might have ended up being too long in they tried to give more. As something that's based on a novel you can tell some scenes are rushed and details left out.
The movie turns away from the love story towards the third act and focuses more on Kya's court case. Throughout the movie we get to see Kya's love and admiration of the swamp more than anything, even the people in her life but who would blame her. The ending came as a shock because the story is told in a way that would let you believe that wasn't the case.
Daisy Edgar-Jones gave an immaculate performance and the rest of the cast held up their end too. I didn't expect her to give a strong enough performance that would compare to her in "Normal People". While the story is littered with cliches I still think it packs emotional punch and for that I love it. I don't think a lot of movies like this are being made anymore, and I saw a few viewer ratings and movie critiques suggest it isn't like a movie much seen in this day and age, and for that too I love it. I hope you judge it based on the movie itself not the book's author's alleged crimes. It may not be the best movie you'll ever see but the early reviews seem a little harsh to me. It's better than the two out of five star ratings.
Just realized it's a tough life being a Daisy Edgar-Jones fan; you see her abused in normal people, then go through an apocalyptic event in War of the worlds, then kidnapped and eaten alive in Fresh, and now you get to see her hurt and lose everybody she loves in where the crawdads sing. When will it end?