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Lord of the Flies Review
Overall 5.00 of 5
(by 1 user)
Lord of the Flies: Boys' Thugocracy
DVD collector, Movie guru, admirer of great storytelling, movie connoisseur, Action film aficionado, Fan of Superb Productions, Lover of quirky, unique films, cult film connoisseur
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AUG
26
2008
"We're not savages; we're English; and the English are best at everything!" Jack
This is a film we had to see in English class back in our school days around 1962, believe it or not - pre Kennedy Assassination. Anybody who doesn't know about event that can stop reading. We read William Golding's book and then were given the rare privilege of watching a movie in class.
The Lord of the Flies is a cautionary tale; a cold war epic that threatens civilized man with annihilation and regression to a primitive state, ruled by the strongest, and then not for long, but only till all are annihilated. Lots of books were sold by scare tactics in those day, Silent Spring and other books that became cornerstones of the environmental (whacko) movement. ;>
The movie is simple and uses actual kids for the players rather than professional actors. The simplicity adds to the power of the story. Starting with a series of still photos progressing from pictures of students, accompanied by background sounds like lectures; choir singing, Latin studies, and then the still pictures include airplanes, missiles, and full blown ICBMs. An airliner is shown and it is shot down and crashes in the ocean, somewhere in the South Pacific.
A pair of English schoolboys, Ralph and Piggy, meet on a tropical island and begin to hunt around for survivors. There are no adults but a couple dozen small boys, the eldest about twelve, are rounded up. The two leaders, Ralph and Piggy (James Aubrey and Hugh Edwards), find a conch; which becomes the symbol of power.
A group dressed in medieval capes and caps - choir boys - come marching up the beach in military formation, singing a hymn. Kyrie Elison – (i.e., "Lord, have mercy!") These boys are in addition to the survivors already rounded up so there are about 3 dozen boys in all.
There is a conflict and Jack (Tom Chapin) and the choir boys decide to become hunters while the other boys try to re-create civilization as they know it. Each hurdle they try to surmount only reveals their inadequacy at self control and their behavior takes a rapidly descending spiral until anarchy is the order of the day.
The three named boys make up 80% of the story and the others mainly serve as followers, although there is a fellow named Simon who gets sacrificed during a nighttime orgy of violence in the name of the Beast – a creature they made up, sort of serving the function of religion. Lord of the Flies, as you may know, is a biblical reference to Satan. It translates to English just like the title "Lord of the Flies."
Piggy is the most civilized kid or tamest, if you will, and he soon is sacrificed as the kids do not wish to hear "how the grownups would do it." Ralph is mainly a pretty looking boy who thought he should lead but demonstrated no real affinity for leadership. Lots of leaders in today's world are like Ralph, all looks and no real aptitude. Look at the democrat convention (Oct 2008) if you want to see this type. Jack is a typical boy, rebellious and jealous of his status, not wanting to surrender to authority.
The tribesmen set fire to the whole island and are hunting Ralph, the last of the "normal" kids -- you will have to see the ending for yourself as I'm not going to spoil it. ;>
The Criterion DVD contains the 90-minute black and white movie in full screen theatrical format. The film has not been restored. There are myriad extra features including a full length commentary by director Peter Brook and others of the film crew, a deleted scene, and excerpts from the book read by the author William Golding.
This is a very profound film that has aged somewhat because we now know what lies beyond the Cold War. Anybody who sees it will definitely remember it.
Last edited on Aug 28, 2008
Lord of the Flies is recommended by GeorgeChabot |
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