MovieChat Forums > Water for Elephants (2011) Discussion > The Biggest Mistake The Director Of This...

The Biggest Mistake The Director Of This Film Made. . .

posted 13 years ago by khg808
7 replies | jump to latest

. . .not having Hal Holbrook narrate the entire story. There is no better storyteller in the business.

[–] Curzon_Street 13 years ago

I just watched WFE on HBO and appreciated Hal's performance so much more this time. I'm not sure hearing his voice the whole time would have been better, though, since we were seeing images of the very young Jacob. Hal was just perfect wrapping it up at the end, though.

http://ow.ly/1iTyiC
Both Cosmopolis trailers
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[–] mad_roke 13 years ago

I liked the movie and loved Rob's performance and Hal's performance, too. Though I think it was a mistake hearing "young Jacob" narrating the story. The old Jacob told it, the young Jacob experienced it.

[–] tracygee 13 years ago

I think they originally had Hal narrating all the voice over, but then felt that it kept taking the audience out of the "early Jacob" years, so they re-did it with Young Jacob narrating.

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TKE
LAOET
R/S
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PU
SAOES

[–] chrisellgold 13 years ago

I would have preferred Hal as well. As soon as I came out of the theatre I think it was the first comment I made. Overall, I just think more Hal should have been in the movie. When I read the book his part was my favourite part and it was really disappointing that they left out all those great nursery home scenes. I think they would have added so much depth to the movie and to the love story that lasted so long. Oh well, the movie was good nonetheless but I think that would have pushed it into greatness.

http://cosmopolisthefilm.com/en
http://youtu.be/Xrwp8gxyZb4

[–] bluzup-1 13 years ago

ive seen other movies where the 'old' character narrated the story such as the 'old' rose narrated titanic. i thought it worked very well

[–] gngral23 13 years ago

No, the biggest mistake was that the director accepted this script! There is SO much more in the book that was left out. I was disappointed and think it's just average, though the performances were very good. Read the book and see what I mean.

[–] Howlin Wolf 13 years ago

I'd go with that. Plus, as the older protagonist, he's the one who starts off telling the story, so I've no idea why it has to segue into Pattinson's voice... Just seeing Pattinson, and hearing him speak the past dialogue within the scenes should have been enough.

Born when she kissed me, died when she left me, lived whilst she loved me