Lord of the Flies: Essential Art House

I can remember reading this book in middle school and then seeing this movie but I don’t think I’ve watched it since then.I liked the opening montage of photographs which contrasted British boarding school with the modern world of jets and technology. That would be the conflict in the story as a group of British students get stranded on a remote island where they are cut off from the modern world. That leads to the basest of instincts to come out as child turns upon child. As one kid says he believed there was a beast on the island and it was them. The movie is a warning about how fast civilization can break down in difficult situations.

LotF was/is an amazing book and this is an amazing movie. A bunch of British schoolkids are stranded on a deserted island during a war of some kind and despite good intentions soon devolve into a herd of uncivilized bullies, brutes and potential killers. The shock value in the book is not only that this happens but, in the absence of some firm guidance by adults, it happens so quickly. Many readers at the time found it hard to believe but many more found it inevitable. It all depends on how you view the human race as a whole, not just a bunch of pre-pubescent boys.The movie is another story, though the producers and directors went to great lengths to essentially make a movie of the book, as opposed to a clean, hopeful optimistic look at kids on holiday. The picture, shot in realistic b&w, makes no effort to romanticize or "pretty up" what happens. It actually looks like a documentary than a fiction film and graphically depicts what happens to these boys when all the rules of civilization are cast aside and they are free to do what they will. These kids are not "noble savages" in any way or form. They do not revert, at least during the time shown in the movie, to some sort of civilization or organised social structured. This is a look at "boys gone wild" in which there is nothing to keep anyone in line except failing memories of how things are "sposed to be" and physical domination by the older, larger boys.This movie came out back in the '60s. A remake came out decades later, all Technicolor and dealing with kids from a military school. Same title, a totally different movie. If you appreciated the book, you'll appreciate this version. Technically, this film is much more like the version that appeared in the movies than the one you see on occasion on PBS. If you appreciate the story, as I said, you'll appreciate this version of it. Well worth the money, even if you only take it off the shelf once in a while.Not a film for pre-teen boys. Don't want to give them any ideas.

This is the 1963 original which actually uses dialogue from the book. The children have English accents and there’s a level of childhood innocence that the 90s version lacks.I enjoyed the Criterion Blu Ray for the director and producers’ commentary. There are some interesting things to learn from them: nobody making the film actually knew what they were doing, the parents gave them 80 days and not a day over to make the film, and they constantly had real military helicopters ruining the shots. Also, the lack of character building is due to a significant amount of shots being lost.The cast is comprised entirely of amateur boy actors, so they picked kids who they thought most closely resembled their characters. Hugh Edwards really WAS Piggy in body and mind. James Aubrey was chosen to play Ralph because he was a good kid with a high moral compass. Roger Elwin is Roger because the kid did disturbing things with lizards. The acting may seem wooden and stiff, but the raw moments are all them. The scene on the beach at night where the kids are losing their minds is particularly unsettling. It’s clear to see that living this film for 80 days blurred the line between reality and fiction.There’s also home video commentary from Tom Gaman (“Simon”) and other extras. It’s worth the buy if you like seeing and hearing how films are made.

A most excellent book. One of the greats in literature because its relivance is applicable to all times. Additionally, it poses the fundamental question of good and evil. Is the Beastie US? Does evil win and kill good? Does good and evil live in all of us?The issues are explored, succinctly put, when a group of British prep-school boys (prep-school age is 6-13) find themselves alone, without grown-ups, on a deserted island faced with survival. That this homogenious group representing the best (arguably) of our society evolves from 'little angeles' to 'little savages' who murder two and destroy their paradise whilst trying to kill the last opposition is that classic battle between good and evil that has been the subject of writings from ancient times. Apropos now: reflect on politics and the Pandemic, Treason and Attempted Coup in the US, violence and hate everywhere, but also goodness. As societies, will we yield to the beastie? The book is the subject of endless discussions. Hence, it is well worth the pittance of its cost in any format.

very exciting to see this excellent film again, and the complements are quite rich and interesting.

The 1963 version of the film has a group of British schoolboys crash landing onto a tropical island as opposed to the 1990 version which has American schoolboys.It is still an incredibly powerful film as the boys slide into savagery and murder.

A great transfer of a classic story. I enjoy the cinematography of this film. I know the acting in the film is not pro, but the children were not pro actors so they did their best. The film works very well in B?W.

While it is not possible to transliterate a novel into film, this film comes as close as possible. All secondary teachers should have a copy of this film and use it in grade ten English, First though, ensure that your school board has purchased a license for the film. This film, and the accompanying interview with Sir William Golding go a long way to elucidating the allegory and symbolism contained within. Much discussion among students can be generated through its use. The darkness of Golding's book and its commentary on human nature are superbly complimented by this film. The other films don't stand up.

Lord of the Flies in Blu-ray is great. The Blu-ray disc has several options. The movie is one. The option I liked the best was the author reading from the book while the movie was playing. This was excellent. To see this movie in HD with no ghosting images is fantastic.