IT
I'm not sure how I really felt about the film. First of all, I read the book shortly after it came out which is like 30 years ago so I only vaguely remember the story. And this is not the WHOLE story--just the kids story. I think it's a film I would have enjoyed more if I HAD read the book again. I won't post spoilers but there were some questions I had regarding certain things in the film and I'm sure that the book would have cleared them up. So I had a little confusion with some things.
I am not big on "kid" characters. First of all--films seldom pull that off realistically or effectively. They tend to read better than project better in a film. These characters seem to be kids I would more link to an era like the 50s than the 80s--and I checked wikipedia and the book takes place in the late fifties of their childhood years. Just having kids swear more doesn't really pull them into the 80s---and the town itself is really a town from the fifties. Maybe it would have been better to just let the story take place in that era. But the kids--each a sort of cliche as an outcast, is okay but feels dated.
I thought the child actors were very well cast and very talented. Adults are only peripheral characters in this story and most of them are dysfunctional in their own right. As the film progressed I sort of got used to the feeling that the characters were from a different era and just bought into the story.
As I said--the story itself would have been clearer to me had I read the book recently. If you have no familiarity with the story you'll have to satisfy yourself with the conclusion that , "that's just the way things are or this happens because it just does".
I never really felt the kids were as scared of Pennywise as they should have been. As an adult--I would run in the other direction as fast as I could to the nearest mental ward. But that would be a lousy story.
Pennywise and the actor who portrayed him, Bill Skarrsgard was great. I thought the film got that right. They also added a bit of humor to the character in just the right amount, walking a fine line between comedy and terror. Some of the horror scenes were very well done. And the film was well paced.
But it's really the story of the kids.
I read one review where the reviewer called it a sort of Steven Spielberg horror film and I get that. I thought that was a pretty good description. While there are some very dark scenes there is still a soft edge to it.
I really wanted to love this film.
I just liked it instead.
I really wished I had read the book before seeing it. I just have a feeling that anyone who did that would fall more to the "love" it side. You don't have to read the book. It's not THAT confusing. But I wish I had.
I think the Stephen King adaptation I loved the most, "The Shining" was one that King himself hated. I think most of his books have not translated particularly well to film. And I love his books.
There is a second film coming--the adult story. And I'll be in line to see it. And I hope I'll love it. But I looked at "IT" at a Barnes and Nobles the other day. HUGE book. I probably won't be reading it before seeing the next film.
This is not a bad film. I don't think it's a great film either.
My expectations were probably too high anyway and that's not usually good when you're going to see a film.
If you're a fan of horror I'd say to go check it out. What horror fan doesn't love scary clowns?
And Pennywise is scary.
I'll give it 7/10
