Film vs. Book -- Which was better?

[garyd]

Kappadappa, I don't know.  You really need to read some of these posts regarding Ennis and what some postulate happens to him. 

[kappadappa]

Kappadappa, I don't know.  You really need to read some of these posts regarding Ennis and what some postulate happens to him. 

I don't understand what you're referring to here... 

[garyd]

 Sorry,it goes back to our discussion concerning the  Alma scene and the  prologue.  I really think the movie ending leaves the viewer with a different impression than the story.  The movie allows, it appears from so many posts, that Ennis had grown to the extent that he was going to be able to have relationships or actually function in some hopeful way.  The story makes it clear, in my opinion, that the society in which he and Jack existed crushed both of them.  Somehow the movie makes some think that this was Enis' problem and that he should have been able to overcome it.  It comes accross as a love story with a  bittersweet ending rather than a tragedy of rather epic proportions. 

[adamblast]

I sorely missed having the postcard-buying scene.  But I suppose the family, having been fleshed out in the film, needed to have another scene to close out things, and it wouldn't have worked to drag things out further with both scenes following the discovery of the shirts.

[kappadappa]

Sorry,it goes back to our discussion concerning the  Alma scene and the  prologue.  I really think the movie ending leaves the viewer with a different impression than the story.  The movie allows, it appears from so many posts, that Ennis had grown to the extent that he was going to be able to have relationships or actually function in some hopeful way.  The story makes it clear, in my opinion, that the society in which he and Jack existed crushed both of them.  Somehow the movie makes some think that this was Enis' problem and that he should have been able to overcome it.  It comes accross as a love story with a  bittersweet ending rather than a tragedy of rather epic proportions. 

Gotcha.

But I didn't get that from the film ending at all.  I got that Ennis was forever crushed, in both the film and the book.

I agree that the film allows for a touch of redemption, as is the Hollywood way.  It gives the viewer an out.  But it depends on the viewer to take or not take that out.

[garyd]

Yes, I understand your point and really do think it is thoughtful and well considered.   Still, I think it is interesting that Ms.Ossana and Mr. McMurtry went in that direction.  I can say with , well, I don't think it was the studio that demanded it.  Furthermore it opened up all this stuff about the symbolism of the the number 17 and so much other goofiness.  I think it dilutes the message that we as a society need to do all we can not to allow the marginalization of any minority.  Just read some of these very dramatic posts demonstrating the depths to which that marginalization still exists.  We straights so often say it is a new world, be yourself, come on out.  It appears we are deluding ourselves. 

[Chance]

This is no love story with a bittersweet ending. This IS a tragedy of epic proportions- both in print and on screen. Which will leave Ennis incapable of moving one inch forward in his life. The postcard, the shirts - remind of what was. And his mind will fill with pictures of what could have been - even if only in secret.  And he will mourn forever the loss of his true love. And will be tantalized and then disappointed by his dreams. Dreaming the old curly-headed Jack of years gone by only to wake to the stark and bitter reality of what has taken place. And the emptiness that lies ahead.

[Jakeforever]

I keep wanting to contact Ennis and see how he's doing...

[happycamper]

I sorely missed having the postcard-buying scene.  But I suppose the family, having been fleshed out in the film, needed to have another scene to close out things, and it wouldn't have worked to drag things out further with both scenes following the discovery of the shirts.

I had wondered if the postcard at the end was the pre-reunion postcard that Jack sent Ennis and if Ennis had saved it all of those years. (The romantic in me wanted to think that.) But it wasn't. I wonder if it was the deceased postcard that came back, or if it was an actual postcard of Brokeback that Ennis went out and bought, like in the story.

[wjp58]

This is no love story with a bittersweet ending. This IS a tragedy of epic proportions- both in print and on screen. Which will leave Ennis incapable of moving one inch forward in his life. The postcard, the shirts - remind of what was. And his mind will fill with pictures of what could have been - even if only in secret.  And he will mourn forever the loss of his true love. And will be tantalized and then disappointed by his dreams. Dreaming the old curly-headed Jack of years gone by only to wake to the stark and bitter reality of what has taken place. And the emptiness that lies ahead.

But remember, he will also be "suffused with a sense of pleasure."

The prologue makes me feel much better about Ennis's future.  Maybe not a great future by our standards, but then he wasn't the dreamer.

[Chance]

You left out a few important words that follow "suffused with a sense of pleasure"...and they are " because Jack Twist was in his dream." And at the end of the story Ms Proulx writes  that these are dreams from which "he would wake sometimes in grief, sometimes with the old sense of joy and release; the pillow sometimes wet, sometimes the sheets."

But these were dreams. It took mountains to get him to share his secret life with Jack Twist.  Do you think for a moment
he would chance this ever again?  Only in his dreams. And that's the tragedy.

[dementedness]

hi! i haven't seen the film yet ... i'm still waiting for the film to be shown here in the Philippines. I wish that it will be shown here soon.

So sad ...

at least I've read the book ... it's great.

i'm dying to see the movie. i'm excited... unless, our country's conservative media regulatory board will prohibit the movie from screening here .. i wish not ...

[wjp58]

You left out a few important words that follow "suffused with a sense of pleasure"...and they are " because Jack Twist was in his dream." And at the end of the story Ms Proulx writes  that these are dreams from which "he would wake sometimes in grief, sometimes with the old sense of joy and release; the pillow sometimes wet, sometimes the sheets."

But these were dreams. It took mountains to get him to share his secret life with Jack Twist.  Do you think for a moment
he would chance this ever again?  Only in his dreams. And that's the tragedy.

Chronologically, the prologue scene comes last.  I interpreted it to mean that Ennis had gotten over the "grief" part, partly by controlling in his mind the sliding of the panels of the dream.  No, he wouldn't chance it again.  Plus, he swore to Jack.

[jack]

http://pviktor.co.uk/p_viktor_/files/brokeback_mountain.pdf

Sorry I just read that and it left me totally cold!   

i think, lola, that may be why you come at some perceptions at a different angle than some of us.  it is really a quite different story on that screen with a lot more gaps to fill from your private self.  the movie and the story are quite inntegrated in my mind.  i also happen to be more a word person than an image person in general. 

and the sex was a lot hotter in the story.     

[jack]

I keep wanting to contact Ennis and see how he's doing...

jake

i'm doing okay, now that i got off the sauce and started connecting to people who didn't ask me to change too fast.  and this internet thing is cool.  maybe i can find something i thought was lost forever this way.  thanks for thinking of me.

jack, <speaking in his ennis voice>