I added
It (2017) to my Netflix list because it received good reviews, and because I thought the creators managed to cram the essence of the Stephen King novel into its 2:15 running time. I was disappointed, despite yeoman work from its young cast and Bill Skarsgard as the demonic clown. Adult characters take a back seat, and none are admirable, even a police officer. One is despicable, another loony. The film is long on in your face scares, a couple of them really neat, and short on explanation. Sometimes explanations in horror and sci-fi fare are lame and better left vague, but the proceedings here are way too sketchy and confusing. Perhaps I missed something. Three writers are given credit on the adaptation. It was directed by an Argentinian, Andy Muschietti, his second full length feature. His first was an expansion of a supernatural short,
Mama (2013), he wrote and helmed. Its success at the box office undoubtedly led to his assignment on
It, which was a colossal financial success, bringing in $700 million worldwide on a budget of just $35 million. That should guarantee Muschietti work for years to come. 275,000+ users at IMDb have rated
It, forging to a consensus of 7.5 on a scale of ten. I rate it five. A sequel is in the works. I wonder if I will get sucked into watching if the reviews are again positive. Of the young cast, Brooklyn's Sophia Lillis is particularly effective as the only girl among the group of "losers." And here they are:
The news on the economy is encouraging - record level of low unemployment, lowest ever among blacks and Asians. The lone disappointment is first quarter growth, revised downward to 2.2%. That won't even begin to pay for the schemes of our spendthrift politicians. Fortunately, there is hope on that front. At present, second quarter growth is projected to be at least 4%. But it's still too soon to celebrate.
My thanks to the young man who purchased a classical music CD compilation, to the elderly woman who chose
Sail by James Patterson & Howard Roughan, and to the two young women who bought
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry,
The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy, and
The Clan of the Cave Bear and
The Mammoth Hunters, two of Jean Auel's smash hit
Earth's Children saga set in prehistoric times.
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