The Netflix Sci-Fi Thriller Based On One Of The Most Beloved Novels Ever

With the caveat that the 2014 adaptation of The Giver isn’t as good as the book, it’s still worth checking out if you’re a fan of the source material. It’s definitely hard to argue with the casting of Jeff Bridges as the titular character who must pass on his memories to a younger protege. In fact, Bridges is a big reason that the movie was made in the first place.The Giver takes place in a dystopian society that suppresses emotions and chemically controls sexual desires. The story follows a boy named Jonas, who must receive memories of the past from the Giver after he is chosen as the next Receiver of Memory. Of course, not everything is as it seems, and Jonas gradually begins to uncover the mystery of the dystopian society he lives in.

The Giver definitely came at an interesting time, as it found itself coming out amongst the dystopian YA movie craze of the early 2010s. Other franchises like The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner were cashing in big, and it’s likely the studios thought this literary classic would slot in nicely to the release schedule. With that being said, The Giver isn’t meant to be an action franchise like these other films, so it really shouldn’t have been made with those intentions in mind.

With that being said, the 2014 adaptation of The Giver is a decently faithful adaptation that probably could have been something better. Jeff Bridges tried to get the movie off the ground way back in the mid-90s, not too long after the book was released. Apparently, a script was even done in 1998.

Of course, that version of The Giver never exactly came to fruition, and the 2014 version is the one that ended up making it to the screen. Still, the version that did end up coming out did boast a very prestigious cast. Along with Jeff Bridges, the film starred Brenton Thwaites, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush, Cameron Monaghan, Emma Tremblay, and even Taylor Swift.

The long road to production and the many times the film changed hands could have led to the final product being lesser than it could have been, especially when you consider the timing of the dystopian YA craze. This wasn’t ignored, as The Giver got mostly negative reviews upon its release. Still, the studios weren’t wrong about it getting some interest because it did pretty well at the box office.To say that The Giver is a bad movie would definitely be an overstatement. Many of the bad reviews of the film are, understandably, upset that the film doesn’t meet their vision of the book. If you go into the film with that in mind, or if you’ve never read the book in the first place, you’ll likely find it an interesting and enjoyable time.

Despite some Hollywood meddling, The Giver is still a fantastic story that can shine through a relatively mediocre film adaptation. Although it’s disappointing that the film couldn’t have lived up to its source material, it’s still an interesting way to take in the story. So, if you’re looking for something that brings you back to your school book lists to watch on Netflix, you should definitely check out The Giver this week.