Lord of the Flies (1990 film)
Encyclopedia
Lord of the Flies is a 1990 American thriller film adapted from the classic novel Lord of the Flies
written by William Golding
. It is the second film adaptation of the book, the first being the 1963 film Lord of the Flies
. The film was a moderate box office success and critics gave it average reviews. The film was relatively unrestrained in artistic license.
), finds a conch seashell and takes it to the grouped cadets, who adopt it to signal the right to speak and be heard by the group. The senior cadet, and one of the elder boys, Cadet Lt. Colonel Ralph (Balthazar Getty
), organizes a meeting to discuss surviving their predicament. Ralph and Jack (Chris Furrh
) emerge dominant, with Ralph's seniority in rank making him the one in charge. Tensions begin to grow between Ralph and Jack, however, and the group gradually becomes divided between the two leaders.
One night, as they sleep, the delusional Capt. Benson escapes from them into the jungle, eventually making his way to a cave deep inland. Later, one of the boys, Larry (Braden MacDonald), in the darkness of the cave, mistakes Capt. Benson for a wild animal and kills him. Jack, tired of listening to Ralph and Piggy, leaves and forms his own camp, taking many of the boys with him. Expecting to be rescued, Ralph's civilized leadership establishes a permanent signal-fire to alert passing ships of their presence on the island. Not expecting to be rescued, Jack's savage leadership adapts to circumstance; he establishes his camp as spear-bearing hunters who provide meat to both camps. They kill a wild pig and leave its head as an offering to "the monster" that they believe is in the cave.
One night, using a glow stick, cadet Simon (James Badge Dale
) explores the cave where the “monster” was killed, and discovers the cadaver of Capt. Benson. He runs to alert the boys of his discovery. In the ensuing hysteria, Simon's waving of the light frightens the other boys, who mistake him for the monster and stab him to death with their spears as Ralph and Piggy watch in horror.
After Piggy's glasses are stolen one night, Piggy and Ralph travel to Jack's camp, attempting to call a meeting using the conch. Piggy insists that everyone be sensible and work together, but Jack's savages refuse to listen. As they jeer him, Roger (Gary Rule), the cruel torturer in Jack's tribe, pushes a boulder off a cliff and smashes Piggy's head, killing him. A distraught Ralph swears that Jack will not get away with the murders, but Jack declares that Ralph is now on his own as Simon and Piggy are dead and all the other cadets have defected and joined Jack. Jack and his savages throw stones at Ralph to drive him away.
The next day, Jack and his hunters begin setting the jungle on fire to force Ralph out of hiding so they can kill him. Just barely dodging the spreading fire and Jack's hunters, Ralph makes a desperate run to the sea, where he encounters a U.S. Marine Corps officer (Bob Peck
) who has just landed on the island with other Marines. He is surprised to see them there, and asks what they are doing. Ralph begins to sob while a shocked, guilty and dumbfounded Jack and his stunned hunters look on in silence.
.
Some cited that the novel in general is somewhat dated and unsuitable for a remake. Roger Ebert
remarked in his review that "events take place every day on our mean streets that are more horrifying than anything the little monsters do to one another on Golding's island."
Barrie Maxwell of DVD Verdict commented that the color of the island creates a more superficial
atmosphere than the stark
black and white of the previous version.
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding about a group of British boys stuck on a deserted island who try to govern themselves, with disastrous results...
written by William Golding
William Golding
Sir William Gerald Golding was a British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate, best known for his novel Lord of the Flies...
. It is the second film adaptation of the book, the first being the 1963 film Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies (1963 film)
Lord of the Flies is a 1963 film adaptation of William Golding's novel of the same name. It was directed by Peter Brook and produced by Lewis M. Allen, known since for producing films based on modern-classic novels. The film was in production for much of 1961 though the film was not released until...
. The film was a moderate box office success and critics gave it average reviews. The film was relatively unrestrained in artistic license.
Plot
An aircraft carrying young military school cadets returning home crash lands into the sea near a remote, uninhabited, jungle island paradise in the Pacific Ocean. Among the survivors is the pilot, Captain Benson (Michael Greene), who is seriously injured and delirious. Meanwhile, on the beach, a fat cadet, nicknamed “Piggy” (Danuel PipolyDanuel Pipoly
Danuel Pipoly is an American actor, most famous for starring as Piggy in the 1990 film adaptation of Lord of the Flies. He received two award nominations as a result of his work with Lord of the Flies, including one for best young supporting actor.-Personal life:Piploy graduated from Crescenta...
), finds a conch seashell and takes it to the grouped cadets, who adopt it to signal the right to speak and be heard by the group. The senior cadet, and one of the elder boys, Cadet Lt. Colonel Ralph (Balthazar Getty
Balthazar Getty
Balthazar Getty is an American film actor and member of the band Ringside. He is known for the roles of Thomas Grace on the American action drama Alias and Tommy Walker on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters.-Early life:...
), organizes a meeting to discuss surviving their predicament. Ralph and Jack (Chris Furrh
Chris Furrh
Chris Furrh is an American actor, most famous for starring as Jack in the 1990 film adaptation of Lord of the Flies...
) emerge dominant, with Ralph's seniority in rank making him the one in charge. Tensions begin to grow between Ralph and Jack, however, and the group gradually becomes divided between the two leaders.
One night, as they sleep, the delusional Capt. Benson escapes from them into the jungle, eventually making his way to a cave deep inland. Later, one of the boys, Larry (Braden MacDonald), in the darkness of the cave, mistakes Capt. Benson for a wild animal and kills him. Jack, tired of listening to Ralph and Piggy, leaves and forms his own camp, taking many of the boys with him. Expecting to be rescued, Ralph's civilized leadership establishes a permanent signal-fire to alert passing ships of their presence on the island. Not expecting to be rescued, Jack's savage leadership adapts to circumstance; he establishes his camp as spear-bearing hunters who provide meat to both camps. They kill a wild pig and leave its head as an offering to "the monster" that they believe is in the cave.
One night, using a glow stick, cadet Simon (James Badge Dale
James Badge Dale
James Badge Dale is an American actor who starred in the AMC drama series Rubicon. He is most famous for his role of Chase Edmunds in the third season of 24 and Robert Leckie in the HBO miniseries The Pacific.-Early years:...
) explores the cave where the “monster” was killed, and discovers the cadaver of Capt. Benson. He runs to alert the boys of his discovery. In the ensuing hysteria, Simon's waving of the light frightens the other boys, who mistake him for the monster and stab him to death with their spears as Ralph and Piggy watch in horror.
After Piggy's glasses are stolen one night, Piggy and Ralph travel to Jack's camp, attempting to call a meeting using the conch. Piggy insists that everyone be sensible and work together, but Jack's savages refuse to listen. As they jeer him, Roger (Gary Rule), the cruel torturer in Jack's tribe, pushes a boulder off a cliff and smashes Piggy's head, killing him. A distraught Ralph swears that Jack will not get away with the murders, but Jack declares that Ralph is now on his own as Simon and Piggy are dead and all the other cadets have defected and joined Jack. Jack and his savages throw stones at Ralph to drive him away.
The next day, Jack and his hunters begin setting the jungle on fire to force Ralph out of hiding so they can kill him. Just barely dodging the spreading fire and Jack's hunters, Ralph makes a desperate run to the sea, where he encounters a U.S. Marine Corps officer (Bob Peck
Bob Peck
Bob Peck was an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:He went to Leeds Modern School in Lawnswood...
) who has just landed on the island with other Marines. He is surprised to see them there, and asks what they are doing. Ralph begins to sob while a shocked, guilty and dumbfounded Jack and his stunned hunters look on in silence.
Cast
- Balthazar GettyBalthazar GettyBalthazar Getty is an American film actor and member of the band Ringside. He is known for the roles of Thomas Grace on the American action drama Alias and Tommy Walker on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters.-Early life:...
as Ralph - Chris FurrhChris FurrhChris Furrh is an American actor, most famous for starring as Jack in the 1990 film adaptation of Lord of the Flies...
as Jack - Danuel PipolyDanuel PipolyDanuel Pipoly is an American actor, most famous for starring as Piggy in the 1990 film adaptation of Lord of the Flies. He received two award nominations as a result of his work with Lord of the Flies, including one for best young supporting actor.-Personal life:Piploy graduated from Crescenta...
as Piggy - James Badge DaleJames Badge DaleJames Badge Dale is an American actor who starred in the AMC drama series Rubicon. He is most famous for his role of Chase Edmunds in the third season of 24 and Robert Leckie in the HBO miniseries The Pacific.-Early years:...
as Simon - Gary Rule as Roger
- Andrew Taft as Sam
- Edward Taft as Eric
- Michael Greene as Captain Benson
- Bob PeckBob PeckBob Peck was an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:He went to Leeds Modern School in Lawnswood...
as U.S. Marine Corps Officer
Critical response
Critics' reviews were generally mixed to average, with a very slight majority being positive. and the film has a rating of 61% or "Fresh" on the movie review site Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Some cited that the novel in general is somewhat dated and unsuitable for a remake. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
remarked in his review that "events take place every day on our mean streets that are more horrifying than anything the little monsters do to one another on Golding's island."
Barrie Maxwell of DVD Verdict commented that the color of the island creates a more superficial
Superficial
Superficial may refer to:*Superficial , an album by Heidi Montag*"Superficial" *The Superficial, a website devoted to celebrity gossip...
atmosphere than the stark
Stark
-Places:United States*Stark, Kansas, in Neosho County*Stark, New Hampshire, in Coos County*Stark, New York, in Herkimer County*Stark, West Virginia*Stark, Wisconsin, in Vernon County*Stark County, Illinois*Stark County, North Dakota*Stark County, Ohio...
black and white of the previous version.
External links
- Lord of the Flies at the Movie Review Query EngineMovie Review Query EngineThe Movie Review Query Engine also known as MRQE, is an index of movie reviews published online. Registered users are able to access movie-specific forums and provide their own reviews. The site aggregates reviews, news, interviews, and other material associated to specific movies...