xmas present in july

From: the ikss
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 11:13 AM
To: First Niece; Dr. Niece
Subject: Outsiders

Hi there little ladies!

So listen...last night, for the first time since you gave me the DVD for Christmas, 1st Niece, I watched The Outsiders, the Complete Novel.

Oh my gosh! It was SOOOOOO much better than the original movie! I can't believe Copolla left all of these scenes out of the original flick. Not only does this version go much more in to the relationships between the brothers (which is essential) and also show more at that church with Ponyboy and Johnny, but...remember that thing under Ponyboy's chin throughout the whole original movie? And you never know what the hell it is? And you think, "That kid would be cute if not for that thing under his chin!"? Well, turns out - it's from when the Soc's jump him at the beginning of the book! It's dried up blood from their switchblade! Only they never showed that in the original version of the movie! Well, it is all now shown and therefore explained, the mystery solved. That was not just some mole C. Thomas Howell had on his chin and then had removed before he acted in another film (my original theory).

Anyway, with the added scenes this movie is actually a pretty darn good one. Of course, the main actors still are not very good in their roles, but the extra scenes also equate to more screen time for Patrick Swayze (a much better performance with these added scenes included!), Rob Lowe; even more of Emilio Estevez and Tom Cruise. They were always the best part of the flick anyway (both visually and talent-wise, if you get me. And I think you do). There is not a lot more of Dally in this version, which is a shame considering Matt Dillon's perfectly brilliant over-the-top acting throughout.

"Let's do it for Johnny, man!"

Also...now admittedly, it has been years since I watched the original Outsiders, but I do believe they totally changed like 80% of the soundtrack in this version. It's a great soundtrack, although in a few scenes the music does seem rather inappropriate and jarringly so. Like during the church-fire scene - the soundtrack is playing, like, surf music.

The hell?

All told, though, I am just extremely happy that they released the complete novel DVD. I just...I feel complete now.

:)

So thanks again for my Christmas gift, 1st Niece!