Fahrenheit 451 Movie: 2018 Version:
The 2018 version came and went but this movie made me go back and read the book. It had been a long while since I read the book in high school and from being a college freshman. Yes, that was back in 1999. Almost 20 years to the year. Michael B. Jordan had a string movies that was making him a house-hold name. Michael Shannon aka General Zod is nailing this performance of Beatty. The intelligent, sexy, but dangerous, Sophia Boutella is the legal age Clarisse that opens Montague mind. There are things that makes this adaptation similar but extremely different from the book.
1) Mentorship
In this adaptation, Montag and Beatty has more of Mentor/Mentee friendship. Beatty seems to be “grooming” Montag to be the next Captain. Montag is the all star firemen. Beatty uses Montag as a sparring partner to train the other firemen. They seem to be good friends which is why it seems such a betrayal when Montag begins to question and read. Beatty tries to convince his friend to come off that ledge, but Montague takes the jump.
2) Clarisse
Clarisse within this adaptation is of aged woman and not some “Crazy in the head” teen. It is not remembered how they met, but Clarisse is still the catalyst for Montage. As much as I teach this novel, it never fails that the pupils feel that there is a love affair between Montag and Clarisse. This adaptation fully provides what the people want. Which leads me to the next point…
3) Where is Millie?
Montag is a young single superstar for the fire department. Huge difference from the book is that he is not married. He lives alone. There is Yuxie, or Alexa, that he talks to but is monitored by the Government. Yuxie reminds Montag to take these drops that subdues him. It is only until he removes the eye drops that he begins to see clearly. Without Millie, it paves the way for Clarisse.
4) Captain Beatty
Michael Shannon, aka General Zod, provides a strong performance as Beatty. Although, he is always has a face of the villain, he seems to really care for Young and Rising Fireman, Montag. He trains him. Chooses him to lead the missions. Give demonstrations. Beatty really brings out Montag’s charisma. It is only when he sees and understand that Montag is heading down the road to the Dark Side (as he would put it) is when he tries to coach him and mentor him back. Is he really the bad?
5) Drugs
In this utopian society, the populous is sedated each day. Before going to sleep, they drop these eye drops into their eyes. This is to help erase memories. It is not until Montag stop taking his drops is when his journey begins.
6) Yuxie
The largest difference between is the use of Yuxie. Yuxie is the all-seeing-Alexa that helps reminds the people when take the drops, schedule, and social media posts. Yuxie can be turned off, but it is believed that it will cause an alarm.
The 2018 Movie’s Purpose
The 2018 film was something that I was excited about, once I noticed it on Netflix. There are plenty of things that are great about this film. It has gone through a serious upgrade in the tech department. They have earphones that look like airpods and the view screens are like view holograms that can be accessed. Michael Shannon rocked this part and he has become one of my favorite actors to play villains. He made me laugh as General Zod but that made me love the character even more. It made him scary to me. The stoic pillar of Beatty’s portrayal was broken by his mentorship with Montag and felt by Montag’s betrayal. Purified By fire!!! The areas of the let down within this film is the removal of Montag’s marriage, the aging up of Clarisse, make Clarisse and Montag have a relationship while she is apart of the resistance. It was kind of like a marriage of the 1966 move and 53 book. Michael B. Jordan was fantastic as he could be but the movie as a whole needed work. Those changes made Montag choices felt hollow. The point of young Clarisse is that the most dangerous things come in innocent packages. She was just a young girl who had a curiosity about the world. That child wonder is infectious. Aging her up, makes the it looks like he was only moved by his love affair. Although the loneliness is there, but in the book he was alone while be married, alone at his work, and alone in life but it wasn’t until the young girl made him feel like he mattered. The 2018 film provides this but Montag is the self medicating person who is alone. It was not until the interest of a woman wakes him up. In comparison, the book hits harder especially when Montag can no longer find her, it sends him into pool of despair. In this world, the punishment for breaking the rule is harsher by eliminating your identity and your entire punishment viewed for the world. Everything is based on your fans. The living books wanted to spread knowledge but comes at a technological advancement. It all comes down to Beatty v Montag with an ending that is very different from the book.
