Queen a no-show at Bones premiere
By DAVE BURGESS - The Dominion Post
LATEST: The royal film performance and world premiere of Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones is missing one important person - Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen selected The Lovely Bones to screen at the royal performance in London this morning. It is the one time a year the monarch gets to officially visit the cinema.
However, the Queen did not take her place at the sold out Odeon in Leicester Square.
The royal family was instead represented by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
They were joined on the red carpet by Jackson, and the stars of the film including Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Saoirse Ronan.
Guardian.co.uk film reviewer Xan Brooks said the film was "handsomely made and strongly acted, while its woozy, lullaby ambience recalls Jackson's work on the brilliant Heavenly Creatures, before he set forth on his epic voyage through The Lord of the Rings."
But he gave The Lovely Bones only two stars out of five, calling it "infuriatingly coy".
The Sun newspaper was more effusive in its praise, calling The Lovely Bones "the best film of next year".
"[Jackson] creates something even more amazing than his Middle-earth fantasy. The effects are breathtaking."
In another rave review, Harry Knowles at Ain't It Cool News said: "This is an incredibly lovely film. From the visuals to the performances to the story-telling and film work ... it all goes to capture a very powerful story in a way that makes you want to hug those close to you."
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Republican...
What are you on about? it's a film story in the entertainment section you muppet.
The Queen is in Bermuda - a little far to travel to the theatre
The queen saw the trailer and was not amused.
Phantasma, what are you talking about. Peter Jackson adapted The Lord of the Rings didn't he? And that sure wasn't a 'million dollars going down the gurgler'.
@ Phantasma - what an odd comment - where on earth do you get that impression from? I have seen Vitners Luck, and i can almost 100% tell you now (without seeing The Lovely Bones yet) that this will not be in the same class. Are you Nikki Caro or Keisha Castle Hughes by any chance? :)
God save the queen. She's our head of state but obviously doesn't care about good old NZ. The thing that really annoyed me was the royal family's refusal to send someone to Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral. What do we need them for? It's time to become a repulic. We just need someone with leadership. Not smiling Mr Key who says NZ will become a republic somebday, but he sure ain't gonna do it. Nice job.
Seems stuff.co.nz forgot to put of picture of Peter Jackson in the slide show at the top. Isn't Peter one of the main reasons that this is being reported in NZ! Shame on Stuff!
Wow Phantasma, what a narrow viewpoint. Where is it written that an adaptation must be slavish to a novel? Film is a different medium with its own distinct requirements for storytelling. Sounds like this will be a divisive film, can't wait to hear a broader reaction. Bravo Peter for making what seems like it will be a strong and challenging work.
Sounds like another multi-million dollars gone down the gurgler! It's another Vintner's Luck! Why can't these Kiwi directors adapt novels? Dont they read?
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Republican #1.
Okay, so you obviously believe the Queen should have cancelled her attendance at the Commonwealth Heads Of Government meeting in Trinidad just to attend the premiere of the latest film by Peter Jackson in London - and the fact that she didn't do this is clearly some kind of outrageous insult to New Zealand?
Get serious.