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Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 5/14

Fah451
5/14: Fahrenheit 451, which is based on one of the most overrated books ever written, seems to have nothing to say, fueling more to the fire until it reaches the desired temperature.

Oskar Werner, whom I liked in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, sleepwalks through the film although it might be a true portrayal of Guy Montag or a spiteful act that's intended toward the director. Either way, it's annoying and frustrating. On the other hand, Julie Christie...I don't know how her career survived for so long because she clearly cannot act, and Fahrenheit 451 is proof positive of this.

Prior to watching the film, I didn't bother to go on the internet for any background information. I spent a lot of time trying to figure this out before concluding that the two characters had to be played by the same actress. So it's true, but what's the frigging point? By the way, Clarisse was killed off in the very early stage of the book, causing the momentum to die.

Now, as I understand, Fahrenheit 451 is about burning books to suppress the freedom of intellectual expression. Well, if people have a problem with it, why not just move out and live in another country where books are allowed? I'm not sure what the old lady was trying to prove by setting fire on herself. I mean, it's not like the act of defiance will produce ramifications to be remembered for years to come. A monk did it to protest the Vietnamese government's oppression of Buddhists, but today, nobody is aware of that.

Finally, the idea of book people whose life's goal is to memorize a book, what's the point? Just memorize the book, and that's it? How do people decide which books to memorize? Why not produce audiobooks instead? It won't be considered illegal because none of the words said aloud is in print.

All in all, no more Fahrenheit 451, and certainly no more Julie Christie for me.