A novel is almost always written before a film is made. Books have more detail and help tell the story better because they are the original idea. The way the film director captures the novel is critical to making the movie. The viewer of a movie who has read the book, is often disappointed when they see how poorly the film follows the story they already had pictured in their heads. In comparison to the novel, Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, the film, The Mighty is moderately effective; this rating is most influenced by, conflict and plot.
The makers of The Mighty have done the best in demonstrating conflict in relation to the novel. They capture all of the conflicts just about perfectly. Man vs. self is emphasized in the film. Helene Scola, 6th grade teacher, at Flat River Middle School in Coventry, states, “The points of conflict are the same as in the book. The boys are in conflict with the local gang, Max’s father, and at times, each other” (Brown 69). She mentions Max’s father, which is the launchpad for man vs. self. Max struggles to cope with the fact he may turn into his father in the future. He overhears Gram and Grim whispering, “The boy is like him, we’d better watch out, you never know what he might do while we’re sleeping. Like his father did” (Rodman 4). The majority of students in period 2 English agree that this topic was properly demonstrated as it was in the novel. Even though the conflicts are tweaked slightly, it is necessary for film directors to cut out some parts to avoid an extremely long film. Although this category is very accurate in comparison to the novel, the movie removed much necessary plot detail.
The plot of The Mighty film is very confusing and hard to understand after reading the original story. In the film, many new scenes are added that many readers found irrelevant. Although some of the ideas are somewhat similar, Freak is never Max’s tutor, we are not even introduced to Mrs. Donelli as she is instead substituted with a gym teacher. In the novel, Freak jumps onto the desk in Mrs. Donelli’s class and gets the class to chant “Freak the Mighty! Freak the Mighty!”(Rodman 78) This is a truly magical scene that helps mark the beginning of a beautiful friendship. This is one that should have been included in the film. To readers the plot is key to explaining the story and helping individuals reflect on the similarities of the film and novel.
Considering the pro and con, the movie was moderately effective to the novel. These two elements helped to conclude an overall rating of two out of five stars. The film is important to see the story from another perspective. But which is better? Films or novels? “Books and movies are like apples and oranges, they are both fruit, but they taste completely different” (Stephen King). And the film, The Mighty is moderately effective; this rating is most influenced.
