Compare contrast of sherman alexies movie and story Essay Example
Compare contrast of sherman alexies movie and story Essay Example

Compare contrast of sherman alexies movie and story Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (852 words)
  • Published: August 11, 2017
  • Type: Paper
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Both the story "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" by Sherman Alexie and the movie Smoke Signals take inspiration from the same tales.

Despite their similarities in having a common outcome, the movie and the story display a multitude of differences—some apparent, others not so much. Nevertheless, both convey the same plotline, involving a quest to locate Victor's deceased father in Arizona.

The Indians residing in the reservation shared similar circumstances, which were depicted in both the story and the movie. Most notably, the poverty within the reservation contributed to a dreary atmosphere. The protagonist, Thomas, served as an unpopular storyteller without any friends, while Victor played a typical boy from the reservation. The plot points of the story and movie overlapped when Victor discovered his father's passing and

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decided to retrieve his remains, but lacked sufficient funds. Seeking assistance from the council, he received only $100.

In both the book and movie adaptations, the encounter between the protagonist and Thomas remains unchanged. Strangely enough, Thomas is already aware of what has transpired. In both versions, Thomas delivers an identical line, "I heard it on the wind. I heard it from the birds. I felt it in the sunlight. Also your mother was just in here crying." Additionally, during their travels, both mediums depict the protagonist and Thomas sitting next to a gymnast with remarkable flexibility.

After trying the moves she was doing, Thomas and the gymnast share a laugh. As they talk, the girl repeats details from the book and movie, such as when Victor takes his dad's pickup truck in Phoenix. Thomas realizes that the story about his dream i

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also almost identical in the book and movie, down to the words used. As for the ending, both versions show Thomas and Victor gaining a newfound respect for each other instead of becoming best friends.

Both Thomas and Victor agreed to scatter their late father's ashes in the waterfall, but with different interpretations. For Thomas, his father's essence transformed into a salmon; for Victor, something else. The movie and the story differed in various ways. The movie opened with a house on fire, showing Victor's father rescuing Thomas while Thomas's parents perished in the blaze. As the story progressed, it was revealed that Victor's father actually caused the fire. These discrepancies created significant divergences between the movie and story.

The film includes additional scenes from when Victor's father lived with his mother, which are not present in the book, as well as exploring why his father left. The movie emphasizes Victor's anger towards his dad more prominently than in the original story. Additionally, a comedic weather man character is unique to the film.

During their journey, the two main characters encounter two girls who enjoy driving in reverse. Although this is not included in the story, the girls offer them a ride to a gas station. In the movie, the characters travel to Arizona by bus instead of by plane. Additionally, while speaking with a gymnast on the plane, Victor displays unkind behavior that is not present in the story. Finally, unlike in the movie, the characters do not sing a concluding song as they complete their journey in the story.

Upon arrival in Arizona, the movie diverges significantly from the original story by adding several elements. Notably, the

scene where Thomas changes his appearance and attire after disembarking from the bus is a new addition. Additionally, the part where they meet a girl at her father's trailer site and engage in an extensive conversation is absent from the source material. Finally, when Victor enters the trailer to search for items, he cuts his hair, which is not part of the story.

The story does not mention Victor's basketball skills or the 2-on-2 game with his father. The movie includes this scene for added drama, which is effective. Furthermore, the conversation during their ride home from Arizona differs, and there is no car crash scene in the original story.

The movie excludes several crucial scenes, including the one where the guy tries to frame them and their conversation with the cops. Additionally, the big fight in the movie that changes Victor is not included in the story. Many of the stories about Thomas and Victor growing up differ between the two, or are absent from one or the other. For instance, the account of Thomas saving Victor from a wasp's nest is not in the movie. The story also portrays Victor as drunkenly beating up Thomas for no reason, while the movie depicts Thomas egging him on immediately after his father's departure. In contrast, in the film, Victor's mother intervenes to stop the fight instead of some warrior women.

In the end, I found both the story and the movie to be excellent, although unique compared to other combinations of the two. Surprisingly, I preferred the movie over the story due to its heightened drama and added details. Nevertheless, both convey the same message and

offer a distinct perspective on their genre.

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