Lord of the Flies (1990)

Featured Audience Ratings

• erika b

  
  did not follow the book plot at all.

• moon r

  
  instead of proper little english tykes this film substitutes closer-to-home american military school kids, future halliburton wannabes, but there's more that's changed as well. instead of falling into depravity because it's their nature, in our nature, like in the… More
  instead of proper little english tykes this film substitutes closer-to-home american military school kids, future halliburton wannabes, but there's more that's changed as well. instead of falling into depravity because it's their nature, in our nature, like in the first film and in the book, these guys do it because their leader said so. maybe with yanks that's the relevant, resonant way to go, hmmm? didn't the jerries try that line of rationale at one point? nevertheless the dark lord is underplayed as well, and so what remains is a watered down examination of our "civilisation".

• Luke B

  
  A shockingly terrible adaptation. All of the pieces might be there on screen, but nothing and I mean NOTHING that makes any sense translates onto screen. It's amazing how someone could miss all of the interesting themes. I'm pretty sure the child actors wrote the script… More
  A shockingly terrible adaptation. All of the pieces might be there on screen, but nothing and I mean NOTHING that makes any sense translates onto screen. It's amazing how someone could miss all of the interesting themes. I'm pretty sure the child actors wrote the script without any understanding of the book. So it starts off with American Military Cadets, rather than prim and proper British Schoolboys. This is the first huge mistake as it completely shits on the transformation that every student goes through. Jack is reduced to a villain. We even here he was bad before getting to the island. The children don't fail at creating a society, they're all just a bunch of disgusting little pricks. Arguing at the slightest little thing. The kids also start with a grown up on the island...I can't even begin to explain how fucking stupid that is. It adds literally nothing. The fighter pilot is excised, losing the irony of Piggy praying for a sign from the adult world, only to have an adult killed in war appear. As well as Jack being the villain, Simon's just a weirdo, with every nod toward religion now gone. So what's left? A bunch of horrible children stuck on an island and acting like shits, which they were before they got to the island. Pointless, painful and frustrating.

• KJ P

  
  The movie itself is pretty good, but when associated with the novel, it fails pretty bad. The acting is over the top, even though they are young, and the executions of the killings are way overdone, and sometimes very corny. I is enjoyable to watch maybe with your friends, so that you… More
  The movie itself is pretty good, but when associated with the novel, it fails pretty bad. The acting is over the top, even though they are young, and the executions of the killings are way overdone, and sometimes very corny. I is enjoyable to watch maybe with your friends, so that you can laugh at the poor acting in this film. The only character who was actually portrayed well, was Ralph. Decent film, but they leave out too much, and add in things that are extremely unnecessary.

• Jason O

  
  Bleh, just bleh. I loved reading the book in high school and wouldn't mind owning that one day, but this movie I never plan to own.

• Curtis L

  
  The book makes this movie shame. Shame on the bottom of shoes.

• Jennifer X

  
  I understand how hard it is to translate a treasured text into film, but this was a sad, sad attempt.

• EightThirty .

  
  What would U do?? ^_^

• Candy R

  
  Movie about a group of young men being stranded on an island.

• Lafe F

  
  A competant and engaging adaptation of the classic book. It was about time they remade this tale with modern boys.

• danny d

  
  sad but a must see, the book is even better

• Dean M

  
  I read William Golding's powerful novel when I was a Year 9 student. In this film version, they're know-all American military cadets, not English schoolboys from the following novel.

• Joey T

  
  Lacking any emotional resonance from the novel, incredibly unfaithful, and corny as all get out, this adaptation of Lord of the Flies is lacking in every sense of the way. From the unconvincing American actors, to the new scenes added that do nothing but hurt the screenplay. This is a… More
  Lacking any emotional resonance from the novel, incredibly unfaithful, and corny as all get out, this adaptation of Lord of the Flies is lacking in every sense of the way. From the unconvincing American actors, to the new scenes added that do nothing but hurt the screenplay. This is a painful movie to sit through, and its one that you can pass up on.

• Dannielle A

  
  This movie gave me nightmares when I was little. My parents never should have let me see it. I want to see it again, though now that I'm older.

• Donna D

  
  I have to read this book and based on the review itself on this synopsis it has me curious to really know how the boys were portrayed in the book. As for this movie, it was ok but I think the 1963 version is a little bit darker and better than this updated version.

• Marion R

  
  The story it self is quite chilling. I really enjoyed this version.

• Eduardo C

  
  That this film takes many liberties with the novel does not automatically make it a bad picture. That it guts the novel (no fucking monologue about the lord of the flies?), turns it into a Blue Lagoon type deal with violent kids vs non-violent kids and adds a tacked on, ridiculous… More
  That this film takes many liberties with the novel does not automatically make it a bad picture. That it guts the novel (no fucking monologue about the lord of the flies?), turns it into a Blue Lagoon type deal with violent kids vs non-violent kids and adds a tacked on, ridiculous ending most certainly does. Making the kids be a part of a military academy undermines the original's message more than a bit. The military is, after all, hardly the high point of civility. The constant use of profanity could have been used to further some of the themes (children who suddenly find they do not have to abide by adult rules) but is, instead, grating because it is absolutely gratuitous. The film does follow the main plot points of the novel, but it doesn't seem to understand them, like it knows the music but not the rythm. Basically, it is an easy on the eyes, easier on the brain piece of fluff.

• Haley A

  
  The book was better.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings