Movie Blog: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Plot:
The plot of the movie was completely different than the plot of the short story. The sole similarity was that Benjamin aged backwards. The story jumps around a lot and major developments are different. First of all, Benjamin's mother is not supposed to die. And his father is not supposed to give Benjamin up. These details change Benjamin's life completely. The other main difference is the existence of his childhood sweetheart Daisy. His life completely revolves around her. In contrast, Benjamin never really comes close to anyone in the short story. He has a wife and family but never truly gains a life long companion. The existence of Daisy changes the entire story.
Point of View:
The point of view used in the movie is very interesting. It is told by Benjamin himself, or at least his diary which is read by his daughter. I found it interesting that in the movie, Benjamin's life is told as a frame story. This structure seemed strange to me. I thought it was much more affective in the story to use the third person point of view so the reader got the feeling that it was told by the townspeople. The audience is not supposed to get so much insight into Benjamin's thoughts and life.
Characterization:
The short story focused the most on the men in Benjamin's life. However, the movie mainly focuses on Daisy. This starts in the very beginning when the story is being told to Daisy. I feel as though the movie focuses on Daisy even more than Benjamin himself. For a character that did not even exist in the original story, I think she receives too much attention. Benjamin's father gets very little attention, and Benjamin never has a son as he does in the story.
Setting:
The setting is also completely different. This is mainly because Benjamin's father abandons him. The house he grows up in, an old folks home, has a big impact on who he turns into. It's where his adoptive mother lives and it is where he meets Daisy. It is a place he can call home. He never really has this in the original story. He also never spends time in the sea in the story. This was another big difference the writers of the movie made.
Theme:
I had a lot of trouble picking a theme for the movie. I think the main theme is the impact Benjamin had on Daisy and on the other people in his life. It did not have the same sense of lonliness as the short story did. Daisy was almost always loyal to him, his mother was there for him, and his dad develops a relationship with him. I think it also touched on the fragility of life. As well as valuing the loved ones in life before they leave you.