‘The Lovely Bones’ lies somewhere in-between

When my friend Brooke said she wanted to go see “The Lovely Bones,” I said, “Are you serious?  I think that movie looks confusing and weird.”
My opinion turned out to be right. 
It sure wasn’t worth my half-hour trip down to town or the two movie tickets my grandma got me for Christmas.
When I walked into the theater I noticed it was one of the smaller ones. I knew that was a sign. They never put the good movies in the smaller theaters.
I have to admit the movie — based on the 2002 book by Alice Sebold and directed by Peter Jackson, who also directed the recent “Lord of the Rings” trilogy — didn’t start out bad.
Fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) lives with her dad Jack Salmon (played by Mark Wahlberg), mother Abigail Salmon (Rachel Weiz) and sister Lindsey Salmon (Rose McIvey). They are a close-knit family who live in a small community surrounded by neighbors, who all look to be good people —  including Mr. Harvey.
Played by Stanley Tucci — from the recent films “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Julie and Julia” — Mr. Harvey is actually very creepy, and his squeaky tone and evil laugh give movie-goers the chills.
When he murders Susie, she becomes stuck in the middle, somewhere between Heaven and Earth. From this place, she tries to help her family members cope with her murder.
Wahlberg portrays her heartbroken father, giving up everything he has to investigate his daughter’s death.
The movie took for me a turn when Susie starts see the deaths of other girls Mr. Harvey murdered in the past. They are all young girls, who try to convince Susie to let go and enter Heaven. But Susie is still not ready. She has to fulfill a few more things before she can enter Heaven and be happy again.
This movie was confusing for me because it seemed like major plot points were left out. Susie dies, but the movie doesn’t make her death obvious. Through the beginning of the movie I found myself questioning whether she was dead or alive.
Then I found myself questioning why she wasn’t in Heaven, but some in-between place. It becomes clear as the movie goes on, but you must figure it out for yourself.
Somehow, Susie can see her father and people she loves even though she is dead. And they can somehow “feel” her in there presence as well.
I feel this movie was weird because it makes you question things. Is there really an in-between?

— Alyssa Wickenhagen is a freshman at Highland High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for students.