Summer of the Monkeys

 

Similarities

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In the movie, Summer of the Monkeys, there were very little similarities and lots of differences from the book. One main similarity that was in the movie and book was that Daisy was still crippled. Even though Daisy was crippled, in the book she had a crutch and in the movie she had a brace. The same family members were there, and there were only four, in the book and movie. The dog, Rowdy was still there, even though he was not a bluetick in the movie. Also, grandpa was still in the movie. Another similarity is that grandpa and Jay went to the library in Tahlequah to learn how to catch monkeys. Jay tries to catch the monkeys with apples, as he does in the movie and book. Lastly, Jay finds the monkeys after the storm hits. Finding the monkeys after the storm was probably one of the biggest events. If Jay never had found the monkeys, he never would have gotten the money for returning them.

 

Differences

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There were plenty of differences in the movie verses the book. For instance, the monkeys. There were four monkeys in the movie and not twenty-nine as is says in the book. The monkeys have different names in the movie, and they were french: Antoinette, Jack, Dominique, Henry. The prices of the monkeys were different. All the other monkeys, except Henry, are worth $15. Henry was worth $40, and that come to a total of $85. Another difference is that Daisy called the fairy ring, the “angel ring”. There are more smaller differences. Grandma was not in the movie, the two brothers did not own the circus instead it was run by a single person, Daisy had a brace, not a crutch grandpa wasn’t as involved as he was in the book, and the father’s name was different. Some big differences were Bayliss Hatcher, Dolly’s name was Annie, Rowdy was not a bluetick hound, and Toby and his gang were in there, trying to catch the monkeys

 

Opinion

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In my opinion, the book was good. If I had not read the book first, the movie would have been great. The movie did not follow the book at all. The movie was really good but it had added or missing qualities that made the book, The Summer of the Monkeys what it is. For instance, one of the most important parts of the book was when Jay got drunk. That was not in the movie. Another important part of the book is when Daisy gets back from the doctor, on a train, and comes home healed. In the movie, it only showed that Jay Berry wanted to give the money to Daisy, so he brought Annie home to ride her just once because he knows he can’t keep her. Knowing that Daisy will not be crippled anymore is a major part of the book and movie. Suggestions I would make is to follow the book! The movie should be very close to the book’s story line, except the movie decided to go it’s own way.