Plot: The plot for the movie is the same as the film. A person is born as an old man and as he gets older his features get younger. The story and film both were about this man, Benjamin Button, and his life from birth to death. This made for a fulfilling short story but the film was longer then average. The film had to take more time expressing ideas that can be more efficiently expressed in text. In order to get a full feel of Benjamin's life, the viewer needs more time watching it. The reader on the other hand could get a better grasp on the plot point in a few minutes worth of text.
Point of View: The point of view for the story was from a third person, all knowing perspective. Not very much time was spent on the characters because the reader was simply told the characters thoughts. The film was from the perspective of Benjamin's daughter reading his diary, so more time was spent on the characters to allow for the viewer to get to know them. This fact was another reason for a shorter story and a longer movie. The film also showed what the characters reading about Benjamin were doing, while the story revolved around Benjamin.
Characterization: The film had very detailed characters. For example, the Captain had tattoos and other mannerisms that made him unique from other characters. There is no trouble distinguishing characters of the film from one another. Their dress, personality, and attitudes are very thorough. It is still easier to understand the characters in the story because of the point of view. A stronger connection with the characters comes from the film because the viewer can see their emotions.
Setting: Both adaptations took place during 80 years, but very different time periods. The short story took place between 1860 and 1920, and the film was between the 1920s and 2003. This created for two very different expiriences. The film being more modern also made it more relatable for me. The short story had characters that live around very moral ideals while the film had more exciting and dangerous events. 1920s-2003 setting allowed for Benjamin to get into more precarious situations, which made for a more exciting film. The setting could have also been different because Fitzgerald wrote the story before the 1920's. The creators of the film could have wanted to expirimemt with the same story but in a modern setting.
Theme: The themes were nearly the same, but they stood out much more in the film. One theme was the similarities and differences between old and young. Benjamin and a girl that he loves are the same age, but they look exactly opposite. When he is an old man in a wheelchair, she is a youthful young girl. Another theme depicts change over time. Both the story and the movie kept returning to notice changes after long periods of time. This created very emotional moments in the story and film, leaving the consumer satisfied.
