Every Peter Jackson Film Ranked Worst To Best

Based on Alice Sebold's acclaimed novel of the same name, The Lovely Bones is at once one of Peter Jackson's most visually stunning and narratively obnoxious tales. The film is about a girl called Susie (Saoirse Ronan) who is murdered by her neighbour (Stanley Tucci) and is forced to watch her family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) from Heaven whilst they mourn.

There are moments of genuine greatness scattered throughout the film, including Jackson's typical eye for striking, beautiful visuals, and the powerhouse performances of Ronan and Tucci. But between these sparks of brilliance, there are some issues, primarily with the constantly shifting tone.

One minute, you're watching a thoughtful meditation on grief and family; the next, everything is dark and all the hope is gone, and all that's left is violence and death. The tone is off to such an extent that the whole film is let down in its wake, despite the film's most effective moments hinting at a brilliant film never realised.