The book Native Son by Richard Wright is certainly a classic. I was pleased that such a good book was chosen as a class read. Usually I am bored or annoyed with pre-picked books, but this novel thoroughly impressed me. I thought that the movie was going to be dull and unfaithful to the book. Even though I did find it to stray many times, I was impressed by other aspects of the movie.

As someone very involved with our school's drama program, I have had the privilege to be exposed to many aspects of theatrical life - characters, music, props, setting, mood, costuming, etc. I found while the movie may have drifted from the detailed book, it made up for it in a realistic remake of the time period and characters.

The first thing I notice when I watch a movie based on the...