No movie in the history of cinema is without flaws. Like in all the other areas of life, when it comes to movies, perfection is an unattainable goal. Even the most beloved works, hailed as masterpieces, contain what the public and critics might consider “flaws” —whether in storytelling, pacing, or even the lead actors’ casting. However, instead of taking away from the film’s overall brilliance, these imperfections can encourage interesting discussions about the creative changes that could have been made.

It is important to remember that art is by nature subjective. Most of the time, what transforms a good movie into a 10 out of 10 is personal preference. While one viewer might, for example, appreciate a more hopeful conclusion to a story, another might deem the classical “happy ending” too obvious a choice. For this reason, the small changes that would elevate these movies discussed here are based on my personal opinion.

10

A Book-Accurate Fate For The Elder Wand

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

The Harry Potter silver screen transpositions are one of the most remarkable adaptations in cinema history. The fans of the books can attest that the casting and the atmosphere created in the movies paid great homage to the story. However, they were not perfect. The main issues were caused by the exclusion of some significant parts from the original source, usually due to timing reasons. However, the fate of the Elder Wand in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has nothing to do with this problem.

Contrary to his actions in the books, where Harry returns the wand to Dumbledore’s tomb, in the film, “The Boy Who Lived” breaks it in half and discards it. The gesture feels unnecessary and somewhat cliché. The trope of the hero destroying the powerful object has been relentlessly used in literature. It would have been more significant and respectful to the original source for Harry to return the wand to Dumbledore, who had resisted its temptation and proved himself worthy of carrying it. Unfortunately, this creative choice ruined an otherwise 10/10 movie for me.

9

Cᴀssie’s Conclusion

Promising Young Woman (2020)

Few films have recently sparked controversy like Promising Young Woman did, and not without a reason. This sharp revenge movie offers a social commentary on Sєxual violence and misogyny. The main character, Cᴀssie, is a traumatized yet resilient young woman who comes across as an exemplary figure to Sєxual harᴀssment victims and beyond. Unfortunately, her fate is anything but empowering. It is not even a little satisfying.

After spending a movie exposing predators, Cᴀssie seemingly finds closure by finally coming face to face with the man who ᴀssaulted and killed her best friend. However, she also ends up being brutally murdered by him. Cᴀssie’s fate does not only feel unnecessary and undeserved, but it undermines the message of the film under the pretext of being realistic. By framing her death as “inevitable”, it deprives the character of agency and makes it seem as though justice is unattainable. The movie was, for lack of a better word, promising, but to me, Cᴀssie’s conclusion ruined it.

8

Killmonger’s Less Cruel Characterization

Black Panther (2018)

One of the most interesting villains of the MCU, it is easy to sympathize with the character of Killmonger. Orphaned after his father’s unjust murder by his uncle and abandoned as a child, Erik was wronged by the so-called heroes of the story. On top of that, Killmonger did not only crave revenge. He had a bigger purpose. He planned to use Wakanda’s advanced technology to arm oppressed people worldwide. He came across more as a complex anti-hero than a straight-up villain. That was until he killed his girlfriend in cold blood.

Black Panther could have created a nuanced antagonist with a flawed albeit powerful sense of justice that could have led to a moral conflict in the story. It could have explored the idea of the antagonist not as the classic villain but as someone who was forced into that position. However, by having Erik almost remorselessly murder his girlfriend, the film undermined his moral ambiguity, making him a more full-fledged monster. Black Panther is one of Marvel’s finest movies, but what kept it from achieving perfection, for me, is the treatment reserved for the character of Killmonger.

7

Lisbeth’s Book-Accurate Conclusion

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Most of the time, when a director wants to change some minor details in a movie adaptation, it would be best for them to carefully consider whether that insignificant revision might inadvertently lead to a larger shift. In the case of David Fincher’s version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the conclusion regarding one of the main characters, Lisbeth Salander, would have felt much more satisfying had the producers respected the source.

As Blomkvist regains his credibility, Lisbeth rushes toward him with a bouquet of flowers, only to find him with his lover and colleague, Erika Berger. Heartbroken, she leaves the scene. This change not only disrespected the core of Lisbeth’s character in the book- a hardened, self-sufficient woman who struggles to trust and connect with others- but also deprived the character of the happy ending she deserves. The more book-accurate and hopeful conclusion would have made the movie better for me.

6

No ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Dog

The Conjuring (2013)

There is a trope in horror movies that, despite—or because of—the shock it elicits from the viewers, has been relentlessly used for decades: the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ dog. Although many might argue that the solution is to avoid movies featuring such clichés, sometimes, it would be a shame to miss out on a great film because of a single scene. The Conjuring is an example of that. The production, with its grim and dreamy atmosphere, is a spectacular horror movie that defined the 2010s. However, the scene when one of the children finds their dog slaughtered is frankly problematic.

The moment is unnecessary, making this plot twist meaninglessly cruel. It does not add to the overall story. There is no reason why the dog had to die, aside from upsetting the public with the usual cheap clichés of the innocent creature being the victim of evil forces. The producers were simply aware of its effect on the viewer and played with it. The film would have felt less cheap without the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ dog and, more importantly, less painfully obvious. We all know the fate of a dog in a horror movie.

5

Andie MacDowell’s Character

Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994)

Andie MacDowell is, without a doubt, a talented actress. However, because of a series of reasons, her character in Four Weddings and a Funeral completely missed the mark for me. The British comedy is one of the most beloved romances of all time, known for its sharp wit and the charming performances of then relatively unknown Hugh Grant and Kristin Scott Thomas. However, MacDowell’s character Carrie feels disappointingly bland.

Throughout the story, the public is told that Charles (Grant) is in love with Carrie. MacDowell is supposedly this irresistible and enigmatic presence who has stolen the heart of the lead character. However, the film never shows us why. Her characterization is vague and lacks the charisma that, for instance, Kristin Scott Thomas exudes with her portrayal of Fiona. For this reason, the movie, despite being one of my favorites, never achieved a 10/10 score. It would have been better and more original if Charles had ended up with Fiona, with whom he also had considerably better chemistry.

4

Scar’s Death

The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King is one of Disney’s best movies, a heartwarming story about familial bonds, grief, and the importance of destiny. The breathtaking animation and emotional depth of its characterization made the 1994 musical one of my favorite animated cartoons. However, there is one scene that, according to me, prevented it from achieving perfection. And that is the brutal death of Scar.

Although the sequence is not shown, it leaves little to the imagination. Scar is mauled to death by the group of hyenas he had previously betrayed. Although I wanted to see the lion paying for what he did to Mufasa, his demise is unnecessarily violent. The problem is not whether the character deserved it, but the vicious tone it sets. As a child, the scene painted a rather gory picture in my mind, which left a bitter taste in my mouth. A more gentle death would have fit in with the redemptive tone of the movie better.

3

A Shorter First Half

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Life Is Beautiful, directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, is a beautifully heartbreaking film that, like very few in history, has been able to blend comedy and tragedy. The movie is divided into two parts. The first is a lighthearted and romantic portrayal of the blossoming love between the main character and his future wife. The second delves into the brutal experiences of these same characters as they are brought to a concentration camp. Although the juxtaposition between the two realities is the core of the film, the story would have been improved by a more concise first half.

I have always perceived the first half of the movie as an introductory phase whose purpose is to entertain and, above all, make the public fall in love with the heroes and emotionally invest in their journey. However, in my view, it could have been slightly shorter. This small change would have allowed more focus on the second half of the story, which, with its tragicomic undertones, is what elevates the film to one of the best foreign movies ever.

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2

Lea Thompson’s Portrayal Of Maggie

Back To The Future Part III (1990)

The Back to the Future saga is one of the most engaging and ingenious trilogies ever created. Each installment has the right elements of hilarity, adventure, and heart, offering a groundbreaking time-travel story that defined the 1980s. However, in the third movie, there was a minor issue that, although it did not ruin the story, still affected its overall quality. That problem was the choice to cast Lea Thompson, who plays Marty’s mother Lorraine, as Marty’s great-great-grandmother, Maggie.

Back to the Future often uses the same actors to play different members of the McFly family. This is part of the charm that ties the films together. However, Maggie is Marty’s paternal grandmother, meaning she has no ties to Lorraine and should have almost no resemblance to her. Bob Gale justified it by saying the McFly are “genetically predisposed” to be attracted to women who look like Maggie. However, to me, this explanation seems like a forced attempt to keep Thompson in the role. Had they used another actress, the movie would have felt more natural.

1

Frodo’s More Proactive Role

The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)

The Lord of the Rings films, directed by Peter Jackson, are one of the most legendary adaptations in cinematic history. The breathtaking visuals, memorable performances, and epic world-building all come together to create a masterpiece of the fantasy genre. These three movies are as close to a 10 out of 10 as very few others I have watched. However, although the characterizations are outstanding, Frodo could have benefited from a more active role as the saga progresses.

At the beginning of the film, the hobbit immediately demonstrates courage and heart when he offers to bring the ring to Mordor. He also proves to be rather clever, not unlike his uncle Bilbo. Nevertheless, as the story progresses, the character ends up being a “damsel in distress”. It is true that Frodo’s disadvantage is justified by the oppressive influence that the ring exerts on him. However, it would have been pleasant to see the hero be more independent in his struggles to defeat the ring’s leverage on him while trying to bring it to Mount Doom.