Ryan Kiera Armstrong gets to flex her acting muscles playing Charlene Roberta McGhee aka Charlie in "Firestarter." She is a very strong young girl who knows her own mind and is struggling to control her very frightening firestarting abilities. Charlie doesn't want to kill anyone much like Drew Barrymore's Charlie in the 1984 movie. I do think Zac Efron and Sydney Lemmon as Andy and Vicky, Charlie's parents surpass David Keith and Heather Locklear in the 1984 movie, though. When Andy uses his push in this movie, the pain he goes through with bloody eyes seems more realistic than the head clutching David Keith did. Vicky actually uses her telekinesis against John Rainbird in this treatment. Heather Locklear did not seem to have any telekinetic powers at all.
I was unsure about Captain Hollister being a woman in this movie, but Gloria Reuben made an excellent villainess who wanted to harness Charlie's extraordinary powers. Kurtwood Smith as the evil Dr. Wanless who started Lot 6 proves he can play a villain even though everyone remembers him on "That 70s Show." I was glad Michael Greyeyes a real Native American play John Rainbird. Having the late George C. Scott play this character in redface seemed offensive and not real!
The special effects with fire were much better than the ones in the 1984 movie. I thought the bond Charlie had with her parents was strong like the bond Charlie had with them in the classic novel. I felt the struggles Andy and Vicky had in raising Charlie were better represented in this movie and the 1980 novel than in the 1984 movie!
I was unsure about Captain Hollister being a woman in this movie, but Gloria Reuben made an excellent villainess who wanted to harness Charlie's extraordinary powers. Kurtwood Smith as the evil Dr. Wanless who started Lot 6 proves he can play a villain even though everyone remembers him on "That 70s Show." I was glad Michael Greyeyes a real Native American play John Rainbird. Having the late George C. Scott play this character in redface seemed offensive and not real!
The special effects with fire were much better than the ones in the 1984 movie. I thought the bond Charlie had with her parents was strong like the bond Charlie had with them in the classic novel. I felt the struggles Andy and Vicky had in raising Charlie were better represented in this movie and the 1980 novel than in the 1984 movie!
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