10 Small Changes That Would Have Made These Movies 10/10 For Me

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)

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

PG-13

Adventure

Family

Fantasy

Mystery

ScreenRant logo

9/10

11

9.6/10

Release Date

July 15, 2011

Runtime

130 Minutes

Director

David Yates

Writers

Steve Kloves, J.K. Rowling

Prequel(s)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

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  •  Headshot of Daniel Radcliffe In The London screening of 'The Lost City'

    Daniel Radcliffe

  • Headshot Of Rupert Grint

    Rupert Grint

The conclusion to the film franchise based on the popular novel series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 centers on Harry and his allies as they prepare for the final battle against Lord Voldemort. The film follows Harry, Hermoine, and Ron as they continue to track down and destroy the Horcruxes to destroy Voldemort, all while the dark wizard approaches ever closer to Hogwarts with his army of followers.

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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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.

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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

Cassie’s Conclusion

Promising Young Woman (2020)

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Promising Young Woman

R

Crime

Thriller

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

6.7/10

Release Date

December 25, 2020

Runtime

113 minutes

Director

Emerald Fennell

Writers

Emerald Fennell

Cast

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  • Headshot of Jennifer Coolidge In The 96th Academy Awards Vanity Fair Party

    Jennifer Coolidge

  • Headshot Of Clancy Brown In The Los Angeles premiere of 'Scrambled' at AMC Westfield Century City

    Clancy Brown

Starring Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman follows Cassie, a college dropout intent on getting revenge for the unprosecuted rape of her deceased best friend, Nina. As she becomes deeper involved in tormenting those she sees as complicit in Nina’s rape and subsequent suicide, Cassie begins to travel down a more dangerous path than she realizes. Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, and Connie Britton also star. 

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Focus Features, Universal Pictures

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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 sexual violence and misogyny. The main character, Cassie, is a traumatized yet resilient young woman who comes across as an exemplary figure to sexual harassment victims and beyond. Unfortunately, her fate is anything but empowering. It is not even a little satisfying.

However, she also ends up being brutally murdered by him. Cassie’s fate does not only feel unnecessary and undeserved, but it undermines the message of the film under the pretext of being realistic.

After spending a movie exposing predators, Cassie seemingly finds closure by finally coming face to face with the man who assaulted and killed her best friend. However, she also ends up being brutally murdered by him. Cassie’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, Cassie’s conclusion ruined it.

8

Killmonger’s Less Cruel Characterization

Black Panther (2018)

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Black Panther

PG-13

Sci-Fi

Drama

Action

Superhero

ScreenRant logo

8/10

34

8.6/10

Release Date

February 16, 2018

Runtime

134 Minutes

Director

Ryan Coogler

Writers

Joe Robert Cole, Ryan Coogler

Sequel(s)

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Chadwick Boseman In The 2019 American Music Awards

    Chadwick Boseman

  • Headshot Of Lupita Nyong'o In The Photocall for 'A Quiet Place: Day One' at the IET Building in London

    Lupita Nyong’o

Black Panther is the eighteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and sees the titular hero return after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Set in the fictional nation of Wakanda, Black Panther sees the succession of T’Challa as the nation’s new king. However, when a mysterious soldier with ill intentions arrives with proof of his claim to the throne, the future of Wakanda is thrown into jeopardy.

Main Genre

Adventure

Studio(s)

Marvel Studios

Distributor(s)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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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)

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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

R

Thriller

Drama

Crime

Mystery

ScreenRant logo

9/10

7/10

Release Date

December 21, 2011

Runtime

158 minutes

Director

David Fincher

Writers

Steven Zaillian

Sequel(s)

The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Christopher Plummer

    Christopher Plummer

  • Headshot Of Robin Wright

    Robin Wright

Based on the award-winning novel by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he searches for a woman who has been missing for 40 years. Along the way, he makes an unexpected ally in Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a computer hacker and survivor of a traumatic childhood. The film is directed by David Fincher and won an Oscar in 2012 for Best Achievement in Film Editing.

Studio(s)

20th Century

Distributor(s)

20th Century

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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.

Toward the end, Lisbeth helps her work partner Mikael Blomkvist prove his innocence and expose Wennerström’s crimes.

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 Dead Dog

The Conjuring (2013)

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The Conjuring

R

Mystery

Thriller

Horror

ScreenRant logo

9/10

8.5/10

Release Date

July 19, 2013

Runtime

112 minutes

Director

James Wan

Writers

Chad Hayes, Carey W. Hayes

Sequel(s)

The Conjuring 2, The Conjuring 3

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Joey King In The Premiere Of Despicable Me 4

    Joey King

  • Headshot Of Vera Farmiga

    Vera Farmiga

Based on the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring chronicles the haunting of the Perron family after moving into a Rhode Island farmhouse. The film went on to kickstart the Conjuring franchise, a series of supernatural horror films.

Studio

Warner Bros. Pictures

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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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 dead 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 dead 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)

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Four Weddings and a Funeral

R

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Release Date

March 9, 1994

Runtime

117 minutes

Director

Mike Newell

Writers

Richard Curtis

Producers

Duncan Kenworthy, Eric Fellner

Cast

  • Headshot Of Hugh Grant iN The Premiere of 'Wonka' at the Regency Village Theater.

    Hugh Grant

    Charles

  • Headshot Of Andie MacDowell In The L’Oreal Light On Women Award Dinner during the 76th Cannes Film Festival

    Andie MacDowell

    Carrie

  • Headshot Of Kristin Scott Thomas

    Kristin Scott Thomas

    Fiona

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Simon Callow

    Gareth

Four Weddings and a Funeral follows a bachelor, played by Hugh Grant, navigating his romantic feelings during five social events. The film explores themes of love and relationships through a series of weddings and a funeral, capturing the challenges and realizations faced by the protagonist.

Main Genre

Comedy

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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.

Her characterization is vague and lacks the charisma that, for instance, Kristin Scott Thomas exudes with her portrayal of Fiona.

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)

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The Lion King

G

Animation

Drama

Adventure

28

9.2/10

Release Date

June 24, 1994

Runtime

88 Minutes

Director

Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Writers

Linda Woolverton, Jonathan Roberts, Irene Mecchi

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Matthew Broderick

    Matthew Broderick

  • Headshot Of Moira Kelly

    Moira Kelly

The Lion King is an animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Released in 1994, it tells the story of Simba, a young lion cub who faces the responsibilities of adulthood and reclaiming his birthright as king of the Pride Lands. Featuring an iconic voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, and Jeremy Irons, the film explores themes of family, duty, and the circle of life.

Main Genre

Animation

Studio(s)

Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation

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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)

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Life Is Beautiful

PG-13

Comedy

Drama

Romance

ScreenRant logo

10/10

5.5/10

Release Date

December 20, 1997

Runtime

116 Mins

Director

Roberto Benigni

Writers

Vincenzo Cerami, Roberto Benigni

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Roberto Benigni

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Nicoletta Braschi

Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni. Set during World War II, the film tells the story of a Jewish-Italian bookstore owner who utilizes his imagination and humor to shield his young son from the horrors of internment in a Nazi concentration camp. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of optimism in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Main Genre

Comedy

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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.

.

2

Lea Thompson’s Portrayal Of Maggie

Back To The Future Part III (1990)

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Back to the Future Part III

pg-13

Sci-Fi

Comedy

15

8.5/10

Release Date

May 25, 1990

Runtime

118minutes

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Writers

Robert Zemeckis

Prequel(s)

Back to the Future Part II

Cast

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  • Headshot of Michael J. Fox

    Michael J. Fox

  • Headshot Of Christopher Lloyd In The Santa Barbara International Film Festival's 15th Annual Kirk Douglas Award

    Christopher Lloyd

The final entry in Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s timeless trilogy, Back to the Future Part III wraps up Marty McFly and Doc Brown’s adventures through time when Marty travels to 1885’s Wild West to save his mentor, meeting Biff Tannen’s ancestor “Mad Dog” and almost changing the course of history once again along the way.

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

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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.

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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)

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

PG-13

Action

Fantasy

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

10/10

57

9.4/10

Release Date

December 19, 2001

Runtime

178 Minutes

Director

Peter Jackson

Writers

Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson

Prequel(s)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Elijah Wood

    Elijah Wood

  • Headshot Of Ian McKellen In The USA Rights Only

    Ian McKellen

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first film in Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Woods) as he is tasked with destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom after he inherits the ring.

Main Genre

Fantasy

Studio(s)

New Line Cinema, Wingnut Films

Distributor(s)

New Line Cinema

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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.

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