"This is What it means to say Phoenix Arizona" Dialogue

Are you more impressed with the film or the story? Why?

“This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”. Some of the differences of the story and the film are that in the short story they travel to Arizona by airplane while in the film they travel by bus. Other major changes include the addition of parts in the story for the film which was possibly to increase the length for viewers. One example in the film was when Thomas and Victor walk to Victor’s Father’s home from the bus and in the book they take a taxi. Suzy Song is also in the movie and not discussed in any of the stories of the book. In addition, I noticed that they added the dialogue and actions with the part about the fry bread in the film and this is not talked about in the book at all. It seems in the film a lot of phrases, places and characters were added that were not mentioned in the book which is why I was impressed more watching the film than reading the book.

I would have to say that whether you are a book reader or a film buff, this story is a look at sometimes difficult, sometimes brilliant times of these characters lives but from printed page to the big screen both capture a remarkable story that it is hard to decide which I liked more. Although the film did include parts that were not in the book which seemed to give the story zest to me, but in the book the characters seemed more real than they did in the film.

The book has a great way of teaching the way of Native Americans and how they were treated in the past which is not much different then now. Although I feel the book is a rough draft of the story as to where the film develops into a much more interesting story.

I think the film has great actors which gave the story life much more to me than the book and this is the main reason I preferred the movie over the book, Evan Adam is brilliant as Thomas and he brought a story of Native Americans that I think is somewhat understated out in a better way through the movie than you clearly see in the book. What I found with the film that I didn’t with the book is the understanding of American Indians lives on a reservation which included: poverty, inability to improve their economic status, addiction, public alcoholism, racism and domestic violence. The scene in the film that this brings to mind is when Victor’s father lights Thomas’ parent’s home on fire being intoxicated, and the scene that shows domestic violence is highlighted by Victor’s father’s abuse to his mother. I had a better picture of the social, cultural, political and personal issues faced by American Indians living on reservations that was expressed in the film that the book didn’t seem to make as clear to me.