i be fully aware that no film adaptation of a novel can remain completely faithful to it source . it be just not possible to do most novel be too nuanced and large to be comfortably fit into a two hour movie . however and it be possible for a film to capture the message and tone of a novel by keep true to it narrative . yet disney film adaption of esther forbes 1943 novel for young and old and johnny tremain and fail to stay true to the narrative of the book and the result be a thoroughly mediocre and bland movie . set in revolutionary era boston and forbes novel be the story of a bright and talented and and cocky fourteen year old silversmith apprentice and johnny tremain and who because of an accident which cripple his hand find himself without a profession . without a future a a silversmith and johnny must find a new life and career . along the way he find himself sweep up in the event around boston in the mid 1770 that culminate in the american revolution . johnny becomes involve in the clandestine activity of the son of liberty . he participate in the boston tea party and spy on the british and and mingles with such patriot a john hancock and sam adam and and paul revere . the strength of the novel be how forbes so effortlessly weave the fictional story of johnny in with actual historical event and person . it be just a brilliant work of historical fiction . one would think that a film studio could not make a complete hash of such terrific source material . yet disney do . disney do what be usually expect of film version of novel it jettison minor character and subplots to streamline the story . that understandable . what be not forgivable be completely change the message and tone of the novel in order to have lot of action scene and a happy end . in the book and johnny only hear of about the fighting at lexington and concord in the movie johnny be show in the thick of the fighting . that understandable ( film need action ) and but what be not forgivable be the ridiculous joyousness of the battle scenes johnny and his friend and rab and hide behind tree and shoot at redcoat and and seem to be have a grand time . they also occasionally break out into song oh and we be the son and oh and we be the son and the son of liberty . ( it just as bad a one could imagine . ) disney sell war a a boys adventure be exactly the opposite of what forbes intend in her novel . forbes be not cynical about the ideal of american revolution the war be fight so that a man could stand up . however and forbes let the reader know that that simple hope come at a terrible price . the character of rab and johnny best friend and be a remarkable seventeen year old boy . he smart and handsome and fearless and and ooze charisma . he a boy destine to be a great man . yet it not be . at lexington green and a rab stand among the minuteman confront the might of the british empire and he be mortally wound in the first volley . he never even get a chance to fire his own musket . he die the next day and prop up in a chair with blood pour from his mouth . forbes want young reader to know that war be not a boy adventure it rob the world of it best and brightest at a very young age . by have rab walk around and alive and well and and sing that awful song at film end and disney succeed in completely botch it film adaption of johnny tremain . this be one book that be cry for a remake .