User blog:AustinDR/The Definitive Pennywise

As for the definitive Pennywise...I don't feel like there is one. Both are great in their own way. For Sakrsgard's portrayal, I will most definitely say he is darker and more ruthless than Curry's take on the killer clown. Heck, 2017!Pennywise is somehow even more sadistic than his original literary counterpart. He keeps trophies of the victims he had killed, he drove Beverly insane by the Deadlights, etc. He is most certainly closer to the book than Curry's Pennywise. It's also freaky how Pennywise can contort his body thanks in part due to Skarsgard taking lessons in contortion. He also moves in an erratic factor that accentuates the otherworldly feel of It. His eyes moving in different places also adds onto the uncanny valley.

However, the one problem that I still have with 2017!Pennywise is and always will be his design. What made Currys' version of Pennywise memorable is how he gives off the impression that he's a normal, albeit creepy clown who is able to lull children into a false sense of security before going in for the kill. Skarsgard's Pennywise is over the top in his design: no children in their right mind would be willing to go with this blatantly evil-looking clown. Georgie was even unwilling to trust this clown, but he decides to take the boat anyway because he was scared that Bill would be mad at him for losing the boat despite his distrust of Pennywise. It also kind of helped that Pennywise's body was mostly shrouded within the darkness of the sewer drain. But even then, Pennywise doesn't even try to appear friendly. I get it; he feeds on children's fears, but if anything, Georgie would've most likely got out of dodge when he first met him.

Another thing is that Curry's clown had a clear personality. He was hammy in how he took delight in tormenting the Losers Club, and he was genuinely humorous in a black comedy way. You could really tell that Tim Curry was having a ball at the role of Pennywise. 1990!Pennywise also has several memorable lines other than the "you'll float too"  remark. With Skarsgard's clown, he doesn't speak much in the film, since his take on the Dancing Clown is more animalistic and feral. Really, other than the "Here, take it," quote he used to goad Georgie into grabbing the paper boat, I can't honestly think of any lines from 2017!Pennywise that stick out.

Overall, both incarnations of the It creature are good in their own ways. The 1990 version is a more lighter take on the source material who can act intimidating along with being genuinely entertaining, while the 2017 Pennywise is closer to how he's represented in the source material.

Which one is better? 1990 2017