Monday, November 27, 2006
The Da Vinci Code
Yesterday I watched The Da Vinci Code. It was incredibly boring. Unexpectedly boring. It was a little too true to the book. Admittedly, it is difficult to accurately transform a book into a movie. Things are left out; a book can be as long as necessary, but a movie needs to fit into a certain timeframe. I don’t know if Ron Howard understood that in this case. The movie was too long. There were good parts in the action and dialogue, just too far apart. The Da Vinci Code could have been a great movie, but over reached the mark.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Persuasion
Have they made a movie of Persuasion? I think this novel of Jane Austen’s would make a lovely film. It is filled with complicated characters, as well as absolutely simple ones. There are great locales and interesting relationships. Best of all, Anne Elliot is simply brilliant.
I love Anne. She is independent, opinionated, but sensitive to the feelings of others. Yes, she was persuaded in a wrong direction by her mother-figure, Lady Russell, when she was only 19. Eight years brings many insights. In those eight years, Anne learns romance and the ways of men and women. The language is thick, but the feelings are still the same. Happiness is brought to those who deserve it. Others learn life lessons. Exciting events and quiet intimacies make Persuasion a fabulous story.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Ella Enchanted
I just saw Ella Enchanted last night for the first time. It was the cutest movie! I want to go out and buy a copy. I know it’s silly for me to be sucked in by this nouveau fairy tale, but I couldn’t help it. I think Anne Hathaway is fabulous, so I just had to watch!
It’s loosely a Cinderella sort of story. There’s a wicked step-mother and step-sisters. There’s a fairy godmother and a handsome prince. Midnight, of course, is a special time in this tale. But there are major differences. Ella’s father is well and alive. Ella travels to find her fairy godmother to get her to take back her “gift”. She also doesn’t swoon at the sight of Prince Char. Ella tells him what she thinks about the state of the kingdom and his politics. We get to watch them fall in love; it’s not just marriage after one dance. So many things are working against Ella and Char, but their love conquers all. Sappy, I know, but I was really in a mood for a movie that just makes you feel good!
It’s loosely a Cinderella sort of story. There’s a wicked step-mother and step-sisters. There’s a fairy godmother and a handsome prince. Midnight, of course, is a special time in this tale. But there are major differences. Ella’s father is well and alive. Ella travels to find her fairy godmother to get her to take back her “gift”. She also doesn’t swoon at the sight of Prince Char. Ella tells him what she thinks about the state of the kingdom and his politics. We get to watch them fall in love; it’s not just marriage after one dance. So many things are working against Ella and Char, but their love conquers all. Sappy, I know, but I was really in a mood for a movie that just makes you feel good!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
The Frontline Radio
Check out my cousin, DJ Ree, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2-4pm. He's a great DJ. I'm not just saying that. It's a good site too if you're a soca fan. Check him out today between 4-6pm.
The Frontline Radio
The Frontline Radio
Sunday, November 05, 2006
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Unauthorized Autobiography
The Beatrice Letters
The End
That’s it? It’s over? I can’t believe it! I don’t want to.
During these past weeks, I’ve read the last few books involved in Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events. First I read The Unauthorized Autobiography. Then my attention turned to The Beatrice Letters. I couldn’t wait to dive into the final book in the series, The End!
The supplementary materials were good. I read the books in the above order, because that was the order of their publication. I wouldn’t say they were fabulous. You don’t really learn that much in The Unauthorized Autobiography. Yes, you learn a little more about the nature and practices of the V.F.D., which is good. You also learn why Mr. Poe isn’t more helpful. That made me a little upset, but also feel a little better to know that he wasn’t a villain. In the end, I would say it didn’t really unlock any of the major secrets in the Baudelaires’ lives, but it does give another perspective to the Unfortunate Events in the children’s lives.
The Beatrice Letters is a little confusing. It probably would have made more sense if I read it after The End but, oh well. It’s not like I can go back in time. It really does tell you more about the relationship between Lemony Snicket and Beatrice, past, present and future. It’s definitely worth it to read. It lets you know that The End is not the end of the Baudelaires’ story.
The End was wonderful. It did answer many questions in the lives of the Baudelaire children. Naturally, it left many questions still unanswered. It was an appropriate ending though, to the way the series was written. If it was a nice, neat ending, with everything wrapped up for us, it wouldn’t quite be Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. The End brings the children closer to their parents and further away at different points in the story. I really enjoyed it and hope there is more. I know that this is supposed to be the end of the series, but it doesn’t mean that Snicket (Handler) can’t write further supplementary books…or start another series altogether. While I’ll refrain from obsessing, I’ll definitely keeps an eye out for future word on the lives of the Baudelaires.
The Beatrice Letters
The End
That’s it? It’s over? I can’t believe it! I don’t want to.
During these past weeks, I’ve read the last few books involved in Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events. First I read The Unauthorized Autobiography. Then my attention turned to The Beatrice Letters. I couldn’t wait to dive into the final book in the series, The End!
The supplementary materials were good. I read the books in the above order, because that was the order of their publication. I wouldn’t say they were fabulous. You don’t really learn that much in The Unauthorized Autobiography. Yes, you learn a little more about the nature and practices of the V.F.D., which is good. You also learn why Mr. Poe isn’t more helpful. That made me a little upset, but also feel a little better to know that he wasn’t a villain. In the end, I would say it didn’t really unlock any of the major secrets in the Baudelaires’ lives, but it does give another perspective to the Unfortunate Events in the children’s lives.
The Beatrice Letters is a little confusing. It probably would have made more sense if I read it after The End but, oh well. It’s not like I can go back in time. It really does tell you more about the relationship between Lemony Snicket and Beatrice, past, present and future. It’s definitely worth it to read. It lets you know that The End is not the end of the Baudelaires’ story.
The End was wonderful. It did answer many questions in the lives of the Baudelaire children. Naturally, it left many questions still unanswered. It was an appropriate ending though, to the way the series was written. If it was a nice, neat ending, with everything wrapped up for us, it wouldn’t quite be Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. The End brings the children closer to their parents and further away at different points in the story. I really enjoyed it and hope there is more. I know that this is supposed to be the end of the series, but it doesn’t mean that Snicket (Handler) can’t write further supplementary books…or start another series altogether. While I’ll refrain from obsessing, I’ll definitely keeps an eye out for future word on the lives of the Baudelaires.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)