Whenever a book is slated to be made into a movie, people always wonder whether or not it's going to hold up during the conversion process. It should be pretty evident by now that they're not going to. They can't; it's not possible. There are always going to be story elements, exposition, setting details, etc. left out simply because of time constraints. A novel is simply too long to translate into a 2 hour movie. And children's books are usually too short to fill 100 minutes, so things are usually added to the story, again causing people like it less than the book.
In that case, I think people should just stop going into the movie with the mindset that it'll be a perfect visual representationof the book and take it as its own entity. That's probably hard for people to do, to keep an open mind about, but the two mediums are vastly different, able to invoke emotions in different ways. Given the proper direction, an actor can portray a sadness that we can immediately feel with their eyes alone, while an author may need several clever metaphors to get the point across. But perhaps those metaphors provide a more specific description of the characters true feelings. It's a problem that cannot really be solved outside of narration, which shouldn't be used with certain movie genres entirely.
It goes without saying that a lot of critically acclaimed movies start their lives as books, but in most cases the phrase "not as good as the book" still gets thrown around. I get it, everyone gets it. People should stop saying it altogether. In my opinion, if a movie is clearly superior to its book form, it was poorly written.
Now that I think about it, I should probably read Choke before that movie comes out.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
...the grouch
It's that time again, boys and girls. I'll be the first to admit that I have an Oscar problem. An addiction, if you will. Alright, now that that's out of the way, on with the show!
Note: The following aren't my views of who's going to win, just random thoughts after seeing the nominees).
Best Picture
I suppose I'm okay with this years picks. 2k7 wasn't the best year when it comes to really great movies, so I don't believe there is a clear standout (national critics think otherwise). I've already seen 4 of the 5 choices, and out of those (Juno, No Country, Michael Clayton, Atonement) I think Atonement was the overall "best" picture. No Country was my favorite though, and runs a close second when it comes to best. I have yet to see There Will Be Blood, partly because it was the only movie from last year, aside from perhaps Epic Movie, in which after seeing the trailer I said "I have absolutely no interest in seeing this movie" (I haven't seen it, so I can't really pass judgment, but I said the same thing about the English Patient trailer), and partly because there were no ninjas in it.
Best Actor
This will probably go to big Danny, and I don't really have too much of a problem with that since I believe you can still have the best performance of the year in an okay movie (I'll stop Blood bashing now). My pick would be for Viggo, but then again, my pick means nothing.
Best Actress
The only movie I've seen in this category is Juno. And though it was a good performance I shy away from giving awards to child actors without a rich backlog since they might not even be acting at all. Maybe Ellen Page acts exactly like her character does. Do we know that she doesn't? I haven't watched her TV crap and she had about 3 lines in X3. I hear Julie Christie killed it though, so she's pretty much a lock.
Best Director
Hmmmm... my pick for best pic is the sole entry to not get a directors nod. How interesting. And gay. Since the auto Joe Wright pick is out, I've got to go with the Coen's. There direction was better anyway.
Best Animated Feature
I just want to know how Surf's Up got a nom over the Simpsons Movie. That's just rubbish. Not that it matters since Ratatouille is gonna win anyway. Half of the voters probably haven't even seen Persepolis, even with the screeners being sent out.
Best Special FX
I just want to know why 300 isn't in here. Or in the Art Direction category. Something!?! That just angers me greatly. And it'll be a travesty if Transformers doesn't win.
Best Song
Three songs from Enchanted? Again, I haven't seen the movie, but you'd think they'd throw Sweeney or Hairspray a bone. Either way, Once should win because the music in that movie was amazing. The movie itself was pretty amazing too. (Only movie soundtrack I got this year, well besides Jay-Z's American Gangster, but that had nothing to do with the movie).
Best Screenplay (Original)
I'd give this to Lars and the Real Girl, just because I felt it was really original, and the characters
were really different and came to life. I'd put Juno at a close second, but the ease at which you can write wiseacre children takes away some points.
Best Costumes
If Elizabeth wins this someone's getting their throat slit. That is all.
P.S. - You heard it hear first - Michael Clayton gets shut out.
P.P.S. - If anyone goes out to see Meet the Spartans this weekend, don't be surprised if you get your throat slit on the way out of the theater (I'd cut you in the theater, but I'd be afraid I might actually catch a glimpse of the "movie" and spontaneously implode from the epic funnilessness.)
Note: The following aren't my views of who's going to win, just random thoughts after seeing the nominees).
Best Picture
I suppose I'm okay with this years picks. 2k7 wasn't the best year when it comes to really great movies, so I don't believe there is a clear standout (national critics think otherwise). I've already seen 4 of the 5 choices, and out of those (Juno, No Country, Michael Clayton, Atonement) I think Atonement was the overall "best" picture. No Country was my favorite though, and runs a close second when it comes to best. I have yet to see There Will Be Blood, partly because it was the only movie from last year, aside from perhaps Epic Movie, in which after seeing the trailer I said "I have absolutely no interest in seeing this movie" (I haven't seen it, so I can't really pass judgment, but I said the same thing about the English Patient trailer), and partly because there were no ninjas in it.
Best Actor
This will probably go to big Danny, and I don't really have too much of a problem with that since I believe you can still have the best performance of the year in an okay movie (I'll stop Blood bashing now). My pick would be for Viggo, but then again, my pick means nothing.
Best Actress
The only movie I've seen in this category is Juno. And though it was a good performance I shy away from giving awards to child actors without a rich backlog since they might not even be acting at all. Maybe Ellen Page acts exactly like her character does. Do we know that she doesn't? I haven't watched her TV crap and she had about 3 lines in X3. I hear Julie Christie killed it though, so she's pretty much a lock.
Best Director
Hmmmm... my pick for best pic is the sole entry to not get a directors nod. How interesting. And gay. Since the auto Joe Wright pick is out, I've got to go with the Coen's. There direction was better anyway.
Best Animated Feature
I just want to know how Surf's Up got a nom over the Simpsons Movie. That's just rubbish. Not that it matters since Ratatouille is gonna win anyway. Half of the voters probably haven't even seen Persepolis, even with the screeners being sent out.
Best Special FX
I just want to know why 300 isn't in here. Or in the Art Direction category. Something!?! That just angers me greatly. And it'll be a travesty if Transformers doesn't win.
Best Song
Three songs from Enchanted? Again, I haven't seen the movie, but you'd think they'd throw Sweeney or Hairspray a bone. Either way, Once should win because the music in that movie was amazing. The movie itself was pretty amazing too. (Only movie soundtrack I got this year, well besides Jay-Z's American Gangster, but that had nothing to do with the movie).
Best Screenplay (Original)
I'd give this to Lars and the Real Girl, just because I felt it was really original, and the characters
were really different and came to life. I'd put Juno at a close second, but the ease at which you can write wiseacre children takes away some points.
Best Costumes
If Elizabeth wins this someone's getting their throat slit. That is all.
P.S. - You heard it hear first - Michael Clayton gets shut out.
P.P.S. - If anyone goes out to see Meet the Spartans this weekend, don't be surprised if you get your throat slit on the way out of the theater (I'd cut you in the theater, but I'd be afraid I might actually catch a glimpse of the "movie" and spontaneously implode from the epic funnilessness.)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Garfield's on the phone...
Working daily on a construction site in a residentially underdeveloped area has opened up my eyes to a lot of things:
- Guys will buy porn from a street vendor, if there are no women around.
- Semi-attractive women look amazing when you only see 1 per day.
- Some people have way too much money.
- Prostitutes make house calls.
- That whole "construction worker yelling at random passerby from atop a steel beam" thing that I had long ago stashed in my "only happens on T.V." file actually occurs. Sadly.
And that's the one I find the oddest. I can't say that I see it all the time, since there just aren't enough bystanders in the area quite yet, but everytime I do see it I cringe a little bit. Not because I find it offensive or anything like that, some of these lines are actually pretty hilarious, but because I feel bad, embarrassed almost, for the worker. Mainly because I'm actually around to see the aftermath, from both sides of the equation.
The guys:
The setup is always the same. Attractive woman leaves building or rounds corner up the block. The first witness starts the nudge in the ribs chain. When everyones attention is on the desired subject the pre-banter begins. Usually concerning what they would do to said woman should they both find themselves locked in a confined space. Or how long it would take them to reach climax should relations occur with said woman. Or the combination of two completely unrelated words or phrases meant, in this context, to imply sexual intercourse. Or some combination of the above (for example: "An hour of calzone surfin' with her in a cab and I'd be limpin' outta there worse than Jerry G!"... This would make more sense if you knew Jerry G. Wait a second - would it??)
When the subject is within earshot the introductions begin. For the most part, inoffensive fare like "How 'bout that sunsine?", "How's it goin' ", and "Sweet ass, up here".
The gals:
Walks by the group of onlookers, sometimes acknowledging them, sometimes not.
I can see it in their eyes now. Women on the street see road work being done up ahead, and for that split second you notice a combination of multiple switches being flipped:
- ugh, not these guys again
- should I cross to the other side of the street?
- start writing a text message
or the like. I only care because these are essentially my clients, and I'd like for them to be comfortable. Ah well.
Me, I just hit em with a brick and drag em into an alley. The percentages are a lot better for me with that course of action.
- Guys will buy porn from a street vendor, if there are no women around.
- Semi-attractive women look amazing when you only see 1 per day.
- Some people have way too much money.
- Prostitutes make house calls.
- That whole "construction worker yelling at random passerby from atop a steel beam" thing that I had long ago stashed in my "only happens on T.V." file actually occurs. Sadly.
And that's the one I find the oddest. I can't say that I see it all the time, since there just aren't enough bystanders in the area quite yet, but everytime I do see it I cringe a little bit. Not because I find it offensive or anything like that, some of these lines are actually pretty hilarious, but because I feel bad, embarrassed almost, for the worker. Mainly because I'm actually around to see the aftermath, from both sides of the equation.
The guys:
The setup is always the same. Attractive woman leaves building or rounds corner up the block. The first witness starts the nudge in the ribs chain. When everyones attention is on the desired subject the pre-banter begins. Usually concerning what they would do to said woman should they both find themselves locked in a confined space. Or how long it would take them to reach climax should relations occur with said woman. Or the combination of two completely unrelated words or phrases meant, in this context, to imply sexual intercourse. Or some combination of the above (for example: "An hour of calzone surfin' with her in a cab and I'd be limpin' outta there worse than Jerry G!"... This would make more sense if you knew Jerry G. Wait a second - would it??)
When the subject is within earshot the introductions begin. For the most part, inoffensive fare like "How 'bout that sunsine?", "How's it goin' ", and "Sweet ass, up here".
The gals:
Walks by the group of onlookers, sometimes acknowledging them, sometimes not.
* * *
The problem lies in the lose-lose postion the women are in. If she ignores the group, they call her stuck up and whore (not audibly of course, there's still some degree of tact involved). And if she so much as makes eye contact with someone, the second round begins, only this time - more specific. Not that there's inherently anything wrong with that. I think people nowadays, with their ipods and attitudes and cell phones, are behaving way too anti-social-ly. Increased civility towards their fellow man shouldn't be half bad. People shouldn't feel forced into conversations though. Like when they're late for work, or they've had a bad day.
I can see it in their eyes now. Women on the street see road work being done up ahead, and for that split second you notice a combination of multiple switches being flipped:
- ugh, not these guys again
- should I cross to the other side of the street?
- start writing a text message
or the like. I only care because these are essentially my clients, and I'd like for them to be comfortable. Ah well.
Me, I just hit em with a brick and drag em into an alley. The percentages are a lot better for me with that course of action.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Scaredy cats
I saw some seagulls strolling across some freshly poured concrete today. Seemingly mocking the nearby construction workers trying in vain to shoo them away, unable to get within a threatening distance because of the same wet cement they were trying to protect. It was at this point that I realized how gangsta New York birds are.
I've always been against the notion that one is a product of their environment; I refuse to believe that my surroundings could somehow define me. But birds around here just don't give a hoot, pardon my french. And the only way to explain such odd behavior is that they are evolving to become closer to the average New Yorker: conceited, overweight, and angry at the world.
I work right on the shore of the East River, and so there are prone to be quite a few water fowl around, when in season. I remember the days when birds were mindful of potential threats. Yet in the past year I've walked right up to geese, sometimes feigning as much hostility as I can muster, and all I'm rewarded with is a sidewards glance. At times I'm certain they're expressions contain a mix of pity and disgust. Another time I may have gotten too close to some ganders girl, because all of sudden he rolls up on me, gives me the once over and stares me down. You know how in some freaky way you could see Tim Allen's face in the dog in the Shaggy Dog? Well I know for a fact I saw the Game's visage in this goose. Needless to say I hightailed it outta there.
I've seen a seagull take a pepperoni off of a slice of pizza and take a dump on the remaining cheese in one fell swoop. And not a slice in the trash or held out as an offering. No, in a grown man's hand. A soon to be angry man. As it flew away I could see "thug life" tattooed on its belly. At least I think I did; it was sunny that day.
I've seen a pigeon perch on the hood of a stroller and crap on a baby. Things are getting out of control, fast.
It's also at times like these where I just can't fathom how a scarecrow can even remotely perform its desired function. Are birds out west really that slow? Do they not realize that this supposedly imposing figure hasn't moved at all in 3 months? Maybe it's just another example of that subject-setting connection...
I've always been against the notion that one is a product of their environment; I refuse to believe that my surroundings could somehow define me. But birds around here just don't give a hoot, pardon my french. And the only way to explain such odd behavior is that they are evolving to become closer to the average New Yorker: conceited, overweight, and angry at the world.
I work right on the shore of the East River, and so there are prone to be quite a few water fowl around, when in season. I remember the days when birds were mindful of potential threats. Yet in the past year I've walked right up to geese, sometimes feigning as much hostility as I can muster, and all I'm rewarded with is a sidewards glance. At times I'm certain they're expressions contain a mix of pity and disgust. Another time I may have gotten too close to some ganders girl, because all of sudden he rolls up on me, gives me the once over and stares me down. You know how in some freaky way you could see Tim Allen's face in the dog in the Shaggy Dog? Well I know for a fact I saw the Game's visage in this goose. Needless to say I hightailed it outta there.
I've seen a seagull take a pepperoni off of a slice of pizza and take a dump on the remaining cheese in one fell swoop. And not a slice in the trash or held out as an offering. No, in a grown man's hand. A soon to be angry man. As it flew away I could see "thug life" tattooed on its belly. At least I think I did; it was sunny that day.
I've seen a pigeon perch on the hood of a stroller and crap on a baby. Things are getting out of control, fast.
It's also at times like these where I just can't fathom how a scarecrow can even remotely perform its desired function. Are birds out west really that slow? Do they not realize that this supposedly imposing figure hasn't moved at all in 3 months? Maybe it's just another example of that subject-setting connection...
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Time isn't on my side
You know what sucks? Working sucks.
Hold on. Perhaps I've spoken too quickly, too rashly. Working, in fact, does not inherently suck. It simply creates multiple opportunities for one to realize that they should be doing something else. I'm sure of it now. I don't think any profession short of crime fighter would sustain my attention for longer than a month or so. And that truly is sad.
Right now I'm at work at my night job, clearly not working in an efficient manner. I'm not even sure why I'm still working here, quite frankly. I think it may be because it gives me a chance to advance through my PSP queue on the way home (mass transit at any other time of day hardly affords the space nor the comfort one needs to truly delve into strategic nuance). Is that reason enough to sacrifice valuable hours my day? Of my youth? I could argue either way.
What I should be doing right now is attempting to decrease the ever present to-do list that encapsulates my psyche, albeit from behind the scenes. This list includes the clearing of my Netflix queue of the tripe that currently inhabitates it. One should assume that the third time a film gets moved from the top spot back down to say, 50, one does not really want to see that film. I do not live by such black and white standards. Upon perusal of a weeks DVD releases, they all go on the list. I rarely admit to my own faults, but herein lies one epic in scale. One that cannot be rectified through mere deletion, but through the complete annihilation of hundreds of hours of my existence.
The same goes for video games. Well not the same insomuch as I have rivers of mediocrity to wallow through, but rather I'm notably behind where I would like to be at this point in my life. Embarrasingly so. I've contemplated taking vacations solely to catch up on various entertainment media, but I always relent upon considering the prospect of relating my daily adventures. It's become evident that because of all the time I spend in my various means of employ, my recreational life has become dangerously routine.
My ultimate goal in life is be bored for once. I cannot honestly say that at any point in time right now. There is always a movie that must be seen, a game that must be played, a book begging for a read, a friend that must be accompanied, a practice test that must be taken... That's another thing. Somehow I have to reteach myself the fundamentals of EE, as well as a smattering of Civil Engineering principles, by April.
*Sigh*
Good thing there's whisky...
Hold on. Perhaps I've spoken too quickly, too rashly. Working, in fact, does not inherently suck. It simply creates multiple opportunities for one to realize that they should be doing something else. I'm sure of it now. I don't think any profession short of crime fighter would sustain my attention for longer than a month or so. And that truly is sad.
Right now I'm at work at my night job, clearly not working in an efficient manner. I'm not even sure why I'm still working here, quite frankly. I think it may be because it gives me a chance to advance through my PSP queue on the way home (mass transit at any other time of day hardly affords the space nor the comfort one needs to truly delve into strategic nuance). Is that reason enough to sacrifice valuable hours my day? Of my youth? I could argue either way.
What I should be doing right now is attempting to decrease the ever present to-do list that encapsulates my psyche, albeit from behind the scenes. This list includes the clearing of my Netflix queue of the tripe that currently inhabitates it. One should assume that the third time a film gets moved from the top spot back down to say, 50, one does not really want to see that film. I do not live by such black and white standards. Upon perusal of a weeks DVD releases, they all go on the list. I rarely admit to my own faults, but herein lies one epic in scale. One that cannot be rectified through mere deletion, but through the complete annihilation of hundreds of hours of my existence.
The same goes for video games. Well not the same insomuch as I have rivers of mediocrity to wallow through, but rather I'm notably behind where I would like to be at this point in my life. Embarrasingly so. I've contemplated taking vacations solely to catch up on various entertainment media, but I always relent upon considering the prospect of relating my daily adventures. It's become evident that because of all the time I spend in my various means of employ, my recreational life has become dangerously routine.
My ultimate goal in life is be bored for once. I cannot honestly say that at any point in time right now. There is always a movie that must be seen, a game that must be played, a book begging for a read, a friend that must be accompanied, a practice test that must be taken... That's another thing. Somehow I have to reteach myself the fundamentals of EE, as well as a smattering of Civil Engineering principles, by April.
*Sigh*
Good thing there's whisky...
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