Thursday, September 21, 2017

FUNTIME AT THE MOVIES





Books rule. 


Every time my kids tell me about a movie they love, I tell them “You should read the book, it’s even better.”   Lord of the Rings and the Narnia series don’t necessarily apply here, of course, since they were valiant efforts to adapt books I’ve loved most of my life, and it was just great to see them on the screens with big-budget financing.  Technically, the books were still better, but DAMN those visuals were impressive……


The one big exception to the BOOK BEATS MOVIE rule that comes to mind is The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  The main character in the book was just too wishy-washy and washed-out pastel grey and, since the story was told by him, none of it really came to life for me.  The movie had much more depth, since the supporting characters could actually be seen through the camera lens and not just the eyes of the narrator.  Excellent movie.


The one time that book and movie kick equal amounts of ass is CLOUD ATLAS.  Fuck the haters on this one.  Read the book first so you know what’s going on, and then watch the movie 2 or 3 times, and then read the book again.  Fucking incredible shit.  God damn.  The layout of the book is perfect (and makes perfect sense), and the movie fucks with that, but for good reason and to awesome effect.  The actors and actresses ROCK in their multiple roles.  The visuals are incredible.  Enough said.


There’s a peripheral person in my life who shall remain unnamed, and I use this individual as a casual movie guide.  When they say “That movie is stupid, I didn’t understand it at all”, I’m immediately there to watch it.  100% prediction powers so far, the movies that confuse this person have all kicked righteous ass:


  • INCEPTION
  • ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
  • TWELVE MONKEYS
  • CLOUD ATLAS  


This person hasn’t yet given an opinion on Mr Nobody, but that movie also is mind-blowingly awesome.  And Synecdoche, New York. 
Boo. Fucking. Ya.







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