My
last couple of posts were about my writing aspirations for this year and movies
I planned to see because I had read the books. So here’s an update on how my
writing and movie viewing is progressing.
last couple of posts were about my writing aspirations for this year and movies
I planned to see because I had read the books. So here’s an update on how my
writing and movie viewing is progressing.
Writing
After
writing 50,264 words for National Novel Writing Month last November, I have
decided to keep monthly records of the number of new words I write for my novel
in the hope it might motivate me. In December I wrote 11,459 words or 376 words
per day. So far in January I have only added 3716 words to the novel.
writing 50,264 words for National Novel Writing Month last November, I have
decided to keep monthly records of the number of new words I write for my novel
in the hope it might motivate me. In December I wrote 11,459 words or 376 words
per day. So far in January I have only added 3716 words to the novel.
I
have some good news about the Divine website: the editor tells me it will
continue this year, but at a reduced capacity. Only three articles will go up
per week, instead of five. So it might be harder to get an article posted. I pitched
an idea for a new article to the editor on Friday.
have some good news about the Divine website: the editor tells me it will
continue this year, but at a reduced capacity. Only three articles will go up
per week, instead of five. So it might be harder to get an article posted. I pitched
an idea for a new article to the editor on Friday.
I
have been fooling around with Google+. So far it is has not done anything to
piss me off, unlike Facebook. My writing friends on it seem to be less active,
perhaps waiting for someone like me to enliven the place, so come on over to
the light-side and join me.
have been fooling around with Google+. So far it is has not done anything to
piss me off, unlike Facebook. My writing friends on it seem to be less active,
perhaps waiting for someone like me to enliven the place, so come on over to
the light-side and join me.
Movies
The Hobbit
The
more I think about the Hobbit, the more unflattering my opinion of it becomes. While
not as bad as George Lucas’ first Star Wars prequel, the Hobbit is not a lot
better. The dialogue frequently came from the modern world and not Tolkien’s. I
found this jarring. Some of the awful pop philosophy made me cringe. I can
imagine Ian Mckellan saying, “You might have written this stuff, but I am the
one who has to say it”. The first hour of the movie was a waste of film. The
Dwarfs were too indestructible for us to worry if they might actually die. So unless
I read outstanding reviews before the next instalment, I am not going.
more I think about the Hobbit, the more unflattering my opinion of it becomes. While
not as bad as George Lucas’ first Star Wars prequel, the Hobbit is not a lot
better. The dialogue frequently came from the modern world and not Tolkien’s. I
found this jarring. Some of the awful pop philosophy made me cringe. I can
imagine Ian Mckellan saying, “You might have written this stuff, but I am the
one who has to say it”. The first hour of the movie was a waste of film. The
Dwarfs were too indestructible for us to worry if they might actually die. So unless
I read outstanding reviews before the next instalment, I am not going.
The Life of Pi.
I
had read The Life of Pi so I knew about the revelation at the end, which changed
everything I had just read. The revelation changes the book from an enjoyable fantasy,
to a much darker commentary on the emotional trauma of shipwreck survivors.
had read The Life of Pi so I knew about the revelation at the end, which changed
everything I had just read. The revelation changes the book from an enjoyable fantasy,
to a much darker commentary on the emotional trauma of shipwreck survivors.
I
wondered how knowledge of the revelation would affect my viewing of the film.
wondered how knowledge of the revelation would affect my viewing of the film.
But
while watching the movie, except where the tiger looks at its reflection in the
ocean, I did not notice any red flags for the revelation. I still lost myself
in its story, unlike The Hobbit where my mind wandered from the nothing happenning
on the screen quite frequently.
while watching the movie, except where the tiger looks at its reflection in the
ocean, I did not notice any red flags for the revelation. I still lost myself
in its story, unlike The Hobbit where my mind wandered from the nothing happenning
on the screen quite frequently.
One
of the Life of Pi’s themes of the impact of spirituality on survival was more
evident to me in the film. I think Life of Pi is a worthy nominee for Best
Picture.
of the Life of Pi’s themes of the impact of spirituality on survival was more
evident to me in the film. I think Life of Pi is a worthy nominee for Best
Picture.
The Passage/Justin
Cronin.
Cronin.
A
few posts ago I wrote that The Passage, by Justin Cronin, would make a great
miniseries. It’s an apocalyptic novel where the US is overrun by millions of
genetically engineered vampires. Well it turns out that there are plans to make
it into a movie. At 950 pages there is plenty of material for the screenwriters
to work with, unlike The Hobbit.
few posts ago I wrote that The Passage, by Justin Cronin, would make a great
miniseries. It’s an apocalyptic novel where the US is overrun by millions of
genetically engineered vampires. Well it turns out that there are plans to make
it into a movie. At 950 pages there is plenty of material for the screenwriters
to work with, unlike The Hobbit.
I
read an interview with Justin Cronin in which he heaped praise on Nevil Shute’s
On
the Beach. Cronin suggests this is why part of The Passage is set in
Australia at a university conference a thousand years in the future. I have
seen the movie and awful miniseries of On the Beach, but not read the book,
yet.
read an interview with Justin Cronin in which he heaped praise on Nevil Shute’s
On
the Beach. Cronin suggests this is why part of The Passage is set in
Australia at a university conference a thousand years in the future. I have
seen the movie and awful miniseries of On the Beach, but not read the book,
yet.
And
for those of us who were wondering why his writing is so good, Cronin is a
Harvard educated English Professor who taught creative writing for many years.
for those of us who were wondering why his writing is so good, Cronin is a
Harvard educated English Professor who taught creative writing for many years.
0 Responses
Hi Graham, I enjoyed viewing both The Hobbit and Life of Pi. Both were visual feasts, transporting me away into their exquisite fantasy worlds … Karen 🙂
Hi
Tend to agree with you on The Hobbit. Havent seen Life of Pi so I skipped over that review.
The Passage sounds good, he might be a good writer, though I don't necessarily think creative writing teachers make good writers.