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grocery trek, Anita Blake books, movies
As part of my 'get more fit' regime, I decided to walk to Safeway today. It's a little more than half a mile, but I haven't had much exercise lately so I figured I would give myself a generous amount of time to get there and back. Of course, while I was there, I decided that I had to purchase salmon, salad, and pears for dinner (only, the salmon was 3 lbs, the pears were canned (2), and I had two get two bags of salad because it was buy 1, get 1 free), so it was not much fun getting it all back. Of course, in my DC days it was far, far worse, so I'm not actually complaining. The whole excursion only took 36 min, though, so I'll need to walk farther as I'd like to actually be walking for about 45 min. The hope is that I'll start doing this in the mornings. Last night I did 100 crunches. I had to take little breathers in between, when I used to be able to do them straight through. :((
I have purchased the Anita Blake books off eBay. Other than BtVS, AtS, Dracula, a couple of Anne Rice things, and a teen series called 'The Vampire Diaries,' I haven't really gotten into vampire stuff. I think it's that I get used to a certain universe/lore, and it's hard for me to get out of it and into something else. But I've heard really good things about these books, and I feel like I'm in a good place to try them out, so we'll see...
Saw a couple of movies --
High Fidelity
Before going further, I must first say that I am not a huge John Cusack fan. That's not to say that I don't like him; that's just to say that I am not one of the droves of people who seem to think he's a genius. He's an actor like any other, for me.
Okay. I read the book first, and it was great. Witty, compelling, showed a kind of insight into the male mind that was really refreshing. The movie was none of those things. I suppose, if you hadn't read the book, it would be fine. I mean, considering the book was very British (I avoided the movie for a long time because of that; I didn't want to see some bastardized American version of it), they did a fine job in making it not British. And as far as I could tell, they kept many of the same elements.
But here's the difference: It's like watching the Harry Potter movies (at least, the ones Chris Columbus directed). Wherein the movie follows the book, but because it's a movie, that's actually a drawback. It follows it too closely, but is unable to replicate the things about the book that made it great. The character Cusack plays is just as neurotic and unfathomable as he represents, but I liked the dude much more in the book (if you're a Cusack fan, of course, this probably wouldn't be a problem). I mean, he's not really a likable guy, but it's kind of like reading Georgia Nicolson; she amuses you so much that you don't care that she's kind of a bitch; you like her anyway.
My favorite part from the movie was taken directly from the book; it was just a small bit of insight into the male psyche, about how males viewed female breasts as being territory that was rightfully theirs, and by God they were going to get it back. LOL. I remember the book being littered with jewels like that, and yet I think that was one of the few that made it into the movie. So why would I want to watch stripped-down genius???
So when you compare the two, the book is so unique and wonderful that the movie dulls in comparison. You can put it to screen, but it doesn't have the same personality. It's like a shell. That's pretty much how I feel both about HP and about HF.
I only wanted to watch it finally because I've grown fond of Jack Black (he totally reminded me of his character in 'School of Rock' and made me want to see that again), and that part was great. Also, the actor who played Dick reminded me a lot of Tom Lenk. :)) His voice and mannerisms, specifically.
The Princess and the Warrior
This movie was written and directed by Tom Tykwer, who also wrote and directed 'Run, Lola, Run,' which I thought was fabulous. And I really, really like Franka Potente. I'm not hugely into foreign film, but I'd recommend both of these.
'Run, Lola, Run' was probably a better movie, but 'The Princess and the Warrior' has a much better (read: HOT) male lead. His name is Benno Fürmann, and he makes me want to run out and rent every movie he's ever done, only I'd probably never be able to find any of them because they're all German. Anyway, he's hot the way Eric Bana (mmmmEricBana) is hot -- not a blinding pretty boy, but just. so. yummy. Okay, so his character is a little crazy in the movie, but it's hot like Edward Norton in 'Fight Club' not like Brad Pitt in '12 Monkeys.'
I have purchased the Anita Blake books off eBay. Other than BtVS, AtS, Dracula, a couple of Anne Rice things, and a teen series called 'The Vampire Diaries,' I haven't really gotten into vampire stuff. I think it's that I get used to a certain universe/lore, and it's hard for me to get out of it and into something else. But I've heard really good things about these books, and I feel like I'm in a good place to try them out, so we'll see...
Saw a couple of movies --
High Fidelity
Before going further, I must first say that I am not a huge John Cusack fan. That's not to say that I don't like him; that's just to say that I am not one of the droves of people who seem to think he's a genius. He's an actor like any other, for me.
Okay. I read the book first, and it was great. Witty, compelling, showed a kind of insight into the male mind that was really refreshing. The movie was none of those things. I suppose, if you hadn't read the book, it would be fine. I mean, considering the book was very British (I avoided the movie for a long time because of that; I didn't want to see some bastardized American version of it), they did a fine job in making it not British. And as far as I could tell, they kept many of the same elements.
But here's the difference: It's like watching the Harry Potter movies (at least, the ones Chris Columbus directed). Wherein the movie follows the book, but because it's a movie, that's actually a drawback. It follows it too closely, but is unable to replicate the things about the book that made it great. The character Cusack plays is just as neurotic and unfathomable as he represents, but I liked the dude much more in the book (if you're a Cusack fan, of course, this probably wouldn't be a problem). I mean, he's not really a likable guy, but it's kind of like reading Georgia Nicolson; she amuses you so much that you don't care that she's kind of a bitch; you like her anyway.
My favorite part from the movie was taken directly from the book; it was just a small bit of insight into the male psyche, about how males viewed female breasts as being territory that was rightfully theirs, and by God they were going to get it back. LOL. I remember the book being littered with jewels like that, and yet I think that was one of the few that made it into the movie. So why would I want to watch stripped-down genius???
So when you compare the two, the book is so unique and wonderful that the movie dulls in comparison. You can put it to screen, but it doesn't have the same personality. It's like a shell. That's pretty much how I feel both about HP and about HF.
I only wanted to watch it finally because I've grown fond of Jack Black (he totally reminded me of his character in 'School of Rock' and made me want to see that again), and that part was great. Also, the actor who played Dick reminded me a lot of Tom Lenk. :)) His voice and mannerisms, specifically.
The Princess and the Warrior
This movie was written and directed by Tom Tykwer, who also wrote and directed 'Run, Lola, Run,' which I thought was fabulous. And I really, really like Franka Potente. I'm not hugely into foreign film, but I'd recommend both of these.
'Run, Lola, Run' was probably a better movie, but 'The Princess and the Warrior' has a much better (read: HOT) male lead. His name is Benno Fürmann, and he makes me want to run out and rent every movie he's ever done, only I'd probably never be able to find any of them because they're all German. Anyway, he's hot the way Eric Bana (mmmmEricBana) is hot -- not a blinding pretty boy, but just. so. yummy. Okay, so his character is a little crazy in the movie, but it's hot like Edward Norton in 'Fight Club' not like Brad Pitt in '12 Monkeys.'
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I should probably give it another shot.
See Im the opposite with High Fidelity. I loved the film (after I had watched it 3 times) and hated the book. Althougfh it was a long time ago, I should probably go back and read it again.
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I may have had a lot of issues with Troy but one of them was most definitely NOT Eric Bana ;)
(Appreciate this or else - I used a lot of my very limited bandwith finding a REALLY nice one for you *g*) (http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0332452/Ss/0332452/Troy-259.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Bana,%20Eric)
On a literary note, I reserved a copy of A Kiss of Shadows for literocracy only to get a far too early phone-call today telling me it's waiting for me to come and pick it up - about six weeks too early, lol. Haven't actually read any of the Anita Blake novels, but I'm definitely looking forward to "Kiss" :)
Good luck with the "get more fit" plan! *cheers of encouragement*
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Yay, I'm so glad you'll be joining us for KoS. Although we made similar (incorrect) assumptions -- we both thought it was the first book in the Anita Blake series, but it's not. It's another series altogether, about Merry Gentry or someone.
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My boyfriend's a fan of the Anita Blake novels, though as I said I haven't touched any of them myself, and contrary to the fact I'm not interested in any other vampire/undead/etc than Spike, I'm willing to give Ms. Hamilton's new faerie series an enthusiastic go ;)
Especially when the reviews I've read largely describe it with words such as "erotic" and "sensual". Smut with substance, anyone? *g*
And thank you for the warm welcome :)
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I really love the Anita Blake books, personally. They're definitely better written than 90% of the vampire books out there, and the universe is one that's really well developed and easy to get into. Well, for me, the vampire book lover.
BTW- The Vampire Diaries- is that LJ Smith's? Because I'm a big LJ Smith fan, and totally dig Damian.
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BTW- The Vampire Diaries- is that LJ Smith's? Because I'm a big LJ Smith fan, and totally dig Damian.
Hee! Yes!! I'm so tickled, as I don't think I've ever spoken to anyone else who's read these. I read them in high school so it's been awhile, but I do vaguely remember digging someone named Damian. Wasn't the other guy named Stefan or something? They were brothers, and she had something going w/ both of them? Don't remember now. I wish I could remember which guy I rooted for back then, so that I could reread the books now and see if my tastes have changed. Maybe if I were to revisit them, I'd remember...
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Other than BtVS, AtS, Dracula, a couple of Anne Rice things, and a teen series called 'The Vampire Diaries,' I haven't really gotten into vampire stuff.
That's a pretty hefty 'other than' list. :) Will be interested to see what you think of Anita - I just recently read book 1. Finally gave in to the peer pressure as many of the TtH writers like doing BtVS/AB crossovers. ~EV
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BTW I'm finally caught up on MoA, will be replying to your last post on the subject and starting a whole new rant of my own.
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And yes, that is only a drop in the vast sea of vamp stuff - however, you listed all the 'biggies'. Sometime you should check out AnnoDracula. Think you would enjoy it. ~EV