My Week in Movies

An interesting movie week

Well, it has been an interesting movie week. I don’t often write about movies on this blog, but hey, there’s a lot to be said about diversity.

Moneyball: This has to be one of the more interesting movies I’ve seen in a long time. A little history, some mathematics, the power of technology and THE WORST ENDING TO A MOVIE EVER! I mean DAMN! Okay okay, I won’t say anymore and blow the story for those who haven’t watched it yet – but really, it deserves an award for worst ending ever.


Goon: On the flipside. I watched Goon over the weekend and I absolutely loved it! Maybe because I’m Canadian, maybe because I’m a hockey fan, or maybe because the film didn’t try too hard to be anything, and therefore succeeded in pretty much everything. Regardless of why it rocked, the point is, it did, in fact, ROCK. This is the kind of movie you want to watch with a few buddies and few brewskies.

Last but not least, and the movie most related to this blog:

One for the Money: Janet Evanovich’s kick-ass character Stephanie Plum takes to the big screen, and well, if you are a fan of the novels, you probably won’t be a fan of the movie. The novels give us Stephanie Plum with big teased and wild jersey-girl hair, a big thick jersey accent and a big over-the-top personality to boot. Katherine Heigl who plays Stephanie Plum in the movie, does provides none of these big moves. Her hair falls flat, her accent falls flat and well, the whole performance falls pretty flat. None of the other characters live up to their on paper counter-parts either. Overall, I was fairly disappointed.


So there ya have it. All three movies are worth watching in my opinion, but only Goon took it over the top.

Have you seen any of the above flicks? What were your impressions of them?

Books to Movies, Novels to Films Part 1

Books to Film - Novels to Movies

This post was originally a 2 part article for Ezines, but I got sick of waiting for it to be published so I deleted it from there, to serve it here.
We've all seen it happen; we've all grunted and groaned when a favorite novel has been blasphemously skewered into a film. I personally almost cried when my most beloved novel Bless the Child was made into a b-movie that followed none of the characteristics of the book I had grown to love and honor.
But there is this little thing inside, this little spark of need, of want, of desire, to see if the images that floated across our minds while we read the tales woven on page, match up with the visuals of what others decide goes on our screens. It seems to be that, now more than ever, the films are living up to the books delivery.
My first novel-to-film happy moment was with the movie "The Green Mile
" I enjoyed it as much as the book. Then came the "Twilight" series. Yes I am a fan of the books, they pulled me in. I also loved the movies. A note on this though, I loved the movies because I knew the books. I watched the movies with people who had not read the books and they were not nearly as impressed. Interesting is it not? I feel the same way about the Harry Potter movies and books. I read the first Harry Potter, and enjoyed the first movie to no end, because I knew what was going on in the heads of the characters. The later movies, the ones whose books I did not read, I found far less entertaining. In fact, I found myself thoroughly confused during the last few films.
I can't compare "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy because I never read the books, but I know the die-hard fans were pretty much 50/50 when it came to their appreciation of the films. But again, I watched these movies with people who had read the books, and they were completely stoked about scenes I didn't quite get. They would say things like "Oh, I wonder how they are gonna do this part?" or "Wow, wait til you see what's coming up next!" only to find myself slightly moved by the scene they spoke of.
Let's move on a little to a favorite book series and TV series that is near and dear to me: "True Blood". The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris is fantastic. It's fast-paced and moves along nicely. The characters are fresh, three-dimensional people that easily invite the reader to love or hate them, sometimes both. But to be honest, I enjoy the HBO show based on the books so much more. I did watch the show before I found the series.

Though the quality and interpretation of the novel to the filmmakers is an obvious necessity in deciding which is better, what I think it comes down to in the end is; which came first to YOU, the movie or the book?
Which books to movies moved you or betrayed you?
Part two to this post will appear tomorrow, discussing up-coming books to film.

Fun new Linky List Quiz - movies and soundtracks. Check out RJR Daydreamer's site to sign up and have fun!

Nina

Blog Hop Day #2 - Movies

Sunday - Films
Post about 3 films you like, again you choose how to present, but the idea is to to let us know why so we can get to know you a little better.

Movie #1
Dirty Dancing
Why? Because I was at just the right influential age when this movie came out, and it became a staple of my youth.

Movie #2
Constantine and Stigmata and The Order
I know, I cheated - but I like all three of them for the same reasons. I love movies with religious or spiritual themes. The good vs. evil, God vs Satan, People vs. The Church... either way, these movies are my cup of sinister tea.

Movie #3
Wonder Boys
Come on folks, this is a blog about writing -- I couldn't NOT choose a film that inspires the writer in me every time I watch it. If you haven't seen this one yet, give it a whirl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sveK_fhIqhs&feature=related