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This site is not devoted to the genre of horror but rather to the practices of the votary. Basically, the votary is a devoted fan. According to current academic thought, horror is any product of Western culture and capitalism. Since I like such products, the title seemed appropriate.\u003C\/b\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026orderby=published"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=26\u0026max-results=25\u0026orderby=published"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"1408"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-8225544585644050243"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-17T08:00:00.012-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-17T08:06:03.393-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mysteries"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Dysfunctional Relationships on Crime Shows: the Fallacy of \"Should\" on Criminal Intent"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EDifferent mystery shows tend to produce episodes that emphasize particular types of crimes and criminals. While \u003Ci\u003ECSI:LV\u003C\/i\u003E episodes tended to produce dysfunctional relationships rooted in envy, \u003Ci\u003ELaw \u0026amp; Order: Criminal Intent\u003C\/i\u003E episodes tended to showcase dysfunctional relationships based on the \u003Cu\u003Eperception\u003C\/u\u003E of lost opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgtGWDYOWwpB3NLy3bOeQ2uxg6G-4K28HkMRbU7y_IRMYhFFiDjjg_1JHdicDtEPxY4BMptHuH9kO1b_GXs3FsvUkukPQyNoOfVoJ6FXW7_Wc5bax0SZ0gFfpNXfcIk3ck8GB_7fZXhXP-3\/s400\/Michael+Emerson+Phantom.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"300\" data-original-width=\"400\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgtGWDYOWwpB3NLy3bOeQ2uxg6G-4K28HkMRbU7y_IRMYhFFiDjjg_1JHdicDtEPxY4BMptHuH9kO1b_GXs3FsvUkukPQyNoOfVoJ6FXW7_Wc5bax0SZ0gFfpNXfcIk3ck8GB_7fZXhXP-3\/w223-h168\/Michael+Emerson+Phantom.jpg\" width=\"223\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat is, \u003Ci\u003ELaw \u0026amp; Order: Criminal Intent\u003C\/i\u003E showcased what I consider to be one of the most damaging fallacies within the human psyche: \u003Ci\u003EI should have had this type of life\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most chilling representative episodes is \"Phantom\" starring the ever impressive Michael Emerson as the villain. The episode is based on the true story of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-48790276\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJean-Claude Romand\u003C\/a\u003E, the French man who pretended to work for WHO, took money from relatives, and ultimately killed his wife and kids and parents. Emerson's character pretends to work for the UN, \"invests\" money on behalf of a number of people, then kills some of that number. The show's detectives, Goren and Eames, save the family. The episode, naturally, presents the psychological motive in starker relief--but the critical moment is the same: the life the villain invented about himself is about to come crashing down\/be revealed. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhehA0d9jbfEC7cACVuOC4g9iFNEXzVakNovIZDsMAdVknbqWPSsLzbiOi3FQpwTVotbQJrUyAbuWL341Cbs0hVGF3Je_0ZuBx3dMlhI1nTPBKF-z_NfQ6SZkw1oMEdIq6cyr_8k1LN_PIb\/s403\/Elizabeth+Marvel.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"302\" data-original-width=\"403\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhehA0d9jbfEC7cACVuOC4g9iFNEXzVakNovIZDsMAdVknbqWPSsLzbiOi3FQpwTVotbQJrUyAbuWL341Cbs0hVGF3Je_0ZuBx3dMlhI1nTPBKF-z_NfQ6SZkw1oMEdIq6cyr_8k1LN_PIb\/w200-h150\/Elizabeth+Marvel.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMarvelous Elizabeth Marvel\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELaw \u0026amp; Order: Criminal Intent\u003C\/i\u003E returns to this theme several times, from Michael Gross (unnervingly) as the bad guy who wants the girl and kills to impress her--only to be disappointed by her utter lack of enthusiasm--to the publisher who pins all her faith on one of those horrible survivor memoirs (that turns out to be made-up). How they imagine their life's trajectory is out of sync with the reality around them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, one of the first episodes uses this theme: \"Art,\" in which an art forger kills because she so desperately wants to have a show of her own work. She is \u003Ci\u003Eowed\u003C\/i\u003E it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLDfNkR8NVy4xg2MJZ4TOiktW2wL3Qx90IxTB63MD4iY1u78yow_ilIm5rJEEAIKVXgDBXF9yw2oiR4H_emJTwnf19MASImGa4ItFHV_JQBXim1ezaGfK1obJRRHVFzo_Q2pL_xLgebni8\/s340\/The+Gift+Law+Order+Criminal+Intent.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"255\" data-original-width=\"340\" height=\"134\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLDfNkR8NVy4xg2MJZ4TOiktW2wL3Qx90IxTB63MD4iY1u78yow_ilIm5rJEEAIKVXgDBXF9yw2oiR4H_emJTwnf19MASImGa4ItFHV_JQBXim1ezaGfK1obJRRHVFzo_Q2pL_xLgebni8\/w178-h134\/The+Gift+Law+Order+Criminal+Intent.jpg\" width=\"178\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EAn intimate relationship isn't the direct cause of the last two cases--although an adulterous \ncouple does pay the price in one of them--but the couples of \"Consumed\" and \"But Not \nForgotten\" (with the amazing \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2012\/11\/great-character-actor-alicia-coppola.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAlicia Coppola\u003C\/a\u003E) do. In both cases, a wife decides to \ntake revenge on her husband for the life she believes he stole from \nher. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of my favorites on the reverse side is \"The Gift\" in which a conman protects his nutty girlfriend, who believes she has psychic powers--but actually has a form of epilepsy--because \"we don't do so well without each other.\" He knows exactly what the relationship is and sacrifices himself to protect it: \"Someone will be there to catch you this time.\"\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/8225544585644050243\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=8225544585644050243","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8225544585644050243"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8225544585644050243"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/09\/dysfunctional-relationships-on-crime.html","title":"Dysfunctional Relationships on Crime Shows: the Fallacy of \"Should\" on Criminal Intent"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgtGWDYOWwpB3NLy3bOeQ2uxg6G-4K28HkMRbU7y_IRMYhFFiDjjg_1JHdicDtEPxY4BMptHuH9kO1b_GXs3FsvUkukPQyNoOfVoJ6FXW7_Wc5bax0SZ0gFfpNXfcIk3ck8GB_7fZXhXP-3\/s72-w223-h168-c\/Michael+Emerson+Phantom.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-7143340168202281158"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-14T08:00:00.014-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-14T09:42:09.426-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 8"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sitcoms"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books to Movies: Is the Movie Giving Readers What They Loved in the First Place? "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhRBpQq5eKH5BmcT6VU4nt-6FKbP_33pxJTYtznP4NwH9T4mFPqHVBEQz6utnM1OYnmg1PGyh1TItkASdBpTP-CaGIXNWp8id762BStS83iHZEaQ4J8naRQAtPIJN-tzzkhB0WVj7xtqxxW46uaFL1LWIbC164gE0J492sMIGRGBd8QOojx8hUeEg\/s600\/Scarlet%20Pimpernel%20Andrews.webp\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"350\" data-original-width=\"600\" height=\"121\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhRBpQq5eKH5BmcT6VU4nt-6FKbP_33pxJTYtznP4NwH9T4mFPqHVBEQz6utnM1OYnmg1PGyh1TItkASdBpTP-CaGIXNWp8id762BStS83iHZEaQ4J8naRQAtPIJN-tzzkhB0WVj7xtqxxW46uaFL1LWIbC164gE0J492sMIGRGBd8QOojx8hUeEg\/w207-h121\/Scarlet%20Pimpernel%20Andrews.webp\" width=\"207\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EWhat do people love about a book? If a movie doesn't capture the thing that people truly love, has the movie failed?\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EI've read \u003Ci\u003EThe Scarlet Pimpernel\u003C\/i\u003E by  Baroness Orczt and frankly, it is over-the-top sentimentalism (in one scene, Percy kisses his wife's footprints). The \u003Cb\u003Elegend\u003C\/b\u003E of the Scarlet Pimpernel, however, is of a foppish, silly, mentally lacking gentleman who turns into a clever, brave operative. It's a variation, in some ways, on the laid-back hero.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhAvzvsjxX1BRPGpiZvneJH96HAA7PCKScsz9lLVQ7PuO82hE4Auog9TAazhdNOVgCfGnAOsck3CS1GCdF1eDilQobKX3KoK_XhNB0Ikust5pwqi0z1urCyq6ZLjY8vHdXfPMsfJDEFESs2TXgfras9-hG01L2WjsgulQmf_ytyap9-iDxW008DJw\/s1245\/Scarlet%20P%20Leslie%20Howard.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1245\" data-original-width=\"774\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhAvzvsjxX1BRPGpiZvneJH96HAA7PCKScsz9lLVQ7PuO82hE4Auog9TAazhdNOVgCfGnAOsck3CS1GCdF1eDilQobKX3KoK_XhNB0Ikust5pwqi0z1urCyq6ZLjY8vHdXfPMsfJDEFESs2TXgfras9-hG01L2WjsgulQmf_ytyap9-iDxW008DJw\/w133-h214\/Scarlet%20P%20Leslie%20Howard.jpg\" width=\"133\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EAnthony Andrews' Scarlet Pimpernel is the ultimate version--funny and high-energy, he engages both as the fop \u003Cu\u003Eand\u003C\/u\u003E as the clever spy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was equally impressed--rather to my surprise--by Leslie Howard's Scarlet Pimpernel. He switches within seconds from drawling aristocrat to serious planner. He isn't quite as engaging as Andrews, who manages to retain his joie de vivre no matter his persona, but he does capture the legend.\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhkPcwVlx3bxJeWhflFlLfIHSdRESCTZIPxB9idHQeAZKmb5cAPWoClNdJn_xRNjjJ1W8unXWUz6gcNDTJ5cO5-HWBuPKVta9tXMqp0eOtUtcJpA0Vf8FSCQWzKFbG4RDwT0CXCMP9pa58JUNqpzkot0nn7jFfYiR5a-AtTWJpushUDUaa6XPYWQQ\/s600\/Scarlet%20P%20Richard%20E%20Grant.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"600\" data-original-width=\"518\" height=\"182\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhkPcwVlx3bxJeWhflFlLfIHSdRESCTZIPxB9idHQeAZKmb5cAPWoClNdJn_xRNjjJ1W8unXWUz6gcNDTJ5cO5-HWBuPKVta9tXMqp0eOtUtcJpA0Vf8FSCQWzKFbG4RDwT0CXCMP9pa58JUNqpzkot0nn7jFfYiR5a-AtTWJpushUDUaa6XPYWQQ\/w157-h182\/Scarlet%20P%20Richard%20E%20Grant.jpg\" width=\"157\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard E. Grant's version doesn't quite capture those double roles. His Scarlet Pimpernel is less foppish and more sarcastic. He seems to be deliberately baiting his enemies rather than \"hiding\" in plain sight. Of course, the Richard E. Grant version takes place after Percy and Marguerite have reconciled and Chauvalin is already convinced of Percy's true self.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EThe series has its points, namely the political and interpersonal wrangling between Chauvlin (Martin Shaw) and Ropiespierre (Ronan Vibert).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EBut is the series a faithful rendering of the BOOK? Or, if not the book, of the legend that people love?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi4hIEL3DnGwn6tn4am09f5CuAXpLI4n32f_HgbmS061I1B3ClIW5lgh4wJPjBFJhyphenhyphen5_Vzedq8HNr97I9e4_BJ4GbIupkwI43ALQdq4WobEnZ_ZpFJWgxgD5tADS0V4nRfaTO6-Sf9RLOERxRHO6mpefAtUxUhzjcUPFMqM8XLMGJiRZqi3fm6V3A\/s626\/Blackadder%20Quote.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"467\" data-original-width=\"626\" height=\"173\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi4hIEL3DnGwn6tn4am09f5CuAXpLI4n32f_HgbmS061I1B3ClIW5lgh4wJPjBFJhyphenhyphen5_Vzedq8HNr97I9e4_BJ4GbIupkwI43ALQdq4WobEnZ_ZpFJWgxgD5tADS0V4nRfaTO6-Sf9RLOERxRHO6mpefAtUxUhzjcUPFMqM8XLMGJiRZqi3fm6V3A\/w232-h173\/Blackadder%20Quote.jpg\" width=\"232\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn many ways, the \u003Ci\u003EBlackadder III\u003C\/i\u003E episode \"Nob and Nobility\" is more faithful. This is the episode in which BlackAdder pretends (or, rather, pretends that he is going to pretend) to be a spy in the style of Scarlet Pimpernel and keeps running into noblemen, including one played by Tim McInnery, who claim, \"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EI\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E am the Scarlet Pimpernel.\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EThe issue here is why I feel that post-Hickson Agatha Christie BBC productions fail while \u003Ci\u003ECriminal Games\u003C\/i\u003E, the recent French versions of Agatha Christie, succeed, despite taking enormous liberties. The things that I love about Christie (the hint of wryness, the anti-melodrama since everything is so ultimately normal, day-to-day life, matter-of-fact commentary) is distilled in the case of Hickson and \u003Ci\u003ECriminal Games\u003C\/i\u003E. The other versions seem to take a tiny element and ignore the rest for the sake of BIG MEANING AND SELF-APPOINTED DARKNESS.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E*Heavy sigh.* \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EDid the book get turned into a movie--or just the title?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/7143340168202281158\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=7143340168202281158","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/7143340168202281158"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/7143340168202281158"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/09\/books-to-movies-is-movie-giving-readers.html","title":"Books to Movies: Is the Movie Giving Readers What They Loved in the First Place? "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhRBpQq5eKH5BmcT6VU4nt-6FKbP_33pxJTYtznP4NwH9T4mFPqHVBEQz6utnM1OYnmg1PGyh1TItkASdBpTP-CaGIXNWp8id762BStS83iHZEaQ4J8naRQAtPIJN-tzzkhB0WVj7xtqxxW46uaFL1LWIbC164gE0J492sMIGRGBd8QOojx8hUeEg\/s72-w207-h121-c\/Scarlet%20Pimpernel%20Andrews.webp","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-6102039115316162011"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-13T08:00:00.010-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-13T09:41:38.269-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holidays"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"International Chocolate Day"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjPP0Y3WX1fTqoefGYlBYTqNok3oCMq_zMFlT7yA9LRnzesk9Ok-8Y9PWh1yC35ZSHXwwzZSWDZ-Ka9Wp4GWu5aJIkvKSCK5KF6iIaWf4TwtjnFQhavmCnwUSdsOU7wdYE1fkEp8fWQoSbJPqQKZ8dK4bLP3qPGKxAdVceu-jfOP4Ec-K1_STp2UQ\/s1600\/Standard%20Baking%20Company%20Goods.JPG\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"132\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjPP0Y3WX1fTqoefGYlBYTqNok3oCMq_zMFlT7yA9LRnzesk9Ok-8Y9PWh1yC35ZSHXwwzZSWDZ-Ka9Wp4GWu5aJIkvKSCK5KF6iIaWf4TwtjnFQhavmCnwUSdsOU7wdYE1fkEp8fWQoSbJPqQKZ8dK4bLP3qPGKxAdVceu-jfOP4Ec-K1_STp2UQ\/w176-h132\/Standard%20Baking%20Company%20Goods.JPG\" width=\"176\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EToday, September 13th, is International Chocolate Day!\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike many of the women in my family, I \u003Cb\u003Elove\u003C\/b\u003E chocolate. However, I love it like a fan, not an expert (so this post could fall in the \"Things I Like Anyway\" category). That is, when I purchase candy bars, I often choose Hershey's and 3 Musketeers and such.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to baked goods--which I prefer--I'm completely the opposite: very picky and snobbish. I only eat certain pies made by certain bakeries. I will only eat chocolate-filled croissants (my favorite dessert) made by certain bakeries (at one point, I learned to make them myself, and they turned out okay, but it's a lot of work--and butter).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgqdKzN5k1iNJO2sRd8xNsIykS8yEMRevx7N-OM0REGwK52UTGWR0hD0MbsyOnOS-I6BZ93o1M9weuK_nMnCpWrQIe3fkTTVbyLV5coPyO88B0xmvW3QaihWSNY3f01Dmesxh3ZE5mLUoe0XdKo9M0cB_HFfdlNVEehW12c8Fm11rd5zn0W_zDoYw\/s1500\/Chocolate%20Mousee%20Pie.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"997\" data-original-width=\"1500\" height=\"125\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgqdKzN5k1iNJO2sRd8xNsIykS8yEMRevx7N-OM0REGwK52UTGWR0hD0MbsyOnOS-I6BZ93o1M9weuK_nMnCpWrQIe3fkTTVbyLV5coPyO88B0xmvW3QaihWSNY3f01Dmesxh3ZE5mLUoe0XdKo9M0cB_HFfdlNVEehW12c8Fm11rd5zn0W_zDoYw\/w187-h125\/Chocolate%20Mousee%20Pie.jpg\" width=\"187\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBorrowed picture--\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Ehers had the same texture.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EMy mother agrees with me about baked goods but is as fussy about chocolate as I am about brownies and cakes. She sees absolutely no point in the stuff \"that tastes like wax.\"\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo her credit, when I was growing up, she made a chocolate mousse pie that satisfied both of my tastebud needs: lovely, smooth chocolate in a perfect crust. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/6102039115316162011\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=6102039115316162011","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/6102039115316162011"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/6102039115316162011"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/09\/international-chocolate-day.html","title":"International Chocolate Day"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjPP0Y3WX1fTqoefGYlBYTqNok3oCMq_zMFlT7yA9LRnzesk9Ok-8Y9PWh1yC35ZSHXwwzZSWDZ-Ka9Wp4GWu5aJIkvKSCK5KF6iIaWf4TwtjnFQhavmCnwUSdsOU7wdYE1fkEp8fWQoSbJPqQKZ8dK4bLP3qPGKxAdVceu-jfOP4Ec-K1_STp2UQ\/s72-w176-h132-c\/Standard%20Baking%20Company%20Goods.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-8254455898294988680"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-11T08:00:00.008-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-11T20:03:11.113-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Movies"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ratatouille as an Exploration of Elitism versus Creativity"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz2sHpHYkEsbPJDNIGQ8XObIXT8wCaWNmo8iko_68TvY6MygW7YIdgeQ4CjtY-CA5V0l4iU9gUfSSTxwIFv2Cgy3vkoXR5t_8h21NMEO4M94kghl5RsM8vh9oghCh7eNa6D_vsqPLU4lZJ7ofFP00T-tPx1g7XDWrkCooSvy5TrJjOfrgu2Ii_fw\/s1000\/Ratatouille.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1000\" data-original-width=\"706\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz2sHpHYkEsbPJDNIGQ8XObIXT8wCaWNmo8iko_68TvY6MygW7YIdgeQ4CjtY-CA5V0l4iU9gUfSSTxwIFv2Cgy3vkoXR5t_8h21NMEO4M94kghl5RsM8vh9oghCh7eNa6D_vsqPLU4lZJ7ofFP00T-tPx1g7XDWrkCooSvy5TrJjOfrgu2Ii_fw\/s320\/Ratatouille.jpg\" width=\"226\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking of liking and not liking things...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe plot of \u003Ci\u003ERatatouille\u003C\/i\u003E is complex as is the dialog. There is no attempt to \"talk down\" the dialog or even, as in \u003Ci\u003EToy Story\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EShrek\u003C\/i\u003E, to keep the plot dialog basic while throwing in funny and more complex subtext. All of \u003Ci\u003ERatatouille\u003C\/i\u003E's dialog demands close attention. Still, it is possible that for young children, the images carry most of the story. And I happen to believe that while a child may get bored with an overly complex work (i.e., \u003Ci\u003EWar \u0026amp; Peace\u003C\/i\u003E), complexity doesn't automatically hurt a child's appreciation of a film or book: even if the child doesn't understand every plot point, innuendo, or theme, the child still responds to the film or book's created world and the human tensions within it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELikewise, I think a child can appreciate the rather complex theme of \u003Ci\u003ERatatouille\u003C\/i\u003E, especially since the theme has multiple levels. When I first saw the movie, my English-teacher's brain was mislead by Gusteau's slogan, \"Everyone can cook.\" I jumped to the conclusion that the movie was another one of those Disney films about someone trying and trying and trying until he or she achieves her goal! The Little Engine That Could, version 3,000. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut really, Gusteau's slogan should be \"Everyone \u003Ci\u003Emay\u003C\/i\u003E cook\" or, rather, \"Everyone with talent should have the right to cook.\" In other words, Gusteau's point is not \"hey, if you just try, try, try again, you can make it\" (after all, Linguini freely admits at the end of the movie that he has absolutely no talent); rather, Gusteau is challenging the position of elitists. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiPKjIwLZQceoZMlCNdw2wna1aqslIll9edjTsGL8En1Kecw21JgIP9gpqPBM9Ev_kBGsLN-XkyZXI1JgJSp-TkzI42-M0Rr5gA2najR17iJWejBIIxFW3EQg_M7MgzI6Jz5rKoneXm-Ok6a23bYiNvSN4XfA9P96Me9vGuFg_ZmZOK4pgVlI-7cQ\/s1422\/Ratatouille%20Critic.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"800\" data-original-width=\"1422\" height=\"141\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiPKjIwLZQceoZMlCNdw2wna1aqslIll9edjTsGL8En1Kecw21JgIP9gpqPBM9Ev_kBGsLN-XkyZXI1JgJSp-TkzI42-M0Rr5gA2najR17iJWejBIIxFW3EQg_M7MgzI6Jz5rKoneXm-Ok6a23bYiNvSN4XfA9P96Me9vGuFg_ZmZOK4pgVlI-7cQ\/w251-h141\/Ratatouille%20Critic.jpg\" width=\"251\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\"Everyone can cook\" as in EVERYONE. Although Remy is the ultimate example of this, there are constant and sometimes subtle references to Gusteau's slogan throughout the entire movie: Colette challenges Linguini to doubt her talent (and her chutzpah) because she is a woman in a \"man's world\"; Skinner deplores Linguini's achievements because he is (1) a garbage boy and (2) untrained. Elitism--specifically the elitism that claims superiority for reasons other than talent (\u003Ci\u003EI have the right schooling; I know the right people; I belong to the right class\/clique\/political party\u003C\/i\u003E)--is being questioned. In this context, Ego's name, of course, is a dead giveaway. His critiques (until the very end of the movie) aren't about enjoyment, pleasure, the fun of the thing; they \u003Cb\u003Eare\u003C\/b\u003E all about ego. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYXcCY4msiWp3UxuqI4_0hcmp55ExX7w9KHhvvHkICcWMDJrGcZApsRr8YAS-1Eg7MlAiBb86b6GwA-C8IExKF4llRUe8wwghf2tYcSmFyVf3w5KWzNkx1dnrioJJ0cvn5svgMDDx4icLTJHjqjvTFIm4T89BDqb-1w8vSZYoM-vV6NkgN__TgGw\/s1200\/Ratatouille%20Critic%202.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"675\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"146\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYXcCY4msiWp3UxuqI4_0hcmp55ExX7w9KHhvvHkICcWMDJrGcZApsRr8YAS-1Eg7MlAiBb86b6GwA-C8IExKF4llRUe8wwghf2tYcSmFyVf3w5KWzNkx1dnrioJJ0cvn5svgMDDx4icLTJHjqjvTFIm4T89BDqb-1w8vSZYoM-vV6NkgN__TgGw\/w259-h146\/Ratatouille%20Critic%202.jpg\" width=\"259\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EWhat makes \u003Ci\u003ERatatouille\u003C\/i\u003E, like so many Pixar films, unusual is that the issue of anti-elitism is not allowed to stop there. Yes, attacking elitism is great, but the writers force Remy to examine his budding anti-elitism. Will it (like it has for so many angsty college graduates) simply make Remy an anti-elitist elitist? Because Remy's family doesn't really understand or care about his talent does that mean they are stupid, capitalist, thieving philistines who should be shoved out of his life as quickly as possible? \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENot at all. Remy's brother Emile will never lose his taste for Ramen noodles, tater tots, and Hostess cupcakes. The guy just isn't a gourmet. But he loves his brother, and his brother loves him, so...what does it matter? In fact, Brad Bird, the writer and director of \u003Ci\u003ERatatouille\u003C\/i\u003E, attempts to answer that question: Why does Remy's talent matter (if not for elitist reasons)? His answer: Remy's talent isn't about being better than other people; it's about doing something that will add to the world.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI like that because it bypasses the whole elitist versus self-esteem-for-everyone argument. (I dislike the first position and consider the second counter-productive.) In my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/katepapers.blogspot.com\/2014\/01\/thesisintroduction.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethesis\u003C\/a\u003E, I argue that people enjoy artistic works because those works enable them to use their creativity, but I also argue that creativity is a very broad desire. \u003Cblockquote\u003ECreativity is not a specialized right-brained activity, reserved for artists, poets, and performers. People want to create all kinds of things: loving families, good filing systems, decent web sites, tasty treats, well-groomed animals, a trusty lesson plan. How that desire plays out may very well be influenced by social, cultural environments and institutions but votary theory [my theory that I present in my thesis] postulates its existence regardless of external frameworks. The creative desire like any human desire (envy, hate, love) exists throughout time and history. The modes of its expression are influenced by context but context does not determine the desire. A contemporary Shakespeare would not, perhaps, write plays (unless he teamed up with Andrew Lloyd Webber); that a contemporary Shakespeare would have creative impulses I have no doubt.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EIn any case, all this thought about what constitutes talent and how it should be handled is extremely impressive for a movie that is, ostensibly, a light children's film, but then I have always found designations for films and books to be more confining than truthful. "},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/8254455898294988680\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=8254455898294988680","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8254455898294988680"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8254455898294988680"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2008\/06\/ratatouille-as-lesson-in-non-elitism.html","title":"\u003Ci\u003ERatatouille\u003C\/i\u003E as an Exploration of Elitism versus Creativity"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz2sHpHYkEsbPJDNIGQ8XObIXT8wCaWNmo8iko_68TvY6MygW7YIdgeQ4CjtY-CA5V0l4iU9gUfSSTxwIFv2Cgy3vkoXR5t_8h21NMEO4M94kghl5RsM8vh9oghCh7eNa6D_vsqPLU4lZJ7ofFP00T-tPx1g7XDWrkCooSvy5TrJjOfrgu2Ii_fw\/s72-c\/Ratatouille.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-1922758979659260431"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-10T08:00:00.009-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-10T08:13:12.632-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Contemporary Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holidays"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Blame It on the Large Hadron Collider Day"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjQ8W2OLcUEow5kDprVhz7kABJG6qTPkKKFBNmk9_hX-tbbSjs6Gv8qQuJ66ZpBAM9BC8xJnGcZa1F5Bn13UvWQccBIsHukqZDV4yFGmUyZGAzLdLZsj74EjA7aNp5EENLHDaEH_9L5p5jc9vnEa-yh9oxS029tiVZbW_tTTPAhqha2RJiSRDpZqg\/s275\/Hadron%20Collider.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"183\" data-original-width=\"275\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjQ8W2OLcUEow5kDprVhz7kABJG6qTPkKKFBNmk9_hX-tbbSjs6Gv8qQuJ66ZpBAM9BC8xJnGcZa1F5Bn13UvWQccBIsHukqZDV4yFGmUyZGAzLdLZsj74EjA7aNp5EENLHDaEH_9L5p5jc9vnEa-yh9oxS029tiVZbW_tTTPAhqha2RJiSRDpZqg\/w241-h160\/Hadron%20Collider.jpg\" width=\"241\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYup! That's today, September 10th.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlame It on the Large Hadron Collider Day is actually about blaming the LHC for lost items...not, necessarily, the end of life as we know it.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think the day is hilarious. I think the larger fear that rose up when the LHC was started is just sad. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA few semesters ago, one of my students polled the class: \u003Ci\u003EWho would go into space if offered?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe amazing result was...very few.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, granted, I might not if the opportunity actually arose. I \u003Cu\u003Ecould\u003C\/u\u003E travel and rarely do. But the idea that I would be \u003Ci\u003Eentirely\u003C\/i\u003E uninterested, indifferent, or just opposed astonishes me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat has happened to the desire to explore?!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI feel the same way about the Hadron Collider. Okay, so it could rip apart the universe and send us all to destruction. So what? It's trying to discover the secrets of the universe! Woo-hoo!! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's a little sad that the \u003Cb\u003Ewoo-hoo\u003C\/b\u003E is so absent these days. Do people really just want to fuss about politics, throw around labels, and ask AI what to think?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWow, that was crotchety-sounding. I must be getting old.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, that means I'm still here. \u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/1922758979659260431\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=1922758979659260431","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/1922758979659260431"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/1922758979659260431"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/09\/blame-it-on-large-hadron-collider-day.html","title":"Blame It on the Large Hadron Collider Day"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjQ8W2OLcUEow5kDprVhz7kABJG6qTPkKKFBNmk9_hX-tbbSjs6Gv8qQuJ66ZpBAM9BC8xJnGcZa1F5Bn13UvWQccBIsHukqZDV4yFGmUyZGAzLdLZsj74EjA7aNp5EENLHDaEH_9L5p5jc9vnEa-yh9oxS029tiVZbW_tTTPAhqha2RJiSRDpZqg\/s72-w241-h160-c\/Hadron%20Collider.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-4387323668853516019"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-08T08:00:00.022-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-08T08:19:22.224-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Contemporary Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"History"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Liking Versus Criticism or, Updated Title, Stop Caring What Other People Think About Art"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgylcoegZgBd_KSWamDx26IPxx4epe3ZqjRHkqUa5enAKdnZ1xCk6qPSHOn_rbWAQMlcKnXjgAjuWqV4aQUiDaJKbuqW_0k0BfGsAT6zXCwkMfDMasmoFZCNO_B1kxp1Fi9DkA2v_ukpEWUpOYQP_D15f8AEe9NjJD86O_IcQrWJBM1DUxHd4PEzQ\/s330\/Anti%20Star%20Ratings.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"324\" data-original-width=\"330\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgylcoegZgBd_KSWamDx26IPxx4epe3ZqjRHkqUa5enAKdnZ1xCk6qPSHOn_rbWAQMlcKnXjgAjuWqV4aQUiDaJKbuqW_0k0BfGsAT6zXCwkMfDMasmoFZCNO_B1kxp1Fi9DkA2v_ukpEWUpOYQP_D15f8AEe9NjJD86O_IcQrWJBM1DUxHd4PEzQ\/w131-h128\/Anti%20Star%20Ratings.jpg\" width=\"131\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EI advocate people stop\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eenjoying art based on ratings.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETry stuff out!\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI have reached \"N\" on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/A-Z%20Book%20Review%20Part%208\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA-Z List 8\u003C\/a\u003E (Books to Movies), which selections are drawn from \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/A-Z%20Book%20Review%20Part%202\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA-Z List 2\u003C\/a\u003E. On A-Z List 2, I mention that I have never gotten into Andre Norton, which I regret since there are so many books by Norton out there.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe issue here dovetails with another series of posts: books I like even though nobody else does. Books I don't like even though they are popular or critically acclaimed. \u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENorton is an excellent example of the ultimate failure of literary criticism: liking has little to do with what the supposed-people-in-charge say.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFar too many times, critics insist, \"If I don't like something \npersonally, it must be because it is no good.\" Reasoning from the \npersonal to the general is a survival mechanism. It is also unreliable.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYet we humans remain perfect little Victorians, insisting that today, right now, in us, is the \u003Ci\u003Eobjective\u003C\/i\u003E best of times \u003Cb\u003Eand\u003C\/b\u003E worst of times; in the latter case, we become subject, as \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/eugenewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2015\/02\/techno-orientalism.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEugene states\u003C\/a\u003E,\n to \"the near-universal idea, especially beloved on the academic left, \nthat there existed a point in [the past] when All Was Good\" \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjBqBzi9dqZ-aM29neY8_ug6ZNoTLv4kteEHD_9i8xFcwcOaMV3QUdV0RtAiy0IS9CmuUABGTH4L0Nc-9BfKs9JlxISO33zTFqP0yanBegMpLk5heNYWURKXn0sBT6kCdzExFvVig\/s1600\/Mural+from+Criminal+Minds.jpeg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"149\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjBqBzi9dqZ-aM29neY8_ug6ZNoTLv4kteEHD_9i8xFcwcOaMV3QUdV0RtAiy0IS9CmuUABGTH4L0Nc-9BfKs9JlxISO33zTFqP0yanBegMpLk5heNYWURKXn0sBT6kCdzExFvVig\/w264-h149\/Mural+from+Criminal+Minds.jpeg\" width=\"264\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe fascinating mural from \u003Ci\u003ECriminal Minds\u003C\/i\u003E contains\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eoverlapping elements of a single person's life.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\n\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/One-Summer-America-Bill-Bryson\/dp\/0767919416\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EOne Summer\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n by Bill Bryson captures the reality: dig into history at any one point \nin time--1927, 1803, 321 BCE--and thousand of events begin to crowd \nthemselves onto the stage of one's brain. Prohibition, Babe Ruth, Mount \nRushmore, Herbert Hoover, Mississippi Floods, President Coleridge, \nLindbergh, Al Capone. Murder cases. Political rallies. Political \nbackstabbing. Boxers. Random people sitting on flagpoles. Model A Fords.\n Eventually, there's too much. Even Bill Bryson can't handle it all. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHumans (not just historians) smooth it all out, highlight the important \nstuff, slide names into biographies, and move on. How else could we cope\n with life's complications? (It is unfortunate that the result of this \nnecessary leveling is a belief that \"life really was like that.\")\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBack to literary criticism:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLikewise, although a case can be made for a book being \"good\" or \"bad\" \n(and I am advocate of making the case)--the unreliable habits of readers\n indicate how little that literary criticism matters in people's \npersonal lives. On Amazon, beloved popular series almost all have 4\/5 \nstars. And on IMDB, over time, \u003Cb\u003Eeverything\u003C\/b\u003E eventually rates a \"B\" (with a few outliers on either side), no matter how popular (or personally beloved). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6wyBGr8idE9ikGXP4xi1jttPQcsGAuwxl1_aUPCJE9qHeQ-DWz87lVL8lCI0jkors2L0Y6HXEsy4f3fhtMfaXY_VUO5ZAgondTUjawHilOgAheMQ-JiHz_JA2Llh-3bb7RaJrAg\/s1600\/Taash.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6wyBGr8idE9ikGXP4xi1jttPQcsGAuwxl1_aUPCJE9qHeQ-DWz87lVL8lCI0jkors2L0Y6HXEsy4f3fhtMfaXY_VUO5ZAgondTUjawHilOgAheMQ-JiHz_JA2Llh-3bb7RaJrAg\/w198-h300\/Taash.jpg\" width=\"198\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOne of my favorite books growing up.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe book has 27 other fans on Amazon.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIt was out of print for many years.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\nThere are plenty of books that I love that other people happen to love \ntoo. There are also plenty of books that I love without any expectation \nthat they will be beloved by \u003Ci\u003Eanyone\u003C\/i\u003E else. Along the same lines, \nAndre Norton isn't my cup of tea but is for plenty of other people. Good for her!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAs far as literary enjoyment is concerned, \"taste\" rather than \"good\/bad\" seems to determine \u003Cu\u003Enot what lasts \u003C\/u\u003E(gets streamlined) \u003Cb\u003Ebut what matters in everyday life\u003C\/b\u003E. In one of his tomes, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Steven-Pinker\/e\/B000AQ3GGO\/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1424222898\u0026amp;sr=1-1\"\u003EStephen Pinker\u003C\/a\u003E\n argues that evolutionary psychology (examining the rise and fall of \ncivilizations from a macro point of view) explains the world overall and \nwould appear to wipe out the need for free will. But he argues (I am \nparaphrasing), \u003Ci\u003EIsn't it better for us in our day to day lives to behave \nas if free-will exists? \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI would add--\u003Ci\u003Ebecause, after all, that's what going to happen anyway.\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the day-to-day, people make choices--career choices, marriage \nchoices, housing choices, pet choices, reading choices, viewing \nchoices--that belong to them alone. Hence everything--from literature to\n civilizations--remains messy. The macros only appears after enough time has passed: the rough \nedges get smoothed out, and the important events (or books) rise to the \nsurface.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBut thinking that we \u003Cb\u003Eknow\u003C\/b\u003E the macro while \u003Ci\u003Ewe are living in the micro\u003C\/i\u003E--that's where the little Victorian in all of us insists on taking a nosedive into the void.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBetter to make the best choices you can, live by the moral code you've \nselected, and \u003Cu\u003Eread what you want\u003C\/u\u003E. The macro will take care of itself.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/4387323668853516019\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=4387323668853516019","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/4387323668853516019"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/4387323668853516019"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/09\/liking-versus-judging.html","title":"Liking Versus Criticism or, Updated Title, Stop Caring What Other People Think About Art"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgylcoegZgBd_KSWamDx26IPxx4epe3ZqjRHkqUa5enAKdnZ1xCk6qPSHOn_rbWAQMlcKnXjgAjuWqV4aQUiDaJKbuqW_0k0BfGsAT6zXCwkMfDMasmoFZCNO_B1kxp1Fi9DkA2v_ukpEWUpOYQP_D15f8AEe9NjJD86O_IcQrWJBM1DUxHd4PEzQ\/s72-w131-h128-c\/Anti%20Star%20Ratings.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-5296785499225297796"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-05T08:00:00.009-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-05T13:30:07.841-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 8"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books to Movie: Movie or Series, Which is Better? "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EI\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxgJl1eVX-JDaOrEzX4Re2BmkyOmyLiZ-lslptwIhUXCf6e2Xyij9JsJ8IEHI7RdgmRms224_3T0K8Haa0STKKNteThC_66llbja3_Yy_cVmKqiWuNHoTyWIpTC0d3FiWF_LKgL7JI4CaM6XiBNvsgtl_ObHk4UeKk8tgtswH8GOXceijJjqXZiA\/s273\/Time%20Traveler's%20Wife%20HBO.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"273\" data-original-width=\"184\" height=\"193\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxgJl1eVX-JDaOrEzX4Re2BmkyOmyLiZ-lslptwIhUXCf6e2Xyij9JsJ8IEHI7RdgmRms224_3T0K8Haa0STKKNteThC_66llbja3_Yy_cVmKqiWuNHoTyWIpTC0d3FiWF_LKgL7JI4CaM6XiBNvsgtl_ObHk4UeKk8tgtswH8GOXceijJjqXZiA\/w130-h193\/Time%20Traveler's%20Wife%20HBO.jpg\" width=\"130\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E've reached \"N\" on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2015\/02\/n-is-for-not-much-and-thoughts-on.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA-Z List 2\u003C\/a\u003E, and the movie I thought of was \u003Ci\u003EThe Time Traveler's Wife by \u003C\/i\u003EAudrey Niffenegger.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've seen both the movie and the series. The comparison raises the issue, \u003Ci\u003EIs a series the answer?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt can be. I think some stories definitely benefit from the longer treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the above case, I say, \"No.\" I think the movie surpasses the series which seems to get bogged down by its own...something or other...inability to figure out what it is doing, I guess.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgclD8H9AntH9feh8Vi8IN-zzdqPmKsJf4PH4Xe3iyWIvmhQobg54czD07MHJtGQwwI-3GxAkj6J6W6t4G0rIzPsQxs85uAeMe7NW1m85K4PynvEJA_SJEyu5PuwtWL712T6TwV2rSj8rA6ngkaxffazkBHVYTf3N4KdHELKuniSG7PdM1hmMtqQQ\/s543\/BBC%20Voyage%20Dawn%20Treader.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"543\" data-original-width=\"333\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgclD8H9AntH9feh8Vi8IN-zzdqPmKsJf4PH4Xe3iyWIvmhQobg54czD07MHJtGQwwI-3GxAkj6J6W6t4G0rIzPsQxs85uAeMe7NW1m85K4PynvEJA_SJEyu5PuwtWL712T6TwV2rSj8rA6ngkaxffazkBHVYTf3N4KdHELKuniSG7PdM1hmMtqQQ\/w141-h230\/BBC%20Voyage%20Dawn%20Treader.jpg\" width=\"141\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader\u003C\/i\u003E, on the other hand, was far better as the 1983 series than the movie. It is a voyage rather than a narrative arc, anyway.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo is most Jules Verne stuff. And Jules Verne will come up later. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe issue isn't (necessarily) length. \u003Ci\u003ELord of the Rings\u003C\/i\u003E, however long, does have a strong narrative arc.\u003Ci\u003E The Hobbit\u003C\/i\u003E is a little less tidy as a movie though Jackson, in my view, did a decent job turning it from a journey into a story.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOverall, pacing may determine medium more than content. That is, one complaint about movies is that the scriptwriters leave stuff out. But excision is a reality of all transformations. It's a fact of art.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgB3uV1K5nzeCSMJeXTou4hAsCxchxVTTSx6FlQf58D4Fq0tuuFgkggztBAl4aJSENVQKkHQoIX4dVFV97JvMe3XbNsMVjAMY9bh8Zw7ln20OoAMkjss8oo7OXMWNI5hWgGC6GZX-_JplL6wn0n-1z1kKR8SBG0oSeF-xrmbbFnegNrqmXddPGkJQ\/s480\/Die%20Hard%20More%20FBI%20Guys%20Quote.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"360\" data-original-width=\"480\" height=\"97\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgB3uV1K5nzeCSMJeXTou4hAsCxchxVTTSx6FlQf58D4Fq0tuuFgkggztBAl4aJSENVQKkHQoIX4dVFV97JvMe3XbNsMVjAMY9bh8Zw7ln20OoAMkjss8oo7OXMWNI5hWgGC6GZX-_JplL6wn0n-1z1kKR8SBG0oSeF-xrmbbFnegNrqmXddPGkJQ\/w129-h97\/Die%20Hard%20More%20FBI%20Guys%20Quote.jpg\" width=\"129\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe problem lies with a story that isn't really a story but more a set of vignettes. A series might serve such a book better than, say, the approach used for the most excellent and powerful \u003Ci\u003EDie Hard,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Ewhich pays off all its set-ups relentlessly without stopping for anybody to smell, let alone study, any roses.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf what a reader wants is to delve into a particular world, a series is more likely to give the reader satisfaction. But it may end up missing the point which I suggest happens with the series made from Niffenegger's book. And missing the point may annoy readers more.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/5296785499225297796\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=5296785499225297796","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/5296785499225297796"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/5296785499225297796"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/09\/books-to-movie-movie-or-series-which-is.html","title":"Books to Movie: Movie or Series, Which is Better? "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxgJl1eVX-JDaOrEzX4Re2BmkyOmyLiZ-lslptwIhUXCf6e2Xyij9JsJ8IEHI7RdgmRms224_3T0K8Haa0STKKNteThC_66llbja3_Yy_cVmKqiWuNHoTyWIpTC0d3FiWF_LKgL7JI4CaM6XiBNvsgtl_ObHk4UeKk8tgtswH8GOXceijJjqXZiA\/s72-w130-h193-c\/Time%20Traveler's%20Wife%20HBO.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-465901609464025080"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-04T08:00:00.016-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-04T08:00:00.124-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 9"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"All the Ms: Machado to MacHale"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhr3KQKS8ttYztkOuHFrMZH8E5t9KrRuO8KN29cZ9VUkSLqvuxjF0xgW2127mePtzp_IYnHqk1EI6p5jCTSCuiXMbjcws_VQg4xcxowSXoHT2TYWGK9uS5aYinnlIelDn8EYBP3ZyqtUsKbb8HhuLnkMqmyN0-Fd9idC8sTHOFVYSWbyIOOlaQPmw\/s1000\/Me%20in%20the%20Middle%20Machado.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1000\" data-original-width=\"698\" height=\"194\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhr3KQKS8ttYztkOuHFrMZH8E5t9KrRuO8KN29cZ9VUkSLqvuxjF0xgW2127mePtzp_IYnHqk1EI6p5jCTSCuiXMbjcws_VQg4xcxowSXoHT2TYWGK9uS5aYinnlIelDn8EYBP3ZyqtUsKbb8HhuLnkMqmyN0-Fd9idC8sTHOFVYSWbyIOOlaQPmw\/w135-h194\/Me%20in%20the%20Middle%20Machado.jpg\" width=\"135\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMachado, Ana Maria:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003EMe in the Middle\u003C\/i\u003E is a little preachy but still quite impressive. It is the story of a girl who hears both her great-grandmother and her great-grand\u003Cu\u003Edaughter\u003C\/u\u003E in her head. It’s a very Gabriel Garcia Marquez idea in an uncomplicated way.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMachado, Carmen Maria:\u003C\/b\u003E “Inventory” from \u003Ci\u003EHer Body and Other Parties\u003C\/i\u003E is interesting because it is about a virus\/plague slowly killing off people. The narrator is listing past lovers as she likely expects to die. I assumed at first that the inspiration was COVID, but the book of short stories was published in 2017. So similarly dark and reflective but without the “yeah, well, people do keep going” reality of the real thing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgFxybWPSnqDUQ4OGkVaHtIFWYiXN8cz2lCmNbVlNg7RAKeR2gSUEYZcjacyw4VqOetda1cxw7HIrQIejmBXG9J-9b7htj7sSWWMi41YdWjfC9cBqub2rjXYZTISjD1_kZdLywxTQE23eCu6Ltd8a8H3kg2KHCdaXF9n_WEoo61E0xU-9jGb29w9Q\/s323\/Machado%20De%20Assis.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"323\" data-original-width=\"220\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgFxybWPSnqDUQ4OGkVaHtIFWYiXN8cz2lCmNbVlNg7RAKeR2gSUEYZcjacyw4VqOetda1cxw7HIrQIejmBXG9J-9b7htj7sSWWMi41YdWjfC9cBqub2rjXYZTISjD1_kZdLywxTQE23eCu6Ltd8a8H3kg2KHCdaXF9n_WEoo61E0xU-9jGb29w9Q\/w170-h250\/Machado%20De%20Assis.jpg\" width=\"170\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMachado De Assis, Joaquim Maria:\u003C\/b\u003E One of the interesting aspects of this reading experiment is encountering designated great authors that I didn’t know about. De Assis Machado is one of those greats! I started \u003Ci\u003EDom Casmurro\u003C\/i\u003E. The translation is excellent. And…there’s a reason I don’t know many great authors. Namely, I don’t find great literature all that interesting.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMachias, Jules:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003EBoth Can Be True\u003C\/i\u003E is about a main character who is non-binary and the boy who becomes the main character’s friend. The main character’s voice is engaging, but after the end of the first chapter, I just felt enormously sad. I’m not sure the author realizes how much the Rainbow Alliance in the first chapter comes across as stricter than any club I attended in high school in the 1980s. Instead of biological sexes being expanded to encompass the truly unusual, the supposedly unusual is broken up into smaller and smaller monitored bits. Allowed. Not allowed. Accepted. Not accepted. The moment pronouns become grist for the equivalent of hall-monitoring, finger-pointing \"you've gotta make a decision about \u003Cb\u003Ethat\u003C\/b\u003E\" expectations tend to follow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere is the reason that organized \"safe places\" ultimately fail. In \u003Ci\u003EStrong Poison\u003C\/i\u003E by Dorothy Sayers, Wimsey ruminates that even in a \"well-regulated\" world where everyone has been parceled into government programs, the bright young things will creep away to night-clubs:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\"Nature will have her revenge. They will slink away from the Government Communal Games to play solitaire in catacombs over a bowl of unsterilized skim-milk.\"\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETrue individuality always, eventually, makes itself felt.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacHale,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003ED.J.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECurse of the Boogin\u003C\/i\u003E starts with a dad falling off a roof, a surprisingly tragic beginning for a kid’s books even in this day \u0026amp; age. It appears to be \u003Ci\u003ESupernatural\u003C\/i\u003E for young teens.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/465901609464025080\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=465901609464025080","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/465901609464025080"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/465901609464025080"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/09\/all-ms-machado-to-machale.html","title":"All the Ms: Machado to MacHale"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhr3KQKS8ttYztkOuHFrMZH8E5t9KrRuO8KN29cZ9VUkSLqvuxjF0xgW2127mePtzp_IYnHqk1EI6p5jCTSCuiXMbjcws_VQg4xcxowSXoHT2TYWGK9uS5aYinnlIelDn8EYBP3ZyqtUsKbb8HhuLnkMqmyN0-Fd9idC8sTHOFVYSWbyIOOlaQPmw\/s72-w135-h194-c\/Me%20in%20the%20Middle%20Machado.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-112420548626445736"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-02T08:00:00.013-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-02T22:57:11.685-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Education\/Teaching"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Dark Pasts (and Futures) of Children's Writers, Expanded"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhF9F9gJxD_YtyB28SlOu2XU14L_DIuwEueSI-cMb32zb8DGEQcQTOW8PgeHdyOkm6TYtx7tFe2XSbTVwsP8gCIqnNKZRwUFVwZYPX8LluikhS9MZOuj3-r-5wVbOa5tWLOMgKR_iPCtMH8RLt-rpydWtYF6LiP9I6PCSzvBoHreGz0q56cTwF8Iw\/s480\/Mary%20Yells%20at%20Colin%20Secret%20Garden.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"360\" data-original-width=\"480\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhF9F9gJxD_YtyB28SlOu2XU14L_DIuwEueSI-cMb32zb8DGEQcQTOW8PgeHdyOkm6TYtx7tFe2XSbTVwsP8gCIqnNKZRwUFVwZYPX8LluikhS9MZOuj3-r-5wVbOa5tWLOMgKR_iPCtMH8RLt-rpydWtYF6LiP9I6PCSzvBoHreGz0q56cTwF8Iw\/w222-h167\/Mary%20Yells%20at%20Colin%20Secret%20Garden.jpg\" width=\"222\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe best scene in \u003Ci\u003EThe Secret Garden\u003C\/i\u003E is when Mary, infuriated by Colin's tantrum, accuses him of self-martyrdom. Colin, who is truly frightened by the idea of being a hunchback, claims that he \"felt a lump.\" Mary insists on seeing his back and then states, emphatically, \"There's not a single lump there! There's not a lump as big as a pin! If you ever say there is again, I shall laugh!\" \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe narrator continues: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003ENo one but Colin himself knew what effect those crossly spoken childish words had on him...now that an angry unsympathetic little girl insisted obstinately that he was not as ill as he thought he was he actually felt as if she might be speaking the truth. \u003C\/blockquote\u003E In this passage, Frances Hodgson Burnett reveals why she deserves her place in the echelon of children's writers. Like E. Nesbit, Burnett knew, or remembered, the quality of child fear—quite different from adult fear--the dull terror that children can live with without fully comprehending why and don't have rationals or experience to combat.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgrPYlzJqFYF_5WVYmIJM-1sd_JQn-TNIGRcSnZ5u5lc1ptGvrUy1FhmXddSRTvV-31Tz9gHNcKkva6oa3UF4T3Y9_BaUQa3oPS4LXobGCcCXCogyKcUCOgpA4N9SWcqltdbvnsiic5bXvtA4-gceXDitOvm3o_iyZ3TB3l6kMdtN-EtIs9PcCZhw\/s612\/Little%20Princess%20Illustration.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"612\" data-original-width=\"612\" height=\"245\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgrPYlzJqFYF_5WVYmIJM-1sd_JQn-TNIGRcSnZ5u5lc1ptGvrUy1FhmXddSRTvV-31Tz9gHNcKkva6oa3UF4T3Y9_BaUQa3oPS4LXobGCcCXCogyKcUCOgpA4N9SWcqltdbvnsiic5bXvtA4-gceXDitOvm3o_iyZ3TB3l6kMdtN-EtIs9PcCZhw\/w245-h245\/Little%20Princess%20Illustration.jpg\" width=\"245\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EIt is this quality that keeps Burnett (more than Nesbit) from descending into the maudlin. In \u003Ci\u003EThe Little Princess\u003C\/i\u003E, the true horror of Sarah's loss is captured in her nearly catatonic behavior. In another of Burnett's novels, Little Lord Fauntleroy never experiences anything as horrific but the author does a fine job illustrating his homesickness: \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003EPerhaps he was a trifle tired, as his bed-time was nearing, and perhaps after the excitement of the last few days it was natural he should be tired, so perhaps, too, the feeling of weariness brought to him a vague sense of loneliness in the remembrance that to-night he was not to sleep at home...and the more he thought of [his mother] the less was he inclined to talk, and by the time the dinner was at an end the Earl saw that there was a faint shadow on his face. \u003C\/blockquote\u003E It is this ability to capture childhood unhappiness that gives good writers for children such power. It isn't the same as going back and creating a childhood memory. Rather, Burnett and Nesbit had remarkably clear recollections of the fear, terror and uncertainty that children carry with them. (Of the two, Nesbit is somewhat more detached.) \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgpB9TEaI0cr7FvtEdGGUV_vfNsqIpbsgX1T7DKxe822e6ap55PhSmb0affAJIgqvCEV5-_Bx4SHRrqgo8A1gfi87teXTRK9YLnn_Qa2PmNaOKTib0BjtVDJ-gxKNUQmvNb-8iPJ6l1NMSdo4ijUioUdxCyy-tfb460Sy1NZxtaxuo9pQcXyPX6PQ\/s2048\/Little%20Lord%20Fauntleroy.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1997\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgpB9TEaI0cr7FvtEdGGUV_vfNsqIpbsgX1T7DKxe822e6ap55PhSmb0affAJIgqvCEV5-_Bx4SHRrqgo8A1gfi87teXTRK9YLnn_Qa2PmNaOKTib0BjtVDJ-gxKNUQmvNb-8iPJ6l1NMSdo4ijUioUdxCyy-tfb460Sy1NZxtaxuo9pQcXyPX6PQ\/w227-h221\/Little%20Lord%20Fauntleroy.jpg\" width=\"227\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's a difference between remembering one's childhood emotions and being so haunted by one's childhood that one's entire life becomes an attempt at exorcism. Elizabeth Enright, E.M. Boston, Z. Snyder, Barbara Robinson, J. Spinelli, Edward Eager and Laura Ingalls Wilder belong to the first group. Dahl and Barrie seem to belong to the latter, and I can't say that I have ever cared for their books. (There are, additionally, writers who simply \"get\" kids: R.L. Stine belongs to the last category.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe overall point is that through children's literature, \u003Cu\u003Egood\u003C\/u\u003E children's literature, runs a dark thread, a thread that Lemony Snicket exploits quite mischievously. It cannot, however, be recreated as a lesson or set of rules. That is, it isn't about idealizing OR bemoaning OR improving childhood. It's more Calvin \u0026amp; Hobbs than that.\u0026nbsp;  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe dark side of children's literature is often dismissed by people who think that all children's literature is about forming young minds (homilies) and\/or who equate subject matter with quality. Which is just foolish. \u003Ci\u003EHarry Potter\u003C\/i\u003E may be as pointless as Harold Bloom contests but it isn't any worse than \u003Ci\u003EThe Da Vinci Code\u003C\/i\u003E. In fact, in many ways, it is far superior. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe problem is the same problem that stalks the Academy Awards people every year: how do you honor comedy which, on the surface, just doesn't seem as earth-shattering and profound and deep and all that as, say, \u003Ci\u003EAmerican Beauty\u003C\/i\u003E?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh9N7TNj_9dBIOEKuhul1X7BSttOy7DIlnSJA-BM_3NV8U3qM-34_vVjkkPySFNLTCD31pEiLgVJD35eQIxuF-rFYRuQ9Ma6HXsJyqNbks6UU7uHzO-KkI2lLVqXnVml3tG4phyWIhLyXS248F6QLfkZWYkchojGnLWro3kqbPFY35pqk2FtrfE3w\/s850\/Glenda%20Jackson%20Quote.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"400\" data-original-width=\"850\" height=\"126\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh9N7TNj_9dBIOEKuhul1X7BSttOy7DIlnSJA-BM_3NV8U3qM-34_vVjkkPySFNLTCD31pEiLgVJD35eQIxuF-rFYRuQ9Ma6HXsJyqNbks6UU7uHzO-KkI2lLVqXnVml3tG4phyWIhLyXS248F6QLfkZWYkchojGnLWro3kqbPFY35pqk2FtrfE3w\/w266-h126\/Glenda%20Jackson%20Quote.jpg\" width=\"266\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, I contest, one should acknowledge that comedy is incredibly difficult to make. It's like  Olympic gymnastics: sure, it \u003Ci\u003Elooks\u003C\/i\u003E easy, but you go try it.  Slight tangent: in high school, I had to do a bit of abstract art with oils. I failed miserably. It basically ended up a dirty mess of paint on a board. And not an on-purpose dirty mess of paint. Just dirty. I only passed because the final project was painting from a still life, and I can do still life! So, don't tell me your 3-year old could paint a Pollock. Cause she can't.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg7kGJG_WRZOOIX5vryyJ_XFG0Fh_K0IPVRXoJz84dYhKJBDNh9BMut3m1v8SvTIwVnT5vVcKKjApi2044TfIeBNMSgxl1_yrkrMfRvIraKnbuSl8MtcTCXNKE00j5Wa_oJ6wEW2d1w8dDBSbXlyzJPT0zWisNBAGix-eli86XsN9b9pI6K963pYg\/s400\/Moby%20Dick%20Cartoon%202.gif\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg7kGJG_WRZOOIX5vryyJ_XFG0Fh_K0IPVRXoJz84dYhKJBDNh9BMut3m1v8SvTIwVnT5vVcKKjApi2044TfIeBNMSgxl1_yrkrMfRvIraKnbuSl8MtcTCXNKE00j5Wa_oJ6wEW2d1w8dDBSbXlyzJPT0zWisNBAGix-eli86XsN9b9pI6K963pYg\/s400\/Moby%20Dick%20Cartoon%202.gif\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"129\" data-original-width=\"400\" height=\"85\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg7kGJG_WRZOOIX5vryyJ_XFG0Fh_K0IPVRXoJz84dYhKJBDNh9BMut3m1v8SvTIwVnT5vVcKKjApi2044TfIeBNMSgxl1_yrkrMfRvIraKnbuSl8MtcTCXNKE00j5Wa_oJ6wEW2d1w8dDBSbXlyzJPT0zWisNBAGix-eli86XsN9b9pI6K963pYg\/w265-h85\/Moby%20Dick%20Cartoon%202.gif\" width=\"265\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003ESecond, profundity is not only easier than comedy but there's profundity and then there's profundity. \u003Ci\u003ECrime \u0026amp; Punishment\u003C\/i\u003E is profound. Not much else is really. Maybe \u003Ci\u003EMoby Dick\u003C\/i\u003E. There you go. There's your standard. A lot of books come off as profound because people die and have affairs and question their purpose in life and have those kind of endings where people sit around and think about why they have changed (not what they are going to do with the change). I HATE those endings. I think they are lousy. (One reason I believe mysteries are so popular is because the ending IS an ending: bad guy dies or gets arrested or, occasionally, gets let go, but \u003Ci\u003Esomething\u003C\/i\u003E happens.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd for those of you who think art is supposed to imitate life and people \u003Cb\u003Edo\u003C\/b\u003E sit around contemplating their navels, fiction is never the same as real life. It can't be. There's no reason it should be.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, there are kids who react well to this kind of profundity, who are drawn to the deaths and divorces and dreary plots of young adult literature. Even I loved \u003Ci\u003EThe Crucible \u003C\/i\u003Eas a teen--and Sidney Carlton. Kids who retain these likes go on to select the same kinds of things from the adult section.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj4KUfG0mAIgamDKfabgKdFQUs16BLJGGlxifFwM1TxO0NRnf6XSWNDfnEdt4o6u8f1pUnhxm0puwhhnAt2BbRUcBRjlxLHsr6QN9K8ekCp_OdX61CARRh-U8TLYjhYjGgOzVwXYybRurouGjMq4zRmK6sB5JyfNliuHLDxP3dzjeqC3uGfk4qxOw\/s400\/Literature%20Genres.gif\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"400\" data-original-width=\"308\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj4KUfG0mAIgamDKfabgKdFQUs16BLJGGlxifFwM1TxO0NRnf6XSWNDfnEdt4o6u8f1pUnhxm0puwhhnAt2BbRUcBRjlxLHsr6QN9K8ekCp_OdX61CARRh-U8TLYjhYjGgOzVwXYybRurouGjMq4zRmK6sB5JyfNliuHLDxP3dzjeqC3uGfk4qxOw\/w175-h228\/Literature%20Genres.gif\" width=\"175\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI am not trying to argue that such pseudo-profundity doesn't exist in children's literature; I am arguing that lack of profundity doesn't translate into a lack of profoundly good writing. If you accept my earlier claim, that most things aren't really profound anyway, the criteria of what makes something worthwhile to read has to undergo re-evaluation. I personally like the evaluation, \u003Ci\u003EIt's worthwhile if it's well-written and does what it set out to do\u003C\/i\u003E. And it's well-written if it keeps your interest (isn't dull), reads smoothly (if it doesn't read smoothly, it reads not-smoothly on purpose), tells a story and isn't stupid. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI don't think my criteria will get me hired on at any universities, but it's a useful standard against which most things can be compared. And a great deal of children's literature compares against it very well indeed. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/112420548626445736\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=112420548626445736","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/112420548626445736"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/112420548626445736"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2005\/08\/dark-pasts-and-futures-of-childrens.html","title":"The Dark Pasts (and Futures) of Children's Writers, Expanded"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhF9F9gJxD_YtyB28SlOu2XU14L_DIuwEueSI-cMb32zb8DGEQcQTOW8PgeHdyOkm6TYtx7tFe2XSbTVwsP8gCIqnNKZRwUFVwZYPX8LluikhS9MZOuj3-r-5wVbOa5tWLOMgKR_iPCtMH8RLt-rpydWtYF6LiP9I6PCSzvBoHreGz0q56cTwF8Iw\/s72-w222-h167-c\/Mary%20Yells%20at%20Colin%20Secret%20Garden.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-1789883500117418542"},"published":{"$t":"2024-09-01T08:00:00.008-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-01T08:35:04.175-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 9"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Two Substanceless Movies--One Good, One Bad"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EI recently discussed \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/books-to-movies-melville-and-do-we.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMelville\u003C\/a\u003E in my \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/Books%20to%20Movies\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBooks to Movies posts\u003C\/a\u003E. I took Melville from \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/A-Z%20Book%20Review%20Part%202\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA-Z List 2\u003C\/a\u003E. L.M. Montgomery is also from A-Z List 2. I review one of the Anne movies below.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EANNE OF GREEN GABLES: THE CONTINUING STORY\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhj4ck3vyCFRC4Ie4rVQ0_bInVJKuYY2oEvMiUOAfdaGhVRNnQR4qCKBSGQsdEu35A9Eutu1Inz0hFOkWIHw5TCpF6K4kcwtOPYBXxE2hfWwvXY4StkmGKbV45p7WsZOPG1AJx2\/s1600\/Anne+and+Gilbert.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhj4ck3vyCFRC4Ie4rVQ0_bInVJKuYY2oEvMiUOAfdaGhVRNnQR4qCKBSGQsdEu35A9Eutu1Inz0hFOkWIHw5TCpF6K4kcwtOPYBXxE2hfWwvXY4StkmGKbV45p7WsZOPG1AJx2\/w243-h251\/Anne+and+Gilbert.jpg\" width=\"243\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EFrom \u003Ci\u003EContinuing Story\u003C\/i\u003E: what viewers wanted to see\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Emore of.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\nI watched this shortly after it came out in 2000. I didn't care for it but recently decided to give it another chance. Maybe I was comparing it too closely to the other \u003Ci\u003EAnne\u003C\/i\u003E movies? \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo I rewatched it, and wow, this is a horrible film. It's not horrible the way 80's sitcoms are horrible--kind of silly and dumb and kitschy all at the same time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt's just bad.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI should state at this point that I have not read any of Montgomery's books. I *might* have read the first one, but if so, I barely remember it. So I'm not speaking from the point of view of a purist who feels betrayed because Sullivan didn't use the later Montgomery books (although considering how awful this film is, I can understand why the purists were so upset).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe fundamental problem (and the tie-in to \"substanceless\") is that none of the issues raised by Sullivan's script are paid off, creating a movie that is ultimately NOT about becoming a doctor or writer in New York City; NOT about living on Prince Edward Island; NOT about a spy-network; NOT about getting married; NOT (even) about adoption (though it comes close).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt IS bizarrely enough about Anne almost having extramarital relationships with some writer guy and Diana's husband and ...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo much so, that I think Sullivan just couldn't drop his fantasy of all the men Anne might possibly end up with--in his hands, she becomes a sort of clean-living \u003Ci\u003Efemme fatale\u003C\/i\u003E. This week, she could end up with a German fighter pilot! Next week: the pool boy! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA bucolic female James Bond.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOf course, this means that Sullivan utterly failed to understand why people liked his first two films to begin with. Imagine if Andrew Davies (of \u003Ci\u003EPride \u0026amp; Prejudice\u003C\/i\u003E, the series, fame) wrote a sequel in which Darcy nearly had an affair with Anne de Bourgh. Or Jane. Or Mary! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI will do Sullivan the courtesy of believing he was clueless when he produced \u003Ci\u003EAnne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story\u003C\/i\u003E rather than cynically trading on the nostalgic wholesome aura he produced in the first two movies (just so he could make a film about WWI). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ETHE LAST OF THE MOHICANS\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis film can be summed up in one line: \"Man rescues his lover from danger--more than once.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKcxgTqkmf5afgqKmHQuvanAIKq0rQZpZwftdiIEeaxKDNBE-GiAQZBMDSPZiPo_XDgLUk90yYikucxO0j-X7W8QL3HHSy_gLFsni9TitD2aZpM_tZTWVhBxFJvTvOv8ZEhxZz\/s1600\/Hawkeye+Cora.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"138\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKcxgTqkmf5afgqKmHQuvanAIKq0rQZpZwftdiIEeaxKDNBE-GiAQZBMDSPZiPo_XDgLUk90yYikucxO0j-X7W8QL3HHSy_gLFsni9TitD2aZpM_tZTWVhBxFJvTvOv8ZEhxZz\/w222-h138\/Hawkeye+Cora.jpg\" width=\"222\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EOkay, that's it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYes, yes, there's a French \u0026amp; Indian War going on, and it probably is all very historically accurate. But the historical context is only as relevant as it creates conflict for rescuing man. The final scenes aren't determined by the historical events; they are determined by rescuing man's need to rescue.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThink \u003Ci\u003ETitanic\u003C\/i\u003E, only \u003Ci\u003EThe Last of the Mohicans\u003C\/i\u003E is a \u003Cb\u003Eway\u003C\/b\u003E better movie.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZvKiczEGeJlfUYtkS-IY1HsmP6XgMx60hC1qe84TynUzyqYbP8g40xtmdQdGz-Xd7YA3yrmxGG-WqDJp5S7V35c9TR-LY3uEp2BaL7i-QSwm-IaNEf4rdw8a8W2TmfYOcOnNU\/s1600\/Alice.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"193\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZvKiczEGeJlfUYtkS-IY1HsmP6XgMx60hC1qe84TynUzyqYbP8g40xtmdQdGz-Xd7YA3yrmxGG-WqDJp5S7V35c9TR-LY3uEp2BaL7i-QSwm-IaNEf4rdw8a8W2TmfYOcOnNU\/s1600\/Alice.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAlice\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\nIt is a way better movie because (1) it doesn't try to convince viewers that it is anything other than what it is. \"Man rescues his lover from danger\" runs \u003Cu\u003Eevery\u003C\/u\u003E part of the movie; we aren't asked to commiserate with those poor people dying from cold--sorry, being scalped by Indians. We are only asked to care about the main relationship. This doesn't make the movie unfeeling--quite the contrary. By caring about Hawkeye \u0026amp; Cora (and by extension for Alice, Uncas, Chingachgook, and even Heyward), we come to care deeply about their circumstances. Yet by not straying away from the main plot, the movie avoids being bogged down by its historical context (which is far more complex than \u003Ci\u003ETitanic\u003C\/i\u003E's). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n(2) Everything and everybody is so gosh darn beautiful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhybDmFqxwQm1oM72mpsgnM19QnUVYEWf9IadL515-Of0xnIH_tEKeB-AHW5dbYbaV7hEyZFKoRGo8d6n2Xer72JnopYNbx4RZFDfLAj_1Q_cbTj7VsO2ykK4_LSp_wochOv4Bl\/s1600\/Uncas.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"144\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhybDmFqxwQm1oM72mpsgnM19QnUVYEWf9IadL515-Of0xnIH_tEKeB-AHW5dbYbaV7hEyZFKoRGo8d6n2Xer72JnopYNbx4RZFDfLAj_1Q_cbTj7VsO2ykK4_LSp_wochOv4Bl\/w188-h144\/Uncas.jpg\" width=\"188\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUncas\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\nI should state here that male actors who float my boat include Martin Freeman, Michael Emerson, Peter Falk, Ted Levine...I am impressed more by Daniel Day-Lewis's acting ability than by his admittedly stunning good lucks.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHowever, 1\/3rd of the way through a recent rewatching of this movie, I said, \"Good grief, these people are all gorgeous.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSeriously gorgeous. Everybody. Even when they are covered with grime and blood.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis is truly a big-screen, theater-worthy film--especially since I spent the remaining 2\/3rds of the movie going, \"Wow, wow, good grief, wow.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPlot? There's a plot? Whatever. Just \u003Cb\u003Elook\u003C\/b\u003E at that scenery!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFilm is a visual medium. A beautiful film--beautifully shot with lovely music--does make a difference. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0BV9PUs6NDU3ofjP7FL3VC6_ZWa33Zg3t4gaf1CnqJRq-HjRbojJkqhxuafllzq1WCDExiANyJ9dVZu8eyhyphenhyphenhvcfyVovLXMDUxdQtW1JoKyKCWg1jmXXkfWaDvfzhwyERQTm_\/s1600\/Final+Scene.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"173\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0BV9PUs6NDU3ofjP7FL3VC6_ZWa33Zg3t4gaf1CnqJRq-HjRbojJkqhxuafllzq1WCDExiANyJ9dVZu8eyhyphenhyphenhvcfyVovLXMDUxdQtW1JoKyKCWg1jmXXkfWaDvfzhwyERQTm_\/s1600\/Final+Scene.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/1789883500117418542\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=1789883500117418542","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/1789883500117418542"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/1789883500117418542"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2014\/01\/two-substanceless-movies-one-good-one.html","title":"Two Substanceless Movies--One Good, One Bad"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhj4ck3vyCFRC4Ie4rVQ0_bInVJKuYY2oEvMiUOAfdaGhVRNnQR4qCKBSGQsdEu35A9Eutu1Inz0hFOkWIHw5TCpF6K4kcwtOPYBXxE2hfWwvXY4StkmGKbV45p7WsZOPG1AJx2\/s72-w243-h251-c\/Anne+and+Gilbert.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-760034265901942754"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-30T08:00:00.035-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-30T09:45:35.258-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 8"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Writing"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books to Movies: Melville and Do We Include Everything?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgxhXsl6ZM6MJMjTet7Os0i4QV9VumSZHER6FUZeuW09VYxFUY41tPRDB0RQ1jhK5UXPI34fUvxKiRp6kGtgwMftmhWuGDAMinejcGH9bkbOn_8Lj_lhSwvJiUZTXZq6pZKD-rM_N-d5tlZdWgncyIed6qsiy0qJk-66i-cjosPhypr7BU8SG3rNg\/s753\/Moby%20Dick%20Abridged%20Cartoon.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"603\" data-original-width=\"753\" height=\"138\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgxhXsl6ZM6MJMjTet7Os0i4QV9VumSZHER6FUZeuW09VYxFUY41tPRDB0RQ1jhK5UXPI34fUvxKiRp6kGtgwMftmhWuGDAMinejcGH9bkbOn_8Lj_lhSwvJiUZTXZq6pZKD-rM_N-d5tlZdWgncyIed6qsiy0qJk-66i-cjosPhypr7BU8SG3rNg\/w173-h138\/Moby%20Dick%20Abridged%20Cartoon.jpg\" width=\"173\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThis issue has already been partly address in the post on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/books-to-movies-why-plots-in-books-dont.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKleypas\u003C\/a\u003E--certain subplots that work in a book, work less well in a movie. \u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe issue in this post is about art is general. Actually, it's about everything in general, including research and so-called censorship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's reality:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESomething will always, \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003Ealways\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, be excised. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGBfNW2vx8mCS1aeqq3haUk69_ay7mgYIdpFrXBAte30I3rF3g7r9Gaw291Belgq2Ipklr_-cB322QSMeQo-pNr1i617xTk-ppZuoKUbEyG1x_VP0AwcZnyhyphenhyphenoXv71HVpZ-LVlT5GmCmRndVTSs8yp5wB0I42L6YU5Ub9oKDPQFaoww-j9N6gNEg\/s300\/Monet%20Impressionism.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGBfNW2vx8mCS1aeqq3haUk69_ay7mgYIdpFrXBAte30I3rF3g7r9Gaw291Belgq2Ipklr_-cB322QSMeQo-pNr1i617xTk-ppZuoKUbEyG1x_VP0AwcZnyhyphenhyphenoXv71HVpZ-LVlT5GmCmRndVTSs8yp5wB0I42L6YU5Ub9oKDPQFaoww-j9N6gNEg\/s300\/Monet%20Impressionism.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"233\" data-original-width=\"300\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGBfNW2vx8mCS1aeqq3haUk69_ay7mgYIdpFrXBAte30I3rF3g7r9Gaw291Belgq2Ipklr_-cB322QSMeQo-pNr1i617xTk-ppZuoKUbEyG1x_VP0AwcZnyhyphenhyphenoXv71HVpZ-LVlT5GmCmRndVTSs8yp5wB0I42L6YU5Ub9oKDPQFaoww-j9N6gNEg\/w157-h122\/Monet%20Impressionism.jpg\" width=\"157\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, the stream-of-consciousness folks and the Impressionists attempted to solve the issue: \u003Ci\u003EOkay, we can't capture \u003Cu\u003Eevery\u003C\/u\u003E thought, physical reaction, sound, taste, touch, smell, word, action in its absolute fullness so we will (1) stay inside someone's head and give you everything THERE or (2) go for the overall impression\/sweeping reaction that captures the experience\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd yet, even with the Impressionists and stream-of-consciousness artists--\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJack Kerouac's writing, which is quite fun, may seem like a guy talking out loud. It isn't. It's crafted. Ordinary stream-of-consciousness would be kind of dull. It would be \u003Cu\u003Eless\u003C\/u\u003E like this--\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe most fantastic parking-lot attendant in the world, he can back a car forty miles an hour into a tight squeeze and stop at the wall, jump out, race among fenders, leap into another car, circle it fifty miles an hour in a narrow space, back swiftly into tight spot, hump, snap the car with the emergency so that you see it bounce as he flies out; then clear to the ticket shack, sprinting like a track star, hand a ticket, leap into a newly arrived car before the owner’s half out, leap literally under him as he steps out, start the car with the door flapping, and roar off to the next available spot, arc, pop in, brake, out, run; working like that without pause eight hours a night, evening rush hours and after-theater rush hours, in greasy wino pants with a frayed fur-lined jacket and beat shoes that flap.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd \u003Cu\u003Emore\u003C\/u\u003E like this--\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;\"\u003EUh, eat something. Oh, I gotta remember to check my bank account. Yuck, that smell. Uh. Uh. Uh. I'm tried. That's not doing to work. It is...There are...That...This...Uh...Uh...Oh, yeah, car stuff! What time is it? Cats haven't eaten yet. Hey, pen. Uh. I think I have a headache. Battery for...Uh. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjf5uawAWdB-4xGLGHbIm4IVFhRhIo5xzbAa7UEFV6CVV2pjOI_niliWh5x0PnT6GZZiBlM-Mlu-QIKqU8yDs0ARsa8sOtKu8b4-KJHyA1WTAohdHzIbhT_dXFvuTVdJUZfQHh3QvmUgq1f2LePQY5krkPMfFbioznnpqXC2aLTtK6sdnDDFUK0Xg\/s454\/Moby%20Dick%20Cartoon%201.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"315\" data-original-width=\"454\" height=\"136\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjf5uawAWdB-4xGLGHbIm4IVFhRhIo5xzbAa7UEFV6CVV2pjOI_niliWh5x0PnT6GZZiBlM-Mlu-QIKqU8yDs0ARsa8sOtKu8b4-KJHyA1WTAohdHzIbhT_dXFvuTVdJUZfQHh3QvmUgq1f2LePQY5krkPMfFbioznnpqXC2aLTtK6sdnDDFUK0Xg\/w195-h136\/Moby%20Dick%20Cartoon%201.jpg\" width=\"195\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhich brings me to....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI haven't seen a movie yet that presents the middle chapters of Moby Dick--the parts about how to cut up a whale. I don't necessarily think those chapters are just Melville upping his word count. I think they are relevant. But nope. Not one movie. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EIt might be kind of fun if someone did--a \"documentary\" type movie with Ishmael narrating. Or a cut in the film, like something out of \u003Ci\u003ELife of Brian\u003C\/i\u003E, where the story line is suddenly disrupted with a \"How to Do This Yourself At Home\" YouTube video, also narrated by Ishmael. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EIf you wish to stick to the classic rendering, I recommend the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moby_Dick_(1998_miniseries)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPatrick Stewart miniseries.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgpHM2_i71MKdZ0UWs22W7smv30TXBfrE4fWwMoEYlJKi7pes1ocnyWBkmY66n_mu5iiN2hJt7QFpMawPWSXV4Q0GPy8xTIio8-SMCVUdU2C97MP924rnZ9gFAoIREBRf_SQvuvmFAwD9jrQIslhQkd6t0saekcKGw3hIiVqCxcwgNEuY5Lmnpvwg\/s350\/Moby%20Dick%20Cartoon%202.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"331\" data-original-width=\"350\" height=\"303\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgpHM2_i71MKdZ0UWs22W7smv30TXBfrE4fWwMoEYlJKi7pes1ocnyWBkmY66n_mu5iiN2hJt7QFpMawPWSXV4Q0GPy8xTIio8-SMCVUdU2C97MP924rnZ9gFAoIREBRf_SQvuvmFAwD9jrQIslhQkd6t0saekcKGw3hIiVqCxcwgNEuY5Lmnpvwg\/s320\/Moby%20Dick%20Cartoon%202.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/760034265901942754\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=760034265901942754","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/760034265901942754"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/760034265901942754"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/books-to-movies-melville-and-do-we.html","title":"Books to Movies: Melville and Do We Include Everything?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgxhXsl6ZM6MJMjTet7Os0i4QV9VumSZHER6FUZeuW09VYxFUY41tPRDB0RQ1jhK5UXPI34fUvxKiRp6kGtgwMftmhWuGDAMinejcGH9bkbOn_8Lj_lhSwvJiUZTXZq6pZKD-rM_N-d5tlZdWgncyIed6qsiy0qJk-66i-cjosPhypr7BU8SG3rNg\/s72-w173-h138-c\/Moby%20Dick%20Abridged%20Cartoon.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-810195585713855902"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-27T08:00:00.011-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-14T07:45:46.857-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 8"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interpreting Tolkien"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tolkien"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books to Movies: Riddles in the Dark and More on Pacing"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEggxdwl3QO3k1zAlpA4-z-3bwhBOE957-_agX2V6gezDFVpHHwpPN8w-frHygwKf5LsmUknGLGhJHsBmdzqiTwcPp1yOQKWsd8ch_bCX5NWEIcFIpImR0tu0EdvQz3NRrTqXNK1tpt_IyMKc2AMlkTcgIMyi1NefogAQlfiaDSjCpsF1jRjN6i29A\/s626\/Freeman%20Serkis.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"421\" data-original-width=\"626\" height=\"108\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEggxdwl3QO3k1zAlpA4-z-3bwhBOE957-_agX2V6gezDFVpHHwpPN8w-frHygwKf5LsmUknGLGhJHsBmdzqiTwcPp1yOQKWsd8ch_bCX5NWEIcFIpImR0tu0EdvQz3NRrTqXNK1tpt_IyMKc2AMlkTcgIMyi1NefogAQlfiaDSjCpsF1jRjN6i29A\/w160-h108\/Freeman%20Serkis.jpg\" width=\"160\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\"Riddles in the Dark\"\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the movie, Bilbo is both more aware of Gollum's murderous nature and more aware that he is taking\/stealing Gollum's ring.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBilbo's sense of guilt exists in all the books. To an extent, that guilt informs his willingness to give the ring \"back\" or, at least, away in \u003Ci\u003EFellowship\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ci\u003ELOTR\u003C\/i\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is more obvious continuity regarding the Ring between Jackson's \u003Ci\u003EThe Hobbit\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003ELOTR\u003C\/i\u003E. In \u003Ci\u003EThe Desolation of Smaug\u003C\/i\u003E, Bilbo begins to experience the negative influence of the ring. The ill-effects take longer to exert themselves in the books (after all, Sauron has just been temporarily banished, sent packing back to Mordor).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgqkHqyW6xhjb_HDlko5xJndiZWTBu55PcjFNa1PIMI1lXe_WSj_QoljGwmb3BlVVe90lihdGMpanDq5SJfuFXRAeFh2x516nKQaWvpsS5t6Xc787bge5ISZWw7nLZKI4onmdChfbPeA0a9r9A3kt_e4ihf7MtZe5u00l2PtyVyj_VsX8bPCcuMUQ\/s499\/Freeman%20Serkis%20Bilbo%20Gollum%201.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"476\" data-original-width=\"499\" height=\"177\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgqkHqyW6xhjb_HDlko5xJndiZWTBu55PcjFNa1PIMI1lXe_WSj_QoljGwmb3BlVVe90lihdGMpanDq5SJfuFXRAeFh2x516nKQaWvpsS5t6Xc787bge5ISZWw7nLZKI4onmdChfbPeA0a9r9A3kt_e4ihf7MtZe5u00l2PtyVyj_VsX8bPCcuMUQ\/w186-h177\/Freeman%20Serkis%20Bilbo%20Gollum%201.jpg\" width=\"186\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EThe slight change to how Gollum loses the ring makes an important change to the pacing in the film, as in, it speeds up the action. In the book, Gollum goes to find the ring and then returns while Bilbo is waiting for him. In the film, he goes after Bilbo as soon as he makes the intuitive leap to what Bilbo carries.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EThe exchange between Gollum and Bilbo, Serkis and Freeman, two ultimate Everymen, is fantastic, of course, with strong comedic timing, and it captures something that Gandalf mentions in \u003Ci\u003ELOTR\u003C\/i\u003E: that for all their antagonism, Gollum and Bilbo understand each other quite well, including the riddles they exchange.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003EThe pacing does strike me as odd, however. The surrounding scenes are CHASE CHASE CHASE. Without knowing the importance of the ring, the scenes between Bilbo and Gollum might seem out of sync. But since, as mentioned earlier, I find chases generally tedious, I don't mind the change in pace (despite finding it odd).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjb8B5ABcIObLbLBnTmMhMYVSJewBajmuIZEi-TSMs8VHN9xSi8Be472N3fH9Tlms4DArC-r-6rPrPNKWx7ebRzOvHQZ2s2SXVFPI2BhUo1qxCeaXEpcOuOyq-OXDqQJidcswKSN-eI6UfTnW5M299hdcrxj64bbesLLcAL78GAWPZxMkr82FyQ-A\/s676\/Gollum%20Bilbo%20Decision.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"281\" data-original-width=\"676\" height=\"106\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjb8B5ABcIObLbLBnTmMhMYVSJewBajmuIZEi-TSMs8VHN9xSi8Be472N3fH9Tlms4DArC-r-6rPrPNKWx7ebRzOvHQZ2s2SXVFPI2BhUo1qxCeaXEpcOuOyq-OXDqQJidcswKSN-eI6UfTnW5M299hdcrxj64bbesLLcAL78GAWPZxMkr82FyQ-A\/w256-h106\/Gollum%20Bilbo%20Decision.jpg\" width=\"256\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EAnd the scenes are lovingly and exactly rendered, including Bilbo's decision not to kill Gollum, which, again, is expressed entirely through excellent body language--just as Gollum's painful loneliness is expressed entirely through excellently rendered body language.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've often wondered what the film would look like if it was massively cut to mostly only Freeman's scenes. I don't demand such a cut--I like all the extras, even the parts I ignore--but it would be an interesting exercise in editing. It would also create a narrative approach that I enjoy: a point of view that is restricted to a single character.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEio_Us9zz8O0WztwnzKctXbHtdMGv8IshnUdhf-FqKZtGj2ozOfe-ouF7hyIvRwE3ahiVIYThZi3NlO6CN1XbEmgeI2NeynJPlyf5MVFtT84w8tAFww5CJ4Y9uO_iyUL1CdAqn0AdtHkOPsAmmpTTfW_FLrBajLUlUrbxKBVy2hZN_ws8y_Eif_pQ\/s960\/Home%20Freeman%20Bilbo%20Quote.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"960\" data-original-width=\"640\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEio_Us9zz8O0WztwnzKctXbHtdMGv8IshnUdhf-FqKZtGj2ozOfe-ouF7hyIvRwE3ahiVIYThZi3NlO6CN1XbEmgeI2NeynJPlyf5MVFtT84w8tAFww5CJ4Y9uO_iyUL1CdAqn0AdtHkOPsAmmpTTfW_FLrBajLUlUrbxKBVy2hZN_ws8y_Eif_pQ\/w144-h216\/Home%20Freeman%20Bilbo%20Quote.jpg\" width=\"144\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat is, rather than seeing the dwarfs being chased, we would see only Bilbo. He would then escape. He would then be surprised to encounter the dwarfs. The viewer would THEN be told what happened.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI don't hold it against Jackson that he didn't take this approach. For one, Bilbo encountering the dwarfs after the fact would entail either lots of dialog or a flashback and flashbacks can disrupt pacing even more than cuts between quiet confrontations and action sequences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd action sequences do satisfy those people who like CHASE-CHASE-CHASE. \u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/810195585713855902\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=810195585713855902","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/810195585713855902"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/810195585713855902"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/books-to-movies-riddles-in-dark-and.html","title":"Books to Movies: Riddles in the Dark and More on Pacing"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEggxdwl3QO3k1zAlpA4-z-3bwhBOE957-_agX2V6gezDFVpHHwpPN8w-frHygwKf5LsmUknGLGhJHsBmdzqiTwcPp1yOQKWsd8ch_bCX5NWEIcFIpImR0tu0EdvQz3NRrTqXNK1tpt_IyMKc2AMlkTcgIMyi1NefogAQlfiaDSjCpsF1jRjN6i29A\/s72-w160-h108-c\/Freeman%20Serkis.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-3843191631644880080"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-24T08:00:00.012-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-14T07:45:34.524-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 8"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Interpreting Tolkien"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tolkien"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books to Movies: Over Hill and Under Hill, Internal Character Arcs, and Chase Scenes"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjI-Np6s0YH6cIP5fhvhAtMsFMG1wTHoLTcz4th2Q-bhaQfzvO-6TZWZMK8yHiaVXkZ7LX6VuHITePHcWcNUp_9tquiC7NavdlEh-5Dkr-BBVgPzwpa3UfYHi_Fqe5Ratgo8kh0w4O_PEzrl6o3SrrEoTZUaZuUGVCR50wRMQNr1yKSUmPNyYs5Fg\/s306\/Bilbo%20Bofur.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"234\" data-original-width=\"306\" height=\"138\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjI-Np6s0YH6cIP5fhvhAtMsFMG1wTHoLTcz4th2Q-bhaQfzvO-6TZWZMK8yHiaVXkZ7LX6VuHITePHcWcNUp_9tquiC7NavdlEh-5Dkr-BBVgPzwpa3UfYHi_Fqe5Ratgo8kh0w4O_PEzrl6o3SrrEoTZUaZuUGVCR50wRMQNr1yKSUmPNyYs5Fg\/w180-h138\/Bilbo%20Bofur.jpg\" width=\"180\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\"Over Hill and Under Hill\" \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the book, Bilbo does not consider leaving the company, either before or after the adventures around and in the Misty Mountains. He often wishes he was back in Rivendell or Bag End. He never actually considers making his way back alone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, in a trilogy, each movie needs its own character arc. In \u003Ci\u003EThe Fellowship of the Ring\u003C\/i\u003E, Aragorn actively lets Frodo go at the end of the first movie, indicating the end of an internal battle that in the book, he underwent years earlier. But the moment of choice in the film works since it pays off all the characters, including Boromir.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBilbo's internal arc for the first \u003Ci\u003EHobbit\u003C\/i\u003E movie is resolved when he joins the dwarfs on the other side of the Misty Mountains, promising to help them retake their home--one of my favorite scenes. Bilbo's commitment to the company is solidified.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter all, Smaug obviously isn't paid off or the Necromancer or Azog. And the ring won't be paid off until the next series!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEivn26d69QrE4BZvtwhV1Vx8KkvEa2WrpBoDpIAD4DphVbl00T7zoFuB1I-pT4EzEkcTh7hNajVeXjx4DUCQwq8laJyZYWjQpzA0KJ813Dc6WzWDT1KDcuRQ3Mny7b0XhguhO9C-Tmv2yt1nHNw0A2o-7UJ1Agihi4Bo9a2jUpKU-7BcdokIofh6g\/s835\/Goblin%20Chase.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"448\" data-original-width=\"835\" height=\"127\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEivn26d69QrE4BZvtwhV1Vx8KkvEa2WrpBoDpIAD4DphVbl00T7zoFuB1I-pT4EzEkcTh7hNajVeXjx4DUCQwq8laJyZYWjQpzA0KJ813Dc6WzWDT1KDcuRQ3Mny7b0XhguhO9C-Tmv2yt1nHNw0A2o-7UJ1Agihi4Bo9a2jUpKU-7BcdokIofh6g\/w236-h127\/Goblin%20Chase.jpg\" width=\"236\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, however, \"under\" the mountain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe chase scene and the Great Goblin's death is one of those action-film sequences that must be popular since they are so common, but I find a trifle dull. However, I give this sequence a higher rating than the Moria chase scene (after the battle in the Chamber of Records) in \u003Ci\u003EFellowship\u003C\/i\u003E, which I consider to be one of the most pointless chase scenes in the entire franchise. Five minutes that could easily have been spent on more time in Lothlorian! On and on and on...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI go along with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tW1m0gWx3bU\u0026amp;t=404s\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELiterature Devil here\u003C\/a\u003E--action sequences like this need some kind of change to give them decent pacing. The river chase scene in the next \u003Ci\u003EHobbit \u003C\/i\u003Emovie is far better simply because there is a change in emotion: Kili is hurt and Legolas is conflicted about retrieving his enemies in the face of greater enemies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsUQmen1j3VubD7zGZ-pGjvD_KCGB7eETd7gsJ1VfeHB4uOMHrV3U0MUrZDuntZHc3FRYTpFYEut5aPKWD0gQJnAszEw_50Ts7uEk8anqA5vcHMblMU6GvqNaoOGM-1IXoYhKgPjjRV0rncFyl2-cQ_lzgHRRWm-AiLD9b0FP2sQGZGBpVb25bDA\/s400\/Great%20Goblin%20Hobbit.gif\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"167\" data-original-width=\"400\" height=\"94\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsUQmen1j3VubD7zGZ-pGjvD_KCGB7eETd7gsJ1VfeHB4uOMHrV3U0MUrZDuntZHc3FRYTpFYEut5aPKWD0gQJnAszEw_50Ts7uEk8anqA5vcHMblMU6GvqNaoOGM-1IXoYhKgPjjRV0rncFyl2-cQ_lzgHRRWm-AiLD9b0FP2sQGZGBpVb25bDA\/w226-h94\/Great%20Goblin%20Hobbit.gif\" width=\"226\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EOtherwise, run-run-run never struck me as particularly interesting.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E(Granted, the Great Goblin is amusing.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENotes on Bilbo and Gollum will follow...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/3843191631644880080\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=3843191631644880080","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/3843191631644880080"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/3843191631644880080"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/books-to-movies-over-hill-and-under.html","title":"Books to Movies: Over Hill and Under Hill, Internal Character Arcs, and Chase Scenes"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjI-Np6s0YH6cIP5fhvhAtMsFMG1wTHoLTcz4th2Q-bhaQfzvO-6TZWZMK8yHiaVXkZ7LX6VuHITePHcWcNUp_9tquiC7NavdlEh-5Dkr-BBVgPzwpa3UfYHi_Fqe5Ratgo8kh0w4O_PEzrl6o3SrrEoTZUaZuUGVCR50wRMQNr1yKSUmPNyYs5Fg\/s72-w180-h138-c\/Bilbo%20Bofur.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-113865860314661932"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-21T08:00:00.010-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-21T09:00:11.930-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Musicals"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Phantom of the Opera (2004) Review: Villains Can Be Fun!"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXZiyrcXWPqYHQD_i-VsGIwSm6NwaJSswQf_oO8blaXbng1jpp75w9AG5J7-BVHvReg5Sabwml5jxBCL-q4sWjbmeMfvpK6vz26se1OGi-y8Svl4zaW4chybQquCST-KVSauMjLrJ0d8HCrdCb-aEaKL-kmn6PK0vCgcDcBDVxuHi71AWeDs6PhA\/s693\/Phantom%20of%20the%20Opera%20Book.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"693\" data-original-width=\"462\" height=\"174\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXZiyrcXWPqYHQD_i-VsGIwSm6NwaJSswQf_oO8blaXbng1jpp75w9AG5J7-BVHvReg5Sabwml5jxBCL-q4sWjbmeMfvpK6vz26se1OGi-y8Svl4zaW4chybQquCST-KVSauMjLrJ0d8HCrdCb-aEaKL-kmn6PK0vCgcDcBDVxuHi71AWeDs6PhA\/w116-h174\/Phantom%20of%20the%20Opera%20Book.jpg\" width=\"116\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003ESpeaking of villains as protagonists...\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany antagonists become the heroes when a book becomes a film. In \u003Ci\u003EDracula \u003C\/i\u003Ethe book, \u003Ci\u003EDracula\u003C\/i\u003E is a major character but in the last 2\/3rds of the book, he is mostly off-screen. In \u003Ci\u003EDracula \u003C\/i\u003Ethe movie, he has to take center-stage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELikewise, in \u003Ci\u003EThe\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003EPhantom of the Opera \u003C\/i\u003Ethe musical, the Phantom becomes a major player, and he hauls into the storyline everything that turns the story from a thriller into an EXTRAVAGANZA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cu\u003EReview from 2006\u003C\/u\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi011VHs7nldr0K3a0e66O3qQOm5CNylJ9uVVcm06rRkcQr61367EzF_WoyE3ila4_Tt4mvwZUG3zWxUW0IM8SVHqml2R_iUn-Q8VBdG5p8ang6f1khPG1wB7Hszsf7H8kh7iTyMm8fOsLb0eXBTgthrkT-jVQd2JDt8BL-mCDU1rAmUZclB950CA\/s1080\/Phantom%202024.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1080\" data-original-width=\"760\" height=\"166\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi011VHs7nldr0K3a0e66O3qQOm5CNylJ9uVVcm06rRkcQr61367EzF_WoyE3ila4_Tt4mvwZUG3zWxUW0IM8SVHqml2R_iUn-Q8VBdG5p8ang6f1khPG1wB7Hszsf7H8kh7iTyMm8fOsLb0eXBTgthrkT-jVQd2JDt8BL-mCDU1rAmUZclB950CA\/w117-h166\/Phantom%202024.jpg\" width=\"117\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI realized \u003Ci\u003EPhantom of the Opera\u003C\/i\u003E (2004) is a totally nutty film when the electric guitars started up. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOkay, so I know the musical is hardly historically accurate, but I'm willing to exercise an enormous suspension of disbelief with musicals. Still, when the Phantom, that musically-obsessed dude, started rowing Christine to his lair and the electric guitars chimed in, well, all I could think was: \u003Ci\u003ETalk about being ahead of his time. No wonder Christine is all gooey and enthralled: he's an early member of Kiss!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhF3dmFPrRVlid3g_DCGERfQWwSFxnN4R-Nh-85sHSJ8u4LzSYN0pnJVCDUe-_PhcRUEAewThR-eCct9l_QiNM7QsJliObNEXmEfoUaiWTAdwRaEqQrsbImT-uOLMlYBG8i9OMAeS7ndup7txb8_pOjRsRWGVy-HauObaPPBLEwXOHnhtX-9bIoPg\/s1200\/Phantom%202024%20Costume.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhF3dmFPrRVlid3g_DCGERfQWwSFxnN4R-Nh-85sHSJ8u4LzSYN0pnJVCDUe-_PhcRUEAewThR-eCct9l_QiNM7QsJliObNEXmEfoUaiWTAdwRaEqQrsbImT-uOLMlYBG8i9OMAeS7ndup7txb8_pOjRsRWGVy-HauObaPPBLEwXOHnhtX-9bIoPg\/s1200\/Phantom%202024%20Costume.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"808\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"116\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhF3dmFPrRVlid3g_DCGERfQWwSFxnN4R-Nh-85sHSJ8u4LzSYN0pnJVCDUe-_PhcRUEAewThR-eCct9l_QiNM7QsJliObNEXmEfoUaiWTAdwRaEqQrsbImT-uOLMlYBG8i9OMAeS7ndup7txb8_pOjRsRWGVy-HauObaPPBLEwXOHnhtX-9bIoPg\/w172-h116\/Phantom%202024%20Costume.jpg\" width=\"172\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhich doesn't mean that the movie isn't a hoot and a half. For one thing, the Phantom is young and super attractive (in fact, he is so attractive, when Christine pulls off his mask, you sit there going, \"Huh? So the guy has a bad sunburn--what's the prob?\") For another, you've got Minnie Driver and a huge cast of thousands overacting all over the place (Minnie Driver is always fun). And there's a scene in a graveyard and a sword fight and that big chandelier (I always pictured it as falling straight down; I must say the film's version of a slowly descending side-ways catastrophe is much more impressive) and lots of pounding chords. Not to mention the lair and the water and all the grids. Kind of like what \u003Ci\u003ETitanic\u003C\/i\u003E could have been if James Cameron hadn't wanted you to feel bad for the 3rd class passengers. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh2ARSgKMWV6LPqmmJiNB0x26n0ebp6dOhlm75xLlqJN1kBM61al2EUE3IOzIopgzVCmw10wBwhdYRgEv1EvqBUyBH0C8auq4R_K04Mjwgx6OM4QWWHuApKJSEuHBt-ORDyvoUD440_Ck24wdr-dRSpNC5u9rt5nJK04VXiABhyphenhyphentIt7GFGuhPprNw\/s400\/Chandelier%20Phantom.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"225\" data-original-width=\"400\" height=\"118\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh2ARSgKMWV6LPqmmJiNB0x26n0ebp6dOhlm75xLlqJN1kBM61al2EUE3IOzIopgzVCmw10wBwhdYRgEv1EvqBUyBH0C8auq4R_K04Mjwgx6OM4QWWHuApKJSEuHBt-ORDyvoUD440_Ck24wdr-dRSpNC5u9rt5nJK04VXiABhyphenhyphentIt7GFGuhPprNw\/w211-h118\/Chandelier%20Phantom.jpg\" width=\"211\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EBig music! Smoke! Fire! Electric guitars! Lots and lots and lots of candles! Masks of various sizes and shades! Big, billowy dresses! Like many Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, the music substitutes for depth. I mean, come on, there's the Phantom's past (which is interesting) and the Phantom's own opera (which is interesting) and the Phantom's relationship to Mme Giry (which is really interesting) and instead, you get a lot of singing. *Sigh.*\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHowever, there's something to be said for creating a psychotic, sunburnt, shouting, musically-obsessed guy in silly dress (which he wears rather well) and \u003Ci\u003Ethen\u003C\/i\u003E, getting audiences to watch him for two hours.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj2nVkAva-1wg8de8FFhJ85klPMDAUXIz9LCW50HAkXIa9y2hlejEo5OR1EAvfg9NwUobpUefHvBH5yM5Z8YRa_G52qnVZ6YedxQIMUI_cU47Vg24GCU0pVQbhwM9Uncs6c4s9aM_yjS7FZ-SRS-xF88RSJYU6WsK5qTvZbaSP3AeoBIXjErBrU8Q\/s544\/Phantom%202024%20B.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"544\" data-original-width=\"373\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj2nVkAva-1wg8de8FFhJ85klPMDAUXIz9LCW50HAkXIa9y2hlejEo5OR1EAvfg9NwUobpUefHvBH5yM5Z8YRa_G52qnVZ6YedxQIMUI_cU47Vg24GCU0pVQbhwM9Uncs6c4s9aM_yjS7FZ-SRS-xF88RSJYU6WsK5qTvZbaSP3AeoBIXjErBrU8Q\/s320\/Phantom%202024%20B.jpg\" width=\"219\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/113865860314661932\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=113865860314661932","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/113865860314661932"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/113865860314661932"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2006\/01\/phantom-2004.html","title":"Phantom of the Opera (2004) Review: Villains Can Be Fun!"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXZiyrcXWPqYHQD_i-VsGIwSm6NwaJSswQf_oO8blaXbng1jpp75w9AG5J7-BVHvReg5Sabwml5jxBCL-q4sWjbmeMfvpK6vz26se1OGi-y8Svl4zaW4chybQquCST-KVSauMjLrJ0d8HCrdCb-aEaKL-kmn6PK0vCgcDcBDVxuHi71AWeDs6PhA\/s72-w116-h174-c\/Phantom%20of%20the%20Opera%20Book.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-8197938747856965523"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-20T08:00:00.055-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-25T16:57:38.274-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 9"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"All the Ms: MacFarquahar to MacGregor"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhx2GYE44avaEvZQlSS8fI65IR-SmFBhghMvv7CUeULhhMfWPr64AyLjzy9v_VB53JPxcqgqicykChuGkFSdXMveT8FsPUrNe93Ml56OjcntEodgHdD3YdfbhjbQRyawHr75sxpmmTa162MXpsnkEdBnK89GhxeA6VL1PWbhvawBXsO5C1JnV1qSA\/s1000\/The%20Sand%20Cafe%20MacFarquhar.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1000\" data-original-width=\"634\" height=\"292\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhx2GYE44avaEvZQlSS8fI65IR-SmFBhghMvv7CUeULhhMfWPr64AyLjzy9v_VB53JPxcqgqicykChuGkFSdXMveT8FsPUrNe93Ml56OjcntEodgHdD3YdfbhjbQRyawHr75sxpmmTa162MXpsnkEdBnK89GhxeA6VL1PWbhvawBXsO5C1JnV1qSA\/w185-h292\/The%20Sand%20Cafe%20MacFarquhar.jpg\" width=\"185\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacFarquhar, Neil:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003EThe Sand Cafe\u003C\/i\u003E is about war reporting, including the mundane bits. It has a glowing recommendation from P.J. O’Rourke on the cover, and the first chapter unwinds smoothly; it is well-written.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome genres and topics I delve into over and over again. Others–not so much. Regarding the genre here, I saw \u003Ci\u003EThe Year of Living Dangerously\u003C\/i\u003E. That’s enough. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMacGregor, Janna:\u003C\/b\u003E Romance. I tried \u003Ci\u003EThe Bad Luck Bride\u003C\/i\u003E. It is possible that I would have continued if I hadn’t felt (and this is a problem with romances) that the whole conflict could have been cleared up in Chapter 1 if one character had said, “Yo, Dude, I think you have the wrong idea. Here’s what actually happened with your sister.” \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacGregor, Maya:\u003C\/b\u003E In the book I picked up, the main character is non-binary, being introduced as they\/their\/them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQjsAXAM3E3A8hC2HBg-eSNTia5y5GKjw7PDrDvylsCsrV_fvARHB8gDkxqj1rwZ6THV-BjK8bH7bwqF-btYxcAB2YMFyW7vA-VdYrS2i4WjXzvT3OZ8TpLQpWHmh6XLL_HPL9hGThaocmjPWPb5war5ItdwNu0yePoPnxFg31GEmdjsi0k9MPlQ\/s413\/Flowers%20in%20the%20Attic%20Andrews.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgIaSXjKh2Pah7Dtm4htzwtfO9bSOcGEXZsusuYI4Xn0XN0rdPFsmEjlpgsDv1PAjuDSZ_WdigSSVmG5yPq9mKHJmJLDX1aGZwIb_abJfwa5xBM9OiXznqSuMlZv1QFWV47sMlYI1EV6j_azOpGSf2xs6TcjT1AwJf4h6ZgzS51wHVCcL0mTUGHUg\/s390\/Forever%20Blume.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EI was consequently leery.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn the past few years, teen books with transgender and non-binary characters have increased. I’m not opposed to the topics. I’m a big fan of there being books out there for everyone on anything (hence, this list). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut many of the books I’ve encountered in this subgenre (contemporary fiction for teens regarding orientation\/identity) have often (1) lacked any type of story, being polemics disguised as story; (2) been uncomfortably nasty, like kids in a high school clique deciding that everyone else stinks and needs to be told so repeatedly. The fact that the “bad kids” are being lectured and bullied about their evil political and social views rather than, say, geekiness or fatness doesn’t make it any less bullying. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI didn't feel any better when within the first chapter, the \"bad\" place was pinpointed as Montana while the \"good\" place was Oregon. Poor Montana comes in for a lot of negative press in certain books. And since I’ve never considered the West coast–where I have lived–a bastion of law \u0026amp; order \u0026amp; tolerance, any more than any other place (or not) where I have lived, the cliche is tiresome.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI felt worse when a “bad” character’s badness was indicated by a failure to use the proper pronouns: obsessively monitoring language is a marker of a paranoid and judgmental society, on the right and on the left. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQjsAXAM3E3A8hC2HBg-eSNTia5y5GKjw7PDrDvylsCsrV_fvARHB8gDkxqj1rwZ6THV-BjK8bH7bwqF-btYxcAB2YMFyW7vA-VdYrS2i4WjXzvT3OZ8TpLQpWHmh6XLL_HPL9hGThaocmjPWPb5war5ItdwNu0yePoPnxFg31GEmdjsi0k9MPlQ\/s413\/Flowers%20in%20the%20Attic%20Andrews.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"413\" data-original-width=\"240\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQjsAXAM3E3A8hC2HBg-eSNTia5y5GKjw7PDrDvylsCsrV_fvARHB8gDkxqj1rwZ6THV-BjK8bH7bwqF-btYxcAB2YMFyW7vA-VdYrS2i4WjXzvT3OZ8TpLQpWHmh6XLL_HPL9hGThaocmjPWPb5war5ItdwNu0yePoPnxFg31GEmdjsi0k9MPlQ\/w121-h208\/Flowers%20in%20the%20Attic%20Andrews.jpg\" width=\"121\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EAnd finally, I was immediately faced with a protagonist who had been victimized and that victimization was presented as one of the primary conflicts. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENow, granted, the broader subgenre here–teens who are traumatized by something or other–certainly can be done. In fact, it has been around for a long time: when I was growing up, books about suffering, angst-ridden, misunderstood teenagers, some of whom committed suicide together, were incredibly popular. \u003Ci\u003EFlowers in the Attic\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003EForever\u003C\/i\u003E were two of the most popular books of \nmy teen years: family dysfunction and sexual awakening! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9nfdrc8h6qEc6w7hYWWhZ8y83lQY1FZ6RIW8Wu5cNJmeAlcawTGEpLQcyGNBaCrpj3RmQyhhj50M2XBWMIKrBQnCaZj8vlmWuCLQ5AJADXmkP5tvSNjWRsflH0VYvdVlAW7O2RxYydA1joqmeQc88rdz3jj-kOdVZBCp4TUhJ_9rnkdLknYJyNQ\/s390\/Forever%20Blume.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"390\" data-original-width=\"260\" height=\"178\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9nfdrc8h6qEc6w7hYWWhZ8y83lQY1FZ6RIW8Wu5cNJmeAlcawTGEpLQcyGNBaCrpj3RmQyhhj50M2XBWMIKrBQnCaZj8vlmWuCLQ5AJADXmkP5tvSNjWRsflH0VYvdVlAW7O2RxYydA1joqmeQc88rdz3jj-kOdVZBCp4TUhJ_9rnkdLknYJyNQ\/w119-h178\/Forever%20Blume.jpg\" width=\"119\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI’m not a fan (most of the time). I read neither of the listed books, but I confess I did \nread Cynthia Voigt's \u003Ci\u003EIzzy Willy Nilly\u003C\/i\u003E (about a girl who loses a leg) and another about college students in which one character dies. \u003Ci\u003EIzzy Willy Nilly\u003C\/i\u003E is quite good. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving stated all the above, I will say that the opening of MacGregor's book, \u003Ci\u003EThe Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester\u003C\/i\u003E, struck me positively:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;\"\u003E\"The first time I see the house, it's as it swallows my father.\"\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe line reminds me of a fantastic poem \"from the wave, the way\" by Valerie Majer Caso, which contains the following lines:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;\"\u003Ewe are swallowed by wakefulness.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe house swallows us in its terrible thirst. The routine of taking our children\u003Cbr \/\u003Eto school swallows us\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; and so does the if only I could.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoreover, the house is presented as the symbol or source of conflict almost immediately, which did impress me. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo if you are looking for the tropes listed above, this book appears to be one of the better written within the related subgenre!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhofHpULMzwKWjHVERYbxZSIs52cHMTIroiiTR87r3rXM8AdlqvFqUz1G8YyRdl2qP2RD_ubfN2b8UzN9PnsUwzgMg0mgp67mZ55DMvXUXI22d4NpxNJ4JAmPlY5MfLJgxeiebTs-WX6N2vQbQzOX77KkctqGLK6OBMnaIAEdJJDrnhWoD1pXKb2g\/s2850\/Unsuitable%20Heir%20Charles.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2850\" data-original-width=\"1875\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhofHpULMzwKWjHVERYbxZSIs52cHMTIroiiTR87r3rXM8AdlqvFqUz1G8YyRdl2qP2RD_ubfN2b8UzN9PnsUwzgMg0mgp67mZ55DMvXUXI22d4NpxNJ4JAmPlY5MfLJgxeiebTs-WX6N2vQbQzOX77KkctqGLK6OBMnaIAEdJJDrnhWoD1pXKb2g\/w97-h148\/Unsuitable%20Heir%20Charles.jpg\" width=\"97\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E(For a story-focused book about a transgender character that doesn’t use the above tropes and plays fair with characterization, I recommend KJ Charles’s \u003Ci\u003ESins of the Cities: An Unsuitable Heir\u003C\/i\u003E.) \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacGregor, KG:\u003C\/b\u003E Lesbian romance writer. The book I started, \u003Ci\u003EMulligan\u003C\/i\u003E, was impressive because (1) it took the character’s orientation for granted; too often, lesbian romance–like some traditional romance–gets bogged down by the woman’s role; even decent authors of male\/male romance sometimes falter here when they turn to lesbian romance; (2) the main protagonists are older, near sixty. However, the romance is “world” romance, meaning it is all about the person’s life and hobbies and prior relationships– more \u003Ci\u003ESleepless in Seattle\u003C\/i\u003E than \u003Ci\u003EYou’ve Got Mail\u003C\/i\u003E. I prefer the latter to the former. (And yes, I read any and all types of romances.) \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacGregor, Roy:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003EScreech Owls: The Night They Stole The Stanley Cup\u003C\/i\u003E is a sports book: a mystery and a game. It may fall into the same category as \u003Ci\u003EDetectives in Toga\u003C\/i\u003E, which I like, but I’m not sure. That is, I couldn't get into it either because of the writing style or because of the topic. Not sure.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/8197938747856965523\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=8197938747856965523","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8197938747856965523"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8197938747856965523"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/alls-ms-macfarguahar-to-macgregor.html","title":"All the Ms: MacFarquahar to MacGregor"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhx2GYE44avaEvZQlSS8fI65IR-SmFBhghMvv7CUeULhhMfWPr64AyLjzy9v_VB53JPxcqgqicykChuGkFSdXMveT8FsPUrNe93Ml56OjcntEodgHdD3YdfbhjbQRyawHr75sxpmmTa162MXpsnkEdBnK89GhxeA6VL1PWbhvawBXsO5C1JnV1qSA\/s72-w185-h292-c\/The%20Sand%20Cafe%20MacFarquhar.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-8125657496730700956"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-18T08:00:00.027-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-09-14T07:41:41.759-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 8"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books to Movies: Should the Villain be the Protagonist? "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjRCJpIwEzjdYWp7aej68rhv6b0ZEEKuzWLvOmTsZVaEyLqWz_9Hy7ED_PMfXbtIZqXAahLNB6ND0vWoD2R3Kyr27Ze_3BDEct27KOp94Z_IkgY77SpkirIEo2eQ834Ssdl98pNHbC0O1m2l4wclP2_JF6hKT02RlUvbf3yTGtdLKyW8cZa7GZsug\/s475\/Dracula%20Tape.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"475\" data-original-width=\"292\" height=\"222\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjRCJpIwEzjdYWp7aej68rhv6b0ZEEKuzWLvOmTsZVaEyLqWz_9Hy7ED_PMfXbtIZqXAahLNB6ND0vWoD2R3Kyr27Ze_3BDEct27KOp94Z_IkgY77SpkirIEo2eQ834Ssdl98pNHbC0O1m2l4wclP2_JF6hKT02RlUvbf3yTGtdLKyW8cZa7GZsug\/w137-h222\/Dracula%20Tape.jpg\" width=\"137\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EFirst, CAN the villain be the main character?\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EYes! From \u003Ci\u003EGrendel\u003C\/i\u003E by John Gardner to \u003Ci\u003EThe Dracula Tape\u003C\/i\u003E by Fred Saberhagen and multiple \u003Ci\u003EColumbo\u003C\/i\u003E episodes, the villain can definitely take center stage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EThe second question: \u003Cu\u003EShould\u003C\/u\u003E writers and filmmakers make the villain the one we readers root for? (\"Should\" as in \"is it worth doing?\" \"Should\" as a moral question is not something I'm going to tackle here.) That is, \u003Cb\u003EDo readers and viewers want to invest in a morally vacuous character?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003ERegarding the examples mentioned above, though book writers often keep the ambiguity of a semi-villainous character, the entire point is to make the character more appealing and understandable: \u003Cu\u003Eless corrupt\u003C\/u\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EBut in the \u003Ci\u003EColumbo\u003C\/i\u003E episodes, the villains are still villains, and Columbo is still going to catch them and put them in jail. And sometimes, the villains are completely self-justifying, horrible people. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EI suggest: this approach works with movies, NOT with books.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EFrom \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2014\/06\/l-is-for-leering.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA-Z List 2\u003C\/a\u003E (I use books from the list to decide what movies to watch), I rewatched \u003Ci\u003EA Kiss Before Dying \u003C\/i\u003E(1956) based on the book by Ira Levin, and I determined that the parts of the movie with Wagner and Woodward are far superior to the rest of the film.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhOI-G7F9FUbN0B29pOBCbd8yXTEqUbsoCInotavj_vC46EFAq4U6Csmblv3AQODTDeLHwd9sVUs3K_3FiN0qEvHFymPqqiFZqvefKsK92AwQM3UnMjkRyqITUWILbcwXCJ5eY7yESzJnbXwCb80vesPR2d8Rk_FAsvaw4Wg1MLLrtS4Odx6txsYw\/s475\/Kiss%20Before%20Dying%201956.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"475\" data-original-width=\"330\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhOI-G7F9FUbN0B29pOBCbd8yXTEqUbsoCInotavj_vC46EFAq4U6Csmblv3AQODTDeLHwd9sVUs3K_3FiN0qEvHFymPqqiFZqvefKsK92AwQM3UnMjkRyqITUWILbcwXCJ5eY7yESzJnbXwCb80vesPR2d8Rk_FAsvaw4Wg1MLLrtS4Odx6txsYw\/w146-h211\/Kiss%20Before%20Dying%201956.jpg\" width=\"146\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E*Spoilers*\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike the book, the movie changes focuses after the first death to the victim's sister. The book actually switches to two sisters, Ellen and then Marion. The change in focus heightens the surprise of discovering that Bud, the villain, is pursuing each sister in turn. The cynical dark tone is unrelenting, and I don't much care for it. I often skim the second half of the book. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EBut it \u003Cu\u003Eis\u003C\/u\u003E the kind of thing I can tolerate for 90 minutes. And I suggest it would have been far more interesting to watch Bud change his focus to the next sister as part of his obsessive \"I will achieve my goal by entering into this wealthy family\" self-destructive character flaw--especially since \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EWagner does an excellent job conveying the nice college boy in appearance who nevertheless appears to have no close friends and is always looking for an angle.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj2C32G72DrQLGMlezoJoH8IXxpEDrvFhfP_3JFcy8YeSq_PiT5AGXOVJy5bmc5p9SXIs9VqCkYpflDVRrI28NpUFEiUSAjoJb8WfR9f35Efps1T29b8mVYx_f_h8c82AJn1_9_8S-PT7TRbSyN6c5p2nTW2mPBY66YGeNCajcbQ1KPte37k0tFBg\/s1023\/Woodward%20Wagner.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"824\" data-original-width=\"1023\" height=\"116\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj2C32G72DrQLGMlezoJoH8IXxpEDrvFhfP_3JFcy8YeSq_PiT5AGXOVJy5bmc5p9SXIs9VqCkYpflDVRrI28NpUFEiUSAjoJb8WfR9f35Efps1T29b8mVYx_f_h8c82AJn1_9_8S-PT7TRbSyN6c5p2nTW2mPBY66YGeNCajcbQ1KPte37k0tFBg\/w144-h116\/Woodward%20Wagner.jpg\" width=\"144\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EHe's evil! But he is interesting evil. He is faced with an innocent in Woodward's Dorrie but she is innocence with a core of toughness. Unless he destroys his own self-image (as nice, pleasant, good guy), he won't be able to manipulate her into compliance. He kills her because he sees no way out. It's wrong! But his mindset as a narcissistic sociopath is in keeping with modern appraisals of serial killers and provides enough interest to sustain the movie's first half and potentially the second half (\u003Cu\u003Ejust\u003C\/u\u003E enough interest--I've watched episodes of \u003Ci\u003ECriminal Minds\u003C\/i\u003E but I've given up on every four-part miniseries about serial killers long before the series found its legs).\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"w4txWc oJeWuf\" id=\"c24\" role=\"region\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"MUhG4e OGjyyf\" data-blogurl=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EI always watch \u003Cu\u003Eall\u003C\/u\u003E of \u003Ci\u003EA Kiss Before Dying\u003C\/i\u003E. The problem is gripping enough. But the so-called heroes are, in this case, far less captivating than the villain. And none of them are worth investing in for more than the movie's length.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/8125657496730700956\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=8125657496730700956","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8125657496730700956"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/8125657496730700956"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/books-to-movies-should-villain-be.html","title":"Books to Movies: Should the Villain be the Protagonist? "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjRCJpIwEzjdYWp7aej68rhv6b0ZEEKuzWLvOmTsZVaEyLqWz_9Hy7ED_PMfXbtIZqXAahLNB6ND0vWoD2R3Kyr27Ze_3BDEct27KOp94Z_IkgY77SpkirIEo2eQ834Ssdl98pNHbC0O1m2l4wclP2_JF6hKT02RlUvbf3yTGtdLKyW8cZa7GZsug\/s72-w137-h222-c\/Dracula%20Tape.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-5130629157224299173"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-17T12:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-17T12:00:00.118-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Great Sitcom Moments"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holidays"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"August 18th: Bad Poetry Day"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;It's Bad Poetry Day tomorrow, and time once again for Baldrick!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yTmimW2Iw20\" width=\"320\" youtube-src-id=\"yTmimW2Iw20\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/5130629157224299173\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=5130629157224299173","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/5130629157224299173"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/5130629157224299173"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/august-18th-bad-poetry-day.html","title":"August 18th: Bad Poetry Day"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/yTmimW2Iw20\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-905474752752629817"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-16T08:00:00.004-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-16T08:12:04.189-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archetypes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mysteries"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sherlock Holmes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sherlock Holmes and That Violin"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiFCmNs_pJgkBpUvaRBivSnyVkWoZZzRc6nHNwjRq3k-1z0jRJAF4Y8-BeyJVkA7oEk2PUO-5vgRYHYJSQxTfyIZy1zbdEVVh89BRb-YVrXOwLxXpdn6TdHtzsK7LyPq2R8LY_Y46ixy4mx2a4PhWbP3O0asgVMvnrDz9impJGlW53QivqTR8kTtQ\/s1000\/Data%20Sherlock.JPG\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"907\" data-original-width=\"1000\" height=\"159\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiFCmNs_pJgkBpUvaRBivSnyVkWoZZzRc6nHNwjRq3k-1z0jRJAF4Y8-BeyJVkA7oEk2PUO-5vgRYHYJSQxTfyIZy1zbdEVVh89BRb-YVrXOwLxXpdn6TdHtzsK7LyPq2R8LY_Y46ixy4mx2a4PhWbP3O0asgVMvnrDz9impJGlW53QivqTR8kTtQ\/w176-h159\/Data%20Sherlock.JPG\" width=\"176\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EViolins are associated with genius. Consequently, Holmes is often given one. Even \u003Ci\u003EElementary\u003C\/i\u003E--which managed to squash the opera-loving aspect of Holmes--gave him a violin, though it is rarely referenced after Season 1.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EData plays a violin as Holmes on the holodeck in \u003Ci\u003EStar Trek: The Next Generation\u003C\/i\u003E and also as himself (see \"Sarek\"). And so on and so forth. Violins are perceived as the quintessential \"is that person SMART or what?!\" indicator.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe motif has, of course, been spoofed--Holmes who are actually playing record players and, also from \u003Ci\u003EElementary\u003C\/i\u003E, Holmes who play other instruments, like bugles.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy absolute favorite example, however, comes from \u003Ci\u003EMy Roommate is a Detective\u003C\/i\u003E. Lu Yao isn't playing the violin because he can play. He is scratching away at it to wake up and annoy his roommate.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsODK7LtteJdIgNH8IYwjUAaROI4Liu3OOj6XmtiFKn6iKbdGUXCFl1X84VmK7LKCAUciBYEQFq2v84pfnv9NI0qa5ssU6jINOgnusz_Nn1j-Jscckx9OPFYhOU3ob-wYO1WwRTAnVDrZJIxVgIeQyNYnxU7_KBoIwOPphYAJK9dqX2Dy3ea2kvQ\/s541\/My%20Roommate%20Detective%20Violin.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"541\" data-original-width=\"511\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsODK7LtteJdIgNH8IYwjUAaROI4Liu3OOj6XmtiFKn6iKbdGUXCFl1X84VmK7LKCAUciBYEQFq2v84pfnv9NI0qa5ssU6jINOgnusz_Nn1j-Jscckx9OPFYhOU3ob-wYO1WwRTAnVDrZJIxVgIeQyNYnxU7_KBoIwOPphYAJK9dqX2Dy3ea2kvQ\/w246-h260\/My%20Roommate%20Detective%20Violin.jpg\" width=\"246\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/905474752752629817\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=905474752752629817","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/905474752752629817"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/905474752752629817"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/sherlock-holmes-and-that-violin.html","title":"Sherlock Holmes and That Violin"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiFCmNs_pJgkBpUvaRBivSnyVkWoZZzRc6nHNwjRq3k-1z0jRJAF4Y8-BeyJVkA7oEk2PUO-5vgRYHYJSQxTfyIZy1zbdEVVh89BRb-YVrXOwLxXpdn6TdHtzsK7LyPq2R8LY_Y46ixy4mx2a4PhWbP3O0asgVMvnrDz9impJGlW53QivqTR8kTtQ\/s72-w176-h159-c\/Data%20Sherlock.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-7175044554926476994"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-15T08:00:00.007-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-15T08:33:05.163-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mysteries"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Dysfunctional Relationships in Bones and Major Crimes"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiP6jIcB7HNimu9wKcg30DhEnZZJFYrRsG6LWjx05egmQZp2OGsUm7od4GXHOZaqLE5qoVJ9cpNsIdcPlmQ-JyHbl4rn-pZ1SDfvg0_TisRBxzxPV_1qGcadJ3v3y4G4tfmODkPo5wuV2LVuW8KHr6usnuMJOn6gmuRKouDstKggwmHkQC0kPttIGf_gQ\/s1462\/Major%20Crimes%20Cutting%20Loose.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"820\" data-original-width=\"1462\" height=\"145\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiP6jIcB7HNimu9wKcg30DhEnZZJFYrRsG6LWjx05egmQZp2OGsUm7od4GXHOZaqLE5qoVJ9cpNsIdcPlmQ-JyHbl4rn-pZ1SDfvg0_TisRBxzxPV_1qGcadJ3v3y4G4tfmODkPo5wuV2LVuW8KHr6usnuMJOn6gmuRKouDstKggwmHkQC0kPttIGf_gQ\/w258-h145\/Major%20Crimes%20Cutting%20Loose.jpg\" width=\"258\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe husband is wearily explaining his wife.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EI greatly dislike the Pelant story line in \u003Ci\u003EBones\u003C\/i\u003E, mostly because I greatly dislike the \"big bad omniscient tech guy\" plot. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2018\/08\/one-good-computer-mastermind-on.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\"One Good Computer Mastermind on Television.\"\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, Pelant is thematically similar to other \u003Ci\u003EBones\u003C\/i\u003E' villains, namely, he is obsessed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a less eye-rolling way, a number of \u003Ci\u003EBones\u003C\/i\u003E episodes tackle the problem of obsession: what happens when someone turns life into being all about...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECoupons\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECookie jars\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBeauty pageants\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn these episodes, the plot isn't about someone wanting more money or more fame--and therefore committing a crime. It is about someone wanting more out of a thing than is justified, a thing that is ordinarily perfectly fine. The beauty pageant episode has a great scene where one mother contradicts Bones' and Booth's fairly negative attitudes. She sees the pageants as harmless: good fun with the possibility of a scholarship.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgECSpJ21gT5i_vXaZ-884CcQ-sfrbakhcCvzsISqSgHusZK8uXyJG6V6ZexvBrgmQ-RegfUeLCspD5H0f0VVS4RnaE09gow-NHP4fxqhe4VYR4oc5ukMt6b3FRZ_z-TantDaGSGwtMuuqSJDD8Rh2V34KBwSTuh6SPJP7P9J-yXzHPZnuqsBEUzPjUaA\/s1510\/Bones%20Good%20Focus.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"819\" data-original-width=\"1510\" height=\"126\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgECSpJ21gT5i_vXaZ-884CcQ-sfrbakhcCvzsISqSgHusZK8uXyJG6V6ZexvBrgmQ-RegfUeLCspD5H0f0VVS4RnaE09gow-NHP4fxqhe4VYR4oc5ukMt6b3FRZ_z-TantDaGSGwtMuuqSJDD8Rh2V34KBwSTuh6SPJP7P9J-yXzHPZnuqsBEUzPjUaA\/w231-h126\/Bones%20Good%20Focus.jpg\" width=\"231\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EHer attitude towards her daughter points the difference between \"it's one possible avenue!\" and obsession. To her daughter, at the end of rehearsal, she says, \"Good focus!\"\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn contrast, the obsessed mother in the episode \"encouraged\" her pubescent daughter to wear a corset and whiten her teeth. She then blamed her child for the result--a child whose frontal lobe hadn't finished forming. The mother seems barely more mature. Immediately before the crime, the mother got into an argument with her daughter, the victim, over how to end her piano piece.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"It seems very silly now,\" she says. \"Now!?\" Bones replies, surprised.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese episodes make an excellent point which is often missed by moralists who want to blame the \"thing\" rather than the behavior. Obsession over \u003Cb\u003Eanything\u003C\/b\u003E can ruin a relationship. Even porn, which moralists from Sylvester Graham on have loved to blame (among other things), is rarely the problem. The problem is usually an underlying issue and the obsessive behavior that accompanies the issue.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgu3kEfKmSGmD8KInLpezb5u-Y3vkkV7zAe3DhBkxOgIB-X1oV5PKZ_2i96iLEaaMXqGGdXNEvQv9OM7OdpBPehaXAZK0RxE5TxcI3kuS3BgStyr00t6pOdEZda5IgVYdpKEMFwbJfZVl2rQaZ1jTunzZ400wVf4B33rGWb--HEjN9Zk6dIFk9csbBa9Q\/s1030\/Criminal%20Intent%20Wish%20It%20Was.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"832\" data-original-width=\"1030\" height=\"139\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgu3kEfKmSGmD8KInLpezb5u-Y3vkkV7zAe3DhBkxOgIB-X1oV5PKZ_2i96iLEaaMXqGGdXNEvQv9OM7OdpBPehaXAZK0RxE5TxcI3kuS3BgStyr00t6pOdEZda5IgVYdpKEMFwbJfZVl2rQaZ1jTunzZ400wVf4B33rGWb--HEjN9Zk6dIFk9csbBa9Q\/w172-h139\/Criminal%20Intent%20Wish%20It%20Was.jpg\" width=\"172\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EIn the \u003Ci\u003ELaw \u0026amp; Order: Criminal Intent\u003C\/i\u003E episode \"Tuxedo Hill,\" the husband who can't get off the computer argues, \"It isn't porn!\" His wife is less than impressed. She wants him off the computer. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs \u003Ci\u003EMajor Crimes\u003C\/i\u003E illustrates in the extremely funny episode \"Cutting \nLoose,\" stalking a celebrity (hilariously acted by the late great Luke Perry) can irritate more people than just the \ncelebrity. (See image above.) \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBones\u003C\/i\u003E very intelligently pinpoints that Booth's gambling puts his marriage in jeopardy because of the behavior that follows. Obsession that destroys functionality is a problem, no matter what the object of obsession may be.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/7175044554926476994\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=7175044554926476994","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/7175044554926476994"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/7175044554926476994"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/dysfunctional-relationships-in-bones.html","title":"Dysfunctional Relationships in Bones and Major Crimes"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiP6jIcB7HNimu9wKcg30DhEnZZJFYrRsG6LWjx05egmQZp2OGsUm7od4GXHOZaqLE5qoVJ9cpNsIdcPlmQ-JyHbl4rn-pZ1SDfvg0_TisRBxzxPV_1qGcadJ3v3y4G4tfmODkPo5wuV2LVuW8KHr6usnuMJOn6gmuRKouDstKggwmHkQC0kPttIGf_gQ\/s72-w258-h145-c\/Major%20Crimes%20Cutting%20Loose.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-798528878325424974"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-12T08:00:00.007-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-12T08:08:51.834-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Archetypes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Overplayed Line of \"Use English\""},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEje4gy5eoYdI7HOqqCkuWflBkb6qP_wNJghGwnvpe_SPSCB0auhr8aQlP8jZBRJlh179_HS1xa6VpRicdBDBx0_kUiPVeQHoZvOWUPlOyPv6h0PnUHlAl3fu70LFhnPKJm6ACTtAEdi7wr8uQr-Rz2nGe6kYj7lkWe-A8KzIWp2SJq3PaR_YEc9wg\/s696\/Back%20to%20the%20Future%20Quote.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"583\" data-original-width=\"696\" height=\"140\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEje4gy5eoYdI7HOqqCkuWflBkb6qP_wNJghGwnvpe_SPSCB0auhr8aQlP8jZBRJlh179_HS1xa6VpRicdBDBx0_kUiPVeQHoZvOWUPlOyPv6h0PnUHlAl3fu70LFhnPKJm6ACTtAEdi7wr8uQr-Rz2nGe6kYj7lkWe-A8KzIWp2SJq3PaR_YEc9wg\/w167-h140\/Back%20to%20the%20Future%20Quote.jpg\" width=\"167\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EA common line in medical shows and forensic shows and any show where characters use complicated terminology is \"Use English!\" or \"Say it in English!\" or, more wearily (if you are Gibbs), \"What does that mean in English?\"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe line has a purpose. As with Marty's justifiable question, it is usually an excuse (opening) for exposition: one character will now explain science or math or medicine to another character.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd like the \"you're not God\" line (which I will address later), though it was funny (or evocative) once, even twice, it then got tedious--especially when the terminology was something that the audience understood (if you watch enough forensic shows...). Yet the so-called boss of a crime fighting unit \u003Cu\u003Edidn't\u003C\/u\u003E?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgV4hPDBRXnqjaIHlXyRRVape6pveLaBcwMXENdwmIusXizE5OCEZqa7CcT4TlCobXd7kmF85Grb286HWWlvmNo_4b6a1YJypaihnwCea64WTMUb-_Y6Fju_Tm23yx8SvUNWRdVBYwiijRx2Og_RNmGpeymdvN78D80SF2QpRlbFzvYmXcoQSccTA\/s1098\/Jessica%20In%20English.JPG\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"865\" data-original-width=\"1098\" height=\"175\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgV4hPDBRXnqjaIHlXyRRVape6pveLaBcwMXENdwmIusXizE5OCEZqa7CcT4TlCobXd7kmF85Grb286HWWlvmNo_4b6a1YJypaihnwCea64WTMUb-_Y6Fju_Tm23yx8SvUNWRdVBYwiijRx2Og_RNmGpeymdvN78D80SF2QpRlbFzvYmXcoQSccTA\/w223-h175\/Jessica%20In%20English.JPG\" width=\"223\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003EMonk\u003C\/i\u003E, in fact, spoofs this line. When the investigators visit the set of a popular crime show, and the main actor\/character says the line in a deadpan \"I'm just too cool to learn the terminology of my profession\" way, Monk rolls his eyes. MONK would know what the term meant.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd Jessica Fletcher uses it in a \u003Ci\u003EMurder She Wrote\u003C\/i\u003E movie. Wielded by Angela Lansbury, the line comes across less as ignorance (\u003Ci\u003ECan't ya speak normal like the rest of us?\u003C\/i\u003E) and more as a rebuke: \u003Ci\u003EDon't try to snow me with your bureaucratic twaddle; tell the truth.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, with those exceptions, it's a line that needs to go. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/798528878325424974\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=798528878325424974","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/798528878325424974"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/798528878325424974"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/common-line-use-english.html","title":"The Overplayed Line of \"Use English\""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEje4gy5eoYdI7HOqqCkuWflBkb6qP_wNJghGwnvpe_SPSCB0auhr8aQlP8jZBRJlh179_HS1xa6VpRicdBDBx0_kUiPVeQHoZvOWUPlOyPv6h0PnUHlAl3fu70LFhnPKJm6ACTtAEdi7wr8uQr-Rz2nGe6kYj7lkWe-A8KzIWp2SJq3PaR_YEc9wg\/s72-w167-h140-c\/Back%20to%20the%20Future%20Quote.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-4803288320252341951"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-09T08:00:00.066-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-09T09:52:21.214-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Character Analysis"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Science-Fiction"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Star Trek"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Possibilities of Wesley Crusher in The Next Generation"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhiYp2cal_Fgn1NHqdc6edJzKwMb7i-EnZTUeZHJWq91MbMaUs-y7F6eZ9znhv8C0H1pk4H1vL_OzchFUcyVHMdIQVrbspv5hrhFQUMUmpDQttqSGQkBfcMqmuddWfBbAc1M7kqz7IcPTCMMe9bCKgZNnePuWhQxO5mGi3bvMou9anIX9qXbF9M9A\/s456\/Wesley%20Crusher%20Season%201.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"313\" data-original-width=\"456\" height=\"164\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhiYp2cal_Fgn1NHqdc6edJzKwMb7i-EnZTUeZHJWq91MbMaUs-y7F6eZ9znhv8C0H1pk4H1vL_OzchFUcyVHMdIQVrbspv5hrhFQUMUmpDQttqSGQkBfcMqmuddWfBbAc1M7kqz7IcPTCMMe9bCKgZNnePuWhQxO5mGi3bvMou9anIX9qXbF9M9A\/w239-h164\/Wesley%20Crusher%20Season%201.jpg\" width=\"239\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThis summer I rewatched \u003Ci\u003EStar Trek: The Next Generation\u003C\/i\u003E episodes. \u003Ci\u003ETNG\u003C\/i\u003E is my type of sci-fi: an established setting in which endless \"what if\" stories can be played out.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat I noticed this time surprised me: Wesley Crusher had potential.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike many people, I have always remembered Wesley Crusher as a Mary Sue, the kid with unexplainable and inexplicable (even geniuses need context) abilities, running about the Enterprise unsupervised.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat I noted this time was that (at least) he has a story arc! \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm not sure what it says about the current state of art in the world that \u003Cb\u003Eat least\u003C\/b\u003E Wesley Crusher has a story arc. But he does!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoreover, I got the definite impression that two story arcs were warring with each other.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the one hand is the Mary Sue arc: Wesley is brilliant, people should make allowances, etc. That arc is eventually paid off several seasons later when the Traveler returns. And apparently it is the arc that \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wesley_Crusher\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emore recent shows\u003C\/a\u003E have used. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSdeJ9paQLEYxU8V3vA_o8YLknBoSLb0R2knM-x8r8qxjEdkCu7-EL5BO1MsHdfo01l4t5XqD5uD1W4fBCRqqa6qeXCFYalfTtVXzPIuij9QJ1S6jyiG62Qc_oxv9cHxmnsvxv_KMhYCFz4bUfY4lWMnb4dHFrkMzmFYm58hsog9bLfRNRvtUcAQ\/s1440\/Wesley%20Picard.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1080\" data-original-width=\"1440\" height=\"138\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSdeJ9paQLEYxU8V3vA_o8YLknBoSLb0R2knM-x8r8qxjEdkCu7-EL5BO1MsHdfo01l4t5XqD5uD1W4fBCRqqa6qeXCFYalfTtVXzPIuij9QJ1S6jyiG62Qc_oxv9cHxmnsvxv_KMhYCFz4bUfY4lWMnb4dHFrkMzmFYm58hsog9bLfRNRvtUcAQ\/w183-h138\/Wesley%20Picard.jpg\" width=\"183\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe other is the arc of a ordinary, high-energy teen who wants to go into Starfleet. This arc begins to take precedence at the end of Season 1, almost as if a writer wrested control of Wesley's storyline from another writer. \u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EFor one, though I always remembered Wil Wheaton as being about 12 (that baby face!), the character was 16 by the end of Season 1 and nearly the same height as Patrick Stewart (growing boys!). In \"Coming of Age\" (Season 1), when he heads off to take the Starfleet exam, it is made absolutely clear that other teens on-board were also up for the exam. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn other words, the possibility of internships is written into the script...it never really takes off. I guess the future's child labor laws reared their head. But the possibility was a decent one. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj-ZKJsHoziMdVGqKcT0mVCZe4m-SJq4f6v6iM8xV8j_PMXw1hZiJGal2Fzk9hBZEZDBcjsAFbjYSpEDhu-Ji3YumEWEfQUTl2Cfvet_ABDXR680x_YBbHa8BqMjUXs6TlpoCW6_TLeYZwqX7Ocy1q9Xo36PMckkJgel-2gu3U9riZ5rzMBYtqEAA\/s500\/Wesley%20Test.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"375\" data-original-width=\"500\" height=\"161\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj-ZKJsHoziMdVGqKcT0mVCZe4m-SJq4f6v6iM8xV8j_PMXw1hZiJGal2Fzk9hBZEZDBcjsAFbjYSpEDhu-Ji3YumEWEfQUTl2Cfvet_ABDXR680x_YBbHa8BqMjUXs6TlpoCW6_TLeYZwqX7Ocy1q9Xo36PMckkJgel-2gu3U9riZ5rzMBYtqEAA\/w215-h161\/Wesley%20Test.jpg\" width=\"215\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWesley is TOO noble in \"Coming of Age\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Ebut has an arc. (He could have struggled\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Emore with the decision to help his peer.)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat is, Wesley could have come aboard as a teen with a mom who, for obvious reasons, is wary of encouraging his interests. But he is enamored with ship life and placed into the Enterprise's \"learn about Starfleet by working in different departments of the ship\" program. However, he can't continue unless he takes an exam, which is NOT to determine whether he gets into Starfleet but to verify that he can keep doing what he has been doing (so he is initially placed in the internship program as a favor by Picard to Wesley's mother but Picard has determined that now Wesley needs to go through the same procedure as everyone else).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt doesn't make total sense that he would be on the bridge during seriously dangerous\/high-risk\/high-stakes missions. But it makes his presence slightly less weird.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd I think this arc could lead to a fascinating issue that isn't truly addressed until \u003Ci\u003EDeep Space Nine\u003C\/i\u003E--the fact that Miles O'Brien is a non-commissioned officer. Wesley could struggle with continuing on the ship he loves or going to the Academy (see Jamie's arc in \u003Ci\u003EBlue Bloods\u003C\/i\u003E: his desire to remain a \"beat cop\" versus his personal ambitions and the expectations of his father and grandfather).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm a big fan of improving a work with the material at hand. And the material is there. For all his faults with science-fiction--essentialism; the aliens are actually nice; it's\u003Ci\u003E only\u003C\/i\u003E a misunderstanding; boy genius can do everything--Roddenberry was trained in classic sci-fi. There's a story there...even if the story could be tweaked. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/4803288320252341951\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=4803288320252341951","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/4803288320252341951"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/4803288320252341951"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/the-possibilities-of-wesley-crusher-in.html","title":"The Possibilities of Wesley Crusher in The Next Generation"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhiYp2cal_Fgn1NHqdc6edJzKwMb7i-EnZTUeZHJWq91MbMaUs-y7F6eZ9znhv8C0H1pk4H1vL_OzchFUcyVHMdIQVrbspv5hrhFQUMUmpDQttqSGQkBfcMqmuddWfBbAc1M7kqz7IcPTCMMe9bCKgZNnePuWhQxO5mGi3bvMou9anIX9qXbF9M9A\/s72-w239-h164-c\/Wesley%20Crusher%20Season%201.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-9008542164868892469"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-08T08:00:00.006-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-10T15:51:52.241-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Character Actors"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Character Analysis"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Great Character Actor: Joel David Moore"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEji1fZ2n6TI5Ffz96SlyiDVpV_ZDOh4Nu4WjM22LCmrp-kFIGVTkHdGRkJDzU1lF5GKcjBD4YDEqEkOrI2VYaiUuuGihBKLRJP3yeZDsApIRIBM3wgC7GZuY1JY7Ms-DsdalWfcrgw53oxmS2tRM8_qI2hQBzGpUT9uiTaEWstGbz8mw8cvjrCTYw\/s225\/Joel%20David%20Moore.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"225\" data-original-width=\"225\" height=\"137\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEji1fZ2n6TI5Ffz96SlyiDVpV_ZDOh4Nu4WjM22LCmrp-kFIGVTkHdGRkJDzU1lF5GKcjBD4YDEqEkOrI2VYaiUuuGihBKLRJP3yeZDsApIRIBM3wgC7GZuY1JY7Ms-DsdalWfcrgw53oxmS2tRM8_qI2hQBzGpUT9uiTaEWstGbz8mw8cvjrCTYw\/w137-h137\/Joel%20David%20Moore.jpg\" width=\"137\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EJoel David Moore is a gifted actor. He is one of the strongest recurring interns on \u003Ci\u003EBones\u003C\/i\u003E and quite notably leads the discussions in the 9-11 tribute episode that covers the crash into the Pentagon.\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n\nHe appears in \u003Ci\u003EForever\u003C\/i\u003E, a series that I rewatch every few years. It is one of those beloved series that only lasted one season. Joel David Moore plays Henry's assistant, Lucas,  in the lab. He plays much the same character as he does on \u003Ci\u003EBones\u003C\/i\u003E, if a little less morbid and slightly more extroverted. Moore has perfect comedic timing and can tackle a range of emotions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n\nIt's a pity the show \u003Ci\u003EForever\u003C\/i\u003E didn't last longer. As on \u003Ci\u003EBones\u003C\/i\u003E, Lucas followed by the detective could have been brought into Henry's private circle. But Adam's deliberate actions threw the first season out of kilter--when he would have served better as the Cigarette Smoking Man in the shadows--or Harrison Wells the \u003Ci\u003EThe Flash\u003C\/i\u003E, Season 1. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\n\nWherever the show might have gone, the single season and its well-acted characters are worth investing in!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj65nMxlbVpl2m-xlYq9GjnMAtyW3yxXbZsNmLD7WFx8w1ApKWIVP0UO2Bfacy83WMWzSGFvNfD3KAxBpZ30D3tAQquFs3nvvDFPbgxvKg_E94A5KA-S6ClCoAJRtNEdvJ_VVG4-46oL72FJ-MuF_tZHY4fWTfLGVl0yGj81_RJKk9nI8bLsneenA\/s2187\/Joel%20David%20Moore%20Combined.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"645\" data-original-width=\"2187\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj65nMxlbVpl2m-xlYq9GjnMAtyW3yxXbZsNmLD7WFx8w1ApKWIVP0UO2Bfacy83WMWzSGFvNfD3KAxBpZ30D3tAQquFs3nvvDFPbgxvKg_E94A5KA-S6ClCoAJRtNEdvJ_VVG4-46oL72FJ-MuF_tZHY4fWTfLGVl0yGj81_RJKk9nI8bLsneenA\/w415-h122\/Joel%20David%20Moore%20Combined.jpg\" width=\"415\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/9008542164868892469\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=9008542164868892469","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/9008542164868892469"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/9008542164868892469"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/great-character-actor-joel-david-moore.html","title":"Great Character Actor: Joel David Moore"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEji1fZ2n6TI5Ffz96SlyiDVpV_ZDOh4Nu4WjM22LCmrp-kFIGVTkHdGRkJDzU1lF5GKcjBD4YDEqEkOrI2VYaiUuuGihBKLRJP3yeZDsApIRIBM3wgC7GZuY1JY7Ms-DsdalWfcrgw53oxmS2tRM8_qI2hQBzGpUT9uiTaEWstGbz8mw8cvjrCTYw\/s72-w137-h137-c\/Joel%20David%20Moore.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-3194190750276552892"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-07T08:00:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-07T08:09:54.677-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 9"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"All the Ms: MacDonalds and Macho Guys"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1oBKZshwF7dw8dF1WGHmjttu4Vj0I4Pp2939Bkdjf_wcFEIfIENAfMYj8-bcPYSAxtU0gyWvWhXxZyHR57OOUle13bMiz9omTiQE3uJTy0uAOOBSSPClDV_58Ozkwtw20TBOdafZiESfQWAkX_fihp6kqBQ7VFOZMriSKNrc6kFmfMA5gE8vViQ\/s1000\/Golden%20Key%20MacDonald%20Sanderson.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1000\" data-original-width=\"667\" height=\"248\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1oBKZshwF7dw8dF1WGHmjttu4Vj0I4Pp2939Bkdjf_wcFEIfIENAfMYj8-bcPYSAxtU0gyWvWhXxZyHR57OOUle13bMiz9omTiQE3uJTy0uAOOBSSPClDV_58Ozkwtw20TBOdafZiESfQWAkX_fihp6kqBQ7VFOZMriSKNrc6kFmfMA5gE8vViQ\/w165-h248\/Golden%20Key%20MacDonald%20Sanderson.jpg\" width=\"165\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, George: \u003C\/b\u003EGeorge MacDonald produced classics! My mother read me \u003Ci\u003ESir Gibbie\u003C\/i\u003E. I read \u003Ci\u003EPhantastes\u003C\/i\u003E. My favorite, however, is \u003Ci\u003EThe Golden Key\u003C\/i\u003E, which I review \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2023\/09\/fairy-tales-trailblazing-george-mcdonald.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, Hector: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe Mind Game\u003C\/i\u003E is about, well, people playing mind games with each other. I read the first chapter because that’s the challenge here. I don’t care for this type of novel, and I disliked the narrator almost immediately. When I start shouting in my head, “Walk away!” to \u003Ci\u003Eevery\u003C\/i\u003E character, I couldn't imagine going through 19 more chapters.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, John: \u003C\/b\u003ETravis McGee mysteries. Hard-boiled with a tan Lothario-type narrator. As if Michael Weatherly’s Dinozzo was narrating a P.I. adventure. John MacDonald wrote \u003Ci\u003EThe Executioners\u003C\/i\u003E upon which the \n1962--and 1991--movie \u003Ci\u003ECape Fear\u003C\/i\u003E was based, reminding me that Gregory Peck, in \n1962, had a reputation for tough guy action roles though he went on to \nmagnificently play Atticus Finch the same year.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, Malcolm: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDancing on Snowflakes \u003C\/i\u003Eis a historical romance with a female heroine–proving that yes, men do write romances!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, Marianne: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDeath’s Autograph\u003C\/i\u003E starts with an antique dealer, which is interesting, but also with a car stalking, which isn’t–for me. I’ve decided that a whole slew of readers apparently enjoy \u003Ci\u003EI could have almost been killed\u003C\/i\u003E literature. And the book does have a gripping opening!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, Maryann:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E Odette’s Secrets\u003C\/i\u003E is a book about a young Jewish girl during World War II written in free-verse. I must admit–I am one of those people who, ah, doesn't appreciate poetry.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhq0XfrhXu82WjHvxaBIOxHw8Q7I6a8fSjl6IyPVg8dWbTKkIZ0Aqm5cqKWOtu4gEWfFsFZCtkuQe0iUUIjJRLzvePD5G62uwYc89AxmgrjmihosCO479N8_vE253OuwOr3hVkKLq3So3GRKiMmIbRLVMWr5urDUcW8YPUSlLh3TnaoWCbTwNp5Lg\/s2100\/Cape%20Fear%20Peck.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2100\" data-original-width=\"1400\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhq0XfrhXu82WjHvxaBIOxHw8Q7I6a8fSjl6IyPVg8dWbTKkIZ0Aqm5cqKWOtu4gEWfFsFZCtkuQe0iUUIjJRLzvePD5G62uwYc89AxmgrjmihosCO479N8_vE253OuwOr3hVkKLq3So3GRKiMmIbRLVMWr5urDUcW8YPUSlLh3TnaoWCbTwNp5Lg\/w139-h210\/Cape%20Fear%20Peck.jpg\" width=\"139\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, Patricia:\u003C\/b\u003E Like John MacDonald and Ross MacDonald, Patricia MacDonald’s books appear to be suspense thrillers rather than mysteries. \u003Ci\u003ECast into Doubt\u003C\/i\u003E starts with a shooting at a convenience store. Unlike with police procedurals, the focus appears to be on the victims or family rather than the police. Not my style.\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, Siobhan:\u003C\/b\u003E Speaking of which...there’s a genre of literature that falls under suspense. Call it the \u003Cu\u003ECape Fear genre\u003C\/u\u003E in which someone or other is terrorized and the story gets darker and darker. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt is not a genre I have the remotest interest in.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETwisted River\u003C\/i\u003E appears to fall into this category: contemporary family life where ordinary people are visited by more and more suspenseful happenings. Well-written but not my cup of tea.\u003Cb\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgBR8-z47W_WEXAXav3TOB5ymCKohwgBmsmzm4OUvP0rE1tzy9boVQeHI4VRrOvsz126WxKNnUnk8Ry5q_yx_He1_6YTpsEaA0k26RKgkBEwmXlX9Rt19rxYX6IgeNOaJ-79SrRaz8-GWyHo_EhEjBMfKXeOFd5wB8n6xh8y6TLUoxtPKkoDbYMlg\/s400\/Paul%20Newman%20Lew%20Archer.webp\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"400\" data-original-width=\"275\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgBR8-z47W_WEXAXav3TOB5ymCKohwgBmsmzm4OUvP0rE1tzy9boVQeHI4VRrOvsz126WxKNnUnk8Ry5q_yx_He1_6YTpsEaA0k26RKgkBEwmXlX9Rt19rxYX6IgeNOaJ-79SrRaz8-GWyHo_EhEjBMfKXeOFd5wB8n6xh8y6TLUoxtPKkoDbYMlg\/w116-h169\/Paul%20Newman%20Lew%20Archer.webp\" width=\"116\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMacDonald, Ross:\u003C\/b\u003E The detective is Lew Archer. I had heard the name before but didn’t connect the name to a particular author. Ross MacDonald is the author! I read “Guilt-Edged Blonde.”\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EP.I. Guns. Mafia-type relationships. Etc. etc. Again, not my type of thing but the popularity of this literature through the 1970s explains shows like \u003Ci\u003ERockford Files\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003ESimon \u0026amp; Simon\u003C\/i\u003E–which I also never really cared for.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPaul Newman played Lew Harper, based on Lew Archer. Doesn't he look like a P.I.?! I said so in my \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2020\/10\/the-mcguffin-film-to-end-all-mcguffin.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ereview of \u003Ci\u003ETorn Curtain\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's always nice to have links link up again. \u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/3194190750276552892\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=3194190750276552892","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/3194190750276552892"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/3194190750276552892"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/all-ms-macdonalds-and-macho-guys.html","title":"All the Ms: MacDonalds and Macho Guys"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1oBKZshwF7dw8dF1WGHmjttu4Vj0I4Pp2939Bkdjf_wcFEIfIENAfMYj8-bcPYSAxtU0gyWvWhXxZyHR57OOUle13bMiz9omTiQE3uJTy0uAOOBSSPClDV_58Ozkwtw20TBOdafZiESfQWAkX_fihp6kqBQ7VFOZMriSKNrc6kFmfMA5gE8vViQ\/s72-w165-h248-c\/Golden%20Key%20MacDonald%20Sanderson.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-6870909680719767063"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-06T08:00:00.008-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-06T08:56:36.606-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"A-Z Book Review Part 8"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books to Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Romance"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Books to Movies: Why Subplots in Books Don't Work in Movies"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgC46TuFr0pX2Q1GWKL0YxdlF7bnno_Wkzjnmszx6yLoR2M48295cGnXdTOFjxrf1JI-Nqhj3VDDZVRFKsLoVz10bPW0sj1shv4gGnbUFxwYOhRbmt96d3fBWKvOCAas640q7P4ZFJJPdHl\/s1600\/Christmas+Holly+Hallmark+Film.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgC46TuFr0pX2Q1GWKL0YxdlF7bnno_Wkzjnmszx6yLoR2M48295cGnXdTOFjxrf1JI-Nqhj3VDDZVRFKsLoVz10bPW0sj1shv4gGnbUFxwYOhRbmt96d3fBWKvOCAas640q7P4ZFJJPdHl\/w165-h221\/Christmas+Holly+Hallmark+Film.jpg\" width=\"165\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI watched \u003Ci\u003EChristmas with Holly,\u003C\/i\u003E which is based on Lisa Kleypas's \u003Ci\u003EChristmas Eve at Friday Harbor\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, the main characters:\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite\n the actor for Mark (Sean Faris) being nearly 10 years younger than his \nbook counterpart, he has the features and build and aura of a young man \nwho could become that older man. His unapologetic sternness with \nShelby--ex-girlfriend who keeps insisting that his niece is not his \n\"real\" child--is perfect.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnfortunately, Eloise Mumford as Maggie is rather blah. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe's\n pretty and lively. But I could imagine no good reason why this \nrelationship deserved 90 minutes of slow burn romance over anybody else Mark \ncould date. Why not the co-owner of his coffee house? Why not Holly's \nelementary school teacher? Granted, Shelby's kind of hard to warm to but\n why would it be Maggie?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTXSsUhdS23Wv4A6z9_WZ4vRYz6pHM7g_3rdcZrXwwVqDdG5fj51lbaefuipVcT1iHDv4UDyHWmzGlR60GkFDg4HrexYOhnEeY_Nf3aYdx6uqHHhgLhL2tvKN9zDgsVk8_6ZQAl-9uAFvw\/s600\/FaceBook+Twins.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"450\" data-original-width=\"600\" height=\"136\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTXSsUhdS23Wv4A6z9_WZ4vRYz6pHM7g_3rdcZrXwwVqDdG5fj51lbaefuipVcT1iHDv4UDyHWmzGlR60GkFDg4HrexYOhnEeY_Nf3aYdx6uqHHhgLhL2tvKN9zDgsVk8_6ZQAl-9uAFvw\/w182-h136\/FaceBook+Twins.jpg\" width=\"182\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECast of family. Twins play Holly.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EIn the book, Kleypas presents a \nsolid scene where Mark and Maggie meet on the ferry to Seattle. Mark \nreflects that Maggie reminds him of the young women he stayed up all \nnight talking to when he was a college student. \u003Ci\u003EWhy didn't I date those women?\u003C\/i\u003E Maggie is funny and adorable and sincere and really more his style.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn contrast, in the movie, Mark and Maggie have multiple conversations \ntypical to meet-cutes--that is, jokey conversations about absolutely \nnothing. Even their date is kind of shallow, which may be typical of \nfirst-dates, but the object here is to sell a relationship. 90 minutes \nis more than enough time! \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, what the scriptwriters did right:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey got rid of Alec's alcoholism and Maggie's widowhood. \u003Cb\u003EA movie cannot handle every subplot from the book without losing focus.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNGdAm2wffNly2pbC8fXFQ_PBrYtrX7EJWi7dhnkhBW8pVZRkXuHplgmgaa-jlnTJ51IgvijhZev4ah04VA703ug5vN75w2hetslm2elQHWI6ABRWtLs1l62533kEDYE60mVdd3bOW7WZ8\/s640\/Brothers+Christmas+with+Holly.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"640\" data-original-width=\"426\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNGdAm2wffNly2pbC8fXFQ_PBrYtrX7EJWi7dhnkhBW8pVZRkXuHplgmgaa-jlnTJ51IgvijhZev4ah04VA703ug5vN75w2hetslm2elQHWI6ABRWtLs1l62533kEDYE60mVdd3bOW7WZ8\/w222-h333\/Brothers+Christmas+with+Holly.jpg\" width=\"222\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EScott, Alex, Mark, Holly\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EIn the book, both of these subplots don't overwhelm the book (and the book is quite short). They are part of life, part of the family dynamic. But in the movie, both potential plot points would beg for more time. The movie would become ABOUT the alcoholism or Maggie's sorrow.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a book, we readers can accept that Alex is still functional and will eventually kick his addiction (future change) and that Maggie has moved on, is ready to date (past change).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut in a movie, those issues would become Chekhov's gun-on-the-wall. The viewer would expect some kind of pay-off, resolution, to THOSE problems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd, in truth, referencing the issue that starts this post, I think the script does veer off-course. The material about the brothers from the book is more interesting than the romance. Their exchanges are more warm-hearted, funnier (the frozen turkey in the deep fryer!), and better written with more substance. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003EWith a book, readers are prepared to take information and file it. With a movie, \u003Cu\u003Ewhat we see is very much what we expect to get\u003C\/u\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/6870909680719767063\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=6870909680719767063","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/6870909680719767063"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/6870909680719767063"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/books-to-movies-why-plots-in-books-dont.html","title":"Books to Movies: Why Subplots in Books Don't Work in Movies"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgC46TuFr0pX2Q1GWKL0YxdlF7bnno_Wkzjnmszx6yLoR2M48295cGnXdTOFjxrf1JI-Nqhj3VDDZVRFKsLoVz10bPW0sj1shv4gGnbUFxwYOhRbmt96d3fBWKvOCAas640q7P4ZFJJPdHl\/s72-w165-h221-c\/Christmas+Holly+Hallmark+Film.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-587895515456740917"},"published":{"$t":"2024-08-05T08:00:00.023-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-08-05T08:37:44.842-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Contemporary Life"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mysteries"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Television"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Writing"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Lawyers Speak the Same Language: Literally and Figuratively"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUMwyMoC2Qeipuc8m_XqNvq_wqnFVqJ622SxGAhZ_U1kqAhDAk6h_I0_41AF_QyngEs91x58QZRvMVERxFzjRNJCpN90RuVkYe6did73o0gi_HgdqQkXtL9uq_GwuG5tMor6chHXdwQ5F7a-GbMCR1WLtrArWLiZeq0qIaoBF0nJjR6kRPKmoJvg\/s640\/Julie%20and%20Matlock.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"429\" data-original-width=\"640\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUMwyMoC2Qeipuc8m_XqNvq_wqnFVqJ622SxGAhZ_U1kqAhDAk6h_I0_41AF_QyngEs91x58QZRvMVERxFzjRNJCpN90RuVkYe6did73o0gi_HgdqQkXtL9uq_GwuG5tMor6chHXdwQ5F7a-GbMCR1WLtrArWLiZeq0qIaoBF0nJjR6kRPKmoJvg\/w221-h148\/Julie%20and%20Matlock.jpg\" width=\"221\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003ETo Kill a Mockingbird\u003C\/i\u003E, Scout mentions the following about her father's profession:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;\"\u003EI've heard that lawyers' children, on seeing their parents in court in the heat of argument...think opposing counsel to be the personal enemies of their parents...and are surprised to see them often go out arm-in-arm with their tormentors during the first recess. This was not true of Jem and me...Mr. Gilmer was doing his job, as Atticus was doing his. [Mr. Gilmer's witness] had no business being rude to him of all people. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite Danny's arguments with Erin at the family dinner table, opposing counsel are generally quite civil to each other. Matlock's easy relationship with the police and (usually) with the other lawyers is more the norm than not.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn one of \u003Ci\u003EMajor Crimes\u003C\/i\u003E's Christmas episodes, when the defense attorney says to his client, \"I'm trying to think of an explanation for a dead body stuffed in a cello case under your bed--and it's just not coming,\" he is speaking on the same wavelength as Captain Raydor and Lieutenant Provenza.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mother then produces a justifying speech about how she \u003Cb\u003Ehad\u003C\/b\u003E to carry out a bank robbery and kill her accomplices so her son--a nice, friendly, average boy--could get into a private music school. \"I did it for the world,\" she proclaims.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer lawyer looks at Raydor and Provenza.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\"You did say\u003Ci\u003E life,\u003C\/i\u003E\" he says wearily.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEveryone in that room--and the watching D.A.--thinks the mother is a psychopath. Why not the death penalty?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut hey, the lawyer did his job!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgg1g8cUVcmjYeLM3DSld9TpJrLdbIrnBhXxw5NXqE7_Sqb-aKzChQNMTaYmFeY8JXLSVUHCcNgchpmxWrmXQ6ybzpbPv2b-3TtoRmNLSkSTNXZWK5Em5yj8bjljIIfRr7F6fla6ZAZuwMBpk4QKjr2uSClCYqY81IEolEBM0z3FhXWuSAA4_v_MQ\/s1074\/Lawyer%20Major%20Crimes.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"677\" data-original-width=\"1074\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgg1g8cUVcmjYeLM3DSld9TpJrLdbIrnBhXxw5NXqE7_Sqb-aKzChQNMTaYmFeY8JXLSVUHCcNgchpmxWrmXQ6ybzpbPv2b-3TtoRmNLSkSTNXZWK5Em5yj8bjljIIfRr7F6fla6ZAZuwMBpk4QKjr2uSClCYqY81IEolEBM0z3FhXWuSAA4_v_MQ\/s320\/Lawyer%20Major%20Crimes.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/feeds\/587895515456740917\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=9721761\u0026postID=587895515456740917","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/587895515456740917"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/9721761\/posts\/default\/587895515456740917"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/katewoodbury.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/lawyers-speak-same-language-literally.html","title":"Lawyers Speak the Same Language: Literally and Figuratively"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Katherine Woodbury"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14364517253667798449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1C_sUNZNMG_7k5cqHr_An89oPVa1z6XCFXZDF4ZvlgUpk92geIqQ2j1e4cV5jv97D3BL10s0fEGLcQpoR73TEKFhxNxZGKuGYUOCZ8GdkiEn3V3bpWHQeBjwPRXl7zw\/s105\/Kate+By+Eve+Hart.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUMwyMoC2Qeipuc8m_XqNvq_wqnFVqJ622SxGAhZ_U1kqAhDAk6h_I0_41AF_QyngEs91x58QZRvMVERxFzjRNJCpN90RuVkYe6did73o0gi_HgdqQkXtL9uq_GwuG5tMor6chHXdwQ5F7a-GbMCR1WLtrArWLiZeq0qIaoBF0nJjR6kRPKmoJvg\/s72-w221-h148-c\/Julie%20and%20Matlock.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}}]}});