— Walking on 9th Avenue last night, and I passed one of those sidewalk Christmas-tree vendors. All the trees tied up and leaning against a fence – a guy with huge gloves handling the trees – it was outside a busy CVS – with flourescent lights and automatic doors – but as I walked by, the scent of pine was just intoxicating. Amazing – how evocative the sense of smell is. Of all the senses, it is truly transportive. I was on a bustling Manhattan street, but one whiff of that pine and I was walking through through the woods by Potter’s Pond.
— Also because it was in Chelsea, all of the people buying Christmas trees, were gay couples. For some reason, it touched me. One couple in particular, with their wool scarves, their little glasses … walking up and down the row of trees, looking for which one would be right. Excited, laughing.
— I am now reading The Selected Letters of Tennessee Williams, Vol. 2: 1945-1957
— I watched an old episode of Sex and the City last night – one I had never seen. Matthew McConaghey shows up in it – as himself. He was absolutely HYSTERICAL. Has anyone seen that episode? I was laughing out loud at his portrayal of himself as an overly eager actor, who gets right up into people’s faces, and talks too much, and is way … “too much” in general. He was hysterical.
— I bought the latest CD by the Trans Siberian Orchestra – haven’t listened to it yet – but I’m really excited. I love their first one – which I have.
— I saw Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I was tremulous. I was actually NERVOUS. Jen and I both said we were nervous about it, because we loved the books so much. What if they messed it up?? I’ll do a longer post about it if I feel like it – but suffice it to say I do not think they “messed it up”. All the Christian websites being all triumphalist (and really really literal) about this movie is kind of annoying – although I understand it – and I know that to THEM they wanted to make sure that the Christian message was intact. Fine. That’s not my concern. I didn’t read the book as a Christian allegory when I was 10 – although now, of course, I can see that it is an “allegory”. But what 10 year old wants to read an allegory? Bah. It’s too literal. CS Lewis himself said he wanted it to just be a rollicking good story – although he wasn’t as ANTI-allegory as his good friend Tolkien. I read Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe as an unbeLIEVABLE story which caught me up in its spirit and did not let me go. Also: if the special effects took over, if there was too much CGI, if they weren’t done in just the right way… you would completely lose one of the main elements of the book – which was its pre-modern pre-Judeo-Christian world of Narnia. It’s a world where fauns run around, where nature (in the form of perpetual winter) has taken over, where magic is used – but in a very raw rough pagan way. If you have glittery special effects – and they don’t work – then … you suddenly know you’re watching a modern creation. I didn’t have a problem with any of the special effects – and the beavers (my two favorite characters as a kid) looked as real as if they were … you know … real. I forgot I was watching something digitally created. The battle at the end is a bit … uhm … VIOLENT … I had to cover my eyes a couple times – it was like we were suddenly seeing Henry V or something – but my main concern was with story and character. And they did not sacrifice character for style, or effects. Lucy, the little actress, was amazing. I wouldnt’ call her an ‘actress’ at all. She seemed to just be alive in those circumstances. And Tilda Swinton … She is not at ALL what I pictured for the part. In the book she has jet-black hair. Tilda’s version of the character is more like a giant icicle. Her hair is blonde – and kind of piled on her head in a huge way – as though it has frozen into that shape. And her eyes … I have no idea what she “did’ as an actress, but those were not human eyes. She was as terrifying and unpredictable and AWFUL as the “queen” in the book. Anyhoo – I’ll post more on it later, but in general, I was very glad with what they did. They lifted entire sections word for word from the book. It’s a little goofy to SEE animals talk – Aslan had a couple of very goofy moments. When you read the book, you accept that animals talk, and you can imagine it – but to SEE it somehow makes it a bit TOO literal, and there was some silliness. Also, the centaur guy with the black hair was way too cheese-cake Hollywood for my taste. And Peter – as a grown-up King – in the second to last scene – has the GOOFIEST Prince Valiant hair I’ve ever seen. He’s wearing tights, for God’s sake. The audience snickered when they saw him – which is not quite the effect I think they were going for. It had some of that goofy Renaissance-Fair silliness in the production design. Oh, and the opening – with the children being shuttled off into the country as the bombs fall on London – was spectacular. Somehow it was done in a way that was NOT realistic – although you’ll have to see it to see what I mean. It was obviously a real event, it happened in real life – but … there’s something heightened about the planes in the sky, the clouds behind the planes, the volley of bombs falling in slow motion … It sets it up that this is going to be some kind of heightened realistic style. There’s a strange violent poetry in it.
— I have to re-read the book. My favorite section, as I said, is when they stay with the beavers in their cozy dam … It just seemed soooo cozy in there, with the white frozen world outside … and they had food, and a roaring fire, and thick butter (I remember the part about the butter), and they could sleep, and relax … and the beavers were just charming and amusing. I loved them. I loved them in the movie, too. Therefore – I am pleased. My needs are simple in that respect.
— I also saw Brokeback Mountain – what can I say – I have been in hibernation since September, what with the show. Now I can catch up. I was resistant to seeing it – I told Emily I wouldn’t see it – because, like Narnia, I had read the short story and it cut me to the BONE. That story really means something to me, and I just couldn’t bear to see it if they fucked it up. Also – Hollywood RUINED Annie Proulx’s other story The Shipping News which is one of my favorite books – and I found their version of it unforgivable. Unforgivable. So did she, apparently. She didn’t want to let them adapt Brokeback Mountain because of her experience with what they did to The Shipping News. I remember when Brokeback Mountain came out. I read it in The New Yorker. The writing is so good that you want to put down your pen forever. I love her. But the reviews I read seemed to suggest that Ang Lee has captured what was in that story. It’s not a ‘gay cowboy’ movie. It’s a love story. It’s a painful beautiful love story that happens to occur between two men. Oh, man. The short story, people … It’s up there on the list of the greatest short stories I’ve ever read. Argh. Annie Proulx is so damn good. The movie is heartbreaking. I am still processing it. I left the theatre in tears. And again – they got all the elements of the story that I felt were the most resonant, the most powerful. (Of course, they never asked me for my opinion – but oh well – everyone’s an expert, ain’t they?? It’s like the Harry Potter books, too – we all have read them, we all have opinions on what should be included, what could be left out … how they executed these already beloved stories.) Brokeback Mountain was like that for me. Are they really going to capture Ennis’ taciturnity? Will they let him be as gruff and as wordless as he really is in the story? Will they cut out his line, “You know I ain’t queer”? Will they put a modern sensibility onto the film – to please the PC crowd? Or will they just let it be in 1963 – with that context? Will they embellish? Please no embellishments!! They did not embellish. And let me just say this: Heath Ledger’s performance, as Ennis, is nothing less than remarkable. It’s a breakout performance. It’s THE breakout performance, as far as I’m concerned. He broke my heart. Without even saying 2 or 3 words. I always thought Ledger was pretty good, whatever, never gave him much thought. But now? He will be a MAJOR player after this film. It’s his movie. It’s an old-style really masculine performance – reminiscent of old cowboy movies, with the gruff silent guy squinting at the horizon. He’s like Steve McQueen or something. He has that same kind of quiet strength about him – but he is able to suggest entire worlds of emotion going on – stuff he would never ever be able to articulate (or even want to articulate) – stuff he is barely aware of himself. Ennis is a man who does not analyze, does not angst (at least not consciously), does not speak, does not open up to people. Everything must be suggested. Ledger is phenomenal. The movie was devastating. Just as devastating as the short story – and that’s really saying something.
— I wish it would snow again.
— The other night, out in a pub, Allison and her friend George explained sodoku to me, showing me how it all worked by the light of a tiny candle in a glass jar. They went over the concepts with me, finishing each other’s sentences, and answering my questions in unison, and they both had the glazed eyes of addicts, . It was hilarious. But I think I understand it now. I’m afraid to even start getting into sodoku because it seems like a deep deep pool of addiction that I might never come out of.
Soduko is all the rage in the UK* (or at least it was last summer). Books of it lined every register in every bookstore I visited.
The one time I did a puzzle, I realized I could write a programe to solve it faster than I could solve it myself.
My father is really into it as well. I am losing all of my loved ones to sodoku.
Put me down as another who was suspicious of Narnia especially since it came to us via Disney. After hearing so many good things about it I went and I loved it.
I thought all the kids were great in their roles. Tilda Swinton was simultaneously sexy and hideous and has redefined the character for me.
The bombing sequence was unrealistic because they were way too close to the ground. For the shadows to be as large as they were they’d have to be only a hundred or so feet in the air. Of course it doesn’t really matter when you’re ten minutes away from goat-legged men and talking beavers. “I’m not gonna smell it if that’s what you want.”
Scott- //Of course it doesn’t really matter when you’re ten minutes away from goat-legged men and talking beavers.//
HAHAHAHA
But that’s exactly what I’m saying about that opening sequence. It had more the quality of a dreamscape – than reality. I think that was deliberate. To have these swooping shadows – like great dragons from above – I thought it was very effective, and maybe how it would have seemed to a small child.
And I agree about Tilda … not at ALL what I would have pictured. I pictured someone more … gorgeous, I guess. I pictured her with the coloring of Snow White – black hair, white skin, red lips.
But yeah – I thought she was terrific.
I have a sodoku software program on my computer which can render me an infinite number of puzzles whenever I want them. But, I suppose that doesn’t surprise you.
I gave a cursory glance to all things Narnia and Brokeback Mountain that you just wrote because I’m compulsive about hearing the absolute least things possible about any book or movie or TV show I haven’t experienced. Again, not surprising.
David –
Nope. Doesn’t surprise me at all.
David – all I will say is: wait til you see Heath Ledger. It’s really an amazing piece of acting.
IM I just had with my brother:
Him: i guess you’re dragging me to gay cowboy movie
Me: yup jake g is hawt (I revert to age 12 on IM. Sorry.)
Him: well, that’s one way to celebrate the birth of our lord, watching gay cowboys
Me: what are the other ways
thanks for the review – I read the Narnia Chronicles right after reading the Hobbit, since the Hobbit came after a long dry spell of reading the Oz books. I remember reading the Oz books and getting to the end HUNGRY for more of the fantastical…and then the Hobbit showed up in the most unobtrusive place and I pounced on it like Gollum on the Ring. I DEVOURED the Hobbit…and after reading LOTR wanted even more…and so learned about the Narnia Chronicles.
Have to say, after all of Tolkien’s stuff, I was disappointed in Narnia…and felt vaguely insulted. Nothing like Tolkien’s writing, and I didnt read it as any kind of allegory either, but I felt like I had reverted back to 2nd grade material.
Needless to say, as an adult I appreciate Lewis’ books much much more now, and not necessarily because of its Christian message. I think what makes Tolkien and Lewis so wonderful is that both their works are UNIVERSAL. You don’t HAVE to be Christian or a Catholic Christian to understand the …hmmm…well, for lack of a better word…HUMANITY…in the writing and story. I think this is what defines classics : no matter who you are in the world, or what cultural background you come from, or what your personal religious beliefs are, if you are able to read the story and come away from it going “I GOT that!” then any “purposeful” message becomes just that. I didnt read Tolkien because I was Catholic and needed to find a “Catholic” book. I read it because I was looking for a story that would take me outside of myself and come alive for me. I think Lewis and Tolkien accomplished what they set out to do, and that alone has my great admiration. That is so much more than a lot of us can say.
I have to say I loved Tilda SO much as The Snow Queen I assumed she would get a Golden Globe nomination.I thought she was excellent. Really excellent interesting, weird work from her. I get what you’re saying about the book though, Shiela. She was completely different that I had ever thought as well. But I LOVED the movie. LOVED it!
Also- the religous thing? I mean, okay. I didn’t get it when I was 8 and I don’t get it now. I just love the story and love the characters. I mean, ofcourse I can see it, and it makes sense, but I went because I love the story.
Love it.
Sharon – oh, definitely. The genius of those books is that you can read it as straight story and not feel like you’re being preached to. Narnia works as a story. I remember CRYING when I was a kid when Aslan died – but I didn’t think: “Oh, wow. That’s like Christ on the cross. He died for my sins.” Uhm – no. Because that would be no fun and I was a child. I just loved Aslan the lion.
I grew up Catholic and I believe in all that stuff but I don’t EVER want the art of STORY-TELLING to die – I love fairy tales and Harry Potter and fantasy and witches and goblins. The people who get all bent out of shape about that shite drive me up a wall.
But that’s just me. I hate preaching and proselytizing. (Except when I preach about how great Russell Crowe is. Then I think preaching is GREAT.)
Alex –
I especially loved how it looked as though she had frost on her eyelashes. I thought that was a VERY cool touch.
She was amazing.
Ah, sheila – you said the words that brighten my day LOL (Russell Crowe)
thank you!
Sharon – I watched Master and Commander again on Patrick O’Brian’s birthday – as a little commemorative moment – and really looked for the moment you described so well – the patriarchal fatherly moment when the child’s arm has been amputated – it says so much, but there are no words – just a look in his eyes. Incredible!!
Ugh. You liked Brokeback Mountain? Unless they’ve drastically changed the actual release from the work cut I saw, I can’t imagine how. Proulx’s original story is very good, I must say, but the film incarnation was utter crap in my eye, and for no lack of trying on the part of Ledger et al. It just feels wooden and fake, in many ways. Ledger was good, but Steve McQueen? Time will tell, but I’m not so sure just yet.
Narnia is amazing, however, I’ll certainly agree. I rarely, rarely see a film in theater more than once, but I’ve seen it three times so far. There are a few painfully cheesy moments, but, in a strange way, those make it all the better. Hats off to Walden for bridging the final gap between live action and CGI. I knew I’d eventually see something to which my mind knew wasn’t real, but my eyes couldn’t readily tell the difference, I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.
Also, yes, Swinton is just amazing. That’s some good villain’in.
You “can’t imagine how” I liked it, Lion? Uhm – cause you and I are different people with different tastes, perhaps? How ’bout that?
I think Heath Ledger should be nominated for an Academy Award.
I like what you said about bridging the gap between live action and CGI – I think that’s spot on. A lot of CGI leaves me cold – it’s like a video game – and just doesn’t look REAL – but that battle in Narnia seemed like it was really happening – even with all of those fantastical creatures.
My wife is having a lot of fun with Sudoku, and (I’ve been wanting an opportunity to say) the snow is general across Northeast Ohio.
Ken – hahahahaha!!!
I wish the snow were general all over Manhattan … but alas, I will have to live vicariously!
The snow’s been too damn specific to Chicagoland.
Has it been frigid cold, Scott? Is the lake frozen yet?>
The lake is frozen out to the breakers but not beyond. The temperatures have dipped to the teens. So it hasn’t been horrible, but the weekend in NY in the 30s did feel temperate to me. Snow-wise we’ve had over 15 inches so far which is a bit high.
Sports is next after these messages from our sponsors…
scott – hahahaha
I know it’s brutal but I always did love looking out at the frozen lake – it was so eerie!!
Talk about your frozen Narnia world!!
Lisa – somehow i missed your comment way back up there – it made me laugh!!!
Yes. No other way to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ than to see Jake and Heath go at it. Yum!!
I can’t get Brokeback Mountain in Worcester, MA – I’m going to have to trek to Boston. It’s sad…
You’ll think me a fuddy-duddy, but I refused to see the first LoR movie because I didn’t think it could be done justice. Saw it on DVD instead.
Tremendous achievement, of course, even with what they had to trim or change, but oddly, I preferred the DVD cut of the film a little more, as I had leisure to watch the deleted scenes. The theatrical release seemed a lot like “OK, now it’s time for the scene at the Prancing Pony; now it’s time for the scene at Weathertop; now it’s time for Agent Elrond to squint and address the council.” The deleted scenes helped stitch that all together into a better narrative. But there’s nothing like an epic in a theater, after all, so I’m glad I got off the fence and went to see them all.
As a result, I’m more forgiving of what’s possible for the Chronicles: they’re shorter books and of a different storytelling style that more lends itself to the cinema. And I’ll forgive them everything if I get to play Puddleglum.
Nightfly – I completely know what you mean!! I don’t have that with LOTR, particularly – although I know many people did. I know many people who just couldn’t bring themselves to see the movies because of their attachment to the books. I have that with other books – The Shipping News being an example. I watched what they did to that great book and … it took me a while to erase it from my memory so that I could just go back to enjoying the book.
Well, I’ll rephrase. I can’t understand how anyone could enjoy it, but, certainly, I’m not a member of the target audience. I think the acting was excellent, and Ledger certainly deserves whatever accolades he gets. But, as a movie, it just fell flat for me.
To clarify my comment, I know you’re a rather huge film buff, and as such I was curious as to what you saw it in, beyond the obvious great acting.
I’ve been a fan of Heath Ledger since the vastly under-rated A Knight’s Tale. Liked him in The Four Feathers too – hell, I own both movies.