books and movies
J is currently reading to me a series of Stephen King short stories. They're classic old Stephen King shorts. We bought the book at a discount store primarily because it has Children of the Corn in it. I'd seen the movie when I was a kid, at a camp in school, I think - I can't remember. It doesn't make any sense now that I consider it. What sort of deranged minds would show Children of the Corn to a bunch of elementary school kids? I probably saw parts of it on TV and spliced a bunch of events together.
Anyway, the stories - neither too long, nor too short, each taking maybe three to four evenings to read, have been very entertaining, and are adding a certain creepiness to our bedtime routine. Much fun.
I've just finished Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, a post-apocalyptic dystopia about the one man (and maybe more?) who appears to survive (though this word may be used quite loosely) it as he recalls the particularly gripping events that lead up to the present-day. Atwood has a very clever way of writing. You're always faintly aware that nothing is as certain as this possibly insane man's perception of his world.
I've never read any Margaret Atwood prior to this, and I can tell you I'm looking forward to reading more. It's a bit of a guilty get-away pleasure. I steal little bits of time to just sit down and read a chapter or a few pages, and it feels great.
Definitely recommended.
Over the past few weeks we've caught a few movies. We saw TRON: Legacy. I've never seen the original, but loved the retro references (the soundtrack is a real kick!) to the 1982 version. Definitely not a great movie, but it's lot of fun. Jeff Bridges' character inside the grid is very reminiscent of Obi Wan Kenobi, I have to say. Thirteen is cute as a button (I'll never be able to separate her from her character on House M.D., I'm afraid). The movie was only offered in 3D (and Imax, but that's really pushing it), and to be honest, I don't see the point. The action scenes (I loved the first battle scene Sam Flynn was dropped into) would have done just as well without the 3D. Seemed like a money-grubbing ploy. I did like the (literal!) nod at Daft Punk.
And then we caught No Strings Attached, a for-fun, light-hearted, fluffy movie that we basically wanted to see because Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher were in it. They're both really cute, and the best scene is about 25 minutes in when he wakes up in what seems to be a complete stranger's apartment. Some fantastic lines and great comedic timing here. I like that Natalie Portman is choosing such a wide, wide range of roles. I think we're already quite well-aware of her acting chops, so it's nice to that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Ashton Kutcher is cute, and, you know, so.. tall.
Right after that we saw The Fighter. I can see why Christian Bale is winning all these awards. This is a great film, no doubt about it, bolstered by the frankly superb acting. Mark Wahlberg is a little bit eclipsed by Bale's character, though. And Marky Mark always seems a little bit the same - and I do like him a lot. Sort of the stoic, martyred character; always vaguely intense.
In other news, it's gotten bitingly cold again, after all the snow we were getting. I can't decide if I prefer the -14°c with clear-blue skies, or the -1°c grey and damp with snow. Anyway, it's time to get layered up and hie my ass to the library to finish a chapter revision.
Anyway, the stories - neither too long, nor too short, each taking maybe three to four evenings to read, have been very entertaining, and are adding a certain creepiness to our bedtime routine. Much fun.
I've just finished Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, a post-apocalyptic dystopia about the one man (and maybe more?) who appears to survive (though this word may be used quite loosely) it as he recalls the particularly gripping events that lead up to the present-day. Atwood has a very clever way of writing. You're always faintly aware that nothing is as certain as this possibly insane man's perception of his world.
I've never read any Margaret Atwood prior to this, and I can tell you I'm looking forward to reading more. It's a bit of a guilty get-away pleasure. I steal little bits of time to just sit down and read a chapter or a few pages, and it feels great.
Definitely recommended.
Over the past few weeks we've caught a few movies. We saw TRON: Legacy. I've never seen the original, but loved the retro references (the soundtrack is a real kick!) to the 1982 version. Definitely not a great movie, but it's lot of fun. Jeff Bridges' character inside the grid is very reminiscent of Obi Wan Kenobi, I have to say. Thirteen is cute as a button (I'll never be able to separate her from her character on House M.D., I'm afraid). The movie was only offered in 3D (and Imax, but that's really pushing it), and to be honest, I don't see the point. The action scenes (I loved the first battle scene Sam Flynn was dropped into) would have done just as well without the 3D. Seemed like a money-grubbing ploy. I did like the (literal!) nod at Daft Punk.
And then we caught No Strings Attached, a for-fun, light-hearted, fluffy movie that we basically wanted to see because Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher were in it. They're both really cute, and the best scene is about 25 minutes in when he wakes up in what seems to be a complete stranger's apartment. Some fantastic lines and great comedic timing here. I like that Natalie Portman is choosing such a wide, wide range of roles. I think we're already quite well-aware of her acting chops, so it's nice to that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Ashton Kutcher is cute, and, you know, so.. tall.
Right after that we saw The Fighter. I can see why Christian Bale is winning all these awards. This is a great film, no doubt about it, bolstered by the frankly superb acting. Mark Wahlberg is a little bit eclipsed by Bale's character, though. And Marky Mark always seems a little bit the same - and I do like him a lot. Sort of the stoic, martyred character; always vaguely intense.
In other news, it's gotten bitingly cold again, after all the snow we were getting. I can't decide if I prefer the -14°c with clear-blue skies, or the -1°c grey and damp with snow. Anyway, it's time to get layered up and hie my ass to the library to finish a chapter revision.