- I spent the weekend before last reading The Road. I cried when I finished it. It’s a brutal and often shocking book, with a pared-down, monotonous (although hypnotic) voice. It’s also very sad, tender and intimate.
- The weekend before that, I saw Avatar in 3D. I loved the colours and concepts in the Na’Vis’ world; but was disappointed that there was a bog-standard, unoriginal Hollywood storyline slapped over the top of it.
- Last weekend I watched Up. I thought it was great, but after a certain sequence near the beginning, spent the first half of the film in a rather tearful, wobbly state.
- I’m reading A.S. Byatt’s The Children’s Book, and finding it quite a delectable feast. I just wish I had longer stretches of time available to devote to it.
- I went to see Three Sisters at the Lyric Hammersmith on Saturday. It was a Filter production. I really enjoyed it, especially the first half. Although I like Filter, I was a bit worried that their penchant for using technology would mess with the original version too much. It didn’t, thankfully. Saying that, during the scene changes, they played snippets of various highly contrasting songs; one of which was Madonna’s Like a Virgin. Jarring, and confusing, to say the least.
- I now have every Friday afternoon off work. This has turned out to be even better than it sounds.
- I hope I will rediscover the ability to write about things in more depth soon. I am probably just in a state of semi-hibernation that I will hopefully awake from in March.
- There was a light dusting of snow this morning. I really hope it wasn’t a portent for the rest of the month. The thought of more snow makes me feel weary.
Bullets
This entry was posted in Books, Film, General, Theatre and tagged A.S. Byatt, Avatar, Children's Book, Cormac McCarthy, Filter, The Road, Three Sisters, Up. Bookmark the permalink.
I have not yet seen Avatar. I get really queasy with action movies and 3-D makes it worse. Will have to watch on DVD. I’ve heard so many mixed reviews about it but the consensus seems to be that it’s pretty but the story is lacking.
That first sequence in Up was some of the best storytelling I’ve seen in a movie. No joke. I liked the rest of the movie but I’m not sure that it measured up to the first part.
Oooh…partay every Friday afternoon!
I’m ready for this ice to go the eff away.
“Last weekend I watched Up. I thought it was great, but after a certain sequence near the beginning, spent the first half of the film in a rather tearful, wobbly state.”
Yeah, that scene destroyed me. I don’t think I’ve cried so much at a film before. It really puts Carl’s curmudgeonliness into context, too.
Susie: Yes, I think that first sequence was probably the best part of the film.
Sam: You’re right, it really does.
Gosh, I missed this post!
Blokey was talking about how he’d heard that the opening scene of Up could have grown men in tears … we shall have to watch it at some point.
I only went to see Avatar for the 3D! The story was shockingly mundane.
Have you seen the film of The Road? I haven’t yet read the book, but would like to because I loved the film and have heard the book is far better.
I haven’t seen the film of The Road yet – I think I’ve just about recovered from the book so I’ll have to try and see it soon.