The book is always better

It's inevitable.

You read a book.  You fall in love.  The characters are so romantic.  So wonderfully flawed.  So unique.  The dialogue is witty.  The story is timeless.  It's hopeful.  It's legendary.  It's audience is worldwide and it's hype is monumental.  

So, of course, they make a movie.  They get a lot of pretty people to star in it.  They get some popular pop rock band to write a theme song and we line up, money in hand, expectations soaring.

And we are always disappointed.

Well, not always.

What is the formula?  How do we transform the amazing story that we experienced on paper into a cinematic reality and remain true to the integrity of the work?  What are the necessary components to satisfy the audience's high hopes?

It's worked before.  The Client.  Loved the book.  Loved the movie.  The only real discrepancy was that in the book the guy drove a Caddy and in the film it was a Buick.  Or vice verse.  Anyway, it was a great film rendition of the book.  

And the Harry Potter films.  What do we think of them?  Well, they are entertaining, sure, and after the first two came out a little tame and lame, they stepped up and got the budgets for some really fun sequences.  But are they as good as the books?  Do they really do the story justice?  In my opinion, not really.

Lord of the Rings...good, but not as good as the books.  Where was Tom Bombadil?!  

The Other Boleyn Girl?  Not even close.

The Divinci Code?  Don't even get me started.

Is it that the movie makers get it wrong? Or are stories just better when written?  

Recently I watched Atonement.  I have never read the book.  I wanted to I just never got around to it.  But I've got a Netflix account so the movie showed up last week and I watched it.  I loved it!  The acting.  The story.  The directing.  The cinematography.  The soundtrack!!  Oh, that soundtrack, with the typing and the violins.  Everything came together for an amazing cinematic effect and I enjoyed every moment of it.  Now, friends of mine who had read the book claimed disappointment after seeing the movie but I had nothing to judge it against and therefor had no expectations.  I was free to enjoy the film with no agenda.  And enjoy it I did.  

I never read the Notebook and actually avoided seeing the movie for years but when I finally broke down and watched it, I loved it.  No expectations.

So what's the answer?  Why do some movie versions turn out great and others are disastrous?

No idea.

So, kids, I guess what I'm saying is live life with no expectations and you'll never be disappointed!  And always see the movie before you read the book.

And never come to me for answers.  What do I know?

Road Rage

I consider myself a mild mannered person.  
And I realize I'm wrong.  I'm neither mild nor mannered but I CONSIDER myself to be thus. Whether you agree or not, I hope you would concur that I am not an angry person.  Of that I am certain.  I am passionate, yes.  Impatient at times.  But not angry.

Until I am sitting behind a car going 65 in the fast lane and ignoring the fact that I've shot up behind them going 75 and am (im)patiently waiting for them to move over.  Waiting and I do not get along well.  And suddenly I have RAGE!

How did I not know this about myself?  I can only assume that I've always been an impatient driver, though this may not be the case.  I can remember in high school driving in a very timid fashion.  In fact, I'm sure I was just a horrible driver.  I was the one going 65 in the fast lane and it never occurred to me to move out of the way.  So when did I become this person?  This 'Go Go Speed Racer'?  I guess life is busier now.  Things are more important.  I mean, in college I took the subway.  In North Carolina...well, I had a ten minute commute.   So I guess I never really had a chance to develop this condition until now.  It's the weirdest thing ever.  I am my normal sweet self (shut up) and then, suddenly, a flip is switched, or rather a switch is flipped, and I'm psycho.  I yell at people.  I get angry.  SO FRUSTRATED!  Inconsiderate drivers bug the HELL out of me!

And I think I just figured out why.

I blame Mike.

Before Mike, I was ignorant to some of the annoyances one experiences while on the road.  But Mike is a VERY considerate driver.  I mean, he'll stop for that pedestrian that you're not quite sure whether they're gonna walk or not.  He stops just to make sure.  Considerate, yeah?

Well, now that I've experienced how one should drive, I see the bad drivers EVERYWHERE!!  And I get SO ANNOYED!  Ignorance is bliss, my friends.  

And I'm not saying I'm a great driver now, no!  I annoy myself sometimes.  Because I still make the convenient assumption that the pedestrian is NOT going to cross the street so I can go on my cheery way.  

At any rate, my rage must STOP!  So, to those of you out there who step into your own world once you step inside your vehicle, do me a solid and take a moment every now and then to take stock of the world around you and maybe if you see me behind you, with my face scrunched up into an expression of RAGE, maybe you move over and let me pass.  

Or...maybe I could just start listening to audio books so I could slip into my own little world behind the wheel and be oblivious to all you crappy drivers!

How about a little of column A and a little of column B.

Deal.

Scream Queens

I don't know if it's the Halloween season or the latest horrible reality TV show to hit the MTV airways, but lately I've been very keen to act in a B Horror film.  This has been a dream of mine since I first saw Halloween, the original with Ms. Jamie 'Queen of Scream' Curtis herself.  I LOVE horror movies.  The good suspense Hitchcock kind, the classic Steven King kind, the cheesy Wes Craven flicks, and the horrible no name actress, no name director, no budget, no clothes, no plot, one star kind they only show on the Sci-Fi channel at two in the morning.  I love 'em.  And I've ALWAYS wanted to be in one.

At first I wanted to be the heroine, the sole survivor who must forever carry her guilt and fear into countless sequels, because only then can you really cement your standing as a true Scream Queen.  Then I thought I'd love to be the villain.  The bad thing that goes bump in the night.  Oh, how much fun would that be?!  To rise from the dead or emerge from under some rock or out of some institution and unleash my torment on all those who put me away.  Fun, right?

Or the best friend who has all the witty comebacks and is apparently fearless in the face of death as she continually insists that the plain faced stick in the mud heroine go out to parties, crawl into attics, camp in the woods, or sleep with the wrong guy.  And then she dies a horrible and grisly death.  Totally fun.

So, I've been looking for opportunities to audition for a horror movie.  And they've been making a bunch recently.  All low budget no name flicks but hey, what do I care, right?  I just want to have some fun!  One problem.  I have yet to find an audition for a horror movie that does not require me to take my shirt off.

Really?!  It can't be one of those no nudity involved sort of movies?  I mean, seriously?!  You expect me to come to your 'studio' aka 'skanky apartment' and strip down to audition for a role in a 'horror movie' aka 'porno with a Halloween theme'?   Sigh.  And yuck.

So, I guess I'll have to wait until I'm a more legitimate actress to get my big break in the B Horror genre.  They still have horror movies without any nudity, right?  Right?!

Also, there's IS a horrible new reality TV show called Scream Queens and it makes me so sad.  These 'actresses' aka 'skanks' are competing to star in the latest SAW movies, not one of my favorites but still.  One of them gets to live my dream and all I'm getting is porn.  THEY should be in porn!  I miss Hitchcock. 

Tina

So I'm thinking this is the look I need for my wedding.  Yes?

Check out the hair!  Yes, it's all mine.

So, in actuality I was playing Tina in Tony N' Tina's Wedding but I'm thinking I can totally use some ideas from this for my own wedding.  I mean, if nothing else then definitely the hair!

Kids...Part 2

So, as previously stated, I have recently spent some time with an adorable one year old and an amazing five year old.  My niece, Elizabeth Marie, and my nephew, Nathaniel, live in Austin so I am  forced to cram all bonding time with them into five days for Christmas or a week for Easter, etc.  I've missed out on birthdays and first steps.  So it was really important for me to spend some quality time with them on this last trip.  I would be seeing them wake up every morning and putting them to sleep every night and I was so excited to make some memories with my two smallest family members.  

And, again, as previously stated, it was exhausting, indeed.  But also so rewarding.  And memories, they were made, my friends.

Nathaniel, as we were getting him dressed in the morning, said to me "Can I give you a hug?".  I said, "Yes, please" and he proceed to crawl into my lap and wrap his arms around me for a good old fashioned cuddle.  We sat like that for a few minutes talking about this or that and it felt so good to  have that connection.  

Little Libby has tried to say my name, I'm told.  True it's garbled and slightly incoherent but I've heard that she looked down from the deck to the lawn where I was running around with her brother and called out, "Aaa Neeeie" (clearly intended to be 'Aunt Stephie', as I am referred to by my family now).  And to see that girl smile when I walked in the room was enough to melt my heart.

We went on strolls where Nathaniel and I lamented about the 'Private Park' on our street, wishing we were among the select few who were deemed worthy to slide and swing.  We then went into planning mode, going over the designs for our own park, complete with water slide and the best monkey bars this side of the Amazon.  If you're nice to us then you can come play too but not you Christopher because you tease Nathaniel at school so you are not allowed.  That goes for the rest of you bullies, too.

And I found that Libby really likes for me to sing Motown and dance around the room with her in my arms.  And I'll never forget the first time she reached up for me to hold her.  Made me feel so good to feel her little arms wrap around my neck for a hug.  Kids are great.

So, exhausting?  Yes.  Amazing?  Completely!  One of my favorite trips to Austin, definitely.  And I'd do it again, Samantha.  Any time.  Thanks for letting me join in the fun.  Love you!!!

Kids

My sister got married last weekend and as a special gift to the newlyweds I decided to stay a few extra days and help watch their kids while they took a honeymoon.

I have never been more exhausted in my life.  I'm too tired to write silly anecdotes about the week.  I can't relate any stories as my brain is still mush.  Mike and I are thinking that being parents to our kitten is good enough.   For now.  For a very long time.

To all the parents out there, I salute you.  I don't know how you do it.

Warning: The following is a rant.

I don't know if you've noticed but so far my blog has been completely void of any political subject matter.  It's not that I don't care.  BELIEVE me, I do!  But I feel that we are inundated all day every day by propaganda on all fronts and I don'tneed to explore the subject at any length here.  Besides, my vote is decided and has been for a very long time so what is there to talk about, really?  And, I've really enjoyed all of the truly mundane things previously discussed in this blog.  Sometimes, especially during times such as these, it's nice to escape to a land of wall clocks and eighties rock.

Well, friends, I'm sorry to break the rules but here goes.

GAY MARRIAGE.

If you're against gay marriage then don't do it.  But why prevent others from doing it?  Who does gay marriage hurt?  The church?  Society?  That's a matter of opinion and has NOTHING to do with the law.  

I love America and here's why.  In America you are entitled to your opinion.  Entitled.  Express yourself.  Argue.  Debate.  Pick a cause to fight for and fight!  But why pick gay marriage? How does it affect your life if two men are declared 'Husband and Husband'?  I really don't get what the big deal is.  

If you do not approve of homosexuality because of religious reasons that's fine.  But there's a little thing called separation of Church and State.  Which means we cannot pass laws based on what Jesus said was right and wrong.  

And I love how people think gay marriage will lead to a new interpretation of the Constitution.  Kind of like it did when we included African Americans and Women.  What were we thinking?!

And I realize I'm ranting but when I see those ads to 'Vote yes on Prop 8!' I get so frustrated.  Aren't there more important issues we should be dealing with?  War?  Debt?  Education?  Health care?  Redefining the requirements for one to be chosen as a Vice President?  These are issues we should worry about.  

People say that gay marriage will destroy the sanctity of marriage.  I got news for them.  Divorce destroys the sanctity of marriage.  Literally.  You want to protect the sanctity, then outlaw divorce.   No?  Then shut up.

Aaaaaaaaaand rant DONE!