Film 50 and Book Seventy Five
Sep. 28th, 2010 12:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spooky_missFilm 50 – Scott Pilgrim
I mainly went to see this film as it is directing by Edgar Wright, who I really like, so I was a bit surprised that I liked it so much, as its not really my type of film. Its about a boy, Scott Pilgrim, who falls in love with a girl, Ramona, but before he can go out with her he has to defeat her “seven evil exes” (not ex-boyfriends, as he keeps saying!). Plus Scott is still going out with another girl. Another character I liked was Scott’s housemate, played by Kieron Culkin – who was really good.
The film is an adaptation of a comic book and there are lots of “comic book” type moments, especially when he is “fighting” the exes. Its also very computer game orientated – which I didn’t think I would like so much, but it worked really well. I think I liked it because it was the “old” style computer games, like arcade games, not like all the serious fighting ones you get nowadays. For example, when the exes were “destroyed”, the score floated up into the air, and money rained down! It was great. One of the best bits was when Scott did or said something (can’t remember what it was now!) and a “1 up” appeared in the air, which he grabbed! Then later on when trying to defeat the “big boss” ex at the end, Scott died…but it was ok, as he had an extra life :D I’m going to read the comic books now, I haven’t read anything like that before (although I’d like to read the Sin City and Battle Royale ones, as I really love those films), but I think it’d be good as I more or less know the story already. Recommended for anyone who likes comic books and computer games, or Edgar Wright! 9 / 10
Book Seventy Five – Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Let me start by saying that I’ve been trying to read this book for so long! I’ve started it a few times over the last couple of years, but have never got into it really. And now I’m glad I’ve read it as I never have to read it again! The story was really good – I love this kind of family saga, especially set in a historical time, but I HATED Scarlett O’Hara. She is the WORST character I have ever read. Worse than both Heathcliff AND Cathy from Wuthering Heights, who before this book were my least favourite characters ever! I don’t know if it is the writing or the character, because I’ve read books before that the main character was horrible (such as The Kite Runner) but still really enjoyed reading about them, but with this one I just wanted Scarlett to go away so I could get on enjoying the rest of the story. She is a selfish, horrible, self-centred spoilt child. I’ve had a few discussions about this, and people have highlighted how she showed strength and feminism for doing things which weren’t expected of women of her time. However, the way I read it is that all her aim was for her to get back to her rich, pampered life she had before her marriage to Charles and the civil war. All she wants is a life with Ashley, even though he is happy with and loves Melanie. Scarlett is also so horrible to Melanie, who only ever shows her love and friendship. She marries, without having any love for her husbands! Scarlett is horrible to her children, and doesn’t seem to want them at all – the only time she shows some affection is towards Bonnie near to the end, but that comes across as only because she is Rhett’s favourite and Scarlett wants to continue to have Rhett’s affections as well. It was a frustrating read because Rhett only ever told her the truth about herself, he told her she was selfish and stupid, but she just ignored him and misinterpreted his words. So annoying!
Putting Scarlett aside – the story was wonderful. It is set around the time of the civil war in America, and follows the fortunes of a group of rich people who have to try and rebuild their lives after they have been torn apart by the war. It shows how the social expectations of the time were torn down – for example about what they wore (as they couldn’t get cloth), who they married (as all the “eligible gentlemen” had been killed in the war), and what the women did in their lives (as they had to get or create jobs, as their husbands, fathers and brothers had been killed or disabled in the war). I liked all the little details about how they lived, and would have liked to have known more about the other people who lived in the town too. I liked Rhett Butler, as he seemed to have his own mind instead of bowing to convention.
Its hard to rate this book as I want to give it 0 / 10 as Scarlett O’Hara annoyed me so much, but the story is almost 10 / 10! So I think I will have to compromise and give it 5 / 10. I’m not sure if I’d recommend it – I know its supposed to be a classic but Scarlett O’Hara just made me so angry I don’t want anyone to read it!
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kandielei I hope that satisfies your curiosity now! :)
Ooh and in other interesting news I've joined a book club (well haven't been to it yet, but I'm going to get the book to read on Saturday!). I'm quite excited about it really, isn't that sad, haha. The first book to read is "The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne, which I have been wanting to buy and read ever since it came out, so now this is a good excuse to do so!
Just added the "mood" thingy, and for "geeky" its a cat by a computer... I want one to be reading a book! :)
I mainly went to see this film as it is directing by Edgar Wright, who I really like, so I was a bit surprised that I liked it so much, as its not really my type of film. Its about a boy, Scott Pilgrim, who falls in love with a girl, Ramona, but before he can go out with her he has to defeat her “seven evil exes” (not ex-boyfriends, as he keeps saying!). Plus Scott is still going out with another girl. Another character I liked was Scott’s housemate, played by Kieron Culkin – who was really good.
The film is an adaptation of a comic book and there are lots of “comic book” type moments, especially when he is “fighting” the exes. Its also very computer game orientated – which I didn’t think I would like so much, but it worked really well. I think I liked it because it was the “old” style computer games, like arcade games, not like all the serious fighting ones you get nowadays. For example, when the exes were “destroyed”, the score floated up into the air, and money rained down! It was great. One of the best bits was when Scott did or said something (can’t remember what it was now!) and a “1 up” appeared in the air, which he grabbed! Then later on when trying to defeat the “big boss” ex at the end, Scott died…but it was ok, as he had an extra life :D I’m going to read the comic books now, I haven’t read anything like that before (although I’d like to read the Sin City and Battle Royale ones, as I really love those films), but I think it’d be good as I more or less know the story already. Recommended for anyone who likes comic books and computer games, or Edgar Wright! 9 / 10
Book Seventy Five – Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Let me start by saying that I’ve been trying to read this book for so long! I’ve started it a few times over the last couple of years, but have never got into it really. And now I’m glad I’ve read it as I never have to read it again! The story was really good – I love this kind of family saga, especially set in a historical time, but I HATED Scarlett O’Hara. She is the WORST character I have ever read. Worse than both Heathcliff AND Cathy from Wuthering Heights, who before this book were my least favourite characters ever! I don’t know if it is the writing or the character, because I’ve read books before that the main character was horrible (such as The Kite Runner) but still really enjoyed reading about them, but with this one I just wanted Scarlett to go away so I could get on enjoying the rest of the story. She is a selfish, horrible, self-centred spoilt child. I’ve had a few discussions about this, and people have highlighted how she showed strength and feminism for doing things which weren’t expected of women of her time. However, the way I read it is that all her aim was for her to get back to her rich, pampered life she had before her marriage to Charles and the civil war. All she wants is a life with Ashley, even though he is happy with and loves Melanie. Scarlett is also so horrible to Melanie, who only ever shows her love and friendship. She marries, without having any love for her husbands! Scarlett is horrible to her children, and doesn’t seem to want them at all – the only time she shows some affection is towards Bonnie near to the end, but that comes across as only because she is Rhett’s favourite and Scarlett wants to continue to have Rhett’s affections as well. It was a frustrating read because Rhett only ever told her the truth about herself, he told her she was selfish and stupid, but she just ignored him and misinterpreted his words. So annoying!
Putting Scarlett aside – the story was wonderful. It is set around the time of the civil war in America, and follows the fortunes of a group of rich people who have to try and rebuild their lives after they have been torn apart by the war. It shows how the social expectations of the time were torn down – for example about what they wore (as they couldn’t get cloth), who they married (as all the “eligible gentlemen” had been killed in the war), and what the women did in their lives (as they had to get or create jobs, as their husbands, fathers and brothers had been killed or disabled in the war). I liked all the little details about how they lived, and would have liked to have known more about the other people who lived in the town too. I liked Rhett Butler, as he seemed to have his own mind instead of bowing to convention.
Its hard to rate this book as I want to give it 0 / 10 as Scarlett O’Hara annoyed me so much, but the story is almost 10 / 10! So I think I will have to compromise and give it 5 / 10. I’m not sure if I’d recommend it – I know its supposed to be a classic but Scarlett O’Hara just made me so angry I don’t want anyone to read it!
kandielei I hope that satisfies your curiosity now! :) Ooh and in other interesting news I've joined a book club (well haven't been to it yet, but I'm going to get the book to read on Saturday!). I'm quite excited about it really, isn't that sad, haha. The first book to read is "The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne, which I have been wanting to buy and read ever since it came out, so now this is a good excuse to do so!
Just added the "mood" thingy, and for "geeky" its a cat by a computer... I want one to be reading a book! :)
