Warp wrote:
>   I'm not really sure what I expected when I rented this movie, but I really
> didn't expect it to be boring. 

I've always found movies far more exciting in a reasonably-full movie 
theater than at home. Jaws was downright tedious on video. :-)

>   It felt like you could perhaps enjoy the movie more if you had read the
> book (although I wouldn't bet on that, as we all know about movie adaptations
> of books), but without knowing anything at all about the story it was a bit
> confusing and boring.

It was fairly confusing an boring as a book, too. It was, however, a 
fairly good adaptation, methinks.

I read all three books, out of curiousity and boredom. I'd say it was an 
attempt at an epic story whose intention was to teach you that epic 
stories aren't important.  So it kind of got wrapped around its own axle.

It's a book about how not to believe in religion, full of evil people 
who see the light, magic vague conciousnesses talking to prophesied 
children, beings made from pure thought, inexplicable evil leaking into 
the world when science goes awry, and heaven forbid don't believe in 
religion.

>   It's not like movie adaptations of fantasy books couldn't be enjoyable.
> I liked the Harry Potter movies even though I haven't read even a single
> line of the books.

FWIW, the first movie was pretty spot on with the book - if you saw the 
movie, you'll be bored with the book. I think the later ones probably 
had books too complex to really do complete justice to in a movie. And 
of course the story was pretty puerile too, so it got pretty old after 
the first book.

>   Is it just me, or is Hollywood trying lately to cash on the success of
> the LotR movies by making tons of similarly-themed fantasy movies based
> on random fantasy books? 

Well, the Golden Compass was written for exactly the opposite reason as 
Narnia was written, so maybe they figured the success of Narnia would 
make for a good Golden Compass. And of course, they're all kid's stories 
(well, not LotR, but...) so it's easier to put on the screen than some 
adult-oriented fantasies.

I think the ones with a specific catch to them (like the Forbidden 
Kingdom being a Kung Fu movie) was an example of that.

I'm finding the same sentiment with lots of the animated films. Take a 
completely normal story, put animated characters in it, and instant 
blockbuster. Toy Story did this and it was excellent. So then you get 
Bugs Life, Cars, whatever that one with the Sharks was, etc ad 
infinitum, without any real story you couldn't have told without the 
animation.

This one just cracked me up, tho:
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=YBM3j7x4Lcw

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

Post a reply to this message