1,000

...or, Wednesday's Post, postponed.

First, congratulations to True Grit, Inception and Toy Story 3 for earning a boatload of Academy Award nominations yesterday. Of course, I reviewed True Grit here and had a thing or two to say about Inception here. I like it when the movies I've seen are the ones recognized by the people in the industry as being exceptional, and while I'd have to think pretty hard about it to be sure...I was going to say that was 100% of the films I saw this year, but after thinking about it, those are only half the films I saw this year. I did see at least three others. (Despicable Me, Megamind and Tangled, if you are keeping score. The Junior Reader [age, 4] picks most of our films.)

Second, I read something very, very interesting yesterday over at one of my favorite websites, io9.com. While I've mostly focused on books, I read just about anything made out of letters forming words that barely qualify as English.

Case in point.

Anyway the aforementioned website has been going nuts on Battlestar Galactica this week, the groundbreaking tv drama that aired on Sci Fi Channel from 2003 to 2010. On Tuesday, they posted the series bible for BSG. It was a really neat read, and anyone who is interested in how tv is produced, and especially anyone who liked Galactica should give it a read. (Anyone who hasn't seen the whole show beginning to end probably shouldn't read it, IMHO. Too Spoilery.)

I'm not going to go into anything spoilerific here, either, but let's just say that when you read a couple of the character sketches, it's a little disappointing where their character arcs ultimately led.

It is a complete rebuke of everything wrong with Science Fiction on tv in 2003, namely the Star Trek legacy shows. (The original still kicks @$$ when you look at it in the context of its time.)

The bible is good stuff in its entirety, though. Give it a read.

Finally, today The Rochester Reader is likely to surpass just (9:28 am CST) surpassed 1,000 visitors since I started it in November. Thanks for stopping by. I mean it. (Especially the 14 hits I received from Belize this week. Seriously.) It is humbling to think that that many people have ended up here, much less that anyone would enjoy themselves enough to come back!

Thank you! See you next time.

Now go read something today already!

rr

True Grit Film/Book Comparison

All worked out last night, so I thought I would share just a few observations about the film.

The adaptation is good. Even to the point of brilliant. There were a few parts that were slightly changed, but I got the feeling that was done entirely in the name of making it a better fit for the medium. All of the major (and minor) episodes of the book were retained in the film, as was most of the dialogue. And a big tip of the hat goes to the performance of the cast as well as the Coen Brothers' adaptation for breathing life (and quirkiness, of course) into the film. It was a much darker story that played out in my mind as I read the book. The bearskin medicine man was the only major addition, and it was the point at which I said to myself "Yep. This is a Coen Brothers film." The biggest change was also, arguably the best (SPOILER ALERT, hilight to read): in the book, Mattie Ross only wounds Tom Chaney, LaBoeuf finishes him off. In the film, Mattie does it herself, a fitting and arguably justified end to the film's main storyline. Or maguffin. Take your pick.

I say maguffin, because that may seem like the major plot of the book, but the book isn't really about that. It is about proving that not only Rooster Cogburn, but also LaBoeuf, Little Blackie and especially Mattie Ross all have True Grit.


Hailee Steinfeld is great as Mattie Ross. Believe the hype. The whole story kind of hangs on her performance, and she delivers. It is all the more impressive that this newcomer held her own with Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin.

And casting Barry Pepper as Lucky Ned Pepper? Genius. Pure genius. (Not casting Shia LaBeouf as LaBoeuf? Equally genius.)

Tell me what you think in the comments.
And go read something today!
rr

Just Finished: True Grit

I just finished True Grit by Charles Portis.

No, not that Grit.

I'm supposed to see the Coen Brother's version tonight, if all goes according to plan. I have huge expectations from that film. I liked No Country for Old Men a lot. And some portions of the book by Portis reminded me a lot of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven.

As for the book, I can tell you this: Mattie Ross has just as much "true grit" as Rooster Cogburn, and every bit as much of an original voice as Holden Caulfield. I give it the rr seal of approval.

Until next time,
rr

Currently Reading: True Grit

I'm currently reading True Grit by Charles Portis.

That may seem like it is out of left field, given my ongoing predisposition towards science fiction in general, and Philip K. Dick in particular. But I also realized a long time ago that nothing exists in a vacuum, and what is hot in film and television definitely influences what I read. On the other hand, I wish I could get all that time back I wasted as a 20-year old reading Star Trek novels, which, let's face it, are pretty much on par with fan fic. (Not that there's anything wrong with that if that's what you like. It's just my regret, and my interpretation.)

For the record, I haven't read that many westerns. I did read Lonesome Dove in college, and that is one hell of a read. I highly recommend it. As for the sequels, I read the first one, it didn't really do anything for me, and I haven't gone back to that well since. I think I would like to read Riders of the Purple Sage someday. And I have The Oxbow Incident on order. I saw the movie once twenty years ago and it was pretty good.

Also for the record, my preferred genres include, in no particular order, science fiction, science, fiction/literature, history and spy fi. I just thought I'd throw that out there.

What do you like to read? Let me know in the comments.