This is a fairly-late notification that I’ll be taking the week off from posting. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise; I do this all the time for no reason at all. But this time I have SEVERAL REASONS AT ALL
– I spent too much time on Fiction into Film. This past weekend I set aside a lot of time to write, and instead of just making notes for the next installment of Fiction into Film, I wrote the whole damned thing. It won’t post until later this month, and it still needs at least one more good edit, but once I started writing it I couldn’t stop. I can honestly say that Fiction into Film is already my favorite series that I’ve done here, and I sincerely hope you’re enjoying it. Please let me know your feedback, and any suggestions for films to cover. So far I’ve done Lolita and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In a couple of weeks they’ll be joined by They Live, and I already know some interesting adaptations I’ll be covering after that. I’m hoping that you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
– This week’s ALF deserves it. Remember way back in season two when I took an extra week to write about “Night Train”? Well, shocking the hell out of me, the next episode of ALF deserves the same consideration. It’s…an interesting one, and I hope you’ll understand that the delay is in aid of giving it its fairest due.
– It’s been a year since Robin Williams took his life. …and I keep seeing reminders of that fact pop up. It brings back a wealth of emotions, which is probably a good thing, as his death opened a dialogue that I believe strongly needs to stay open. It does, however, prevent me from wanting to write the kinds of silly things I usually post here. I will, however, gladly link you to two pieces that I posted that week: Reflections on Robin Williams’ Passing, and the The Voices of Depression. I wrote the first one, and readers here wrote the second. If I had to single out the most important thing that’s ever been on this site, it’d be that one.
– Something big is brewing. Stay tuned for some major news…news that will explain where much of my effort has been going lately. While it’s still too early to say much, I feel obligated to spill at least a few beans. I will be launching a new book series very soon…and it’s something you can all be involved in. It’s a series of physical(!), professional texts that combine art criticism, philosophy, and memoir…and it’s going to be authored by a very select group of incredible writers. More information to come, but if you’ve ever wanted to learn why films, novels, songs, and other works of art affect us they way they do, I can promise you’ll find no better (and no more profound) reading material on the subject. Stay tuned. You’ll be as much a part of this as I will.
– Not a reason, but come on. So I wanted to embed the music video for Bjork’s “It’s Oh So Quiet,” which I haven’t seen since it was new, but even her official youtube account only has it in garbage quality. I mean, look at that crap…it looks like somebody fed it through a dog. What a shame; it’s one of the most gorgeous music videos I’ve ever seen. Does there really exist no version better than what was used to line somebody’s birdcage? It seems almost disrespectful to host it in this shape.
Anyway, thanks for understanding. Let me know in the comments below if you have any thoughts on the above. Seriously; I love you guys, and I love reading what you have to say about the nonsense I get up to here.
Also, let me know what your favorite cookie is. If I ever bake something in my life, it’ll be for you.
My favorite cookie is cookies… plural. One does not work. Also milk.
I’m almost embarrassed to suggest “comics” for “Fiction into Film”, and I know much has been written during the superhero media EXPLOSION over the last few years, but there’s been a fair few excellent (and not so excellent) adaptations over the years which I’m sure your thoughtful, and far more insightful, eyes would find much to discuss. Someone suggested Ghost World in a previous article, and I’d second it, plus I’d add American Splendor, since it’s quite amazing too. in a more “mainstream” area, I’d very much like to read your thoughts on 300, Watchmen and Sin City, as well as anything comics cos I’m a huge comics geek and you talking about comics in the best thing I can think of.
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For a Very Special Edition of Fiction Into Film you could totally use “Adaptation” since it’s real fucking meta about the whole thing, and kicked ass as a movie in and of itself. I haven’t read the book, I have to admit, though I don’t know if it would really add to my enjoyment of the movie, particularly.
“…you talking about comics IS the best thing I can think of.”
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Also Road to Perdition. Oh man, that was cool.
Ghost World is a definite. It’s on my shortlist. Watchmen is also a very, very likely candidate. So thanks!
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I can’t wait to talk about comics and disappoint you by my complete lack of knowledge and clout.
I wouldn’t worry about disappointing in terms of comics knowledge–I think that if you’ve read them and have something to say about them, you’re probably qualified to!
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But if you do cover Watchmen, I’d recommend also reading McCloud’s Understanding Comics. I think Watchmen (the book) is argument enough that Alan Moore had achieved mastery over McCloud’s theories long before McCloud articulated them.
P.S. I like all cookies except sugar cookies.
I first read them both around the same time and it was astonishing how much Understanding Comics is like a “Directors Commentary” for Watchmen. I go back-and-forth about the actual story of Watchmen – sometimes I love it, other times not so much – but on a technical side of things it’s very nearly perfect.
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I’m always sad Dave Gibbons never really reached the same heights post-Watchmen, but then again, post-Moore is always going to be a tough part of ones career.
Actually, “björk” is the same word as the three known in English as “birch”. But yeah, this is me being a party pooper, so you don’t have to care what I say. ;)
Ah yes, it will be very interesting to see what you come up with for the next episode. I remember it being a really good one, even though I have forgotten most of the details.
If we somehow end up in perfect agreement, the universe will collapse. :) Believe me, I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it as well.
Night Train is still one of my favourite ALF write-ups, so I’m looking forward to next week.
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Regarding Fiction to Film: Watchmen was already mentioned, but I would like to read about “V like Vendetta”, which I actually prefer (especially the comic version). Also, maybe “Scott Pilgrim”? But than, I don’t think much of the movie, so maybe not the best choice.
For non-comic books… I’m not sure if there are only specific types of books that you want to cover (or if the movie version has to be actually good), but I’ll just suggest a few things that I would like to read about here. “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” compared to the Disney version, maybe? I’d certainly love to read from you about the book. Elsewise: “The Neverenging Story” (maybe only the first half with the first movie?), “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, “1984”, “A Clockwork Orange” and “I am Legend”.
“I’m not sure if there are only specific types of books that you want to cover (or if the movie version has to be actually good)”
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Any genre is fair game! There will certainly be some that I’m less familiar with than others, but as long as there’s something to say about the process of adaptation, I’m on board. And hopefully that answers your second concern as well; the movie doesn’t have to be good…it just has to be worth talking about. So far I’ve covered only films that I enjoy, but that’s just because those are the ones I was most excited to write about. We’ll be charting murky territory before the year is out, I think…