Hearing Marissa Nadler sing "Flora Barone, Queen of the Vaudeville Throne" is something else. And she even has an MP3 of a live version recorded by the BBC, so you can go hear what I mean. (And there’s more in the listening booth too.) And she’s going on the road next year.
This song was included on a Comes With a Smile sampler, which is full of excellent stuff.
It’s ChristopherGras*, so we’re going out for Mexican food, the latest Realms of Fantasy (with Chris Barzak story, natch) and Narnia. I may even have a Christopherita or two. (Hmmm… I think Gwendarita works better.) Perhaps a post later, depending on the number of ‘ritas.
*It has been pointed out to me that some people don’t know what GwendaGras is, so they won’t know what ChristopherGras is. Can such a thing be true? Figure it out, people! Where have you been?! It’s called JULY**!!! Anyway, Christopher’s birthday is actually on Xmas Day — you still have time to buy him a brand new Apple laptop, which is what he needs as his is dead, dead, dead. (Address in the sidebar, imaginary good samaritans.)
**That’s when my birthday is. July 12.
I loved it.
I love the original as well, though it’s flawed, of course. Peter Jackson’s version isn’t perfect, either–would that Jack Black had more depth as an actor, there’s just no charm to his con man–but it’s pretty damn close, and emotionally, it hits the mark.
I love that the violence is jarring enough that it makes Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow’s reactions to and feelings for Kong completely believable. I love the Joseph Conrad references and the look of the whole thing. The costumes and set dressing and how seamless the picture is, from Skull Island to period New York. I love that the male movie star gets to be interesting and only brave when it’s absolutely required. I love that the writer gets to be a convincing hero. I love that this island of monsters is the scariest island of monsters ever. That Kong is lonely and alone in such a terrible place. That the costumes of the "savages" at his theatrical debut back in New York quote the native dress in the original. How amazing the visual storytelling is and how little dialogue is necessary. So many, many things. I love that watching this movie made me feel like watching the original did when I was kid.
Most of all, I love the scenes between Watts and Kong. Just as in the original, it’s the interactions between the lady and Kong that steal the show, but I actually think these scenes are better. She is luminous. Not only does she hold her own against Kong (another remarkable turn by Andy Serkis), she’s able to reflect her humanity onto him. Watts is simply WONDERFUL.
I love that this is a huge, huge movie and that it still has so much to say at the personal and the societal levels.
That scene on the ice. Beautiful.
See also:
Megan O’Rourke in Slate on the sexual politics
David Edelstein’s review
A.O. Scott in the NYT
Stephen Hunter in the WaPo
And two more:
Silliman (via Matt)
Roger Ebert
The Monkey Movie (updated) Read More »
All of this may keep Stewart from writing novels for some time. As much as he loves them, novels will always be there.
ARGs, by contrast, are changing with each iteration.
"It’s like building airplanes" around the turn of the century, he said. "You know they haven’t reached their final form."
I may have to start playing these ARGs. They sound like tremendous fun. (Note to Maureen McHugh fans: She gets a mention and was a key writer on these projects too.) (Via Dave.) I was just recommending Sean’s work to someone yesterday, who was looking for something for a very precocious teenager who liked LOTR and Harry Potter — which, of course, Sean’s work has very little in common with, but I stick by my recommendation.
p.s. Sorry for the sucktastic content here this week. Swamped and C has the Martian Death Cold. Will try to shape up this weekend.
Wednesday Hangovers Read More »
The ever-fabulous Jeff Bryant over at Syntax of Things (along with collaborator TJ) has compiled a giant list of writers who a bunch of litbloggers (myself included) feel are underrated. You can even leave a comment on any individual writer’s entry!
I’m going to go out on a very solid limb and say this is the best, most useful list I’ve seen during this Season of Lists. Truly impressive. Do yourself a favor and head over there stat …
(For the record, I chose to single out Carol Emshwiller, Jeff Ford, Maureen McHugh, Geoff Ryman and Paul Park. Five was the limit — it was tough. You’ll have to go to Jeff’s to see the reasons though.)
When weather people are wrong, they must commit seppuku. On the air.
Suggestions For Improvement Read More »
The other day I mentioned a couple of books I’m looking foward to in 2006; several of you chimed in with your own anticipatory recommendations. Herewith, a chronicle of them:
Dave Schwartz – Brings it right off the bat with Jeff Ford’s The Empire of Ice Cream and Doug Lain’s Last Week’s Apocalypse (both story collections).
Justin Steiner – Seconds The Empire of Ice Cream and raises Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (unfortunately, now not due until 2007 – Chabon discusses the delay here) and Colson Whitehead’s Apex Hides the Hurt.
Chris McLaren – Jumps in and thirds the Ford then adds Justina Robson’s Living Next Door to the God of Love, Mary Gentle’s Ilario: The Lion’s Eye and Scott Westerfeld’s Midnighters 3: Blue Noon (the awesomeness of which I can personally vouch for).
Niall Harrison – Enters stage left and says he’s not thinking about 2006 books yet, but can vouch for the Robson and that he’s looking forward to Ian Macleod’s Past Magic (collection) from PS Publishing.
Marrije – Throws a vote to the new Chabon (sadly no longer on the ballot) and adds Caitlin Kiernan’s Daughter of Hounds (no release date yet, that I could find; which may mean it’s due in 2007) and Justine Larbalestier’s Magic Lessons (another one I can personally vouch for — it’s AMAZING). (She also throws in a vote for the third book in the Magic or Madness Trilogy: Magic Magic Magic Oi Oi Oi, but that one is another 2007 book to look forward to.)
John Klima – Boldly puts his titles in a different thread, but the judge is accepting them anyway. He throws in some new blood with Barth Anderson’s The Patron Saint of Plagues, Jeff VanderMeer’s Shriek: An Afterword and Hal Duncan’s Vellum. He also mentions that a bunch of books he was excited about came out this year: Jeff Ford’s The Girl in the Glass, Alex Irvine’s The Narrows, Tim Pratt’s The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl and Jay Caselberg’s The Star Tablet.
My own most highly anticipated titles, which kicked all this off, are Geoff Ryman’s The King’s Last Song and Alan DeNiro‘s Skinny Dipping in the Lake of the Dead. And, coincidentally, I’m also excited about everything listed above. A few additions: Kevin Brockmeier’s A Brief History of the Dead, Cecil Castellucci’s The Queen of Cool (I want you to have read it so we can talk about it), Sharyn November’s new anthology Firebirds Rising, Paul Park’s The Tourmaline (due the day before my birthday), and it looks like Margo Lanagan’s previous collection White Time will be released in the U.S. this summer. And a bunch of other stuff I’m forgetting or don’t even know about yet.
If anybody else wants to throw some shoulder, I’ll keep updating this post for a week or so.
Battle of the Books Ahead Read More »