Sony is doing a poll to raise hype for their new end of the world film "2012." Now normally I wouldn't tell you to go vote for something, but "Twilight" is outvoting the BIBLE! Not to mention classics like "Pride and Prejudice" and "The Lord of the Rings!"
Something has to be done.
So vote! Show those executives that the majority of the world cares about more than VAMPIRES!!!
http://www.sonypictures.net/movies/2012/preservationlist/
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Eustace speaks!
We finally get to see a bit of Eustace in action - throwing a temper tantrum! It's great!
http://www.narniaweb.com/2009/09/7-new-set-videos-eustace-in-action/
http://www.narniaweb.com/2009/09/7-new-set-videos-eustace-in-action/
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Friendly Jane Austen
In preparation for an Austeneque book I plan to write this November, I have been raiding my library system for all sorts of Austen-related books. Some are beyond boring, some are quite amusing, and some are merely for glancing through. "The Friendly Jane Austen" by Natalie Tyler is an excellent book for any Janeite - aspiring or advanced. It covers Austen's life, literature and legacy in a voice that is easy to digest yet not offensive to one's intelligence.
The book is not exhaustive, of course, but it is quite complete for its 299 pages. It gives a nice synopsis of each of Austen's works - major, minor or otherwise. And with the Major works synopsises there are plenty of other bits of fascinating information and interviews with Austen experts.
For example, in the section devoted to "Sense and Sensibility" we see these sections:
The Novels of Sensibility
The Dangers of Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility: a checklist
James Battersby on Jane Austen and the Eighteenth Century
Georgian London
Harriet Walter on Fanny Dashwood
Fanny Dashwood and King Lear's Daughters
QUIZ: Who said that? Great Lines from Jane Austen's Novels
Elinor Dashwood: Governor of Her Own Feelings
The Madness of Marianne
Cowper and Crabbe
Lucy Steele
Sexy Men
Weddings
None of them too long - each just lengthy enough to capture our interest, answer it, and usher us along.
I heartily enjoyed this book and found it both interesting and informative. If you've read any of Austen's novels and would like to learn more about her, then this is the book for you!
Due to the fact that this book is written for adults, I'd recommend it for ages 16+.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Loving to Read
Looks like some teachers are finally starting to "get" it! Students have to be able to read books that they find interesting...pushing "boring" books on them before high school at the earliest can have devestating consequences.
Now of course, some children will need rather forcible prompting to pick up a book at all, but the books assigned to them should interest them. There is time enough for giants like "Moby Dick" later.
(And I think it's a rare high school student that could actually understand "Moby Dick." I know some who have read it, but they haven't enjoyed it.)
My mother's strategy was, for the most part, to buy good books and leave them on our shelves and eventually I'd read them. When I was very young she did have to strongly encourage me to read past the first chapter (which I would claim was boring) but I quickly learned that the books in our house were almost always interesting.
I also picked up an early love for classic stories through "The Great Illustrated Classics." Those may seem like a cop-out, but when you consider that I was 8 or 9 when I was reading the abbridged versions, it's not so bad. Especially because I fell in love with the stories enough to pick up the complete versions at the ages of 11, 12 or 13. Two of my favorite classes, "Pride and Prejudice" and "A Tale of Two Cities" were read this way.
As a homeschooler, I did not have a single formal literature class until I took "Brit Lit I" in college (as a 17-year-old), and I performed splendidly. Which I think goes to say that formal literature classes really are not needed or worth much until the last years of high school or in college.
If you say this is a biased assesment because I am obviously a huge bookworm, I'd like to point to my brother and sister. My sister loves reading, but she is more particular than I am. However she read and enjoyed what I consider Austen's hardest novel, "Mansfield Park" as a freshman in high school. No one told her to read it - she did it of her own prompting.
My brother really does not like the act of reading, but he is entirely capable of it and of appreciating what he does read. When he finally got down to reading "Harry Potter" this year, he rushed through the first three books nearly as fast as I did. And when his theatrical company put on "Pride and Prejudice" he showed himself capable of tackling the book (although I'll admit he only got half way).
Now of course, some children will need rather forcible prompting to pick up a book at all, but the books assigned to them should interest them. There is time enough for giants like "Moby Dick" later.
(And I think it's a rare high school student that could actually understand "Moby Dick." I know some who have read it, but they haven't enjoyed it.)
My mother's strategy was, for the most part, to buy good books and leave them on our shelves and eventually I'd read them. When I was very young she did have to strongly encourage me to read past the first chapter (which I would claim was boring) but I quickly learned that the books in our house were almost always interesting.
I also picked up an early love for classic stories through "The Great Illustrated Classics." Those may seem like a cop-out, but when you consider that I was 8 or 9 when I was reading the abbridged versions, it's not so bad. Especially because I fell in love with the stories enough to pick up the complete versions at the ages of 11, 12 or 13. Two of my favorite classes, "Pride and Prejudice" and "A Tale of Two Cities" were read this way.
As a homeschooler, I did not have a single formal literature class until I took "Brit Lit I" in college (as a 17-year-old), and I performed splendidly. Which I think goes to say that formal literature classes really are not needed or worth much until the last years of high school or in college.
If you say this is a biased assesment because I am obviously a huge bookworm, I'd like to point to my brother and sister. My sister loves reading, but she is more particular than I am. However she read and enjoyed what I consider Austen's hardest novel, "Mansfield Park" as a freshman in high school. No one told her to read it - she did it of her own prompting.
My brother really does not like the act of reading, but he is entirely capable of it and of appreciating what he does read. When he finally got down to reading "Harry Potter" this year, he rushed through the first three books nearly as fast as I did. And when his theatrical company put on "Pride and Prejudice" he showed himself capable of tackling the book (although I'll admit he only got half way).
Saturday, September 12, 2009
2008 Sense and Sensibility
Quite awhile ago I wrote a perfectly glowing review of the Emma Thompson "Sense and Sensibility. I went into a lot of detail about why I thought it such a well-made film and important story.
So why am I now reviewing another version of it?
The answer is quite simple. While I loved the Emma Thompson version...I fell in love with this one.
There is a fairly simple reason for this. When watching this version, I found for the first time that I not only genuinely liked proper Elinor and shy Edward - but I completely emphethized and understood their story. I loved them. They were young people of my own age, dealing with struggles similar to my own.
Emma Thompson, for all her brilliancy, is rather old. And Hugh Grant is just...awkward (and he's old too).
Hattie Morahan and Dan Stevens who play the young couple in this new version are both likeable and believeable as young people.
The other actors are quite good as well. I immensely enjoyed Marianne, Margaret, Mrs. Dashwood, Sir John, Wickham and the rest of the cast. Though not as prestigious as the Emma Thompson cast, they are nonetheless extremely good.
Fans of the A&E "Pride and Prejudice" will be delighted to learn that this "Sense and Sensibility" has the same screenwriter: Andrew Davies. Like that P&P, it follows the book well, expanding in ways that allow the story to breathe and live.
Of course, S&S has nearly fifteen years of technological gain on P&P, and is far more artistically creative and technically sound. (Focus! It has focus! It doesn't look like someone set up a home video camera in a living history museum!)
Also, the clothing is rather more attractive and colorful, allowing for more aethetically pleasing shots and easier distinguishing between characters.
On a bit of a cautionary note, the film opens with a tightly framed seduction scene that fans of the book will know plays a vital role later on. It's easy to fast forward through, but if you're watching this film with a younger audience, or gentlement, you will want to be careful.
Apart from that the film is quite Austen-ly appropriate. And it has a dueling scene. Hurrah!
Some Blogs You May Appreciate
Well over a month ago I asked those of you who link to me on your blogs to leave a description of your blog in my comments so that I could return the favor and link to you as well!
Several of you responded - and although I didn't get actually addresses from all of you, I am posting all the descriptions anyhow.
If you never got a chance to do this, just go ahead and leave your info in the comments below, and I'll do another one of these eventually.
Aspire's Purpose ~ http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com
At Aspire, I share what goes on in my life, go through tags, share computer graphics as well as create blog buttons for people, post randomly, and basically try to encourage everyone to "Aspire" in their daily lives. I may not be perfect, but I know that with God, I can, and will, aspire to be who I was created as.
Hannah
A Rose in Bloom
Basically my blog is just what i have underneath my title "Reflections and Musings of a Sheildmaiden of Heaven." I post all sorts of things - funny, serious, religious, random, serious, rambling. Basically my mission is to make people laugh or at least smile, as often as i can and throw in a bit of evangelization here and there as well.
my url is www.ladyoftherose.blogspot.com
Victory Rose for Christ
My blog doesn't really have a main purpose. It’s a way to keep people updated on what is going on in my life, to do apologetics/spread the truth of the Catholic Church, share funny and cool pictures and video clips, talk about my obsession of Lord of the Rings or Narnia, and any other wacky thing that comes to mind.
www.victoryroseforChrist.blogspot.com
Hannah's Scribblings
~what ever comes to mind: a humorous take on a domestic disaster caused by the name-defying klutziness of yours truly, or my thoughts on stories and story-telling. My dream is to be an author, so one of my goals with my blog is to improve my writing skills.
My Spare Oom
At the moment it is more random and "updating" but it's - in my head at least- about living a *good* life filled with Truth and Beauty...living in Middle-Earth and Narnia on the inside and modern society on the outside...the loveliness of books, home and hearth...and of course about my Faith. :) But first I need to do more posts on those subjects!
-Hopeless Ramblings-
HR's main purpose is basically to be an outlet for to me express my feelings, give my opinions on books, movies, etc., and share my graphics.
It's a fun thing to do, most of all.
Several of you responded - and although I didn't get actually addresses from all of you, I am posting all the descriptions anyhow.
If you never got a chance to do this, just go ahead and leave your info in the comments below, and I'll do another one of these eventually.
Aspire's Purpose ~ http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com
At Aspire, I share what goes on in my life, go through tags, share computer graphics as well as create blog buttons for people, post randomly, and basically try to encourage everyone to "Aspire" in their daily lives. I may not be perfect, but I know that with God, I can, and will, aspire to be who I was created as.
Hannah
A Rose in Bloom
Basically my blog is just what i have underneath my title "Reflections and Musings of a Sheildmaiden of Heaven." I post all sorts of things - funny, serious, religious, random, serious, rambling. Basically my mission is to make people laugh or at least smile, as often as i can and throw in a bit of evangelization here and there as well.
my url is www.ladyoftherose.blogspot.com
Victory Rose for Christ
My blog doesn't really have a main purpose. It’s a way to keep people updated on what is going on in my life, to do apologetics/spread the truth of the Catholic Church, share funny and cool pictures and video clips, talk about my obsession of Lord of the Rings or Narnia, and any other wacky thing that comes to mind.
www.victoryroseforChrist.blogspot.com
Hannah's Scribblings
~what ever comes to mind: a humorous take on a domestic disaster caused by the name-defying klutziness of yours truly, or my thoughts on stories and story-telling. My dream is to be an author, so one of my goals with my blog is to improve my writing skills.
My Spare Oom
At the moment it is more random and "updating" but it's - in my head at least- about living a *good* life filled with Truth and Beauty...living in Middle-Earth and Narnia on the inside and modern society on the outside...the loveliness of books, home and hearth...and of course about my Faith. :) But first I need to do more posts on those subjects!
-Hopeless Ramblings-
HR's main purpose is basically to be an outlet for to me express my feelings, give my opinions on books, movies, etc., and share my graphics.
It's a fun thing to do, most of all.
If Elizabeth Bennet had Twitter...
...you've seen "P&P on Facebook." Well now your internet sleuth has tracked down an equally entertaining "P&P on Twitter." Extremely hilarious!
Warning: Mild Language
Second Warning: if you know nothing about Twitter, this may confuse you.
Click here for lots of laughs.
Warning: Mild Language
Second Warning: if you know nothing about Twitter, this may confuse you.
Click here for lots of laughs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)