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Recent Fannish Excursions:
In Movies::
Prince of Persia: I have to review this in two ways, because there are two readings of this film warring for supremacy in my head. First of all, this was a pretty fun popcorn movie. Jake is sure easy on the eyes, and he really lays on the swash(buckling). But the actors who really steal the show are Alfred Molina and Steve Touissant, who play a self-styled anti-taxation rebel and bad-ass, dagger-throwing warrior, respectively. Whenever they're on screen, the story becomes ten times funnier and better, and almost makes me forget that I'm watching a movie based on a video game. (Which was hard at times, because I could almost see the different "levels" of thegameplay story announcing themselves onscreen.) But the second part of my opinion of this film is the epic race!fail. For a movie entitled "Prince of Persia", I kept wondering where all the Persians were. (There is one second-tier character who is Persian, but he's in it for maybe about ten minutes, total.) While I was mostly distracted by the action and the HARDCORE PARKOUR enough to not mind during the actual thing, I did keep noticing this inconsistency, and it did bother me quite a bit afterwards. (Also, in the inaccuracy department: ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
yebisu9 was outraged over the incorrect armor and weaponry the minor characters wore and used.) Uhm. Rent it to make fun of it? There's a lot of guy-liner, and there are a few moments that might be improved with drink?
In Comics:
DV8, Issues 1-3, Text by Brian Wood and Art by Rebekah Isaacs: An interesting take on the "anti-superhero" tale, where the characters with powers have been treated as Gods, and not with good consequences for anyone involved. The framing device (the sanest of the super powered characters is being interrogated by the company who sent them all to this location in the first place) works nicely, as does Isaacs' artwork, which is expressive and dynamic without being cluttered or overdone. My only worry is that the way the issues have been structured leaves no room for the overarching plot to see any kind of resolution. This is an 8-issue miniseries, and so far, it's been focused on one of eight characters per issue... so it looks like we may run out of time? I don't know. Anyway, I'm along for the ride, but preparing myself for slight disappointment in metaplot terms.
In Books:
Mercury, by Hope Larson: I have already sung Larsen's praises as a writer and artist, but this engrossing story makes me want to sing them all over again, and more loudly. The story is split between past and present. Present-day Tara Fraser is alone in Fort Hill, Nova Scotia, while her mother works in Edmonton, and is starting 10th grade. She's trying to fit in with her friends and a potential new boyfriend at her school, all while dealing with her fact that the family homestead burnt down over the summer. Meanwhile, in 1859, Tara's ancestor, Josephine Fraser, is trying to please her mentally unstable mother and confront her feelings for the attractive but penniless man who's come to the family farm, swearing that there's gold in the hills. The story unfolds in a leisurely, careful way, and as usual, Larsen's gorgeous black and white illustrations set the moods of the narrative. There's also a beautiful hint of magical realism, buried treasure, and a sweet romance at the heart of this wonderful coming-of-age book. I hope people buy the hell out of this because I want more of the same.
Changes, by Jim Butcher: I can't remember if I blogged about this at the time when I read it, and if I did already, I suppose my opinion has changed enough that I can blog about it again. There's a gigantic twist ending that I won't reveal, but that feels a little anti-climatic, and it's one I've been mulling over ever since. I've since come to the conclusion that this phase of the story is The Empire Strikes Back of The Dresden Files series, and that's mostly OK by me, although my OTP was similarly thwarted in both works. There's a lot at stake in this installment, and that sense of drama and urgency is what sticks with me, after I get done finished thinking about the annoying "booga-booga!" twist. Part of me wishes the TV series had not sucked so much, because this is one book that I'd like to see in movie format; there's enough drama and excitement to make a very satisfying film.
Trailer Park: Why, oh why, Neil Patrick Harris, are you involved in any way, shape, or form with The Smurfs? Did you need money? I have some dollars lying around, and they are all yours. You can come over here for dinner if you want. Seriously. I predict next summer that the damn la-la-la-la-la song of my childhood will be the worst earworm of all time. And 3D? WHY. D: DO NOT WANT.
In Movies::
Prince of Persia: I have to review this in two ways, because there are two readings of this film warring for supremacy in my head. First of all, this was a pretty fun popcorn movie. Jake is sure easy on the eyes, and he really lays on the swash(buckling). But the actors who really steal the show are Alfred Molina and Steve Touissant, who play a self-styled anti-taxation rebel and bad-ass, dagger-throwing warrior, respectively. Whenever they're on screen, the story becomes ten times funnier and better, and almost makes me forget that I'm watching a movie based on a video game. (Which was hard at times, because I could almost see the different "levels" of the
yebisu9 was outraged over the incorrect armor and weaponry the minor characters wore and used.) Uhm. Rent it to make fun of it? There's a lot of guy-liner, and there are a few moments that might be improved with drink?In Comics:
DV8, Issues 1-3, Text by Brian Wood and Art by Rebekah Isaacs: An interesting take on the "anti-superhero" tale, where the characters with powers have been treated as Gods, and not with good consequences for anyone involved. The framing device (the sanest of the super powered characters is being interrogated by the company who sent them all to this location in the first place) works nicely, as does Isaacs' artwork, which is expressive and dynamic without being cluttered or overdone. My only worry is that the way the issues have been structured leaves no room for the overarching plot to see any kind of resolution. This is an 8-issue miniseries, and so far, it's been focused on one of eight characters per issue... so it looks like we may run out of time? I don't know. Anyway, I'm along for the ride, but preparing myself for slight disappointment in metaplot terms.
In Books:
Mercury, by Hope Larson: I have already sung Larsen's praises as a writer and artist, but this engrossing story makes me want to sing them all over again, and more loudly. The story is split between past and present. Present-day Tara Fraser is alone in Fort Hill, Nova Scotia, while her mother works in Edmonton, and is starting 10th grade. She's trying to fit in with her friends and a potential new boyfriend at her school, all while dealing with her fact that the family homestead burnt down over the summer. Meanwhile, in 1859, Tara's ancestor, Josephine Fraser, is trying to please her mentally unstable mother and confront her feelings for the attractive but penniless man who's come to the family farm, swearing that there's gold in the hills. The story unfolds in a leisurely, careful way, and as usual, Larsen's gorgeous black and white illustrations set the moods of the narrative. There's also a beautiful hint of magical realism, buried treasure, and a sweet romance at the heart of this wonderful coming-of-age book. I hope people buy the hell out of this because I want more of the same.
Changes, by Jim Butcher: I can't remember if I blogged about this at the time when I read it, and if I did already, I suppose my opinion has changed enough that I can blog about it again. There's a gigantic twist ending that I won't reveal, but that feels a little anti-climatic, and it's one I've been mulling over ever since. I've since come to the conclusion that this phase of the story is The Empire Strikes Back of The Dresden Files series, and that's mostly OK by me, although my OTP was similarly thwarted in both works. There's a lot at stake in this installment, and that sense of drama and urgency is what sticks with me, after I get done finished thinking about the annoying "booga-booga!" twist. Part of me wishes the TV series had not sucked so much, because this is one book that I'd like to see in movie format; there's enough drama and excitement to make a very satisfying film.
Trailer Park: Why, oh why, Neil Patrick Harris, are you involved in any way, shape, or form with The Smurfs? Did you need money? I have some dollars lying around, and they are all yours. You can come over here for dinner if you want. Seriously. I predict next summer that the damn la-la-la-la-la song of my childhood will be the worst earworm of all time. And 3D? WHY. D: DO NOT WANT.
