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Reviews #8
Books Pandora, by Anne Rice I finished this book at the end of June. It went fast, and I always enjoy her books at least a little. That's why I keep reading them. But this one was not one of her best. The story is not too compelling. Simply the remenicences of a 2000 year old vampire. The scenes are beautiful, and her story passionate, but you know she is remembering and you nevver feel she is in danger because you know she is telling the tale. Its pretty and it reads fast, but I wasn't much impressed. Bordertown, Edited by Terri Windling and Mark Alan Arnold
This is the second book in the Borderlands Series created by Terri Windling. Four stories with five authors, all wonderful. Demon is my favorite. Terri Windling, Author and Editor I have to say here, because it relates to the above book, that if you like fantasy, and fairy tales half as much as I do, you'll love anything with this name on it. She is an author herself, and is Editor, or Co-Editor of so many other novels and short story collections that I couldn't possibly keep track of them myself. From her own book The Wood Wife to The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror (which is in it 14th year) or the Snow White, Blood Red Series (which has modern author retelling classic fairy tales) both of which she is Co-Editor of with Ellen Datlow. All are magnificent works of fantasy fiction. My favorite.
Movies at the Theatre Gorgeous film. The plot was weak because of movie making politics. They went through a dozen writers on this picture, but the visuals are great. There is one moment in the film that I would love to have framed as a still. I almost melted in my seat. Angelina Jolie carries this film with her presence, and skill as an actor. I'm not a game player, but everyone that I know who is has played these games and loves them. This is a good representation in my opinion. Games don't have strong plots, they have medium to good excuses to go on adventures virtually. It was fun, I enjoyed it. ...produces the most magnificent movie scores ever. If you don't recall there being a score to this movie or others on his list, its because his music sets the mood perfectly and you don't even know its there.
Movies On Video We've all heard references to it, and may even quote it ourselves without even knowing it. I know I had, and I had never seen it before. It was entertaining to finally see it. Luckily it had been awhile since I had heard any hype, so my expectations weren't too out of proportion. (I hate it when a perfectly good movie is ruined for by people gushing about how it's the best thing on film, which of course it's not. They never are, I don't care how much you love it.) Anyway, my favorite part is the 'Eat Me' float they crash the parade with, and the marching band smashing up together in a dead end alley. Every american should probably see this at least once. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory... I saw this several times when I was about 8 years old (no it wasn't new then, it was on HBO), but I forget it fairly completely after that. Gene Wilder is simply amazing. It was definitely worth seeing this again almost 20 years later. Actually, in about a month they are releasing a 30yr anniversary edition. On DVD even. Should be pretty cool. Its funny how making characters that are so severe as to be completely unreal works so well. There's a moral for each one. Gluttony, Gum chewer, to much TV watching, complete spoiled brat. With the weird little Oompa Loompa's singing the morals to each ones fatal end. (They'll be fine, really!) I don't like Woody Allen. He's nervous and he complains endlessly. I've never been a fan of his. So watching this was like watching a train wreck. It was a disaster, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. I just kept thinking 'How did I end up agreeing to watch this?' But the person I was watching it with was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe, most of the time. Watching him enjoy it, made up for a lot. And even I laughed out loud a couple times. The bit where Allen goes into the bathroom to kill the spider was the funniest. I've seen this one before, and think it is one of Robin Williams' best movies. They seem to have let him ad-lib much of the on-air comedy. It's based on a true story. It has it's serious moments, and it even makes me cry. I love it.
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