Tuesday, August 27, 2013

"I was wrong. We were so wrong."

Wow, so it's been since the beginning of the summer since I've written in my studio.  That's good - I've been out doing which, of course, is critical to writing interesting things.  And paying for your life before you become a Nora Roberts, Lee Child, or the man I will miss, Elmore Leonard.

This is the last week of vacation for my children.  So far they have a pretty good attitude about it but I suspect that has far more to do with denial then any new found Zen enlightenment.  What can't be denied is that the film, "Prometheus", was not very good.  Expensive?  Sure.  Good pedigree?  Absolutely.  But, and it's a really big but, it failed to deliver.  Part of the problem is that it's a prequel and prequels always start at a distinct disadvantage.  Perhaps the best prequel ever was Tom Clancy's "Without Remorse" and I had to re-start it several times.  It just kills the magic of the universe when you explain it away.
Album cover from 1974?

The other part of the problem?  It was two completely different movies.  On the one hand it was an "Atlas Shrugged" style discussion of life, origins, and meaning.  On the other hand it was a gory "Alien" movie.  On all counts, it was a stiff, unemotional, highly predictable film that - in the spirit of every Dodge product built since I've been alive - looks great but quickly falls apart.  I was reminded very much of Alien 3.

Fortunately that wasn't the extent of our day yesterday.  It was the quintessential summer day with highs in the mid 80 and almost no humidity.  We celebrated with an expedition on the boat and a kettlebell class.  The movie was far more painful than the class.

If you think this blog post was plodding along somewhat randomly, you should skip "Prometheus".  I said that already?  You noticed?  Definitely skip it.

2 comments:

  1. OK Jon. I really got behind in my reading for the last month or so, but I am getting back to it. I thought I would catch up on everything I missed, but that seems like such a big job that it paralyzes me so I am just picking up now. You mentioned Elmore Leonard. Have you ever read this article? http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/16/arts/writers-writing-easy-adverbs-exclamation-points-especially-hooptedoodle.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

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  2. His book (based on the article) is a "must read" for anyone who wants to write good. I found a copy in my local library and read it a few times before returning it.

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