Seriously Peeved

I just watched I Am Legend...

I knew better. Really I did, but I just couldn't help myself. I knew from the moment I saw the first preview before it was even released that my viewing this movie could really tick me off. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

Now you may be thinking, it wasn't the best movie but what's there to be peeved about? The fact that other than the title and the name of the main character the movie bares no relation whatsoever to the actual novel. Really. None. Read the book. It won't take you long, it's only a few hundred pages.

You'll be struck immediately by the fact that in the novel Robert Neville is not a doctor, he's actually a blue collar guy who lives in a suburban area (in Kansas if I remember correctly). And while he is looking for a cure, he's winging it from stuff he's picked up in library books. Oh, and the monsters are actually vampires who have all there cognitive functions... not mindless zombies. There is actual interaction between him and the vampires, in particular his former coworker/neighbor.

I don't want to give away the whole plot, but the book is an excellent study of isolation & morality. The ending is brilliant. It actually gives you something to think about and discuss. Not the sappy movie ending "he saved us all" crap.

(sigh) Perhaps Beowulf will be better...

Stardust

Just got back from seeing Stardust. Fantastic! As some of you know, Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors and I've been anxiously awaiting this film's release for quite a while now. Unfortunately I had to delay seeing it because Kris was away with the circus last weekend. It was totally worth the wait!

Y'all know I'm not that eloquent when it comes to reviews (or anything for that matter), so bare with me.

The film is remarkably faithful to the novel, I suppose that's because the author wrote the screenplay. The casting was great, wonderful special effects and they managed to squeeze a lot of the plot in with out it feeling rushed (unlike the recent Harry Potter movies). Robert DeNiro was especially good... very different role for him! :)

This is the first of Gaiman's novels to be made into a movie (Neverwhere doesn't count, it was a tv movie before it was a book!) and I couldn't be more thrilled with the result. This is infinitely better than the film representations of his other works, especially MirrorMask. This gives me great hope for Beowulf, for which he co-wrote the screenplay.

This is a great film for the whole family. There is a bit of violence, but it is not at all graphic. I will be dragging my niece off to see this one. Mary, if you're reading this, you must go see it if you haven't already!

Sunday Over Easy

This is how I spent my morning...
Knitting, drinking tea & listening to an audiobook. Heaven! I am just loving this weather!!

Don't you love the tea set? It was a X-mas gift from my sister in law & this is the first chance I've had to use it. The cups are miss-matched (they are pink, green & orange) but the set works well together.

As for the sock, I've turned the heel, finished the gusset & am about 1/2" into the foot... Just 7" more until toe shaping!
And then, this afternoon I went to see this...

Seriously funny! There are a few recycled gags from Shaun of the Dead, but still a great film. The violence is a bit graphic, if a bit cartoonish. Simon Pegg is brilliant! Oh, and Timothy Dalton is HILARIOUS! I don't normally like him, but he was perfect for this role. There are a lot of nice little cameos as well. Thoroughly enjoyable! I highly recommend and will be dragging Kris off to see it as soon as he is home for more than a few days at a time! :)