Books and movies of late
Things I've seen recently that I thought I'd relate:
I saw Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, and Giovanni Ribisi, this week. This is the film that was much touted for its use of special effects rather than ANY set pieces. The plot is slim: The evil Dr. Totenkopf is planning to end the world and begin civilization anew, using research from a mysterious group of scientists known only as Unit 11. When the scientists begin to disappear and destructive robots storm major cities worldwide, ace pilot Joe Sullivan (Law) is called on to help. Gutsy reporter Polly Perkins (Paltrow) follows right behind to ensure she gets the story. Technical wizard Dex (Ribisi) and army commander Franky (Jolie) help Perkins and Sullivan track down Totenkopf and foil his dastardly plan.
I thought this was a fun, escapist movie. Because the sets were not real, director Kerry Conran could do what he liked with the film's environments, and it shows. Sweeping, nostalgic city views are juxtaposed with lush jungles and fantastical mobile airstrips. The characters maneuver their way through abandoned mines, mid-air battles, and a complicated rocket-ark concoction. While the effects are clearly evident, they are lushly rendered and refreshingly imaginative. In addition, a score right out of yesteryear underlines dramatic moments and pumps up the feel of the engineered sets and effects.
While the script is no gem, it follows the movie's comic-book-like plot and feel. Snappy repartee and some great moments from Jolie keep the action moving without bogging the film down in realism or complicated explanations. While I usually prefer movies with a little more grounding, I found myself enjoying Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. At the end of the day, sometimes a little mindless entertainment is all one is looking for.
I also got the chance to see Bullets Over Broadway again recently. I just have to comment on how fun it still is. John Cusak is a genius, Jennifer Tilly is the woman we always love to hate, and Dianne West is an absolute HOOT is a send-up performance of a Broadway diva. In the movie, struggling playwright David Shayne (Cusak) is trying to get a play produced. Nick, a local gangster (played by Joe Viterelli), funds the venture in return for a role for his ditsy, annoying, talentless girlfriend Olive (Tilly). Cheech (portrayed excellently by Chazz Palmiteri) is the heavy Nick sends along to Olive's rehearsals. Cheech's job is to watch out for Olive, but he finds himself noticing how much the play STINKS. Almost in desperation, Cheech throws David some ideas to improve the script. Pretty soon, the mob goon is re-writing the whole show.
From beginning to end, it's just a delight. Pretty soon, Olive is fooling around with one of the leading men, playwright David is finding himself drawn to over-the-top star Helen Sinclair (West), and Cheech is taking care of business down by the docks. If you've never seen it, find the time to unearth a copy of Bullets Over Broadway. You won't regret it!
Lastly, I am probably one of the last people in North America to read The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. I know, I know, but I REFUSE to buy hardback novels. Brown kept trying to wait me out, insisting that no plans for a paperback were in the works. But HA! I fooled him. I waited until it came out in paperback, then snapped it up. I found the book to be an entertaining, fascinating thriller, a real page-turner. I read it in about two days, and it was certainly worth the time.
As to all the speculation it has provoked, I say (mostly) poppycock. From what we know for sure - Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. Nothing in the Bible (or any other historical document) tells us that she is. This slander came much later, when one of the Catholic popes branded her a woman of ill-repute. Nothing historical has been found to support such an accusation. In fact, Mary Magdalene had a much more central role in the early Christian movement than people seem to think. She clearly had a special relationship with Jesus, and she was one of the most prominent early Christian leaders.
Now, about the theory that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene - neither the Bible or other documents seem to dispel or confirm this theory. It very well could be true, and it could very well not be. If Jesus WAS married (and I'm not saying that he was), Mary Magdalene would certainly have been a logical person for him to have been married to. However, as I mentioned before, nothing we have found (even in the Gnostic, or banned, gospels) confirms this.
Other than that, there doesn't seem to be much to Brown's theory. He makes wild leaps with no supporting evidence from one conclusion to another. (His next conclusion is that Mary Magdalene had a child with Jesus, a child who later married into a family of French royalty. That Mary Magdalene herself was the Holy Grail, and that this secret has been supressed by the Catholic church, yadda, yadda, yadda.) If, SOMEWHERE down the line of all these theories, even a FEW points were corroborated by any kind of verifiable evidence, I might be inclined to give Brown some sort of credit. Largely, though, Brown has defended these theories because he says all the pieces seem to "fit." Well, not to this reader. (Or perhaps, they fit well enough for Brown to sell 44 million books. They all fit nicely into his 401K plan. They, plus the loads of dough he is raking in, are a perfect fit!)
Anyway, I think the best way to approach this book is as a work of fiction (which Brown freely admits that it is), and enjoy it for what it is - a GREAT story. There are also alot of historical elements that the book illuminates - the Knights Templar, symbology, etc. It's frightfully interesting, and I highly recommend the book. Just be a critical receiver of information (as I'm sure you always are, dear reader) and don't take it all too personally. :-)
I also highly recommend the online DaVinci Code Web Quest. What fun! The film version of the book, starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, will be released May 19, 2006.
I saw Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, and Giovanni Ribisi, this week. This is the film that was much touted for its use of special effects rather than ANY set pieces. The plot is slim: The evil Dr. Totenkopf is planning to end the world and begin civilization anew, using research from a mysterious group of scientists known only as Unit 11. When the scientists begin to disappear and destructive robots storm major cities worldwide, ace pilot Joe Sullivan (Law) is called on to help. Gutsy reporter Polly Perkins (Paltrow) follows right behind to ensure she gets the story. Technical wizard Dex (Ribisi) and army commander Franky (Jolie) help Perkins and Sullivan track down Totenkopf and foil his dastardly plan.
I thought this was a fun, escapist movie. Because the sets were not real, director Kerry Conran could do what he liked with the film's environments, and it shows. Sweeping, nostalgic city views are juxtaposed with lush jungles and fantastical mobile airstrips. The characters maneuver their way through abandoned mines, mid-air battles, and a complicated rocket-ark concoction. While the effects are clearly evident, they are lushly rendered and refreshingly imaginative. In addition, a score right out of yesteryear underlines dramatic moments and pumps up the feel of the engineered sets and effects.
While the script is no gem, it follows the movie's comic-book-like plot and feel. Snappy repartee and some great moments from Jolie keep the action moving without bogging the film down in realism or complicated explanations. While I usually prefer movies with a little more grounding, I found myself enjoying Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. At the end of the day, sometimes a little mindless entertainment is all one is looking for.
I also got the chance to see Bullets Over Broadway again recently. I just have to comment on how fun it still is. John Cusak is a genius, Jennifer Tilly is the woman we always love to hate, and Dianne West is an absolute HOOT is a send-up performance of a Broadway diva. In the movie, struggling playwright David Shayne (Cusak) is trying to get a play produced. Nick, a local gangster (played by Joe Viterelli), funds the venture in return for a role for his ditsy, annoying, talentless girlfriend Olive (Tilly). Cheech (portrayed excellently by Chazz Palmiteri) is the heavy Nick sends along to Olive's rehearsals. Cheech's job is to watch out for Olive, but he finds himself noticing how much the play STINKS. Almost in desperation, Cheech throws David some ideas to improve the script. Pretty soon, the mob goon is re-writing the whole show.
From beginning to end, it's just a delight. Pretty soon, Olive is fooling around with one of the leading men, playwright David is finding himself drawn to over-the-top star Helen Sinclair (West), and Cheech is taking care of business down by the docks. If you've never seen it, find the time to unearth a copy of Bullets Over Broadway. You won't regret it!
Lastly, I am probably one of the last people in North America to read The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. I know, I know, but I REFUSE to buy hardback novels. Brown kept trying to wait me out, insisting that no plans for a paperback were in the works. But HA! I fooled him. I waited until it came out in paperback, then snapped it up. I found the book to be an entertaining, fascinating thriller, a real page-turner. I read it in about two days, and it was certainly worth the time.
As to all the speculation it has provoked, I say (mostly) poppycock. From what we know for sure - Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. Nothing in the Bible (or any other historical document) tells us that she is. This slander came much later, when one of the Catholic popes branded her a woman of ill-repute. Nothing historical has been found to support such an accusation. In fact, Mary Magdalene had a much more central role in the early Christian movement than people seem to think. She clearly had a special relationship with Jesus, and she was one of the most prominent early Christian leaders.
Now, about the theory that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene - neither the Bible or other documents seem to dispel or confirm this theory. It very well could be true, and it could very well not be. If Jesus WAS married (and I'm not saying that he was), Mary Magdalene would certainly have been a logical person for him to have been married to. However, as I mentioned before, nothing we have found (even in the Gnostic, or banned, gospels) confirms this.
Other than that, there doesn't seem to be much to Brown's theory. He makes wild leaps with no supporting evidence from one conclusion to another. (His next conclusion is that Mary Magdalene had a child with Jesus, a child who later married into a family of French royalty. That Mary Magdalene herself was the Holy Grail, and that this secret has been supressed by the Catholic church, yadda, yadda, yadda.) If, SOMEWHERE down the line of all these theories, even a FEW points were corroborated by any kind of verifiable evidence, I might be inclined to give Brown some sort of credit. Largely, though, Brown has defended these theories because he says all the pieces seem to "fit." Well, not to this reader. (Or perhaps, they fit well enough for Brown to sell 44 million books. They all fit nicely into his 401K plan. They, plus the loads of dough he is raking in, are a perfect fit!)
Anyway, I think the best way to approach this book is as a work of fiction (which Brown freely admits that it is), and enjoy it for what it is - a GREAT story. There are also alot of historical elements that the book illuminates - the Knights Templar, symbology, etc. It's frightfully interesting, and I highly recommend the book. Just be a critical receiver of information (as I'm sure you always are, dear reader) and don't take it all too personally. :-)
I also highly recommend the online DaVinci Code Web Quest. What fun! The film version of the book, starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, will be released May 19, 2006.
Comments