![[Current photo]](/current_photo_full.jpg)
![[Book cover]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1421519208.01.MZZZZZZZ.gif)
![[Book cover]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1421519194.01.MZZZZZZZ.gif)
![[Book cover]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0140023747.01.MZZZZZZZ.gif)
![[Book cover]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1421519186.01.MZZZZZZZ.gif)
30 May 08 – Cool Hand Luke
Finally got a chance to watch Cool Hand Luke recently. It's one of those films that are frequently referenced but infrequently seen.
Cool Hand Luke works mostly on the effectiveness of its actors. It's an intensely character-driven piece, with very little action. It's all about the relationships between the characters, how the bounce off each other.
I was struck by the other prisoners' reaction to Luke. He's very independent, seeing no need to observe the prisoners' little hierarchy. He doesn't try to upset it, either; he just ignores it. He wins the other prisoners' respect out of sheer tenacity and difference.
Their reaction? They follow. As impressed as they are at his independence, none of them try to be independent. It's almost like they expect him to live out their own dreams of independence. It's a terrible burden, and in the end it's one of the things that breaks him.
It's a beautiful film, too, full of the rising and setting sun, reflections in glasses, and creative shots. But that's frosting on the cake; the actors drive the film. And they drive it straight to eternity.
23 May 08 – Fight Club - The Novel
Awhile ago, I read the original novel of Fight Club.
I surprised myself by reading the entire book in two days. Granted, it's a short novel, but normally I'm not that engrossed.
This was due to the novel's differences from the film. Turns out, the film is an excellent adaptation of the novel, but many speeches and conversations in the novel are re-arranged to condense the story. The book focuses tightly on the narrator, and the tale wanders as the narrator's mind wanders. A film can't do that. So, for example, Tyler Durden's "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake" speech is composed of observations and bits of dialogue from Tyler scattered throughout the novel.
The novel ends in a completely different way than the film. I think I like the film's ending better, though that's personal preference for the ending's style and content. The novel ends on a darker note than the film, though it's a very Black Comedy sort of dark note.
I'm glad I read it. If I adapt something in the future, I'd learn a lot from a deep study of the differences between the book and the film.
22 May 08 – RomeoRhino
After Mystery Science Theater 3000 ended, I wondered if anyone else would pick up the mantle. They stumbled upon the formula of recording voice-over riffs of bad pop culture movies, and surely someone else would continue. The technology's easy enough.
Someone's done it: RomeoRhino.
RomeoRhino is a YouTube user who takes public domain instructional videos (and a few movies), records himself riffing on them, marries the two, and uploads them to YouTube.
He's learned from MST3K: he doesn't talk over the dialogue too much, he jokes as much as possible, he knows not to get too dark or sarcastic, and he keeps the jokes coming steadily throughout the entire video.
He posts a new video about once a week, and he's been doing it for a year, so there's plenty of material. Some of my favorites: