I’ve come to peace with movie adaptations of my favorite books. I see them now as a second chance to make a great story. Or like a copy of something that’s a little blurred or off. And I thought that this was a beautiful adaptation. For this story, I think I liked the movie more than the book.
There are pieces that I liked more in the book, like the back story of Thomas Schell and his life in Germany. But in the movie, I loved how Oskar’s mother went to all the people first. I like how the story was pulled together at the end. And I love the letter that he wrote to all the Blacks at the end of his journey. However, I didn’t like how Oskar found a little card from his father. It all seemed to come together a little too Hollywood perfect. But the story was still heartbreaking.
It made me think about what I’d leave Eliot behind. It made me think of my mother. I loved reading the letter she wrote my aunt and uncle. I love the little pieces I have of her. Yet she still remains, in large part, a stranger to me. My own mother. And I think that’s something that I’d count as a failure, if I remained a stranger to my children. So, I’ve decided that I’ll try and write Eliot a letter whenever something pops into my head. Not every day or even every month, but enough so that at the end of my life, when he receives them all, I’ll be more familiar than strange.
This movie also made me think of my love of community. In a way Oskar created a community of Blacks. And they were all only connected to one another through him. He was the linchpin. He wasn’t looking for friends or stories, but he ended up getting quite a few. All he needed was a trace of his father and along the way he realized that every family, everyone, is touched by loss, by sorrow. There is no one on this earth that hasn’t had some sadness in their story. His was more dramatic and a part of American history, but he wasn’t alone. He was just another part of the human experience. And I believe that realization helped him move beyond his sorrow and grief.
I’m not quite sure what to think of this movie. I feel like it might haunt me a bit tonight. All I could do at the end though was cry. And not just little tears falling, but I was almost sobbing. I probably would have kept crying if I knew I could have just sat there for longer with no one walking in on me.
First off, I’d want to go out that way. Sitting with the people I love, ‘protected’ by a magical cave. But my heart was breaking thinking of that little boy who would die just like that. I think Justine finally understood when she thought of her nephew and the loss of him. All I could do was think of Eliot and think of what my heartbreak would be knowing that we would all die, that he would die. But I do agree that sitting on the terrace, drinking wine is a fucked up way to go.
John was a coward. He took the easy way out and left his wife and son to fend for themselves. I have no idea why he did that. He didn’t even give them a heads up. He just abandoned them, especially knowing that Claire wouldn’t be able to deal with the reality of the situation. What a coward. If there’s nothing you can do, if everyone’s in the same boat, well you might as well stick around and comfort each other. And the little boy didn’t even really ask where his father had gone too. It’s like he kind of accepted the fact that he was already long gone.
Justine seemed to get saner the closer the end came. I’m not sure what the whole point of Part One was though. Why show the whole wedding and her collapse? To say she was always depressed? To show that maybe like some animals, she could feel that something wasn’t right? It’s like once she knew the cause of her imbalance, then she could calm down and just accept her fate. And what was the thing with the bridge? Why wouldn’t the horse go over it? Why did the golf cart die there as well?
Sometimes I wonder about the end of the world. And most likely it won’t happen with a huge planet smashing into the Earth, but I feel like with the world the way it is today, it could happen and it could happen soon. What will it be like when there’s no water left? No food? We’re all so concerned about having the new iPhone 4S or a new car. Will we have to war with each other for the basic necessities of life? Will my son? Will his son? That’s what scares me the most. I live in a country where these things are in abundance, but will they always be this way? It makes me wonder, are those people who don’t have children because they don’t want to bring them into such a fucked up world on to something?
I had my first VIP experience at the Varsity today. I love free rewards with points, because this was the best time to just go watch a movie and it turned out to be free! Yes!
I found the dry humor refreshing and I loved the expanded idea of love and family. Sometimes life just happens and can take you on these profound paths. And people really are the key to success. It gets me thinking of a conversation I had with a friend. Her idea and definition of success (which I completely agree with) is a life lived with love and people; and that if that’s all you have at the end of your life, then it was a life well lived. On the other hand, other people think success is being able to shine on the world stage and that if you aren’t worth anything publicly, then you wasted your life, space and resources.
But I think it was only when Kyle came into their lives that perhaps Mike realized that what he had was a successful life, despite his failing law practice. Not every person will be a person who will add to your success (as defined by surrounding yourself with love and people), because there will always be toxic individuals that take significantly more than they add, but I think I need to try and be more open to the Kyles in my life who just might reveal the hidden potential success. I think the more I remove myself from predefined assumptions and expectations, the more fulfilled I feel and successful I am. I hope I can keep it up.
by Ned Vizzini
I didn’t know that this was the first book that he wrote. I loved the quirky stories of his teen years and seeing perhaps the nostalgic look back on high school. I think we always kind of look back on who we were in the most positive light. Vizzini sees himself as staying true to himself and the friends he had. I kind of wonder if we all do that and we just choose to forget the times we faltered or betrayed ourselves.
But I’m glad that there are people like Vizzini out there writing about a more realistic portrayal of life and teen life. There are times when we all get down and need some help and sometimes the best lesson you can learn is that everyone at one point or another needs help.
I really enjoyed this movie. It kind of reminded me a lot of Ned Vizzini’s book Be More Chill, what with taking a pill that makes everything seem possible. I kind of wonder if his life ever felt like cheating. I guess you are only able to do what’s within your capacity. I guess you can only reach your potential. But I think at some point I might feel like a fraud.
It was interesting how often Linny came back to him. I wasn’t super surprised when she was there in the end. Guess she didn’t protest too much to being with a guy who maybe was no longer himself. And how he worked out all the bugs of the NXT so that he could still remain super on top of stuff without dying seemed a little under explained. But it was no big surprise that the other guy was on NXT, kind of saw that one coming a little earlier on. Do people ever really come out of nowhere without some kind of assistance? It’s like an average athlete all of a sudden breaking world records. I think it’s safe to question whether or not they’re on drugs.
by Annie Leonard
I liked the book in the sense that it explained a lot of back story about what happens with all the stuff we have today and how it’s all made. It’s pretty fascinating when you think of how outside your control most everything is. You can control whether or not you buy something, but in the end, you may or may not even know the truth about what’s in the product, who made it or how it was made. I think the level of toxins in our products is scary, but more so is the fact that most everything we have in our lives sooner or later will be trashed and that not too many people see anything wrong with it.
I just recently called to have our satellite TV service canceled and I was asking the guy on the other end of the phone when someone would be coming by to take down the satellite. His reply? Oh, that’s yours, we don’t want it back. What? They don’t want it back, it’s trash to them. It does me absolutely no good and I can’t even give it back. What a waste. Our society and culture sucks. First off, what am I to do with it and secondly, why can’t they just use it on the next guy who signs up with Bell?
So, in this whole Bell satellite TV thing, I really get what Leonard is talking about. What I couldn’t really stand or enjoy was her tone. I’m not sure why most environmentalists and activists have to take on this condescending tone, but I find it really quite a turn off. She was telling stories of her daughter (never mentioned the father) and how even she could recognize PVC. She told stories of her little community and her bike riding and her solar panels. Sure, I totally believe in leading by example, but bragging by example is annoying. I’m glad she’s out there in the world, but I have no interests in ever befriending or meeting the lady.
What a dark movie. But for some reason I thought she had a rougher life than what they portrayed in the film. And although I like the actress because she seems slightly less than perfect, I thought she was a bit weak.
It was good that Mu went with so she could explain a bit about what’s going on. Like the crazy lady and the gin drinking lady. Overall I thought it was good, but to be honest, I don’t see what all the hype around this story is.
Interesting all the remade fairy tales these days. I thought this one did a smidgen better than Beastly, but not by much. Toward the end of the movie, the snow looked like sand and started feeling like a set.
But overall it was kind of enjoyable and who would have seen the father as the big bad wolf? That was a twist I didn’t see coming. And I guess Catherine Hardwicke and Billy Burke must really get along, since he played the father in this one too.
