2226 replies to this topic

[jrcjohnny99]

Jusr finished Joe Hill's "Heart Shaped Box"; not a bad book at all (Hill is Stephen King's son);
Just started Larry Watson's "Orchard", so far so good; not as immediate as Watson's "Montana 1948" or the terrific "White Crosses" but not bad.

[Cruiserweight]

This Must Be The Place:The Adventures Of Talking Heads In The 20th Century-David Bowman

[Gabe Vieira]

Nick Cave's screenplay for GLADIATOR 2, written at the behest of Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott.

It won't get made, which is a shame. As crazy and out-there as this script is (and believe me, it's very crazy, and very out-there), it's downright brilliant.

Interesting - can you elaborate a little more, Harms?

I believe there are two versions of the script, not that much different, the second is just more refined. Either way, Crowe's Maximus ends up in the Asphodel Meadows, the underworld for common folk, not Elysium, the Roman's version of Valhalla, Avalon, what have you. He meets the Roman Gods, Jupiter and such, who cut him a deal. Hephaestos, their blacksmith, has abandoned them and assuming power to conquer the Gods who have since become week. They want Maximus to kill Hephaestos, and in return will reunite Maximus with his family in Elysium. Thats the basic setup. I haven't read it, just heard about it while back. It is a clever set up... if you haven't played the videogame God of War.

[Aris007]

I got an hour ago "Murder On The Orient Express". I think it'll be worth it!

[Harmsway]

Nick Cave's screenplay for GLADIATOR 2, written at the behest of Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott.

It won't get made, which is a shame. As crazy and out-there as this script is (and believe me, it's very crazy, and very out-there), it's downright brilliant.

Interesting - can you elaborate a little more, Harms?

I believe there are two versions of the script, not that much different, the second is just more refined. Either way, Crowe's Maximus ends up in the Asphodel Meadows, the underworld for common folk, not Elysium, the Roman's version of Valhalla, Avalon, what have you. He meets the Roman Gods, Jupiter and such, who cut him a deal. Hephaestos, their blacksmith, has abandoned them and assuming power to conquer the Gods who have since become week. They want Maximus to kill Hephaestos, and in return will reunite Maximus with his family in Elysium. Thats the basic setup. I haven't read it, just heard about it while back. It is a clever set up... if you haven't played the videogame God of War.

That, loosely, is the basic set-up, but it's also a bit misleading; it's not quite accurate, and frankly only covers the first 20 pages or so, after which the story goes into different territory. After arriving in the afterlife, which is a somewhat ambiguous resting place (it's never clear that there even is some kind of Elysium, and given some of the script's context, it's hinted that this afterlife may actually be closer to the Christian purgatory).

Maximus refuses to kill the god Hephaestus (who doesn't have the motivation you describe; he's actually become a prophet of the Christian God and has thus offended his brother deities by reducing their influence), and is reincarnated as an eternal warrior for refusing to kill Hephaestus. It then becomes a story about the dichotomy between violence and pacifism, characterized through the conflict between Roman paganism and Christianity, and is full of some grand set-pieces.

In a bold finale, Cave's GLADIATOR 2 closes with Maximus, ever the damned immortal warrior, fighting throughout the great wars of history, and finally ending up as a general working in the Pentagon.

[Harmsway]

Anyway, the last two books I read:

THE CLUB DUMAS by Arturo Perez-Reverte

It was the basis for Polanksi's THE NINTH GATE, and carries the seed for that film, but none of its essence or tone. This novel is a postmodern take on the mystery genre with a consistent sense of humor. It all proceeds quite well, if none too distinctively, until the the finale, which attempts to creatively defy convention but only manages to fail to deliver the reader what he's been seeking: satisfying answers and a thrilling climax.


TRAUMNOVELLE by Arthur Schnitzler

This one was the basis for Kubrick's EYES WIDE SHUT, which, by all accounts, was a pretty faithful adaptation. Still, this piece of work is no great shakes. It was enough to inspire a pretty good piece of cinema, but on its own fails to deliver anything particularly notable.

[Loomis]

THE CHINA LOVER by Ian Buruma. A beautifully written and utterly absorbing historical novel, an absolute must for anyone with an interest in the Far East and/or film. One of the best things I've read in years.

[Qwerty]

Nick Cave's screenplay for GLADIATOR 2, written at the behest of Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott.

It won't get made, which is a shame. As crazy and out-there as this script is (and believe me, it's very crazy, and very out-there), it's downright brilliant.

Interesting - can you elaborate a little more, Harms?

I believe there are two versions of the script, not that much different, the second is just more refined. Either way, Crowe's Maximus ends up in the Asphodel Meadows, the underworld for common folk, not Elysium, the Roman's version of Valhalla, Avalon, what have you. He meets the Roman Gods, Jupiter and such, who cut him a deal. Hephaestos, their blacksmith, has abandoned them and assuming power to conquer the Gods who have since become week. They want Maximus to kill Hephaestos, and in return will reunite Maximus with his family in Elysium. Thats the basic setup. I haven't read it, just heard about it while back. It is a clever set up... if you haven't played the videogame God of War.

That, loosely, is the basic set-up, but it's also a bit misleading; it's not quite accurate, and frankly only covers the first 20 pages or so, after which the story goes into different territory. After arriving in the afterlife, which is a somewhat ambiguous resting place (it's never clear that there even is some kind of Elysium, and given some of the script's context, it's hinted that this afterlife may actually be closer to the Christian purgatory).

Maximus refuses to kill the god Hephaestus (who doesn't have the motivation you describe; he's actually become a prophet of the Christian God and has thus offended his brother deities by reducing their influence), and is reincarnated as an eternal warrior for refusing to kill Hephaestus. It then becomes a story about the dichotomy between violence and pacifism, characterized through the conflict between Roman paganism and Christianity, and is full of some grand set-pieces.

In a bold finale, Cave's GLADIATOR 2 closes with Maximus, ever the damned immortal warrior, fighting throughout the great wars of history, and finally ending up as a general working in the Pentagon.

Very out there definitely seems to sum it up. Sounds like a completely different film in comparison to the first one.

I got an hour ago "Murder On The Orient Express". I think it'll be worth it!

Enjoy, Aris. I've worked my way through all of Christie's mysteries and this often comes up near the top.

[Jose]

I recently finished Brave New World and found the exchange between Mustapha Mond and John to be a little annoying this time around. Still a very great book.

I put 2012 on hold for Phantom Tollbooth.

Edited by Jose, 04 August 2009 - 03:59 AM.

[DaveBond21]

Stephen King's Bachman Books - four of the novels he wrote as his pseudonym, Richard Bachman, back in the 1970's-80's.

- Rage
- The Long Walk
- Roadwork
- The Running Man

[Qwerty]

I'm reading The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

[Kilroy6644]

Currently reading The Samurai's Wife, by Laura Joh Rowland. By the time I'm finished, I'll hopefully have my copy of Red Alert, and I can take a break from the Sōsakan-sama and read that and Fail-Safe.

[Double-0-7]

I am working my way through the very excellent "On The Tracks of 007". http://www.dmd-digit...onthetracks.htm

The color edition is beautiful and well-worth the money if you think you'll be anywhere near a Bond film location.

[dodge]

I'm reading The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

And...? Don't keep us in suspense!

As for me, I'm reading:

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, the smashing followup to Stieg Larsson's international sensation, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. I'm still moved by the backstory of Larson's tragic death soon after turning in the first three long mysteries in an intended series of ten. I've grown a tad suspicious of the claim that all three were completed and in their final finished form. I say this because the style of the second seems remarkably different in places: far more sparse and economic than the prose style had been in the first. Nothing I can prove, of course. But my hunch is that he completed the first and at least drafted the second. The third may have existed only in outline with some sample pages. Whatever turns out to be true, the second book is still a crackling-good read.

[AgentBentley]

Just finished A Most Wanted Man by John Le Carre. His weakest book I ever read: hardly any suspense, mostly unlikeable characters, a heavy message, and Hamburg doesn't exactly feel exciting.
A long way down from The Constant Gardener which was a great book and a great movie.

[Kilroy6644]

Just started Red Alert, by Peter George (or Peter Bryant, depending on which version you get). Soon to be followed by Fail-Safe, by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. Followed by an in-depth (or not so in-depth, depending on the mood I'm in) comparison of the two. Possibly with a mention of the movies that were based on them.

[jrcjohnny99]

Just about to start "The Lay of the Land" the 3rd of Richard Ford's Harry Bascombe books.

anyone read?

[Mr. Blofeld]

Reading Intepreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri; anyone else read it?

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

I'm going back through the Harry Potter series, and I'm starting with Sorcerer's Stone. This time, however, I've got the audiobook to go along with it.

Reading [i]Intepreter of Maladies[i/], by Jhumpa Lahiri; anyone else read it?

I actually had to read it for an English class for my freshman year. Had to write a paper on it, as well.

[DAN LIGHTER]

Starter for Ten By David Nicholls. Before that I read One Day by David Nicholls. If you havent read his books I can really recommend them! Five out of five for both!!!!

[Harmsway]

Reading Intepreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri; anyone else read it?

Me. I didn't like it; I found it very repetitive.

[DAN LIGHTER]

Just finished A Most Wanted Man by John Le Carre. His weakest book I ever read: hardly any suspense, mostly unlikeable characters, a heavy message, and Hamburg doesn't exactly feel exciting.
A long way down from The Constant Gardener which was a great book and a great movie.

I got A Most Wanted Man. Started to read it and found it a bit all over the place so gave up. It was the first La Carre I ever tried to read. Might give it another bash soon.

[Doctor No]

Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living

[OmarB]

Don Pendelton's Mack Bolan #127 Cold War Reprise http://www.mackbolan...y.php3?num=1560

I subscribe so I get them pretty current.

[Qwerty]

I'm reading The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

I'm liking it so far. Very early on into it since I'm simultaneously reading DisneyWar by James B. Stewart (which itself is quite good), but so far it seems like another winner from King.

I was a bit wary at first since this one seemed more fantasy than horror. The last time I read a King novel like that was The Gunslinger and I was left fairly bored. Glad to see that so far that isn't the case here.

Have you read this one before, dodge?

[Ambler]

Fordlandia by Greg Grandin

Henry Ford was full of contradictions but his attempt to build a modern factory town in the heart of the Amazon far from any of the necessary infrastructure was - even by his standards - a supreme if heroic folly.

For those who find failure somewhat more interesting than success, Fordlandia is a fascinating story and Greg Grandin tells it well.

[Tybre]

An Autobiography by Theodore Roosevelt
I read the first two chapters back in early June and then set it down to read other books (still simultaneously reading 13 books for pleasure, counting this one, and I've still got my summer reading assignment to do as well). Decided to pick it up again today cause, I dunno, guess I was just in the mood for some Teddy. It's a terrific read thus far, and hopefully all 384 pages will be as great as what's down so far.

[jrcjohnny99]

I'm reading The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

I'm liking it so far. Very early on into it since I'm simultaneously reading DisneyWar by James B. Stewart (which itself is quite good), but so far it seems like another winner from King.

I was a bit wary at first since this one seemed more fantasy than horror. The last time I read a King novel like that was The Gunslinger and I was left fairly bored. Glad to see that so far that isn't the case here.

Have you read this one before, dodge?

"The Talisman" is a great book, shame they've never been able to figure out how to translate it to the screen; Spielberg was attached for years in the 80s..would've loved to see what he could've doen with it...right now I'd be intereested to see Guillermo Del Toro give it a try..

[00Twelve]

JAWS 2

Picked up an advance "not for sale" copy of this novelization at a used bookstore in the Village near NYU. It's based on one of the earlier drafts of the movie. Lots of differences from the finished film. Now, I'm one that enjoys the movie, despite it not even being a boil on the buttcheek of the original. There are good things in and about it.

The novel gives an actual reason for the shark being a hungry behemoth-- it's very pregnant and has to feed so that the fetuses don't turn on each other and become cannibalistic (which does happen in sharks). It may be slightly outdated science (not by much) but plausible. At least enough to pull the reader in.

Like Benchley's original, this also has way too many peripheral storylines. A major portion of the book is devoted to a vacationing NY cop shooting a seal and being prosecuted by Brody, leading to the collapse of plans for an Amity casino and the eventual involvement of a mafia capo[!].

One interesting deviation is the much earlier realization that the diver got a clear picture of the shark. The developer hides the picture, however, letting the rest of Amity think nothing's wrong, and tries to sell and get out before panic ensues. Also, Brody doesn't suspect the shark until much later, which works decently well, and he doesn't lose his job fighting the town elders.

The teens are much fewer, and slightly younger. They are also a little more fleshed out so that they don't feel like mere slasher bait as they do in the movie. Mike still has a phobia of the water after the first shark but wants to be a scuba diver. His friend Andy is much chunkier and less confident, and he's the one who sees the shark underwater and gets an air embolism coming up too fast. In the end, it's his attempt to say "shark" while on a stretcher that clues Brody in.

The ending sequence is very similar, as there's an Amity Regatta with Brody's kids sailing. Just as in the movie, the shark dies when Brody gets it to bite down on an electrical cable.

Certain sequences and characters remain similar to what ends up in the film, but it is still a very different story. It also ends on a more eerie note: the shark apparently birthed before she attacked the sailboats, and a baby great white survives at the end.

Interesting read if you like the first sequel to Jaws. If you see it for a dollar or two, check it out.

[Qwerty]

I'm reading The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

I'm liking it so far. Very early on into it since I'm simultaneously reading DisneyWar by James B. Stewart (which itself is quite good), but so far it seems like another winner from King.

I was a bit wary at first since this one seemed more fantasy than horror. The last time I read a King novel like that was The Gunslinger and I was left fairly bored. Glad to see that so far that isn't the case here.

Have you read this one before, dodge?

"The Talisman" is a great book, shame they've never been able to figure out how to translate it to the screen; Spielberg was attached for years in the 80s..would've loved to see what he could've doen with it...right now I'd be intereested to see Guillermo Del Toro give it a try..

Never knew that they had previously considered this one for a screen adaption. Will have to keep that in mind as I continue reading.