Reviews and Ramblings

[serafina20]

I saw About a Boy for the first time last night. I don't know why I waited so long, but I don't think I was avoiding it or anything. I think it just was never a movie that I thought about watching, even though my brother--a very harsh movie critic--absolutely loved it. You know, in a different way he enjoyed 'Jackass--the Movie." (really, my brother has good taste; he knows what makes a movie good or bad and can identify what people like about movies he didn't enjoy and understand. But, he is a 21 year old boy, and sometimes it shows).

Anyway, I loved about a boy. I thought Hugh Grant did a fantastic job of portryaing a 38 year old 12-year old. Marcus was adorable. He was so much more mature than Will, and yet he had a little boy quality around him that you just want to protect. He probably would be a fantastic Neville in the Harry Potter moview (not that i have anythign against the Neville in the movies, but my thought stands). Anyway, if you haven't seen the movie, I'd reccommend it.

Queen of Camelot by Nancy McKenzie. I had such high hopes for this book. Unlike some people I know *coughrecceacough*, I've never really disliked Guenivere. Even in Mists of Avalon where she's a royal bitch, I still understood her and felt sorry for her. She was flawed, but so were all the there characters. Say what you like about MoA, the characters were... human. Maybe fantastically human, but human just the same. Everyone was responsible for the fall in some way, and yet they were still victims of fate. It worked for me (the first two times; I can't say I'll be reading the book again, though).

In QoC, Gwen is too perfect. Everything is going to hell, but none of it is her, Lance, or Arthur's fault. I like how maturally they're handeling the relationship between the three of them, but I still want to see a screw up. After the attempted rape by Melwas, I wanted Guen and Lance to give in. Or give in more. Or something, instead of remembering that they 'mustn't because they loved the king.' They are total victims to outside forces, and it's driving me crazy. Gwen is too... understanding and patient and noble and perfect. There's no humanity in her, or anyone. It makes me unhappy.

Sadly, I'll have to stop reading it before Mordred even enters, and he's the whole reason I bought the book. I love Mordred.

The lovely mecurtain has made a COTW updates mailing list. Join it. ;)

Comments

Objection!

[reccea.livejournal.com]

I don't disike Guenivere!

Stop looking at me like that. I don't.

I just don't like the way she is often portrayed in books. She gets the bad rap and most everyone is a victim of Guen's idiocy or her inability to control herself.

I just want more books where Guen is a character you can sympathize with. :)

Re: Objection!

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Well, it always *sounds* like you dislike her. Like when you dismiss a book about her because it's, well, about Guen. Which you have (Queen of Camelot, which deserves to be dismissed, but not for the reasons you dismissed it). ;)

But I withdraw my statement.

[tigress35.livejournal.com]

I really liked about a boy. It started my whole, "I love men in faded, almost dirty looking jeans" which has promptly transferred over to MR and Orlando Bloom.

But, seriously, I thought the story was much better than anticipated, and not all romantic comedy sappy like Hugh Grant usually does.

Re:

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

But, seriously, I thought the story was much better than anticipated, and not all romantic comedy sappy like Hugh Grant usually does.

Yes, it was a very nice change. I don't dislike his sappy romantic comedies, exactly, but it's always nice to see an actor do something different and succeed. And he really did succeed quite well.