I haven't read any Bradbury novels. Only short stories. Most of my favorites can be found in The Illustrated Man, although I'm discovering some humdingers in I Sing the Body Electric.
I loved everything I read of his, but as far as novels, while I loved Fahrenheit, I have a big soft spot for Something Wicked This Way Comes. As far as short stories, I also thought the Illustrated Man was excellent, and was completely captivated by the ideas in The Martian Chronicles.
Yeah, I'm mainly a fan of Bradbury's stories. But I love the film Disney made of Something Wicked.
I just saw The Swimmer, by the way. About half of it was really, really great, and the other half was just so bizarre. It was hard, at least on a first viewing, to know quite what to make of it.
Also, that photo makes you look a lot like a certain garbage-man-turned-celebrity-poet, played by James Urbaniak. And I mean that in the best possible way!
Ah, nice to know you're a fan of Something Wicked This Way Comes. Although I wouldn't call it a triumph, I think Jack Clayton brought an extra something to the film that virtually all other Disney films lack.
And I'm glad you took a chance on The Swimmer. It's totally nuts, and I'm totally nuts about it. I plan on writing an essay on it someday. As a commentary on the idle rich, it's very perceptive and even poignant, but it's the film's structure (each pool trip growing increasingly darker as we get closer to the truth; each encounter acting as a mutually reflecting prism) that pushes it into masterpiece territory. It's probably the final word on '60s hedonism and one of the best films about failure (or the dark side of the American dream, if you will) that I can think of. There are a few scenes that don't quite come off (the slo-mo scene with the horses is just bizarre), but it has the damnest way of tugging at my emotions. Burt has never been better, and it's just so obscenely beautiful to look at (David L. Quaid photographs Lancaster as if he were Adam walking around in the Garden of Eden).
Have you read the John Cheever story, Adam? It's just as mysterious as the movie, but I actually think Perry's film improves on it.
Oh, I forgot about this thread. I just wanted to put in my two cents about the Something Wicked movie. I hated it. I know Bradbury lent his pen to the screenplay, but for me it did nothing to capture the essence of the book and I was severely disappointed.
I was a fan of the Something Wicked film from childhood, and have re-watched it several times as an adult and enjoyed it each time. And then I went and read the book a couple years ago, finally, and I wasn't so impressed with it. Bradbury, at novel length, sometimes grates on me--he often seems too self-indulgent with his loopy, jazzy prose stylings.
14 comments:
Now, now...don't be cruel... what are you reading?
I believe that particular book is Stanley Cavell's Must We Mean What We Say?, a collection of philosophical essays.
Also reading some Ray Bradbury. The old man probably won't be with us for much longer...
Wohoo Bradbury! What's your favorite?
I haven't read any Bradbury novels. Only short stories. Most of my favorites can be found in The Illustrated Man, although I'm discovering some humdingers in I Sing the Body Electric.
What's your favorite, Jeri?
I loved everything I read of his, but as far as novels, while I loved Fahrenheit, I have a big soft spot for Something Wicked This Way Comes. As far as short stories, I also thought the Illustrated Man was excellent, and was completely captivated by the ideas in The Martian Chronicles.
Yeah, I'm mainly a fan of Bradbury's stories. But I love the film Disney made of Something Wicked.
I just saw The Swimmer, by the way. About half of it was really, really great, and the other half was just so bizarre. It was hard, at least on a first viewing, to know quite what to make of it.
Also, that photo makes you look a lot like a certain garbage-man-turned-celebrity-poet, played by James Urbaniak. And I mean that in the best possible way!
Ah, nice to know you're a fan of Something Wicked This Way Comes. Although I wouldn't call it a triumph, I think Jack Clayton brought an extra something to the film that virtually all other Disney films lack.
And I'm glad you took a chance on The Swimmer. It's totally nuts, and I'm totally nuts about it. I plan on writing an essay on it someday. As a commentary on the idle rich, it's very perceptive and even poignant, but it's the film's structure (each pool trip growing increasingly darker as we get closer to the truth; each encounter acting as a mutually reflecting prism) that pushes it into masterpiece territory. It's probably the final word on '60s hedonism and one of the best films about failure (or the dark side of the American dream, if you will) that I can think of. There are a few scenes that don't quite come off (the slo-mo scene with the horses is just bizarre), but it has the damnest way of tugging at my emotions. Burt has never been better, and it's just so obscenely beautiful to look at (David L. Quaid photographs Lancaster as if he were Adam walking around in the Garden of Eden).
Have you read the John Cheever story, Adam? It's just as mysterious as the movie, but I actually think Perry's film improves on it.
Is that picture from Henry Fool? I need to hurry up and see that if I ever hope to call myself a Hartley fan. I've got Time Out at home right now...
*cough* *cough*
Er, actually I have yet to read any Cheever. [hangs head in shame]
I'll be curious to hear your take on Time Out. And, yeah, that's a pic from Henry Fool... Maybe my favorite of Hartley's feature films.
But that Hamlisch score! Ick!
How can a 20-something be so wild about this movie? Do I have to watch it again?
Oh, I forgot about this thread. I just wanted to put in my two cents about the Something Wicked movie. I hated it. I know Bradbury lent his pen to the screenplay, but for me it did nothing to capture the essence of the book and I was severely disappointed.
Yes, your distaste for the film is well known to me, Jeri. :)
I was a fan of the Something Wicked film from childhood, and have re-watched it several times as an adult and enjoyed it each time. And then I went and read the book a couple years ago, finally, and I wasn't so impressed with it. Bradbury, at novel length, sometimes grates on me--he often seems too self-indulgent with his loopy, jazzy prose stylings.
Haha. I guess when I don't like a movie (or Denzel), everybody knows.
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