Book: On Writing (Stephen King)

In one of the several forwards to this book, the author comments that a book about writing should be short. Indeed, the essence of the book is 29 pages - weighty enough that aspiring writers should read it, often. Another 100 pages or so gives useful insights on applying that core material. The rest of the book, which lists for $8, is autobiography which (A) while interesting would be difficult to publish in its own right, and (B) bulks out the text so you don't feel slighted by $4.

King is indeed a skillful writer, making the reader feel very comfortable (save for copious obscenities) and expresses his advice clearly and usefully. Being successful and talented, his advice is valuable being from one who has lived the reality of the industry, providing subtle suggestions and contradictions which add value far beyond what an academic portrayal of the craft would usually entail.

Thinking of writing? Get this book. The slim portion on "Toolbox" is more than worth the cover price.

Movie: .45

Losers.

That really just sums it up nicely. The movie is well acted, and the story is strong as stories go, but it's about ... losers, being losers, losing. Meh. Actually took me three days to get through it because I couldn't watch it all in one stretch, but having paid for it and spent enough time watching what I did I just wanted to see which of several possible losing endings the losers would lose by. I want a story where, somehow, I can look up to the protagonist(s); for this, I had to squint to see that low.

Story? He's a jerk, she won't leave, and conspiracies form to, er, extricate one from the other. She could have just walked out, but then the movie would have been about 10 minutes long.

Movie: A Scanner Darkly

A faithful, if abridged, adaptation of Philip K. Dick*’s novel. Undercover narcotics cop Fred is ordered to comprehensively investigate hardcore drug addict Bob; there’s just one problem ... Fred is Bob. Then comes the twist…
In a nearly inexplicable turn of movie production, the entire movie was filmed live, then hand-animated (rotoscoped) into stark, flat “posterized” coloring. Interesting result; save for one important visual effect I don’t see why they did it (“because it hadn’t been done” aside).
The book was significantly more depressing. The movie kinda hustles you thru the WTF elements, the book gives you full icky development thereof.
Upshot: a should-see for those fond of experimental mild-scifi tragedies; other people, not so much.

(* - PKD wrote the stories later turned into Blade Runner, Paycheck, Minority Report, and several other mind-benders.)

Movie: Rebecca

In standard Masterpiece Theater style, we have another classic British aristocratic drama in the Jane Austin / Emily Bronte tradition. Lower-class girl finds herself romantically entangled with a fabulously wealthy man, and must endure fancy clothes, fancier accoutrements, palacial residence, formal balls, aristocratic snobs & twits, strange servants, and her man's dark secret which they together face, heroically overcome and humbly suffer the tragic consequences of, abiding in the deep love they share after all.

Movie: War

Modern "Dirty Harry" cop vs perfect Japanese intra-gang asassin. Cool guy-movie mindless violent action gets too clever for it's own good at the end. I hate such endings.

Movie: Only You

Cheesy romantic comedy. If you'd say yes to a guy like this then you'd get what you deserve. Oh sure it's funny, but really...

Movie: 88 Minutes

Al Pachino's invariable character sets the tone for a psychological thriller where a psychologist has 88 minutes to realize an incarcerated serial killer is out to get him, and how. Exactly what such a description sounds like it will get you if you're in the mood for such a story.