"...but sometimes, oh God, the Green Mile seems so long."

"Your name is John Coffey?"

"Yes sir boss. Like the drink, only not spelled the same."


I had the wonderful opportunity tonight of watching Stephen King's 'The Green Mile' on television with my siblings. To be honest, I am not a fan of the author... he's one of my least liked authors. iDislike, perhaps? Unsurprisingly, films based on his works have not left good impressions on me either, excepting Kubrick's 'The Shining' (which any sane person will recognize as a timeless masterpiece of the silver screen). So it came as a bit of a surprise to me when my brother announced that the Green Mile was based on a story written by Stephen King. If all surprises came in as good a package as this film, then I would gladly welcome them.

Alright, so I'm a little behind with the movies these days. A lot of people have praised Hank and Duncan for their excellent performances-- even King for this touching but haunting tale of a man condemned by his own gift. So iWon't take that beaten path. I want to talk about this movie as more than just a movie but as an actual effect on one's perspective on life. You see, prior to watching the Green Mile, I was thinking to myself (philosophically) about what justifies a life. And iDon't mean our purpose on this planet or why God put us here. I mean, when you're dying and death is a strange man knocking at your door: what do you have to say for yourself? As Tom Hank's character put it, "When I die and stand before God..."

Hedonism is a lifestyle that I find has always come to odds with this question. I mean nothing serious against the pleasure-seekers of this world but it does occur to me that they may not have anything to say before God. Or if you do not believe in Him, then before their end (for is not Death a force of its own, making all men answerable to it?). So there it is. I watched this movie and I thought to myself, in reference to the character of John Coffey, there was a man who knew what to say. Well, to be specific, there was a man. Sometimes iThink that few people truly die as men. I am no authority on death or on what it takes to be a real man but this is simply a thought you must read slowly-- that if you have given to this world some good despite any amount of suffering it has given you, then maybe you can die a man. Maybe you'll have something to say.

If you think this is rubbish then I have been reading too many books lately and watching too many movies. But I hope my words mean something or it'd be a terrible waste of my hurting brain. Nonetheless, iWill write again about some of those books I've been reading. Heart of Darkness, A Passage to India and Ender's Game. Goods ones. A couple of them are even on my iLove list.



Write you later. Go read something.


-The illiterate Blogger-

If there's something strange, in your neighborhood...

"If there's something strange....and it don't look good...who ya gonna call?"

You know you like that song. iKnow you do.

Possibly one of my favourite comedy-fiction films of the century, The Ghosbusters is a bag of treats. It's funny in a way that doesn't insult your intelligence, the characters are lovable and who doesn't like that marshmallow monster?

My excursions into old-era movies (a.k.a. movies some people in my age group have never heard of or watched) have numbed me in regard to the special effects glitches, thank heavens. A lesser-Nuri would've laughed non-stop when I saw Zuul! But that's just the CGI-watcher in me talking. Pay no attention.

Why aren't there anymore movies like Ghostbusters around anymore? It's a funny movie that entertains both children and adults without resorting to extremes of a mature nature. We need more movies like that! Maybe they're still out there, being directed. But please don't make a comment mentioning a Pixar film. It's not that iHate Pixar, but only a handful of their movies (The Incredibles, Monster Inc. and Toy's Story, to be specific) have hit the nail on the head.

Movies aside, I'm presently reading "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin after much persuasion from some online friends. It's a long book and entertaining in spite of some vulgarities. Fantasy fans take note: this is definitely something you want to pick up, even if it doesn't suit me much. I'll write more when I'm done reading the bloody tome.

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-

Of Labyrinths.

"You remind me of the babe..."

Older readers of my blog will probably recognize the quotation on top from the 80's movie: "The Labyrinth." Don't you just love David Bowie?

I like to watch films from before my time. Dr.Zhivago, My Fair Lady, Sangam (classic Hindi film), etc. It's great fun because you get to see how some productions manage to stand the test of time in spite of special effects degradation.

The Labyrinth was reasonably good, even in the CGI era of epic LoTR or Narnia films. Jennifer Connelly's acting is probably the worst thing about it but that doesn't matter-- although she is technically the protagonist of the film, Connelly isn't its 'star'. Center-stage is stolen from the pretty teenager by more eccentric characters... notably Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie), Hoggle and Dydimus the talking fox.

What really makes the movie memorable is its soundtrack: catchy tunes sung by the Goblin King himself and accompanied by some very funky dance movies! I can't bring myself to forget "Dance, Magic, Dance" or the more sombre "Within You". This has definitely been one of the weirdest films I've seen in a while and a classic to boot.

In other news, I'm currently reading Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time."

Here's a 'did you know' fact that I acquired from a fellow avid reader: Haddon was the friend of a creative writing lecturer whose son had Asperger's syndrome. He spent a lot of time with his friend's son-- based on this experience, he wrote and submitted the novel without telling the boy's mother, despite knowing that she planned to write a similar novel.

I'll write about my understanding of the book when I'm done with it.

Write you later. Go read something.

-The illiterate Blogger-