Www Discoverfreelove B Love Szh 107177 Discover Free Love A Ginger's Snapshots of Films and Fiction | Reviews, highly biased opinions and thoughts from a 20-something English major with newly discovered free time…

I must have been picking books to read really well in 2010/2011, because two of the books I decided to read were already being made into films that would later become dramatic successes at the box office just months after I finished reading them. I first became interested in these stories because they were well-loved by people I know and trust for their opinions on such matters. I rarely read reviews when I look for new material — I am a people-to-people review truster and the system has worked quite well thus far.

So, when Water for Elephants and The Help both came out in the theaters, I had every intention of seeing them on the big screen. Time and the ridiculously high ticket price prevented that from actually happening and I have recently watched both films via my long-awaited Netflix arrivals.

Since I reviewed them both on this blog, I thought it would be interesting to think about the movies as well…

I watched Water for Elephants first and it was absolutely captivating. I adored the film rendition. I loved the choice for August, the German actor who I first saw in Inglorious Bastards where he was another perfect villain. Reece Witherspoon was fabulous as usual. But I must say, Robert Pattinson was a bit of a weak link. I thought that he did not convey emotion as well and the connection between his character and Reese’s was also lacking. Overall, I was quite pleased with the film and that is rare when you come to love a book so much. When I read the book, I remember wondering if the whole story was a figment of old Jacob’s (the narrator’s) imagination, as a sort of twisted combination of memories and stories forming within a senile mind. However, the movie lost this bit of plot — so maybe I was alone in this interpretation or the film makers decided they didn’t want to leave that option available. I would definitely recommend this movie to those who have read the book or to those who have not. It was quite good.

The Help did not please me as much as I hoped it would and I can’t quite figure out why. I think that in ways it glossed over the heart of the book — the harsh, unethical, inhumane treatment of African-Americans during that time. Sure, the brutality is referenced. But I think the film spent too much time focusing on the “perfect” appearances of the Junior League crew and Skeeter’s story and an disproportionate time addressing the real story at hand — the maids’ stories. I have read a few reviews that seem to suggest the same thing, like it is a sort of watered down interpretation that will make viewers “feel good” that things are different now…when the film doesn’t even portray the half of it. But, I will leave that to your interpretation. I still love the story, but in this instance, the book is far better and far more meaningful. The movie just feels like a nice story, not the powerful movement that the book propelled.

In summary, the books remain better overall — as usual — but Water for Elephants (the movie) was a wonderful rendition in my opinion. The Help is still a decent movie but I would recommend the book first, and maybe only, if you want to share the importance of the story.

While perusing new releases on Netflix a week or so ago, I noticed that there was a release of Atlas Shrugged. I was completely surprised because I never heard of it being released in the theatres, etc. etc. The only thing I heard was that there was the possibility of a movie, and that Angelina Jolie was up for Dagny Taggert. At any rate, this discovery was quite exciting and I immediately placed it at the top of my queue.

The film’s entire cast are considered “unknowns” and the film itself was extremely low budget. Which explains why I knew nothing about it… I did recognize one character from Friends (Ross and Monica’s mother) and another from Mad Men. While the DVD was loading, I did a little review reading and was intrigued by how supportive folks were of the film, despite its low budget style and unknown credits. I think that people were so desperate to see it on screen that any form would have pleased them.

You may guess at this point that I was not impressed with the film. However, the story speaks so strongly that even mediocre acting and embarrassing visual effects cannot squelch its power. And maybe that is what those posting reviews also saw. Watching the film brought back the story — and the story is solid.

The things that really stood out as bad include the portrayal of John Gault — it is hokey at best. Dagny is not quite right with an imbalance between the sexy portrayal and the plain, rigid businesswoman with too much on the “sexy” side. I didn’t picture her as glamourous as the character in this film. Also, Hank Rearden was sleazy  – I envisioned a Jon Hamm-like character with a natural charisma. Not an actor with a fake tan and hair with too much product in it.

Now, this was just Part 1 — so maybe they will have more money for Parts 2 and 3 and mysteriously eradicate some subpar actors. But, I will admit, I was captivated the entire time. Atlas Shrugged is a captivating story and it was enjoyable to remember the details of the story that I had forgotten. So, if you have read the book and are dying to see a film version, go ahead and see this one. You will be disappointed, but overall it will be a good experience.

I started this book in August and it has been a fabulous read. I knew it would be a big book to tackle, but it was absolutely worth it. Tom Wolfe is the ultimate scribe of American life, and in this book he pegs the fall of a Wall Street tycoon with such accuracy that, as a reader, you cannot help but feel the pain yourself as his life falls apart.

The book takes place during the stock market boom of the late 80s — I am not really sure — but it has a timeless quality to the story. As a reader, we follow the journey of Sherman McCoy, a wall street investment banker who has made it big — so big that he is consumed by his own vanity. An affair with another woman takes an unfortunate turn of events when the couple get lost in the Bronx in Sherman’s expensive Mercedes. Through a chain reaction, the car strikes a young black man and the two flee the scene — and thus the downfall is born.

I don’t want to give too much away as usual, but the title itself signals the idea that our protagonist will have a major downfall. I must say, even though Sherman’s character is depicted such that you are supposed to hate him, I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for his plight. I think Wolfe balances this conflict so well, and the writing is just brilliant.

My favorite scene occurred when Sherman is arrested and taken through the process of being booked and submitted before he posts bail. It is the most painfully descriptive segment and I found myself literally cringing while I read the painful words. I think that was the moment of the Bonfire from which the book gets its name, and Sherman even refers to the ordeal as a death of sort.

Anyway, this is a wonderful, wonderful book. The writing is truly masterful, the story alluring, and the end iconically Wolfe. There are elements of racial tension, the corruption of the justice system, mastery of the personality of Wall Street bankers, millionaire housewives, and upper echelon living. I always feel when I read Wolfe’s books that he describes characters so perfectly, as if he were pulling the very descriptions out of my own mind. For example, he calls the millionaire housewives that have dieted and exercised their way into the required physical size “x-rays” — this is so true and dead on.

I still maintain that I am Charlotte Simmons is my favorite Wolfe book, but I do think this one runs a close second. I would wholeheartedly recommend it.