Spud

The family went to see Spud at the drive-in and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of production and performances of most of the actors – I didn’t have high expectations going in.

On the way home I made a comment that I am annoyed by all the books that are being turned into movies.

Dad: it’s all about making money

Me: well, it shouldn’t be

Sis: now you’re just being ridiculous

Mom: it’s for the people who don’t read books

Me: well, they should read

Sis: ok, stop being so ridiculous (sorry for having and expressing opinions Sis)

But please tell me what’s ridiculous about feeling like money is not the bee all and end all of life on earth? Or that people should expand their imaginations by reading, or loose out on a story?

Admittedly, this is a new view – I do have Lord of the Rings on DVD, and the first 5 Harry Potter DVDs. And while I’ve read, and loved, each Harry Potter book at least twice, I’ve not read Lord of the Rings (I’ve not felt a need to read it as the movies are really good in my opinion).

It just irks me that I can hardly rent a DVD without finding out at some point that it was book, where the story is inevitably told so much better than what I see on screen.

The Last Song – DVD jacket says that’s a book by Nicholas Sparks, who also wrote A Walk to Remember (was pissed off when I discovered that, despite how much I love the movie) and Nights in Rodanthe (broke down and rented the DVD and was not overly impressed with Dianne Lane and Richard Gere, but I figure the book would be really good).

Charlie St Cloud – according to mom, it’s a book, but the movie was apparently so abominable that it’s not worth seeing.

Montana Sky – rented it even knowing it’s a book by Nora Roberts. I love her stories, especially her later ones, and was sorely disappointed at the portrayal of the characters by pretty much unknown actors. I know what her heroes are like, and John Corbette (the only name I recognise) didn’t do this male lead any justice.

I’m sorely tempted to boycott reading books by authors who sell themselves to Hollywood as much as I am refusing to watch movie adaptations of books.

The reason I’m trawling through Mr Video’s appalling collection of movies is because I can rent 5 movies for 7 days for R55. Sounds like a great deal, but then I’m told it excludes all new releases. You’d think there would be some good finds, and there are a few, but for the most part, it’s just films that, for obvious reasons, went straight to video. After 3 rounds, there’s virtually nothing left to interest me. Spending R100 (I never pay more) on a DVD I really like and can watch a million times over, is a far better way to go.