Sunday, December 2, 2007

Sunday Scribblings - "Walk" - 12/2/07

After missing Sunday Scribblings last week due to a Thanksgiving trip into a land where there is no INTERNET or cell phones (I will call this land that time forgot, rural Georgia.) I was anxious to attack this week’s topic with a vengeance. But unfortunately, the prompt “walk” did not immediately cause anything to surface from my cluttered mind, and anyone who knows me knows I am not prone to exerting much effort. So it appeared that I was about to have a two-week run of non-productivity from my writer’s garret. Actually, I don’t have a writer’s garret, but it sounds much more authorly than where I actually write, in the master bedroom of my condo. Actually, both bedrooms are the same size, but master bedroom rings of affluence.

As is usually the case, my blogs tend to write themselves, and this was no exception. I need to preface my submission (this is not it, just the dramatic buildup) by stating that I am an avid moviegoer. I have mentioned this in previous blogs. And though I have seen some really bad movies, I have never, ever walked out of one. I paid my $5.00 (I usually go to matinees) and, damn it, I am going to get my money’s worth!! I also, always have it in the back of my mind that the film will get better if I wait it out, much like life. Sometimes it never does, much like life.





I also need to tell you that I am a huge fan of Stephen King. He is by far my favorite author. I know that some of you will immediately turn up your nose and think, “how can anyone read such drivel when Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Kafka have not been fully explored.” For some reason, my vocalization of that quote includes a very posh British accent. Well, my blogs should indicate that I am not smart enough to interpret classic works and need King’s ability to paint a word picture for me. I read for entertainment, the same reasons I go to the movies. I would rather watch Jack Black than Sir Lawrence Olivier, though I appreciate both. I am not deep.





It is also important that you know that I know that adapting a Stephen King work to film is a crapshoot. While there have been some classics: Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me, The Shining (Jack, need I say more), and the Dead Zone (Christopher Walken makes any film better). There have also been some stinkers: Children of the Corn (I think that if you name your son Malakai, you can expect trouble), Maximum Overdrive (When your star is Emilio Estevez, probably not gonna get Oscar consideration), and Dreamcatcher (did they even read the book?), to name a few. But even the worst of those had some merit and I watched them all until the credits rolled.






But this weekend I saw “The Mist”. Or at least I saw some of it. I enjoy suspense. I am entertained when a film makes the entire audience jump at once. But I don’t like pure gore. Not Al, not Tipper, not gore for the sake of gore. I am also a fan of suspension of reality, but not for the entire length of the movie. Great book, lousy film.



For the first time in my cinematic life, I walked out. The end.

9 comments:

Linda Jacobs said...

Cool take on the walk theme! I love King's writing; I just don't like all his books. "The Stand" is still my favorite book of all time of all writiers. Have you read his book about writing called "On Writing"? Excellent!

Anyway, I enjoyed your post!

PS: Is there a way of italicizing in these comments? I know those book titles shouldn't have quotes around them.

paisley said...

rick... i feel that knowing when to walk away is an excellent attribute... i too love king,, although i am sure chaucer and shakespeare are geniuses in their own right,,, I simply don't get it......

Rob Kistner said...

King is a good author, but a bit hard edged for my taste -- except when he writes something like "The Green Mile". I prefer Dean Koontz -- he is a bit more 'spiritual', for lack of a better word. Enjoyed your post.

myrtle beached whale said...

I read a lot of Koontz too, but I agree with Linda that "The Stand" is one of the finest works ever written. Some of King scares the bejesus out of me. I can't look at a clown without thinking of "It", but King's stuff doesn't lend itself to movie adaptation as simply as someone like Grisham.

Tumblewords: said...

Liked the way you used the prompt to work your way into King. I've only seen 'Christine' and that's when I took a walk. Two or three nightmares lead me to read straight murder. I do like his style, though - nice post!

Anonymous said...

I haven't been doing SS for awhile, but was planning to this weekend. I've been catching up and HAD to comment on this!

I love the KING. I listened to The Mist as an audio book once while driving cross country with my best friend (very gay boy). It scared the crap out of us. This particular audio book was performed with sound effects, actors and all. It was great. He even screamed once or twice. Classic.

I loved Hearts in Atlantis, Bag of Bones, and Desperation will still send shivers up my spine (I actually used to travel that road).

I have a collection of Hard Backs, and have always intended to read the ones whos movie I ended up seeing first. I never did. Shinning, salems Lot, Shawshank.

Thanks for brining up the memories.

Stephen gets me every time...

My juxtaposition is Nora Roberts. I have also read almost everything she has written.

Horror/Love. Hey, maybe there isn't a difference here after all...

AscenderRisesAbove said...

another king lover here; his amazing books don't get enough credit. loved 'the girl who loved tom gordon'; still watch the langoliers and misery when I am bored out of my mind; own a copy of Kingdom Hospital and Rose Red. though some; I just have to think "what are you thinking" such as "it" (shudder) but perhaps like most artists he has to empty his mind of some garbage to make room for some true pieces of art?

ascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress

raymond pert said...

I think I should offer a "Really, Shakespeare and Chaucer Are as Accessible as Stephen King" get together for Sunday Scribblings!

Shammi said...

Yes yes YESSSS! Stephen King is one my MY Favourite authors! You're so right he paints word-picture. His prose is very nearly poetry in its flow and description... AND you dont have to wonder what it means because you (meaning me) can understand it rightaway :)

I have seen The Shawshank Redemption and that was brilliant. How about The Green Mile? That was pretty damn good too!