Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
This book was the first novel written by flemming about James Bond and it paved the way for eleven other novels. I was really excited to read this book because I had seen the film a while ago and really liked it. I had seen the newer version of the film and thought it was one of my favorite bond films. So I was very surprised at how different the book was from the film, I feel that you get a lot more from the book. I also really enjoyed Flemings ability to describe a setting or situation so that the reader can get a detailed image in their head.
The plot is straight forward Cold War cloak and dagger and can be part of the spy mystery genre of pulp fiction because it is about a spy (James Bond) who encounters problems with foreign enemies and love relations. There is also a romantic aspect of the book and that involves Bonds love for beautiful women, more specifically Vesper Lynd. She is the character who is responsible for stealing bonds heart. In the book, James Bond is responsible for beating Lechiffre in baccarat and scandalize the Soviet-backed union. Fighting communism seemed to be a very common trend for the Genre during this time period and I feel that Casino Royale really nails it on the head.
I was really surprised how different the villains were in the book and how they replaced the soviet backed Lechiffre with the terrorist backed Lechiffre. I felt that this was such an important part of the book and I cant believe they changed the story for the 2006 screenplay.
I have not read many pulp novels so it is hard for me to compare this book to another but I really feel that it is a very successful book in this genre. I wish I could have read this book before I saw the movie because I would have been more surprised with the book.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Dead Man
The film that i chose to write about is called "Dead Man" and was released in 1995. Its stars Johnny Depp, Lance Henriksen and Billy Bob Thornton. The story is about a man (Depp)on the run after committing a murder, while on the run the accountant encounters a strange Indian named "Nobody" who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.
It is a very interesting and unique film mostly because it has such great visuals but is filmed all in black and white. It is an American western film directed by Jim Jarmusch. Some critics have described it as oe of the best postmodern western films ever created and is compared to post modern literature by Cormac McCarthy. The main character is a quit and gentle man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I feel that this differs from other traditional western films because the main character is usually a badass cowboy gunslinger who takes care of business.
The soundtrack of this film is also has a modern characteristic with a little western feel to it, which is Neil Young making ominous sounds on a guitar. I really appreciate this film because the visual quality is like a venture into the past with the black and white film, but the ideas and plot are like no other film ive ever seen. It is a very gritty film that will make you wonder what the "what the hell did I just watch?".
It is a very interesting and unique film mostly because it has such great visuals but is filmed all in black and white. It is an American western film directed by Jim Jarmusch. Some critics have described it as oe of the best postmodern western films ever created and is compared to post modern literature by Cormac McCarthy. The main character is a quit and gentle man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I feel that this differs from other traditional western films because the main character is usually a badass cowboy gunslinger who takes care of business.
The soundtrack of this film is also has a modern characteristic with a little western feel to it, which is Neil Young making ominous sounds on a guitar. I really appreciate this film because the visual quality is like a venture into the past with the black and white film, but the ideas and plot are like no other film ive ever seen. It is a very gritty film that will make you wonder what the "what the hell did I just watch?".
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Modern Fairy Tale
Moon in The Closet
by Bud Cato
In a small farming community outside of Sarasota lived the Smith family. They were a very hard working group of characters who only knew how to raise cattle and play football. Leon was the youngest, at eleven years old he was just beginning middle school. His older brother Ray was about to graduate high school and had just received a scholarship to play football at the University of Florida. The boys father (a single parent), Glenn was a very hard working and strict man who felt football was the only way his sons could go anywhere in life. Leon felt different about this, he was a dreamer and wast much of an athlete.
Leon's biggest secret was his second life in an alternate universe. Every night before bed he would enter his closet and instantly be teleported to the moon world of Neutraz. This moon world was amazing in every way, it was most beautiful and all your dreams are meant to come true in Neutraz. This moon was made out of the best foods known to man, at any moment you could lay down and stuff your face with anything that popped into your head. You could be eating pumpkin pie then be eating a t-bone steak the next minute. It was inhabited by the food elves who called themselves "The Lelums".
One night, Leon and his father got into a big argument about his future as a football star. Leon knew this was not what he wanted and decided to got to Neutraz forever and never return. He backed all that he had and left for his moon fantasy land.
Once he had arrived on the moon he knew he would have to establish himself as the leader of the Lelum elves. To do so, he had to enter a eating contest against the biggest Lelum who called himself Allban. They would have to eat deviled eggs until they couldn't anymore or exploded. This contest was to take place on Cinnamon Roll Mountain. Once the two competitors climbed through all the gooey icing to the top of the mountain they would begin the contest. Leon and Allban had went through their first two dozen eggs with no hesitation. After 38 deviled eggs Allban could not continue and had to declare Leon the ruler of Neutraz.
Once Leon became ruler he lived his life in peace, not having to worry about football or his family. After a year in Neutraz he had weighed almost 323 lbs and was as happy as ever.
by Bud Cato
In a small farming community outside of Sarasota lived the Smith family. They were a very hard working group of characters who only knew how to raise cattle and play football. Leon was the youngest, at eleven years old he was just beginning middle school. His older brother Ray was about to graduate high school and had just received a scholarship to play football at the University of Florida. The boys father (a single parent), Glenn was a very hard working and strict man who felt football was the only way his sons could go anywhere in life. Leon felt different about this, he was a dreamer and wast much of an athlete.
Leon's biggest secret was his second life in an alternate universe. Every night before bed he would enter his closet and instantly be teleported to the moon world of Neutraz. This moon world was amazing in every way, it was most beautiful and all your dreams are meant to come true in Neutraz. This moon was made out of the best foods known to man, at any moment you could lay down and stuff your face with anything that popped into your head. You could be eating pumpkin pie then be eating a t-bone steak the next minute. It was inhabited by the food elves who called themselves "The Lelums".
One night, Leon and his father got into a big argument about his future as a football star. Leon knew this was not what he wanted and decided to got to Neutraz forever and never return. He backed all that he had and left for his moon fantasy land.
Once he had arrived on the moon he knew he would have to establish himself as the leader of the Lelum elves. To do so, he had to enter a eating contest against the biggest Lelum who called himself Allban. They would have to eat deviled eggs until they couldn't anymore or exploded. This contest was to take place on Cinnamon Roll Mountain. Once the two competitors climbed through all the gooey icing to the top of the mountain they would begin the contest. Leon and Allban had went through their first two dozen eggs with no hesitation. After 38 deviled eggs Allban could not continue and had to declare Leon the ruler of Neutraz.
Once Leon became ruler he lived his life in peace, not having to worry about football or his family. After a year in Neutraz he had weighed almost 323 lbs and was as happy as ever.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Platonic Dialogue About Media
Dialogue between Laylor and Augy
Augy: "Hey, Laylor what brings you around these parts."
Laylor: "Oh, im just looking for a new tv to put in my trailor so i can keep up with the news and nascar."
Augy: "Wooohooo! I tell you what, there aint nothing better than learning from the TV. Ive been watching that Discovery channel and learning all sorts of things about animals, dirty jobs and pawn shops."
Laylor: "I tell you what, I havent watched TV in almost six years. Im so excited to just sit down and relax for while after a long day of putting up drywall."
Augy: "The television set is a good source of media, its pretty much the only thing i got since i cant read."
Laylor: "MEDIA!!! What in tar-nation does that word mean? Is that some kind of food."
Augy: "Come on Man, Media is a mass means of communication. Listen up you dummy, its a way that people use to communicate ideas alot like that Discovery channel."
Laylor: "Ok, I think I understand that. So things like Newspapers, Drive-in Theaters, Televisons and Radios are a good source of media."
Augy: "You got it buddy, i was starting to think you were dumber than a door nail."
Laylor: "Ah shoot, I was born at night but not last night. Thanks for the info, i feel like I'm starting to use you as a media source."
Augy: "I dont know about all that little buddy but you go and enjoy that television."
Laylor: "I sure will and I'll have to call you up next time the family goes four wheeling."
Augy: "Hey, Laylor what brings you around these parts."
Laylor: "Oh, im just looking for a new tv to put in my trailor so i can keep up with the news and nascar."
Augy: "Wooohooo! I tell you what, there aint nothing better than learning from the TV. Ive been watching that Discovery channel and learning all sorts of things about animals, dirty jobs and pawn shops."
Laylor: "I tell you what, I havent watched TV in almost six years. Im so excited to just sit down and relax for while after a long day of putting up drywall."
Augy: "The television set is a good source of media, its pretty much the only thing i got since i cant read."
Laylor: "MEDIA!!! What in tar-nation does that word mean? Is that some kind of food."
Augy: "Come on Man, Media is a mass means of communication. Listen up you dummy, its a way that people use to communicate ideas alot like that Discovery channel."
Laylor: "Ok, I think I understand that. So things like Newspapers, Drive-in Theaters, Televisons and Radios are a good source of media."
Augy: "You got it buddy, i was starting to think you were dumber than a door nail."
Laylor: "Ah shoot, I was born at night but not last night. Thanks for the info, i feel like I'm starting to use you as a media source."
Augy: "I dont know about all that little buddy but you go and enjoy that television."
Laylor: "I sure will and I'll have to call you up next time the family goes four wheeling."
Monday, January 17, 2011
How am I situated as a reader?
I am not a big fan of academic or "hard" reading, but I do enjoy to use reading as a means to gain valuable information, such as current events or subjects that i can apply to my life or career. I don't like to be forced to read things that do not interest me and I feel that this is a common occurrence with readings assigned by teachers. I haven't read many books in my life and I'm pretty embarrassed about about my minimal library, but I feel that fantasy/scifi books interest me the most ( Star Wars Saga). My mind is constantly racing and imagining new things, and this challenges me because I can barely remember a passage of reading that I read a few days ago. I am a huge fan of film and feel that this draws me away from reading because I can just watch a movie and gain the same information, I feel horrible saying this but its just how I am, and hope to change some day.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Plato's Phaedrus
The following are some main points that were made during the dialogue:
-Socrates is a lover of knowledge and believes that he can learn more in the city from his teachers than learn outside the city amongst trees. Phaedrus asks Socrates to join him for a conversation.
-Once the two are settled by a tree, Phaedrus begins to discuss the difference between the lover and the non-lover.
- They come with the question of whether the lover or non–lover is to be preferred. Socrates then explains that there are two principles in people, rational desire and irrational and the irrational is the power of love.
- Socrates then harshly describes the lover a one who takes charge of the relationship and wants the beloved to become more obedient. He also says that the lover will take away things that the beloved cares about, like family, friends and kinsmen. Socrates then decribes the lover of having all the "advantages in which the lover is accused of being deficient."
- Socrates describes their speeches as a spit in the face to the god of love. "Our ideas of love were taken from some haunt of sailors to which good manners were unknown."
- The divine madness was subdivided into four kinds, prophetic, initiatory, poetic, erotic. "In reality, our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness, which indeed is a divine gift”
- Oratory is the art of enchanting the soul, and the orator must learn the differences of human souls by reflection and experience.
- A person must have knowledge and be able to define the topics of what he is talking about, and to discern the natures of the people he is talking to.
- Most people believe that love is a desire, and we know also that non–lovers desire the good and the beautiful.
-Socrates is a lover of knowledge and believes that he can learn more in the city from his teachers than learn outside the city amongst trees. Phaedrus asks Socrates to join him for a conversation.
-Once the two are settled by a tree, Phaedrus begins to discuss the difference between the lover and the non-lover.
- They come with the question of whether the lover or non–lover is to be preferred. Socrates then explains that there are two principles in people, rational desire and irrational and the irrational is the power of love.
- Socrates then harshly describes the lover a one who takes charge of the relationship and wants the beloved to become more obedient. He also says that the lover will take away things that the beloved cares about, like family, friends and kinsmen. Socrates then decribes the lover of having all the "advantages in which the lover is accused of being deficient."
- Socrates describes their speeches as a spit in the face to the god of love. "Our ideas of love were taken from some haunt of sailors to which good manners were unknown."
- The divine madness was subdivided into four kinds, prophetic, initiatory, poetic, erotic. "In reality, our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness, which indeed is a divine gift”
- Oratory is the art of enchanting the soul, and the orator must learn the differences of human souls by reflection and experience.
- A person must have knowledge and be able to define the topics of what he is talking about, and to discern the natures of the people he is talking to.
- Most people believe that love is a desire, and we know also that non–lovers desire the good and the beautiful.
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