Sorry this post is coming in, oh, about 12 hours late. My Mac died. Even after re-installing the OS and following all the tech support instructions, it won't start up.
Thankfully, I noticed some major problems yesterday and backed everything up onto my external hard drive.
Unfortunately, it does mean that I lost some in-development website data, a short film I was working on, and some of my best music software.
Then, this would have been up sooner, but I pulled my calf going up the stairs to my room to fix my computer and no one in my house was responding to my calls (both vocal and cellular) for some assistance. After three hours on the floor, I crawled down the stairs head first, wrapped my leg, and hobbled out to buy supplies for the camp's talent show in two weeks.
Catalog Rec:
Matilda I'm very much against adapting popular literature without care. What makes the print work so well rarely translates to the screen in a way that reflects the cause of success. Matilda is one of the exceptions in children's literature adapted for film. Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord managed to capture the feel of the book without sticking 100% to what's on the page.
The result was a film that acts as a perfect compliment to Roald Dahl's beloved book. All the major highlights are there: the hammer throw, the chocolate cake, the newt in the pitcher, even Miss Honey's cottage. Indeed, just following the major events of the film could have resulted in a palatable experience, bland without staying power.
The real strength of the film's writing comes in the new material. Matilda's family, in the book, is developed solely as the opposition that causes Matilda's mental development. The film adds much more. Harry and Zinnia Wormwood come alive on screen with the new details.
Perhaps the best example is emphasizing Zinnia's bingo addiction and desire to not be caught up with matter's of family. The added focus on the government agents staking out Harry, resulting in growing paranoia, is strong as well. I think you can never go wrong with Matilda to kill some time. It will surely put a smile on your face and make you long for the simple pencil sketches of Dahl's book.
Labels: Catalog rec