What are you reading, right now...

[Twofingeredtypist]

Originally Posted by jboffer

Just read White House Down today. Definitely could be an action classic with the right director/cast.

Have you read Olympus Has Fallen too? I've asked a few people how they stack up and I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

[jboffer]

Originally Posted by Twofingeredtypist

Have you read Olympus Has Fallen too? I've asked a few people how they stack up and I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

I have not, but I'd be interested to. Don't have the script.

EDIT: Scratch that. Got it. Report back later.

[jboffer]

Ok, read Olympus Has Fallen. I can see why Gerald Butler wanted the role. He won't have to be bothered with conveying a single emotion or tasked with delivering a line that has weight or meaning.

*MINOR SPOILERS -- Basic outline, nothing ruined, no twists given away, etc*

White House Down (WHD) wins overall. By a lot. There were a lot of shocking similarities between them, though. I don't see how they could cut trailers for them that make the films look any different, aside from the casting. Sure, you can release "No Strings Attached" and "Friends with Benefits" or two asteroid movies and people will think that's funny, but can you REALLY release two films about secret service agents stuck in the White House after its taken over? We shall see I guess.

In WHD, our protag is stuck in the White House right when it's taken over and has to protect the President (and also has to worry about his daughter who was taken hostage). The script also manages to keep giving him mini goals about what he has to do / go to next. It moves along nicely, and there's always a purpose. We also know some things about the character.

In Olympus, we know next to nothing about our protag. And after the White House is under control of the villains, it takes for ****ing ever for this guy to get in the White House. He didn't have a plan as to why he wanted to get in the White House, he was just thinking, "Oh, I need to protect the President" so we wait for him to get in via some under ground tunnels. In the meantime, the President, Vice President, and other White House hostages are locked in the President's secure bunker with the villains. The thing is impenetrable. This is where the script failed: it was boring that they were locked up in there for most of the script. WHD made a better choice by having characters attempt to get to the bunker but unable to. Meanwhile, our Gerald Butler gets inside the White House, and it's a bit of an embarrassment: what's he supposed to do? He just gets inside and finds himself running around trying not to get killed. It's not until he gets caught that he's actual able to affect anything in the story. Whereas, in WHD, our protag had the President at his side for quite awhile, and also had to worry about his daughter.

WHD is better. It makes more sense for the protag to have already been trapped in the white house went the **** goes down, instead of having to sneak in (I mean, how do you convey the feeling of TRAPPED, when you SNEAK IN? It loses all effect). In WHD, he constantly had a goal while in the building, and things kept getting worse for him (not the case in Olympus). I thought the action scenes and general devastation had way more potential in WHD--felt way more like a thrill ride, whereas Olympus just felt like PUNCH, PUNCH, SHOOT, SHOOT. I wanted more cleverness and inventiveness. I do think the concept behind the villains and their motivation was better in Olympus, so it's too bad we can't just plop that into WHD.

[Twofingeredtypist]

Originally Posted by jboffer

Ok, read Olympus Has Fallen. I can see why Gerald Butler wanted the role. He won't have to be bothered with conveying a single emotion or tasked with delivering a line that has weight or meaning.

*MINOR SPOILERS -- Basic outline, nothing ruined, no twists given away, etc*

White House Down (WHD) wins overall. By a lot. There were a lot of shocking similarities between them, though. I don't see how they could cut trailers for them that make the films look any different, aside from the casting. Sure, you can release "No Strings Attached" and "Friends with Benefits" or two asteroid movies and people will think that's funny, but can you REALLY release two films about secret service agents stuck in the White House after its taken over? We shall see I guess.

In WHD, our protag is stuck in the White House right when it's taken over and has to protect the President (and also has to worry about his daughter who was taken hostage). The script also manages to keep giving him mini goals about what he has to do / go to next. It moves along nicely, and there's always a purpose. We also know some things about the character.

In Olympus, we know next to nothing about our protag. And after the White House is under control of the villains, it takes for ****ing ever for this guy to get in the White House. He didn't have a plan as to why he wanted to get in the White House, he was just thinking, "Oh, I need to protect the President" so we wait for him to get in via some under ground tunnels. In the meantime, the President, Vice President, and other White House hostages are locked in the President's secure bunker with the villains. The thing is impenetrable. This is where the script failed: it was boring that they were locked up in there for most of the script. WHD made a better choice by having characters attempt to get to the bunker but unable to. Meanwhile, our Gerald Butler gets inside the White House, and it's a bit of an embarrassment: what's he supposed to do? He just gets inside and finds himself running around trying not to get killed. It's not until he gets caught that he's actual able to affect anything in the story. Whereas, in WHD, our protag had the President at his side for quite awhile, and also had to worry about his daughter.

WHD is better. It makes more sense for the protag to have already been trapped in the white house went the **** goes down, instead of having to sneak in (I mean, how do you convey the feeling of TRAPPED, when you SNEAK IN? It loses all effect). In WHD, he constantly had a goal while in the building, and things kept getting worse for him (not the case in Olympus). I thought the action scenes and general devastation had way more potential in WHD--felt way more like a thrill ride, whereas Olympus just felt like PUNCH, PUNCH, SHOOT, SHOOT. I wanted more cleverness and inventiveness. I do think the concept behind the villains and their motivation was better in Olympus, so it's too bad we can't just plop that into WHD.

Thanks very much for taking the time to do that, jboffer. Much appreciated.

[christopher jon]

Rolling through the Jason Bourne screenplays at the moment.

[hscope]

I'm reading Persian Fire by Tom Holland, a non-fiction account of a 5th century BC world superpower, Persia, battling two terrorist states, Athens and Sparta.

For some reason it keeps reminding me of something...

[nic.h]

Read the Hunger Games the other day in preparation for seeing it Saturday. Also reading some local novelists so I don't feel stupid when I meet them for coffee.

[Mr Scribble]

Just started original scroll version of THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac.

The publisher isn't kidding when they say the original scroll version - the entire "novel" is one long paragraph, complete with typos and invented words.

[Dr. Vergerus]

Originally Posted by The Road Warrior

Which edition of Hamlet, out of interest?

I can't really say. It's a Spanish translation, cheap paperback. It doesn't even say who the translator is...

Although I'm waiting for an upcoming new translation of all his work, to be released in 4 books: comedies, tragedies, historical dramas and poetry.

I'm currently also reading William Goldman's The Season - A Candid Look at Broadway. Very nice book.

[Richmond Weems]

Originally Posted by Dr. Vergerus

I'm currently also reading William Goldman's The Season - A Candid Look at Broadway. Very nice book.

Where'd you pick that up?

HH