This isn't exactly the day this 'sour apple' came up but its the day it has begun to bug me. (Oh, if you didn't guess a lemon is good sour apple bad. Both deliciously zingy, apples aren't supposed to be thought. Had enough of metaphors? Good, me too.)
I've stumbled across something weird, well okay its not that odd. But this book I bought read and loved is not the one I see when I google it.
Eurgh. Today I am not making sense.
What I mean is one day I say 'Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock' in the shopping centre. It had this cover:
I love this cover. You may also notice that this version of the book is titled 'Deadly Hemlock' when the book is actually called 'Hemlock' (absolutely definitely, I triple checked) though I was curious to see the original far more widespread cover which looked like this:
Yes, to the left, the blog-format doesn't like positioning pictures tastefully (its in an all-out-war against the layout-settings I swear) Anyway my main problem is that this alternate cover is like a sour apple. Its all paranormal and magical-powers looking. I know, werewolves, but still! The Hemlock I read was really freshly realistic, it didn't try to laden us down with mystical magical possibilities and aliens and paranormal immortality (which is what the girl-in-purple-dress cover portrays..to me) Hemlock rationalised werewolves (I just put 'rational' and 'werewolf' into the same sentence...waiting for the plausible story-line gods to smite me) it makes Lycathropy into a disease, a government issue. Not hidden from the general public. All out no-holes-barred knowledge of all people. I think this matches the Deadly Hemlock cover much more. It just fits. I mean assuming that that girl in the dress on the cover is supposed to be Mackenzie, which I don't get? She looks contemplative and sorta weak, inactive. Plus why is she wearing a dress? Since when was Mackenzie the dress wearing type...I thought she was more of a practical girl.
I just adore the other cover. Plus this is in no way bashing on Kathleen Peacock, that woman is amazing. She's done this amazing job of creating an awesome BELIEVABLE story! I love! Plus I know authors have little say in the cover-artprocess.
I'll do some normal posting later on! (Hope this wasn't too cynical, 'spose it could've been a bit better)
Review Time! Up first We've got Another Earth (2011) and then Detention (2011) (Yes, note that they are both 2011 movies, I'm a bit behind the times. I know)
Another Earth. Where do I begin? Its a rather melancholy film. A little depressing. However its beautifully put together and the shots just work you know? The story, although very sad, was really compelling. A girl who is so full of guilt and a man so full of grief and a loss of purpose.
This is not a sci-fi film. If anything the 'other earth' is a metaphor for the characters thoughts and dreams of 'what if?'
In our world we always question what may have happened if we'd done things differently, in 'Another Earth' that feeling of wonder, the need to know, it tangible. With the other earth looming in the background of the film it acts as a constant reminder that these characters are really wondering 'why is MY life, like this? Is the me over there just as lost as I am?'
This film is as the accolades suggest 'beautiful and haunting' But I did have one problem with it [Spoilers are happening now people, so head on down to Detention's review if you don't want to know] The romance. I know extreme situations blah blah, ect. But I thought though they needed an expression of intimacy, I didn't believe that a fully fledged romance was really the way to go. It felt off weird. At some points the soundtrack was off too, so it felt like something sinister. Or maybe it was me, as the audience, carrying around all the guilt and hurt of Rhoda, they made me feel icky. I really believed that this film could've done with a simple friendship (Admittedly the age thing was a major factor in the off-putting stuff).
In all though I did like the ending, how other Rhoda was successful and other dude (his name escapes me at this moment) had his family alive on other earth. I can't say I loved the ending, because ultimately this film wasn't about love, it was about hurt, guilt and forgiveness. So really I think contentment and a weird feeling in my stomach were going to have to suffice.
NB: I really do love the song 'That Home' By The Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson in the trailer.
Detention: OMGROFL-ILY
But in all seriousness I adored this movie. It was just so awesome! The sequences, the dialogue, the way it was cut. The utter ridiculous-randomness was so odd it was endearing. I'm going to put this out there: I was not alive in 1992. But I was born in the 90's (just a shout out to the current 'if you remember this then you we're a 90's kid' memes and everyone my age who's liking them; WE WE'RE ALL INFANTS IN THE 90's YOU ONLY BECAME CAPABLE OF BASIC FUNCTION IN THE 2000'S) So there was a lot of 90's nostalgia that I didn't understand. But I still loved it.
The cast do a great job, I didn't find one character unlikable. Even Sloan, she had a purpose in the movie and since there was a villain already I didn't see the point of hate. In fact I didn't even hate the villain. In fact, to topple that last sentence I was so busy trying to figure out what the hell was going on and laughing my head off, that I don't think I even had time to process emotions. Thats what made this film wonderful, its unclassifiable. But oh my, there was a character I did quite enjoy, just all of his lines seemed like they we're made up in a fountain of gold. Principle Verge. He began by berating someone about teen pregnancy and finished by declaring he was 'too wasted' The dialogue of this show was brilliant.
Something I also loved was the; so over the top, so terribly 'stereotypical' the characters we're made to seem. And the boring guy! Toby T! They never have boring characters in movies because they're, well, boring. But the fact that the entire time he was just taking it on the chin that everyone in detention wanted him to 'take one for the team' and confess to murder was just downright hilarious, plus his poorly-delayed scream and 'I hate this school' always makes me laugh. Just all the characters, their dialogue, the way they we're played. It was just SO GOOD. SO MUCH GOODNESS.
Now before I was saying, about the over-the-top stereotypes. All of which I adored; the 'popular kids' Ione, Gord the Canadian, the Coach, the Jock (Billy Nolan), the Goth. So I'm going to leave you with a perfect example of this, which whenever I showed the movie to someone (who just wasn't quite getting into it just then) I had to try and conceal my laughter. Plus I'll leave you with the words: See this movie!!!!
Yes, to the left, the blog-format doesn't like positioning pictures tastefully (its in an all-out-war against the layout-settings I swear) Anyway my main problem is that this alternate cover is like a sour apple. Its all paranormal and magical-powers looking. I know, werewolves, but still! The Hemlock I read was really freshly realistic, it didn't try to laden us down with mystical magical possibilities and aliens and paranormal immortality (which is what the girl-in-purple-dress cover portrays..to me) Hemlock rationalised werewolves (I just put 'rational' and 'werewolf' into the same sentence...waiting for the plausible story-line gods to smite me) it makes Lycathropy into a disease, a government issue. Not hidden from the general public. All out no-holes-barred knowledge of all people. I think this matches the Deadly Hemlock cover much more. It just fits. I mean assuming that that girl in the dress on the cover is supposed to be Mackenzie, which I don't get? She looks contemplative and sorta weak, inactive. Plus why is she wearing a dress? Since when was Mackenzie the dress wearing type...I thought she was more of a practical girl.
