Will You Read Before you Watch?
Before I begin, an update: I went to Barnes & Noble this morning in hopes of getting my hands on the nook to test it out, but it won’t be in-store until November 30!
At the moment, I am consoling myself with a Starbucks White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino. I’ve told everyone that I want a Kindle or a nook for Christmas, so I’m sure I won’t get one… why do people think that books and literary paraphernalia aren’t fabulous gifts?
The holiday season is usually loaded with big budget films and this season is no exception. Now in theaters is The Box, based on the short story “Button, Button” by Richard B. Matheson (narrated by Grover Gardner). The moral dilemma at the center of the plot is this: Someone gives a couple a box. They are told that if they push the button, they will get one million dollars… but someone they don’t know will die. I have read that the movie, starring Cameron Diaz and Frank Langella, is poorly done. Again, a short story that challenges my dislike for short stories…
I’m disappointed that Disney has chosen to produce a frenetically animated A Christmas Carol, based on the classic Charles Dickens novel (there are multiple versions from varied narrators available on audio). The beauty of A Christmas Carol is the incredible story… it doesn’t need Jim Carrey or special effects. If you want to see a movie version, stick with the 1951 version starring Alastair Sim. Even my kids love this one.
The Men Who Stare at Goats is based on a book of the same name by Jon Ronson (narrated by Sean Mangan). The movie has an impressive cast, with George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Spacey, but reviews have pretty much panned it. The book is said to be clever and quite humorous story of the US government’s exploration of using paranormal abilities in combat. Go with the book on this one.
Precious is based on the book PUSH written and read by Sapphire. The movie is getting rave reviews and features Mo’Nique, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, and Gabourey Sidibe. This story, of a 16 year old girl who is pregnant for the second time by her absent father, could be an emotionally exhausting exercise for a reader… but Precious is motivated and finds, as she begins a literacy workshop, a way to a better life. Both book and movie sound very promising.
There are more books to movies this season! Check back tomorrow for Fantastic Mr. Fox, New Moon, The Blind Side, and more!
By Dorothy Distefano
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