Hopefully, zombie is the next vampire. And if all of the young adult books on zombies are as good as this one, then it's going to be a great ride.
Carrie Ryan has taken a theme and a story that is well known and expanded it to a new level.
I've always loved a good zombie movie, and in the past few years I've looked everywhere for a good zombie apocalypse novel. Many in the genre follow similar patterns, not to say they aren't good- Zombie novels are ALWAYS good. IF you are a fan, you know what to expect. The infection, plague, government escaped virus, mysterious meteor, or the portal to another dimension opens and brings the dead to life. They eat the living. (Please, don't say they eat brains- that occurs in only one decent series of movies. Real zombies eat everything!) We meet our min characters, they meet cannon fodder that get eaten along the way and somehow the whole group tries to survive in an undead world.
Ryan has expanded on the best parts of the zombie survivor theme. We are several decades beyond "the Return" and society has tried to develop into some normalcy. Our young Heroine, Mary lives in a true "gated community" off of a large forest filled with the "Unconsecrated"- the zombies. Life has developed around "the scripture" and young people are devoted to procreating for the cotinuance of the human species. Matches are made based on necessity, not love. Mary is the rebel and toils over her decisions- hoping for love, and the possibility of an outside world away from the unconsecrated.
As will happen in an undead world- the village is attacked and a small party of teens escape through a labyrinth of fences and gates throughout the forest, constantly being stalked by zombies.
I will be honest- as I read the first half of this book, I grew tired of the angsty young heroine wishing hoping and dreaming that things were different. I understand the connections bein made, but it became tiresome at times. The great thing I found throughout the book was just as I was about to put the book down because of the aforementioned reasons, something exciting would happen and I would stick with th book for several more chapters, I would grow tired, almost put the book down, and another exciting part would appear. Ryan seemed to have a good grasp of when and where to put the tension, and possible showed me the slogging existence of the characters contrasted with their flights from danger.
Looking at the theme and story, I was saddened what I took from the book. How far are we willing to go...and lose, to hold on to our dreams? I ended up being concerned and moved by the whole part of young folk, and generally concerned for their safety.
To me, this is a great addition to all of the other great zombie literature out there, and it still asks the same questions- how do we survive, can we have a normal life again, and is their security anywhere.
A great book, even with he minor failings I mentioned. I'm glad I stuck with it and saw it through to the end.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Movie- the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
I have to preface this review with a warning....I am very partial to Terry Gilliam films. The man has not made a bad film. Watching the documentary "Lost in La Manch" about his ill-fated quest to bring to the screen the story of Don Quixote and you will see the trouble, the dedication, and hard work that a true director brings to film.
"Parnassus" has the Gilliam touch at its best. Visually appealing and beyond surreal-the landscapes the characters explore ask for the audience to wonder about the psychological make up of even minor characters.
I suggest watching the introduction by Gilliam to fully understand what he wanted from the film. Fans of his previous films will understand the subtle and "not so subtle" touches and revisiting of Gilliam's filmograpahy.
The story is not completely original. The theme of the deal with the devil has been done in literature and film several times. The competition between Parnassus and the Devil borders on "a friendly wager" as the Devil seems at times to enjoy the company of the good Dr. and I think secretly would like to see him win the wager. Of course we want Parnassus to win, but the casting of Tom Waites as the Devil is simply cunning, suave, and so brilliant that I found myself sucked into his charm. I'd certainly lose my soul.
Christopher Plummer plays Parnassus. My first experience with Plummer was in the movie "Waterloo", with him playing Lord Wellington. A great portrayal, by the way. Since then, I have always kept my ear out for movies where he stars; he never disappoints. His portrayal of Dr. Parnassus, the 1000 year old man who has wagered souls against the devil for the sake of his 16 year old daughter, pits imagination against realism- a common Gilliam theme. Plummer is a vehicle to the rest of the characters. An experienced actor with a story that only gives us just enough information to keep the story moving.
You need to listen and watch closely to the story. I found some of it hard to follow at times. But there was certainly enough on the screen to keep me interested.
Sadly, this was Heath Ledger's last movie, and I wondered how Gilliam could continue without Ledger's performance. The wonderful thing about Gilliam's movies is that most anything can be explained by the magical and fantastic nature of the story. I liked how the addition of Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell blended into the story and even they seem surprised by their transformation; an amusing and fun aspect of the movie that I would like a second look at to ponder more.
Ledger's character is a mystery to the other's, found hanging underneath a bridge and left for dead, he soon is welcomed to the traveling Imaginarium troupe and works to bring the show into the modern era.
Rich characters, rich costuming, and a great use of imagination; the driving theme of the movie. A little slow on the story, but a nice tribute and ending to Ledger's excellent career.
Heath, we'll miss you
"Parnassus" has the Gilliam touch at its best. Visually appealing and beyond surreal-the landscapes the characters explore ask for the audience to wonder about the psychological make up of even minor characters.
I suggest watching the introduction by Gilliam to fully understand what he wanted from the film. Fans of his previous films will understand the subtle and "not so subtle" touches and revisiting of Gilliam's filmograpahy.
The story is not completely original. The theme of the deal with the devil has been done in literature and film several times. The competition between Parnassus and the Devil borders on "a friendly wager" as the Devil seems at times to enjoy the company of the good Dr. and I think secretly would like to see him win the wager. Of course we want Parnassus to win, but the casting of Tom Waites as the Devil is simply cunning, suave, and so brilliant that I found myself sucked into his charm. I'd certainly lose my soul.
Christopher Plummer plays Parnassus. My first experience with Plummer was in the movie "Waterloo", with him playing Lord Wellington. A great portrayal, by the way. Since then, I have always kept my ear out for movies where he stars; he never disappoints. His portrayal of Dr. Parnassus, the 1000 year old man who has wagered souls against the devil for the sake of his 16 year old daughter, pits imagination against realism- a common Gilliam theme. Plummer is a vehicle to the rest of the characters. An experienced actor with a story that only gives us just enough information to keep the story moving.
You need to listen and watch closely to the story. I found some of it hard to follow at times. But there was certainly enough on the screen to keep me interested.
Sadly, this was Heath Ledger's last movie, and I wondered how Gilliam could continue without Ledger's performance. The wonderful thing about Gilliam's movies is that most anything can be explained by the magical and fantastic nature of the story. I liked how the addition of Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell blended into the story and even they seem surprised by their transformation; an amusing and fun aspect of the movie that I would like a second look at to ponder more.
Ledger's character is a mystery to the other's, found hanging underneath a bridge and left for dead, he soon is welcomed to the traveling Imaginarium troupe and works to bring the show into the modern era.
Rich characters, rich costuming, and a great use of imagination; the driving theme of the movie. A little slow on the story, but a nice tribute and ending to Ledger's excellent career.
Heath, we'll miss you
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