New Creation: Coffee Bean

My friend Arctic Bunny and I are finally getting around to collaborating on a creative project together - this one will be a comic strip based on characters I created in a short story, namely Coffee Bean, Tea Bag and Milk Shake :)

Arctic Bunny has posted some illustration work already, so swing on by to check it out. http://arcticbunnyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/coffee-bean.html

Avatar: The Legend of Korra

I'm departing from my usual material on books and film and jotting down some thoughts on TV show that I'm a huge fan of - Avatar: The Last Airbender (officially my most fave cartoon series of all time), but more specifically, its successor, the much awaited, Legend of Korra. This new series followed the next avatar after Aang,  a hot-headed and spiritually lacking Korra, who has mastered all three elements, bar Air. If you have no idea what I'm blabbing about, head on to Wikipedia or whatever.

Is it really tired that I shall now deliver my verdict of this new series in comparison to the predecessor? Why, yes and I shall do it anyhow. 

***SPOILER ALERT***

1. The Setting

The world of the newer series is more 'modern' with technology rearing it's wonderful head - electricity, mechanics, military weaponry, 1930s buildings yada yada yada. Some other fans have noted that it takes away from the fantasy, elemental nature of the original - and they're right. There's less mysticism and philosophy in this story's journey - and we're left with two forces really at play - bending and non-bending. While this political issue is intriguing and rather 'mature', the show never delves into the intricacies of this choice.  No one is really addressing the concern that these Equalists have - it's just all very confrontational, which sure makes more dramatic sequences but where's the honest conversation about it? I was looking forward to the episodes exploring it but it's either 'all or nothing'/extremism, represented by Sato and of course, Amon.

2. Character Development

There isn't much of this flying around - it likes getting a spent wedge of lemon and you have to work pretty hard to squeeze some out. And what a disappointment that is when you consider that Aang's series was all character led - there were layers, variety etc - all very commendable for a 'kids' show - but somehow the writers have reverted to cliches and archetypes. We know nothing really of the minor characters - Mako, Bo Lin and Asami. I ended up liking Asami the best because she had the more intriguing conflict (plus she wasn't stupid at any one point or annoying - which I cannot say the same of  Korra, the one were supposed to be rooting for). Also, why even bother creating that city council? They did sh** all! Exceptionally lazy - apart from Tenzin, who is so badass. 

On that same note, Korra was a great bender but just lacked any real promise of being avatar-like. To me, she comes across as just either complaining or whining, throwing herself at Mako (you're the avatar, you're better than that!) or rearing to get into a fight. I was waiting to engage with her more, i.e waiting for her to access her avatar state which never happened! And no, the end of season scene, which everyone is rightly saying was shockingly deus ex machina,  does not count - it was absolutely the right thought behind it (lowest points opening us up to greatest change - I got tears at that point because people who've been there know the deep truth of that) - but the worst, worst execution. I was totally banking on Korra achieving avatar state when Amon was at the point of taking her powers. I hated how helpless she was so often - and only fired up when Mako was in danger. Really? That's just poor. 

3. Music

Legend of Korra's soundtrack was 'interesting', which means I didn't like it. Sure, it was more in line with the modernisation themes and therefore, why not throw in Jazz etc? But in no way does it compare to the epic scale of the first series. I never skip the Season 3 Theme for Last Airbender on my iPod, that's how immense it is. If I had mind altering powers, I would command you to check it out now. Otherwise, here's the link on YouTube. 

4. Scale

It's based only at Republic City. I hope we get to see more of the world we love as fans in the next installment. 

5. Script

This also ties in with point 2 on character development but the show definitely pitched the production values on action etc and left little in the way of meaningful script. So much of what characters said were so run of the mill, I thought I might have dropped into another dimension and was watching some rubbish TV. I know, right? Writers - please stop having this silly scenes between Korra and Mako - it's just plain dumb and the source of 90% of vomit inducing dialogue. Also writers, you totally skimmed over how Tenzin and kids were captured. Just skip over the details of that, huh?

VERDICT for Legend of Korra: 7/10
VERDICT for Legend of Aang (aka The Last Airbender): 10/10

Annexe Mag's recent event - Et Al

A big thanks to Annexe Magazine for having me at their literary event the other week and kindly asking me to take a few snaps. Some results are here, otherwise head to Annexe's FB page to get the full snappage.

It was the first time I witnessed Charlie Dupre and I was completely blown away. He performed an imaginary slam battle between Marlowe and 'Shakey P' :D Nice! And then his dynamic, 'urban' version of Othello was pretty sublime as well - if you happen to get a chance to see him, I highly recommend it!

Avengers Assemble - a nonsensical mish-mash

When the trailers came out for this one, I really wasn't interested. But then people started saying it was 'way good'. So against my better judgement, I sat down to enjoy this and disliked almost every minute of it severely - apart from any moments with Mark Ruffalo who outclassed everyone.

This is what the kids' think is cool right? My get up is totes eye catching

**SPOILERS ALERT** The first five minutes killed it for me. The motivation for the prime antagonist, Loki, was so weak and flimsy, I'm surprised it got past script development phase. The moment he started spouting nonsense about humans natural state is wanting to be submissive, I thought this is a pile of fecal matter. I mean really? It would have worked better if Loki referenced the fact that he was a part of a pantheon of divine beings worshiped centuries ago and so he kind of wants to resurrect that - that would have made sense. Instead, it was just because he was still pissed at big daddy O for ....yada yada, boring.

The rest of the movie didn't even try to make sense. Dr. Fury made no sense (who the hell is he, what's his purpose?), the Hulk made no sense. One minutes he's the ultimate weapon/a risk to everyone, friend or foe, the next he's righteously fighting for the good guys, perfectly aware of what side he should be on etc. And if he's so badass frightening, the petty attempts at all the guards etc reaching for their guns as protection each time they feared he would break out was stupid - guns clearly don't work and they know it. So....?? I mean when Capt America mentions how that stupid suit of is might be old fashioned and Dr. Fury replies that 'sometimes you need old fashioned' I wanted to lament out loud at the sheer lost nature of this film. So there's an other-worldly force about to descend on Earth and you want old fashioned, despite being in some behemoth airship that has some mega cloaking device?

I thought bringing superheroes together would create some interesting dynamics. It didn't - it was just each one trying to show how much stronger they were than the other. I really expected something a little more from Joss Whedon. After fifteen minutes I thought 'Ok, let's just treat this as popcorn fodder, let's not try and gauge some sense of story' (and with that flashed an image of a manuscript with a sad face while the producers turn to it and say 'Oh no, sorry, you're not making it into the film, we're even using the first draft as toilet paper.' - just tried to sketch a cartoon - it didn't really work) - even then, I was bored. That's right. I didn't basically care two hoots who came out of this nonsensical rabble.

The action was good, I will give it that, but that's hardly a compliment, seeing as we all know films can do the action sequences so well these days. And I guess the alien fish ship thing was interesting. But I think that was all that I found mildly engaging. Rubbish name, rubbish film. And what better way to end a rubbish movie with 'news' footage on grateful citizens gushing about how amazing it was the Captain America et al came to the rescue (that blondie that managed to get some coverage was blatantly a producer's daughter or something), with one kid COMPLETELY missing the point of how close the planet came to being overtaken by freaky aliens and peeing his pants with excitement at all the stuff blowing up - disregarding the insane amount of collateral that probably killed his best friends parents. Over inflated mulch and barf-ness.


This film gets a big thumbs down. VERDICT: 3/10.

The Help - thoughts on the book

"I come home that morning, after I been fired, and stood outside my house with my new work shoes on. The shoes my mama paid a month's worth a light bill for. I guess that's when I understood what shame was and the color of it too. Shame ain't black, like dirt, like I always thought it was. Shame be the color of a new white uniform your mother ironed all night to pay for, white without a smudge or a speck a work-dirt on it." 

It's very rare that you come across something so charming that the mere thought of it makes you smile. That's the response attributed to the wonderfully written 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett. I didn't have many expectations before reading this, as I understood the basic premise from seeing the movie trailers. I didn't expect it to be written in the speak of the South and so be full of such wonderful charisma and immediacy. I'm always envious of writers who can pen the sound and nuances of local language and dialect - and this is why books are so magical - they give you a window into a world and culture you would never have otherwise encountered.

All this and more helps to the make 'The Help' a real classic - there's plenty of laughs to be had (and you know they're good ones when you're chortling on the Tube or train), heaps of pathos and poignancy, all without any heavy handed author input - it's presented without overt exposition on the view points that could otherwise get too political and didactic. Instead, there's a subtler, more honest approach and there's enough variety in all the multiple POVs to give us a full flavour and wide berth, whilst stilling remaining intimate. It's always a tricky balance to get right, as there's the bigger arena of race relations in Mississippi and the South to represent (and on lesser scale all of the USA), as well as just these vignettes of the 'real' people in these closed off, behind doors situations.

I don't have anything negative to add - when I finished, I thought the author didn't 'wrap' up the story lines of Skeeter and her mum very well but in a way, as with the rest of the narrative, it was just right because the Civil Rights Movement was still underway and there was (and still is) a long way to go. I kind of respect the fact that things weren't polished off neatly - while there were small victories to be had, most of the revolutions came from within and as a result, the journey never really stops then, does it?

I highly recommend this book as a must read. It's definitely up there with all the best loved American classics. 

Earth 2 Hub - Blog article on nature in film

Whoops, a little slow on posting this up here but the kind people at Earth 2.0 Hub have published an article I wrote for them about how film can be used to initiate the concept of integrating with nature. I basically wrote it in response to the whole idea that when we go about our days, our stories and our pursuits are completely human-centric and there's no sense of nature or the wider environment at all.

 The site has gone under a radical new transformation - looking all swish and exciting, so I'm grateful the post was released once the new site when live. 

I'm rather chuffed about penning this because for once, I don't take a middle ground and take a clear stance on the issue - i.e. being environmentalist doesn't require an 'add-on' mentality, it requires a whole shift in perspective.

If you have a mo, please check it out here and share if you fancy!

Also really thrilled that I'm on the contributors list.

Merci in advance :)

The Hunger Games - just misses the mark

Ok, so totes in dange of (sorry, sorry) - and again...! I'm in danger of sounding like a broken record when it comes to novel to film adaptations (and slightly aghast that peeps in the biz aren't reading my reviews as wonderful analyses of how adaptations could work and applying them to their own work - it's free consultancy, yo!)

Anyhow, getting back to the necessary task at hand - The Hunger Games viewing for moi et Arctic Bunny was last night. I had pegged this as a 'must see of 2012' as most others did and I refrained from reading reviews, though I cracked when Incredible Suit posted this week (gah!).

*SPOILERS ALERT* Dare I say it, but it was an all around decent film but exceptionally and lazily adapted from the book. It took too long to 'get to the good stuff' and there were some other obvious flaws that have nothing to do with flaws from the book itself - it's all down to the film-makers.

I kind of guessed at this the moment the film opened and we see Game-Maker, Seneca Crane talking to blue haired presenter (played solidly well by Stanley Tucci) - and it became a continual problem - removing us out of Katniss's POV and the games and into the 'behind-the-scenes' world of the Capitol. UGH. It completely leached the strength of menace that an antagonist has - seeing Presi Snow chatting to Crane on various occasions, I sat there trying to fathom why this was in the narrative at all. It's like seeing the most bad ass robot and then they take you to see it nuts and bolts - or find it works on water. Lame.  Another classic example is when Katniss is in that ante-room before entering the pod-lift into the arena. It's suspenseful stuff and then [cut], we're in that control room with some lady telling us 'Ok, they're in.' Geez - talk about removing oneself from the suspenseful moment of Katniss entering the arena in one seamless sequence. That warrants a hit to the head, editor. 

Another issues were Peeta and Katniss - it wasn't good chemistry between Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, but Josh came across stronger in his performance as the 'boy with the bread'. Which also brings me to the 'bread' scene - why is it raining and why wasn't it made clear that Katniss was literally starving to death with nothing to take to her family? The flashbacks were lazy and confusing. There could have one sequence of 'father's death - starving - bread via Peeta - daffodil' but no, that would have been too simple. If we knew she was at the end of her tether, that moment would have been more significant and so to, their relationship. Instead, when it's time for Katniss to turn on the 'charm', it's not even obvious that she has turned on anything. And then we kept cutting to see Gale in District 12, *shakes head*. And if they'd done the bread scene properly, we'd have known that Katniss does whatever it takes to survive - she's survived near death before - this is her trait, her winning element - not the bow and arrow.