| Tuesday, 9 December 2008 |
| The Tales of Beedle the Bard |
Its been over a year since the release of 'Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows', and with the completion of the Harry Potter series, I found a huge void in my literary pursuits, a void which still has yet to be filled by any new series. Indeed, without a future Potter book to speculate on, life lost some of its appeal and joy. I really miss the good old days, where I could actually just surf fan-sites when I'm bored and read all the various theories floating around the internet, ranging from those that were highly plausible, to those that were utterly preposterous.
Then came the news that JK Rowling acutally wrote 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard', which was a book that actually had quite a small, but important role to play in the final installment of the Harry Potter series. While initially it was meant to be a personal gift to 7 special people who had helped Rowling in her creation of Harry Potter, fate would have it be that the generous people at Amazon.com, who won the bid in a charity auction for one of the 7 original copies, decided to publish the book for the general public, all in the name of charity. Rowling, being a mightily generous lady herself, gave her stamp of approval, and all these set into motion the necessary steps needed to publish this quirky, but imaginative addition to the Harry Potter universe.
I was, of course, overjoyed upon hearing the news, because a small but insistent part of me never wanted to bid goodbye to the world of Harry Potter and the fact that Rowling actually penned this book of short stories implied that there was still a chance (and even future chances) that there would be continual add-ons to the already wonderful world of Harry Potter, a world that I have grown to love and cherished! All these meant that I would be allowed to postpone saying my goodbyes to a world that I've been obsessed over the past 8 years of my sorry, sad existence.
'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' contains five different wizarding fairy tales. Like muggle fairy tales, each tale has its own moral lessons to it. Unfortunately, some of the stories are quite twisted, and thus the morals they teach may not pertain to the teachings of many of my muggle colleagues and friends. Nonetheless, I am sure they are still of certain relevance to the muggle world. Each story is unique, extremely quirky, and downright wicked. However, the most delightful thing of this rather short read are the commentaries & notes for each story, written by Professor Albus Dumbledore himself! Dumbledore's commentaries are riddled with examples of his amazing dry wit and rather perverse sense of sardonic humour. In today's context, his commentaries are a starling masterclass on how to be a classy bitch! All in all, it is a rather enjoyable read and will be a hoot to many!
If anything, the book has taught me the dangers of having a hairy heart. Highly recommended to all who loved and enjoyed the Harry Potter books, and dearly miss the good old days where we were allowed to be fanatical and obsessed over them!Labels: harry potter, literature |
posted by voldemort33 @ 21:17  |
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| Tuesday, 11 December 2007 |
| the golden compass |
'The Golden Compass' felt like a cross between the Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings movies. It attempted to be a massive epic, just like LOTR, but unfortunately, felt more similar to the slightly kiddish Harry Potter movies. In its attempt to straddle between being either type of film, it led to the film sorely lacking in both emotional gravitas (of an epic) and wide-eye wonder (of a kid film) - the unfortunate result being a film that was neither here nor there.
Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable film to watch.
The cast was excellent. Nicole Kidman was perfect as Mrs Coulter (my favourite character from the books because she was so fascinating!), in all her icy, sinister glory. If there was anyone who had the talents to portray this conflicted character, it would be her.
Dakota Blue Richards was surprisingly good as well, contrary to what some of my friends had said of her acting based on trailer material. She played the tom-boyish Lyra with appropriate spunk! Much better than sugar coating it with icky cutesy squeakiness, which made her performance so so refreshing.
Other well casted actors (that were, unfortunately, woefully underused) included Daniel Craig as the imperious Lord Asriel, Eva Green as the bewitching witch queen, Serafina Pekkela, Freddie Highmore and Ian McKellen as the voices of Pantalaimon (Lyra's deamon) and bear King Iorek Brynison respectively and Sam Elliot as the Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby.
The animation, well sufficiently good, was sadly, not too realistic. The special effects still looked faked - perhaps it was an attempt to make it all look fantastical, but compared to those seen in other fantasy flicks like LOTR, Narnia and Harry Potter, which managed to be BOTH fantastical and realistic, the special effects here were quite disappointing.
It made the film feel rather detached. On top of this, is the problem that the flim suffers in terms of pacing. It feels like the film has too much to tell, but can't really decide what it wants to focus on and as a results, ends up diluting the message that the original novels had.
It was just too much, too many and would have left many viewers rather flummoxed at the whole plot. Though having read the books myself, I can tell you that feeling flummoxed while attempting to appreciate 'His Dark Materials' is perfectly, utterly normal.
Oh and the ending was rather abrupt too. I felt that if they bothered to keep it as the original ending in the novels, the film would be so much better and tragic.
I read Phillip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' Trilogy when I was in J1. My first impression of the trilogy was that it was incredibly different from the epic opus that was the Lord of the Rings, the religious metaphoric works of the Chronicles of Narnia, and the more believable world of Harry Potter.
The writing style was quite unlike the legendary sweeping style used by Tolkien, or the fairy tale language employed by C.S Lewis. It was also different from the more colloquial and accessible style used by Rowling. Pullman's style was very dark and sinister and often clinical. It had the impression of being no nonsense, and very straight to the point, which made the read so unique.
Fantasy stories all have certain hidden messages in them. Here was a trilogy that attempted to link fantasy with religion and even science. It featured talk on metaphysics, on cross dimensional universes, on the concept of Sin and individual versus religious freedom. It was an incredibly complex book.
When I read in, I felt like all the fantastic elements, like flying witches, talking amoured Polar Bears, water faring gypsies, and animal manifestations of your souls were just facades of an even greater cause, because the trilogy had so much more lessons and messages to share. So if you enjoy the movie, go read the books. Its probably infinitely better.
All in all, despite its flaws, 'The Golden Compass' is still a good movie. Go watch it because there's probably no other film available right now worth watching but this.
P.S: one side effect of the film is that it makes you imagine that you have your very own deamon sitting next to you. Mine, a large giant sheep named Darmacus, is sitting next to me right now. She thinks I'm exceedingly bored for doing this, which might be true, only I refuse to admit that.Labels: literature, movie |
| posted by voldemort33 @ 10:28 |
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| Friday, 10 August 2007 |
| alas, earwax! |
"It is my earnest hope that pondering upon the past may give guidance in days to come, enable a new generation to repair some of the errors of former years, and thus govern, in accordance with the needs and glory of man, the awful unfolding scene of the future." - Sir Winston Spencer Churchill
And that my friends, is an extract from the preface of the book 'The Gathering Storm' which is the first volume of a series of six books chronicling the Second World War, which incidentally, is written by the famous man himself.
I find it a fitting start to this entry, a quote by my most idolised Historical figure, a great man, a great source of inspiration for this lamented soul.
Alas, with 16 demerit points and 1 immediate failure, I have not succeeded in attaining my driver's license!
But today's failure would be tomorrow's success, and heed Churchill's words I shall, and I shall endeavor to learn from my unfortunate mistakes, so that when the time comes for me to meet the testers again, I shall do so with vengeance!
And it shall be I! Not them! Who draws first blood in our next battle! And they shall learn to fear me! To cry out in pain and despair! So cry my lamented souls!
CRY! CRY "GOD FOR HARRY! ENGLAND! AND ST. GEORGE!"
I shall not bother to recount my misadventure on the driving circuit, because it brings me great pain, and annoyance to relive it. But I am sure many of you have heard tidings of it by now, so pray, do not pity the dead! Pity the living instead!
And let us forget the unfortunate event, for it does us no good to dwell on thoughts of the dead and memories of the long forsaken past! Let us instead, unite our thoughts and soul, to forge better days ahead.
I am currently in the midst of reading 'The Second World War' by Sir Winston Churchill, which is a behemoth of a book, but incidentally, something I have always wanted to read.
I must also take the opportunity here to thank my dear friend Alex for his sudden new found generosity, for it is by virtue of his generous spirit (and sudden burgeoning wealth!) that I am able to receive this amazing book as a belated birthday gift.
(AND NOW, to revert out of my Dumbledore-ish/insane wizard mode back into normal mode!)
Sir Winston Churchill, is my hero.
There's no doubt about it. He has been, and will always be, the one Historical figure that I so constantly look up to.
He is the embodiment of sheer grit and determination, of rousing oratory and literary skill, of utmost chivalry and courage, of boldness, daring and audacity. He was a Giant among statesmen, a legend of our time.
He is the man that I've always dreamed and hoped to be, the man that represents so much, a kind of ideal, of what it is to be a Brit (what can I say? I've been an Anglophile all my bloody life!).
There's something Gryffindor-ish about him, and I think, inwardly, I've always lamented the fact that I don't have that much boldness and courage in me.
Sometimes I feel there's too much Ravenclaw rationality in my head; life would be so much easier if I didn't have to always think and consider this and that before doing something, compared to just identifying the problem and taking the plunge, head on.
'The Second World War' is over a thousand pages long. I'm only at page 10, but so far, it has proven to be such a fascinating read. Churchill's narrative skills and mastery of the English language is awe-inspiring.
Its amazing how something like recounting History, which in the hands of a lesser writer, could have turned long and dull, have ended up becoming so rich, dramatic and exhilarating. His words are thought-provoking and image-invoking. Its such a pleasure to read it.
I feel like I'm this close to the man. And feeling the weight of his wisdom and words bearing down on me.Labels: driving, literature, quotes, randomness |
| posted by voldemort33 @ 23:13 |
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| Thursday, 29 March 2007 |
| take your pick potterites! |
The cover art for "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows" is out! And there are 3 different versions to choose from!
UK adult version: Slytherin's locket in the flesh!
UK version: Is that a treasure trove filled with Horcruxes?
US version: Harry VS Voldie!
 So take your pick potterites! My favourite is the UK adult version... but I think the US version is quite cool too. Probably a foreshadowing of the final battle between Potter and Voldemort. Can hardly wait!
The UK editions have summaries; the inside flap reads:
"Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety , and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him…
In this final, seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling unveils in spectactular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited. The spellbinding, richly woven narrative, which plunges, twists and turns at a breathtaking pace, confirms the author as a mistress of storytelling, whose books will be read, reread and read again."
And on the back of the adult edition:
"Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing – if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him with?"
Credits go to the-leaky-cauldron, one of the best potter-news sites on the planet.Labels: art, fanboy, harry potter, literature |
| posted by voldemort33 @ 19:27 |
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| Monday, 5 March 2007 |
| the indie pie |
the indie pie - thebigsheep
wha'ca doing? wha'ca looking? wha'ca thinking right now?
whatever it is, i hope its good/ laalaala lalalaala
don't page me, cause i'l be away/ stuffing myself with pudding and pie, til i sway dumdahdumdeedumdum
oh i love my pudding, i love my pie/ i love the fact that we get to throw it before it turns high!smash smash, dirty ol'mess! of mangoes, and apples and lime-filled pie!
the muck, the goo, the hideous mess/ makes all the troubles, the worries, an unnecessary test!
Oh dear pudding, dear pie! dear wonderful tasty treat of mine!
wait til you see, what i have inside - delightfulness, wonderfulness, happyness, tragediness, all kinds of rhymes!
so whatever you're reading, whatever you're eating, mugging or drinking?
embrace the indieness of pies, crap and life~!
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I was bored waiting for gerard's and peishan's physio contributions when I got possessed by some mad spirit of a ruminant...
It was a while before I managed to shake him off... but after a long, ardous fight to wrestle for control over my body, I managed to show him who's boss. (and the king of sheep)
But not before he typed the above crap on my laptop.
Sick bastard of a sheep. Grrrrrrrr....Labels: literature, madness, randomness |
| posted by voldemort33 @ 00:00 |
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