Lights! Camera! Action!

Have you ever watched a film where the plot is so familiar you’re thinking that “I’ve seen this movie before” but haven’t? You may have thought this due to the fact that many, many of today’s releases are adapted from a book. From the storyline a screenplay is cropped out to fit the allotted time and budget of the film. Also in some cases the story is changed to create a more “dramatic” product, which seems to be the case with horror / slasher films.

For those of us with a few years under our belt we could name off quite a few books that we had read that are now movie hits or movie flops. Let us take one writer for example.

Stephen King is one of the most “movied” authors that I know of. Growing up I read everything that was released by him and found his writing to be excellent. See if you remember any of these early titles that went from book to film:

Carrie
Salem’s Lot
The Shining
The Dead Zone
Children of the Corn
Firestarter

The adaptation of the stories themselves has always been limited due a number of obvious things such as budget, time and it isn’t reasonable to expect every word in a book to be in the film. Not to mention that we as the reader create in ourselves differences that make the experience of reading the story unique to ourselves. Not saying that the movies don’t have their moments:

And for those who would rather watch the movie over reading the book, just remember that you are missing elements of the story. So many times we have heard how the book was what brought us to the theater only to be let down, disappointed that the film did not fulfill the expectations we had in reading the story. So it is safe to say that we can never expect the movie to be better than the book.

It is the “film” that unravels in our head while we read the story that makes it so real. For some it may take months to get through a novel but when you read the words on the page throughout those months you have a chance to relive it and formulate your own scenes and characters into your own film.

Not taking away anything from the movie makers but just my take on books versus movies and experiencing both. In my world the written page rules, though a good movie can bring the words to another level, for example “My Zinc Bed” was a great film, intelligent dialog and one I will never forget. Here’s a sample:

So the reason for the blog is to encourage reading over sitting and watching. Keep the mind working and re-inventing the storylines that can impact us in so many ways. Imaginations can’t die out. If they do…all art is doomed.

del.icio.us Tags: Reading,Films,Movies,My Zinc Bed,Stephen King,The Shining

The High End of Low

Review written for Amazon.com

 

I am not a Marilyn Manson fan. But I have always kept an open ear/mind on any music, no matter who the artist may be. With the release of “The High End of Low” I have found a disc I can appreciate from Marilyn Manson where it is filled with strong music and equally strong lyrics. The tracks “We’re From America” and “Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon” are classic Manson anthems with their hard hitting, gutsy lyrics.

But my favorites have to be “Four Rusted Horses”, “Wight Spider” with my number one favorite off the CD being “Running To The Edge Of The World” more so the alternate version. This track has a huge lyrical attraction and the melody, though simple, strongly backs up those lyrics.

 

Not being a follower or a hater of Marilyn Manson, this is a disc that can attract those caught on the fence for this artist. Personally I have slipped off the fence of indecision and loved this CD.

del.icio.us Tags: Marilyn Manson,Music,Review,blynd_poet,The High End of Low

Only Tonight

 

Artwork by Joleene Naylor

 

Only Tonight

In the night sky
roman candles came alive,
illuminating our passion
to burn inside the other,
love hotter than July’s breath.

And your body—
outlined in chalk,
softens in the shadow
as I hold you, trembling
fearing it has gone too far.

With Midnight’s kiss
upon your lips,
wet with words, whispering back
warm breaths caresses my neck,
making me pray again.

But along with passion
comes destruction—
your faith broken,
scattered around our feet,
as you promised yourself forever
to another, unlike me.

So we live for the evening
not thinking about tomorrow,
with its uncertainty—
but grasp each other’s heart,
holding on for dear life, if just for tonight.

 

Technorati Tags: Love poetry,relationship poetry,blynd_poet,fireworks

Sea

 

Floating out
into the deep green sea—
watching comets pass by
through Orion’s belt,
pulled by the evening’s tide
…away from me.

 

Can you touch the fabric of Heaven?
If only once, would it save you?

 

The Sea salts your soul
preserving memories of our love,
its waves covering you
a seabed full of treasures,
rusted and old
but none less, treasure.

 

Where did it go wrong?
What storm washed you all away?

 

Your imprint remains in the sand
as the Sea exerts its voice,
whispering lullabies of sleep
a rhythmic call of desire—
to rest in forever
within its glimmering bed.

 

Will it warm you so? As I did?
Can you dream between its sheets?

 

And as you stare at the tiny diamonds
high above, twinkling bright—
Will you remember me?
Perhaps not as your first love,
but the one who showed you
how the sea captures all.

 

The Constellation Orion

 

Writing this reminded me of The Cure’s song “From The Edge of A Deep Green Sea”

I found the live video:

 

blynd-In-The-Box

 

blynd-In-The-Box

A familiar nursery rhyme,
when turned clockwise
clicks away the words in my head---
am I dead? blynd-in-the-box once said.
Again in the corner, just by the bed
do you hear it? is it bleeding red?

Pressing it all in,
to cover all my sins
wanting to pop out---
can you feel it?
Turn the crank slowly,
anticipate my release.

But it never happens,
for my spring broken---
in a thousand ways,
turn, turn, make the melody burn.
Inside the box pushing
hoping release from the things I learn.

The Monkey chased the Weasel
round and round,
turn the handle, making sound---
empty the box unless I drown.
The edge of this World
finds us all, only to push the thin cover down.

Pretend with cheery color,
red, green and blue
inside is the true image---
black, black, as a heart attack.
If you tear it open
you will see it isn’t just any ole Jack---

But inside is the Devil,
hiding within paper skin,
easy to tear, easy to bear
easy to believe in this child-like nightmare.
Turn, turn, the crank some more
as each of us can, when we close the door.

Can you hold my hand just this once?
we can pull down our socks,
chase the little Devil down,
dance to it in your evening gown.
Lest we pray, for a different day
I can’t spring out, but only fade away.

“All around the Mulberry Bush,

The monkey chased the weasel.

The monkey stopped to pull up his sock,

Pop! goes the weasel.”

 

Origin (Jack-In-The-Box)

The first mechanical or wind-up toys were made back in Grecian times - but the art was revived by watch makers and clock makers during the 1400s. Early in the 1500s, a German clockmaker named Claus made a box for a local prince whose son was about to celebrate his fifth birthday. A simple wooden box with metal edges and a handle, and with a turn of the crank produced a simple tune and out popped a 'Jack,' a Devil, a comical version with a leering smile. Other nobles took note of the child's toy and the idea spread. Technology by the 1700s meant that it was a 'common toy' or novelty often in use for all ages. It was around this time that the image of a devil in a box became cartoon fodder for rouge politicians and other public figures held to ridicule.

Another theory as to the origin of the jack-in-the-box is that it comes from the 13th century English prelate Sir John Schorne, who is often pictured holding a boot with a devil in it. According to folklore, he once cast the devil into a boot to protect the village of North Marston in Buckinghamshire. This theory may explain why in French, a jack-in-the-box is called a "diable en boîte" (literally "boxed devil").

I Had A Job

“Today I wrote a little poem for all who have been affected by the economy and from that, lost their job. And even to those of us “lucky” enough to still be employed I think could relate to this”.

 

I Had A Job

I had a job
that I hated—
full of stress,
backstabbers for friends
quick to climb the ladder of importance.
Commuting each day
dreading what Today would bring
unhappy clients,
attitude from workmates,
mediocre pay—
a slice of my ego,
never enough done,
late hours bought, keep the change
finally to leave,
unfulfilled and empty.
Wondering why…
today I miss it so.

Vacation 2009: Fort Macon

Today was our trip to Fort Macon. Here there is a ton of history, on 389 acres, which has been standing since 1834 as a barrier to naval attack. To get a full history of Fort Macon I have supplied a link which covers the years the site was a military installation.

Fort Macon: History

We arrived in late morning and it was already well over 90 degrees and a bit humid. But after arriving there we didn’t notice the heat much as the structure was an impressive site. Here is a shot taken from the inner wall which encircled the inner courtyard. The masonry was impressive and you will be informed of how they built the fort in its entirety. You also have the opportunity to walk through the different segments of the structure so you get the true feel of what it must of been like to be stationed there.

Another shot I took was in one of the vaulted rooms which were used for different purposes but they had some potential for some great shots. Here Meg hides in one room which was taken with night vision photography. Each of the 26 casemates surely had some story to tell. And even though it was day time you had to wonder if anyone from the past still walked these rooms.

It was great to take pictures in using different lighting, angles and anything else your imagination could come up with.

Once the crowd was out of the way I was able to get this shot which captured the doorways that enabled you to get to any one of the rooms in that section. The small barred window at the end of the walkway gave the shot an eerie T.A.P.S. kind of feel. Here and there someone would walk passed the window and gave it even more of the ghostly appearance.

We continued on throughout the rooms learning about life at the fort and was instructed on how the men ate and slept, carrying on their daily routines as enlisted men protecting the coast from pirates and the threat of the English invasion. One can only wonder how they endured the heat and humidity in these damp dark rooms waiting for something to happen.

In one room there was an oven which I had Meg open on a video clip because it was in night vision and the sound of the squeaky hinges was too good not to record. Below is the clip (sorry it is sideways…I will fix it later:

Here I added a few more shots of the fort:

 
“The Money Shot”

“Remnant of Confederate Flag”

After our tour of historic Fort Macon we drove over to Beaufort and walked through the various shops looking for a souvenir to keep the day in our memories. After an hour or so we realized we left our precious daughter at the fort…lol.

g~