spamkaze Reviews

The Lorax (2012)

Seuss would be disgusted at what his wonderful creations have become

[1/10 · 7 March 2012]

If someone walked up to you in the street with a rock that had THE MORAL written on it in capital letters, and them proceeded to beat you about the head with it, it would be more subtle than this movie.

It was trite, preachy, and more full of flagrant cliché than any movie I have ever seen.

The thing I loved most about Seuss was his ability to nestle a moral gently and concisely under layers of symbolism. Yes, his stories were sometimes over the top and hyperbolic, in an endearing way, but they made their point and moved on.

As I am now.

If you love Seuss, and do not want to risk ruining everything that his genius taught you, do not watch this movie.

Legend of the Seeker (2008–2010)

Pros and cons

[5/10 · 3 November 2008]

Let me start by saying that it is unfair to make so many comments that the show is inferior to the books. They are two totally different media, and it has been known that screen adaptation rarely come even close to doing the book justice. That is how it has always been and how it will always be.

That said, it is true that this show somewhat forces the comparison by hurtling through the exposition at breakneck speed in order to get to the "good stuff." This kind of pacing almost requires the viewer to have a working knowledge of the plot in order to keep up with everything that is not shown, yet is vital to character development and plot.

THE GOOD: The casting was very good. I know others are upset about the length and color of Kahlan's or Darken Rahl's hair, or the stubble on Darken Rahl's chin that should not exist, or the fact that Richard is a bit more wiry than described. Or the fact that the word "TRUTH" doesn't seem to be on the hilt of his sword.

These are bits of creative license that are to be expected. Approve or disapprove, these are things we just have to deal with.

The action sequences are well done, looking at the same time improvised and beautiful. Unlike the kung-fu dances that we are used to, there is a very earthy, real quality to the fights.

The biggest triumph to me was finally hearing the "distinctive ring" of the Sword of Truth drawn in anger. If nothing else, they were able to truly and beautifully capture that sound exactly as I had heard it in my mind as it was described by Goodkind.

THE BAD: Let us forget, for the moment, the fact that the makers butchered out huge swaths of background. Even if you have never read the book the dialogue comes off as forced and rushed, like the director is impatient to get to the action and so totally bypasses character development and background.

The effects need polishing and there needs to be more focus on the CHARACTERS rather than the SITUATION. I feel like I am being bludgeoned about the head with plot before I've even gotten to know the characters involved. It hurts.

THE WORRY: The Sword of Truth is an intensely violent book. Without spoilers, there are scenes of intense torture and graphic death that serve to make up a huge and intrinsic part of the development of certain characters.

This being a network show and not on, say, HBO, I worry that these sequences will be cut out or dulled to the point where they lose all meaning.

So far I am neutral toward the series. It has the potential to be very good or VERY bad, and I am quite afraid it is currently leaning toward the latter.