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July 2008
Twilight Saga - books still trigger passion; Edward or Jacob?
PHOTOS
- gallery: Hastings and Barnes & Noble parties
Those who thought the last Harry Potter book marked the end of an era of novel reading among young people need to visit Hastings, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million Friday night, Aug. 1, and see the throng of Twilight Saga fans turned out for Stephenie Meyer’s latest Twilight book, Breaking Dawn.
Meyer’s novel series about a high school student in love with a vampire, but also loved by a werewolf, has struck a nerve among readers in their teens and 20s who’ve helped push sales of her three Twilight novels past the 5 million copy mark. Breaking Dawn may bump that total past 6 million, if not in August, then in December when the first novel, Twilight, sees its movie adaptation arrive in theaters.
I haven’t read them yet, but plan to after my daughter Helen, an avid reader, consumed the three books in rapid succession this summer. She’s developing a pretty good literary sense, so I try and listen when she recommends something.
I do need to apologize to the good folks at Hastings after two mistakes in this morning’s story. I confused a book reservation deadline with the starting time of the store’s vampire wedding party - it starts at 10 p.m. Friday - and said autographed copies of some of the Twilight books would be given as prizes. Actually, it was signed copies of The Host, Meyer’s first adult novel. Fans’ phone calls this morning about the books, however, prompted store staff members to scramble and I understand they’ve come up with autographed copies of some Twilight Saga books as well. Again, my apology for the errors.
Now for the big questions that Twilight fans hope Breaking Dawn answers: Does Bella go with Edward the vampire or Jacob the werewolf? If Edward, why is he worth her surrendering her soul? Do you think Meyer will create an out through a surprise twist?
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Indie film alert at different place: “Son Of Rambow,” “Midnight Meat Train”
Two indie films open Friday in Waco, but not where you’d suspect: the Starplex Super Saver 6 discount theater.
Opening there are Son of Rambow, a playful film about two English boys who set out to film their own version of the Rambo action movies, and The Midnight Meat Train, which, despite its title, is more a suspenseful, violent and bloody (it’s based on a Clive Barker short story) thriller than over-the-top exploitation film.
Yes, Son of Rambow comes out on DVD on Aug. 26 (can’t find a DVD release date for TMMT, but it’s rare to find a theatrical screening that’s cheaper than a DVD rental …
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Hello and goodbye, bye, bye
I returned from a week’s vacation to find three farewells ahead of me.
Beatnix Coffeehouse, a truly arts-friendly venue for many local musicians, poets and artists in this town, closed its doors last weekend and apparently won’t be relocating downtown as rumor had it.
The Trib’s long-time (25 years) sports writer/editor Jerry Hill, a colleague for most of that time (I arrived a year after he did), leaves this week to take a Baylor sports writing position with the Baylor Foundation.
And our indefatigible and charming afternoon/evening cops reporter Emily Ingram, now Emily Ingram Kaye, ends her Trib tour of duty this week. She’s moving to Mobile, AL, where her new husband has a job with the University of South Alabama.
Best of luck to all three in their future endeavors, a sigh of sadness at their leaving and thanks for some fond memories and friendships.
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Somewhat unplugged
Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I’ve been vacationing in Florida with my family and had the best of intentions of sending the occasional post from here.
I’ve felt somewhat unplugged, though, not because there’s no Internet access where I am (there is), but because I’ve been off my media diet: no daily newspaper, no daily Internet surfing, no iPod, sporadic TV. In its stead, I’ve read two novels, helped assemble three jigsaw puzzles, played card games and spent enough time in the waves with family that I still got sunburned despite using most of an entire bottle of sunscreen.
I haven’t posted because I haven’t felt moved to post.
This mild feeling of dislocation because of the change in my media diet did make me think of the approaching future of TV by choice: Without knowing what was on TV for the evening, having a printed TV guide or on-screen one with more than cursory programming info, I spent a good deal of time simply grazing channels whenever I sat down to watch. As television shifts more to a program-by-choice model where you download what you want either over the Internet or through your cable provider, I wonder what will replace channel surfing for those unexpected discoveries when our initial interface is a download list from which to choose. Will we only watch what we know or have friends recommend? Will we be willing to pay for selection mistakes like we now do with DVD rentals/downloads? Or will we see something like YouTube video previews or 30-second Amazon.com/iTunes samples for the evening’s TV viewing?
Just an idle thought … Could be the sun, too.
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“The Dark Knight” - What did you think?
REVIEWS
It’s only fair for the second-most hyped summer movie (first being Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) that The Dark Knight’s viewers get a chance to comment on the film.
So - What do you think?
Did Heath Ledger’s performance deserve the buzz? Was the film too dark for a summer action film? Too dark for young kids? Any message to take home for discussion about society, violence and terrorism? Or am I reading something into a comic book movie …?
One more thing - Don’t give away too much for those who haven’t seen it yet. I think the above questions can be answered without providing spoiling details, but keep that in mind.
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HOT Fair music - Walker, Morgan and lots of familiar faces
The Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo has announced its music lineup for this year’s fair and it’s filled with performers who definitely know the road to Waco.
The fair runs Oct. 2 to 11 and here’s who’s on the Bud Light True Music Stage:;
Thursday, Oct. 2 - Cory Morrow
Friday, Oct. 3 - Stoney LaRue
Saturday, Oct. 4 - Todd Fritsch and Kevin Fowler
Sunday, Oct. 5 - La Ley Day (Hispanic performers booked by Spanish language radio station KWOW-FM, La Ley)
Monday, Oct. 6 - The Gimbles
Wednesday, Oct. 8 - The Bellamy Brothers
Thursday, Oct. 9 - The Randy Rogers Band
Friday, Oct. 10 - Craig Morgan
Saturday, Oct. 11 - Aaron Watson and Neal McCoy
The headliner for the Sept. 27 Western Roundup that precedes the fair - no longer a gala, but a more casual “roundup” - is Clay Walker, with Dave Alexander Band opening for him.
Walker, Morgan and McCoy are the closest to A-list talent booked for the fair, though they’re more B-list or B+ list. Of the rest, Morrow, the Gimbles, the Bellamy Brothers, the Randy Rogers Band, Aaron Watson and Kevin Fowler have performed in Waco within the last year (I can’t remember if LaRue has, but know he has played Waco in recent years).
I asked HOT Fair President Wes Allison about that and he said it’s a combination of what the fair can afford - expect to start at $25,000 for a nationally known act - and what audiences will turn out for. Last year’s entertainment lineup lacked big national names - and the fair cracked 200,000 visitors for the first time.
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“The Dark Knight” - dynamic, disturbing
BATMAN INTERACTIVES
- link: Review: Read Carl's full take
- link: → Rank the Batman actors
- link: → Rank the Batman villains
- link: → The Joker: Who has the edge?
- link: → Batman quiz
Saw a critics’ screening of The Dark Knight in Dallas yesterday and while I’m supposed to hold my review until the movie opens this Friday (or late Thursday night), I’ll preview the preview by saying this may be the best of the Batman films - as well as the most unsettling.
It’s action-driven throughout, but without the comedy or campiness of the first four films. Like the best comic books, there’s a cerebral or philosophical streak to chew on as director Christopher Nolan expands the question of Batman’s vengeful vigilante nature to a societal level: Where does the rule of law fit in when it’s threatened by a nihilist terrorist like the Joker?
Heath Ledger’s intense performance as the Joker merits the praise it’s gotten so far, but he largely fleshes out the role Nolan and his brother Jonathan have written for him, that of a destructive madman beyond the usual motivations of criminals - greed, power, lust, revenge - and the larger loyalties to which the good usually appeal (love of family, country, humanity). It’s this aspect of the Joker, and possible parallels in our current national war on some terrorism, that’s the disturbing part of the film. How does a free society fight someone or something that simply wants to bring it all crashing down with no thought of building anything in its place? Is mindful violence the only answer to mindless violence?
Enough said, other than the film’s intensity and dark nature should make parents of young kids take its PG-13 rating seriously. I’ll try and post a discussion thread after the movie opens to see if I’m reading too much into a comic book film …
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Post your own “Grease” comments here
A confession here: As much as I’ve tried to screw my courage to the sticking place and review the Waco Children’s Theatre production of “Grease” this weekend, my heart’s not in it. I’ve seen my share of “Grease” productions over the years and I still don’t like that musical. I’ve never resonated with its greasers or Pink Ladies - my high school years were in the ’70s and different dynamics and music - and its conclusion that happiness lies in conforming with the fast and loose crowd (or, probably more accurately, the crowd that likes to project itself as that way, even if it isn’t) makes me grind my teeth. I say that knowing that Waco has a special place in its heart for “Grease” - productions from national tours to collegiate ones invariably have sold-out performances in Waco. They must be related to the girls who lived in the apartment above me and my roommates in college who played the Grease movie soundtrack seemingly every afternoon after classes.
At the same time, there’s a good amount of young talent in the Waco Children’s Theatre and musicals like this that mix singing, dancing and acting offer a showcase to display that talent. There’s good support, too, from people like director John Haskett, WCT president Linda Haskett and choreographer Jerry MacLauchlin.
So, given my subjectivity on the subject, I’ll let you guys with less jaded eyes/ears do the job of highlighting the praiseworthy for a broader audience. If you’ve attended “Grease” - three performances left if you haven’t - and want to salute something in the performances and production that’s worthwhile, step up here and post.
“Grease’s” remaining performances are at 7:30 tonight and Saturday (July 11-12) and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (July 13) at Waco High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets cost $10 at the door.
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Movies in 3DDDDDDD …
Saw a screening of the 3-D Journey to the Center of the Earth today at Starplex Galaxy 16 and found it fun in the same way an amusement park ride is - you’re there for the thrill, not the acting or the story.
The dialogue, for instance, is lifted by the page from the Book of Cliches (e.g., hero, female interest and teenage boy tumble hundreds of feet down a lava tube. Boy asks, “Where are we?” Umm, several hundred feet under the Earth’s surface, maybe?).
Many of the scenes with the nifty effects are lifted, too. The runaway mine train - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The nail-biting walk across an enormous chasm - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (though Journey’s version adds a nifty touch in that the walk is on magnetic rocks suspended in the air, with a tendency to flip upside down). The rampaging T rex -Jurassic Park. The flock of bioluminescent birds and the flying fish with really nasty fangs were original, but it really didn’t matter how much Journey borrowed and didn’t - the effects were what the film was about.
I did find myself wishing for several remakes, though: the 3-D versions of the Indiana Jones films, Jurassic Park, even King Kong and The Lord of the Rings. If 3-D effects could make a derivative action film enjoyable, think what it could do in the hands of a storyteller like Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson or George Lucas …
You have to wear special disposable (and supposedly recyclable), polarized glasses for the 3-D to work. That adds an extra $2 to the ticket price, according to Starplex’s Web site, but you don’t notice them much once the film starts. If you wear glasses, however, you may feel a bit dorkish
with glasses over your glasses.
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“Wanted’s” Baylor name-dropping
An inquisitive reader noticed a local connection in the Internet Movie Database’s trivia info for Wanted. The action film’s screenplay was written by Baylor graduates Derek Haas and Michael Brandt and continues a running joke that’s found in their other screenplays, including 2 Fast 2 Furious and their sterling adaptation of 3:10 to Yuma.
The two studied under Baylor professors Robert Darden and Michael Korpi and the students pay tribute to their elders by naming characters who die in their films after them. In 3:10 To Yuma, for instance, one of the first characters to bite the dust is named Thomas Darden.
Korpi’s not in Yuma or Wanted - Brandt told me in an interview last fall that Korpi’s a hard name to sneak into a movie - but Darden shows up in Wanted as the first victim of assassin-in-training Wesley Gibson.
According to the trivia tidbit in IMDB, former Baylor University president Robert Sloan gets a character shout-out, too, with the character played by Morgan Freeman bearing the name Sloan, the head of the mysterious, secret organization called The Fraternity.
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3-D movie at Starplex this Friday
When I did a story last month about Starplex Galaxy 16 getting the first digital projectors in town, one of the first questions I fielded was on whether that would allow 3-D movies to be screened.
The answer arrives Friday, July 11, when Starplex will show the 3D version of Journey to the Center of the Earth. I’m awaiting word on whether it will require disposable glasses or the semi-permanent ones that you return after the film; regardless, there’s an extra $2 tagged on the ticket price for the 3-D film, according to the Web site. Hollywood Jewel, incidentally, will have the 2D, but they’re working on getting their digital projector up and running by the end of July, I hear.
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James Hand’s Smithsonian Folk Fest gig to air online
Thanks to Deborah Orazi, a writer, country music fan and former Tribber, for this tip: West country singer-songwriter James Hand’s Sunday performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., part of the Texas emphasis at this summer’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival, will be carried online (I think the video link will be added the day of the show). His performance starts at 5 p.m. CST Sunday, July 6, for those who want to catch it.
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“WALL-E” as liberal propaganda?
My first reaction to this commentary that film critics didn’t sufficiently warn readers that Pixar’s latest animated feature WALL-E was liberal propaganda was a mental ‘Get a life, guy.’
For one thing, while admittedly pro-environment (which most reviews I saw had mentioned, including mine), the movie doesn’t paint government as the solution, as you might suppose for an intentionally political film. It affirms (towards the film’s close) inventiveness and initiative as fundamentally human traits (as do entrepeneurs) and attacks materialism and sloth, which some conservatives target as well (conservative Christians who feel pollution violates God’s command to be stewards of his world, in the first case, and, in the second, our own McLennan County Madman Ted Nugent, who frequently rails against parents who allow juvenile couch potatoes to grow in their homes). And, at its core, WALL-E’s a love story.
The hyperventilating tone of Bill Wyman’s piece probably irritated me more than his point and I had to wonder if he was so angry because it was a family film or because Pixar is so successful at whatever it touches.
Then I saw the enormous comment thread on Kyle Smith’s similar takedown of WALL-E and marveled at several things: the variety of comment; the ease at which comments and opinions were distorted by others; the ideological filters through which some people perceive everything; and the heated passion stirred up over a single movie, as if the millions who watch this would suddenly change their political views and consumer habits rather than simply laugh with their kids and pass the supersized popcorn.
Hmm. The impact of one family film vs. television commercials ingested daily that tell us our lives are incomplete unless we buy product A, B or C?
I can’t tell from my vantage point whether this “controversy” is merely the Internet showing off its strengths of speed and diversity - or a post-critical future where arts commentary is (to borrow a recent observation on American spirituality) “3,000 miles wide and three inches deep.”
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Happy 8th b’day, KWBU (FM)
Today marks the eighth year that Waco public radio station KWBU-FM has been a National Public Radio/Public Radio International affiliate.
Listeners like me probably take the station too much for granted, but it was a pretty big deal at the time. I dug out my story announcing the event:
Waco airwaves will crackle with a new sound Saturday, and it’s not fireworks going off three days early.
It’s the sound of public radio, heard for the first time in the Waco market as KWBU -FM (107.1) switches to National Public Radio and Public Radio International programming, ending Waco’s status as the largest American city without a public radio station.
For Waco transplants who grew attached, if not addicted, to such programs as “All Things Considered,” “Morning Edition,” “Prairie Home Companion” and “Car Talk” in other cities, Saturday represents the end of their listening drought. And for Waco natives who know radio only as a source of music or national talk shows, KWBU -FM and its new station manager Brodie Bashaw aim to demonstrate an alternative.
Some of the programming airing that first year has left - “Marketplace,” “Talk of the Nation,” “Echoes” - and the station’s on a different frequency (103.3) than the one on which it started (107.1), but, by and large, KWBU continues to offer much of what it did that first year. That’s praiseworthy, given the fact that the Waco station has had to grow its financial support from listeners each year simply to match increasing programming costs.
So, here’s a happy KWBU birthday wish to (station manager) Brodie Bashaw, Brazos Valley Broadcasting Foundation president Polly Anderson and their crew. It’s not quite the same thing as a pledge, but sincere, nonetheless.
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