Neil Gaiman

What I’m Doing

/ Shane / 2 Comments

What I’m Watching

Monsters. I got interested in this movie because it was described as being reminiscent of District 9, which I loved. Based on the preview, I was hooked.

Looks awesome, right? Well, it wasn’t as good as I hoped.

I personally thought it was okay, but Sara didn’t really dig it. There are basically two problems with it: 1) there is not much in the way of plot, 2) there is not much in the way of acting. The entire thing was made on a shoestring budget. In fact, the “extras” in the movie were just people who happened to be around when they were filming. So there really wasn’t a script beyond some loose notes about what had to happen in certain scenes.

So you’d think it would be pretty abysmal, right? But actually, it’s not. In fact, everything else in the movie was sort of amazing. This movie was very, very close to being really good. I’m not sure where it went wrong exactly. I certainly didn’t feel like I wasted my time (however, Sara did).

The most amazing thing is what technology is doing for the movie making industry. The special effects were pretty good in general, even though the whole thing was put together on his own computer, with off-the-shelf computer software. As the director said, “You can go in the shop now and you can buy a laptop that’s faster than the computers they made Jurassic Park on.” Pretty phenomenal.

Imagine what this guy could do with a full budget.

What I’m Reading

American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

I have been dying to read this for so long. I’m a big fan of Neil Gaiman, and this was the book of his that I kept hearing about, over and over. I had even managed to lay my hands on a copy of Anansi Boys, which is not so much a sequel as a more recent book set in the same world.

American Gods was very good, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I would certainly recommend it. However, I have to say, I liked Anansi Boys better. It’s a much lighter tone than American Gods, so maybe that’s what I liked about it. I feel like Anansi Boys was written because the character Mr. Nancy in American Gods was so interesting, despite having such a small roll, that Mr. Gaiman just had to go explore him a little more.

Anyway, either way you can’t lose, or really with any Neil Gaiman book you can’t lose. I’ve never read a bad one.

What I’m Listening To

Bridget and the Squares. This is an up-and-coming band that hasn’t been signed to a label yet. They have an amazing sound. Laura’s vocals are very unique. They’re kind of the reverse white stripes; the band is just two members, with Laura as the lead singer/pianist, and Kyle on the drums.

Anyway, here are a couple of tracks:

I think it’s pretty clear they’re going to be big. You heard it here first, folks! You can also hear more on their myspace page.

Nicholas Was…

/ Shane / 2 Comments

Nicholas Was…

by Neil Gaiman

I recommend the video, but just in case, the words are reprinted below:

Nicholas Was…

older than sin, and his beard could grow no whiter. He wanted to die.

The dwarfish natives of the Arctic caverns did not speak his language, but conversed in their own, twittering tongue, conducted incomprehensible rituals, when they were not actually working in the factories.

Once every year they forced him, sobbing and protesting, into Endless Night. During the journey he would stand near every child in the world, leave one of the dwarves’ invisible gifts by its bedside. The children slept, frozen into time.

He envied Prometheus and Loki, Sisyphus and Judas. His punishment was harsher.

Ho.

Ho.

Ho.

Merry Christmas!

What I’m Doing

/ Shane / 4 Comments

What I’m listening to:

Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

You can also go check out Ben Fold’s version of the same song. Legend has it that he forgot he was supposed to show up on the program. Such Great Heights was the first song on his iPod, so he grabbed a couple of drummers and they used anything they could find in the studio including forks, a wine glass and even one guy playing a box covered in a towel with a wooden spoon (you can see him in the video). I like it almost as much as the original!

What I’m reading:

I’m about halfway through Just After Sunset by Stephen King.

It is a nice change a pace, not too Stephen King-y actually. This is more the kind of straightforward stuff he usually writes under Richard Bachman. The stories are simple and short. Sometimes I think Stephen King can out-King himself, for example, Rose Madder which I thought worked better when it was just about spousal abuse before it got weird. Huh, apparently Stephen King agreed with me on that one, calling it “overwritten” and “working too hard”.

I’ve been listening to lots of Neil Gaiman and loving it, including Coraline (now a major motion picture!) and Anansi Boys. I have not managed to get my hands on American Gods yet, but I’m dying to.

I’ve enjoyed all of them, but I listened to 2 books of short stories that I particularly liked, Fragile Things and M is for Magic. Who am I kidding, I always like books of short stories. They are so varied and if you don’t like one, there is always another coming up. Each story has the sense of promise that you get when you start a new book. Plus, I think the concise nature forces them to be better, not get bogged down. As far as Coraline, I liked it and as I was listening I always envisioned it as anime, so I’m glad to see that it is animated in a sort of creepy style.

I just started Dream Songs Volume I by my other favorite author, George R. R. Martin. The first part is sort of his life story as far as his writing is concerned and it is surprisingly compelling and inspiring. It makes me want to start writing!

What I’m watching:

I was a little disappointed with Wall-E actually. It was a pretty well put together movie, and the stuff they did with with expression, etc. before there was any talking was pretty amazing. I sort of wished the whole movie was sans talking. That being said, I kept hearing how great it was and I don’t know ::shrug:: it’s probably not in my top 20 of animated movies.

Instructions

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Instructions

by Neil Gaiman

 

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before.
Say “please” before you open the latch,
go through,
walk down the path.
A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted front door,
as a knocker,
do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.
Walk through the house. Take nothing. Eat nothing.
However, if any creature tells you that it hungers, feed it.
If it tells you that it is dirty, clean it.
If it cries to you that it hurts,
if you can,
ease its pain.

From the back garden you will be able to see the wild wood.
The deep well you walk past leads to Winter’s realm;
there is another land at the bottom of it.
If you turn around here,
you can walk back, safely;
you will lose no face. I will think no less of you.

Once through the garden you will be in the wood.
The trees are old. Eyes peer from the under-growth.
Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman.
She may ask for something;
give it to her.
She will point the way to the castle.
Inside it are three princesses.
Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.
In the clearing beyond the castle the twelve months sit about a fire,
warming their feet, exchanging tales.
They may do favors for you, if you are polite.
You may pick strawberries in December’s frost.
Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where you are going.
The river can be crossed by the ferry. The ferry-man will take you.
(The answer to his question is this:
If he hands the oar to his passenger, he will be free to leave the boat.
Only tell him this from a safe distance.)

If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.
Remember: that giants sleep too soundly;
that witches are often betrayed by their appetites;
dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;
hearts can be well-hidden,
and you betray them with your tongue.

Do not be jealous of your sister.
Know that diamonds and roses are as uncomfortable when they tumble from one’s lips as toads and frogs:
colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.

Remember your name.
Do not lose hope — what you seek will be found.
Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped to help you in their turn.
Trust dreams.
Trust your heart, and trust your story.
When you come back, return the way you came.
Favors will be returned, debts will be repaid.
Do not forget your manners.
Do not look back.
Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall).
Ride the silver fish (you will not drown).
Ride the grey wolf (hold tightly to his fur).

There is a worm at the heart of the tower; that is why it will not stand.

When you reach the little house, the place your journey started,
you will recognize it, although it will seem much smaller than you remember.
Walk up the path, and through the garden gate you never saw before but once.
And then go home. Or make a home.
And rest.