I like movies. I don't see a lot of them these days, although several days ago I saw The Jungle Book and I thought it was really good. Another point for Disney.
But right now I have another movie in mind; the upcoming epic fantasy Warcraft, based on the hit video game series by Blizzard. I first heard about it around the end of 2015 and I couldn't wait for it - not because I'm a Warcraft fan but because I'm a sucker for fantasy, video games, and special effects. It comes out in about two weeks, and to my dismay the early reviews have not been promising. I've seen scores as low as a 3/10, and others around 6.5, which is admittedly really good for a video game movie (to be fair, these are professional critics, and I've seen several casual reviews on IMDB that are much higher).
Don't get me wrong, I understand the importance of forming my own opinion on things instead of holding up others' opinions. Take Jurassic World, for example: apparently a lot of people didn't think it was good, but I really liked it. Not enough for a second viewing, but I enjoyed the movie.
But as I said, I like movies, and I want the ones I spend my time and money on to be both enjoyable and good. I've seen plenty of horrible movies experience success and even sequels (Alvin and the Chipmunks, anyone?) and the sad truth (or maybe I'm just cynical) is that seeing a movie and complaining about it online still means that you paid money to see it. With that in mind, I feel like every time I see a bad movie, regardless of my own opinion on it, I'm endorsing the further production of bad movies. I've held that view for a while now, and it's made enjoying movies a lot harder because now I feel like I'm doing an injustice by seeing them.
I guess it'd be nice if I had somebody to talk to about this. I do have a friend who's a big movie buff, but ideally I'd appreciate a plurality of viewpoints for this, Maybe at IUPUI I'll find a movie club or something, but for now I guess I'll have to be satisfied with venting on my blog. I hope it was enjoyable, at least.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Past Nonperformance, Future Results
They say you should write what you know. I can understand that - applied experience gives a story and its characters life, depth. People can tell if a story is flat, and what kind of writer wants that?
But what if you haven't had that many experiences, by choice or by absence of opportunity?
It's something I've been worrying about recently. I've got a lot of ideas I want to turn into stories, but not a lot has happened to me that I can draw from for these specific stories. Others, maybe, but not many the ones I have in mind now. Elegy, one of the ones I've been holding forefront for a while now, is an exception; it's about regret, and life after high school, both of which are things I know. I think that's part of why it's so much more concrete in my head than others. But even it isn't fully covered by my experiences - unlike the main characters, I have both of my parents, and I've never been a foster child, a police officer, a ghost, or a homosexual, among other things.
I draw a lot of my inspiration for stories and characters from other stories; I experience them to understand how to write them into my own tales. But what if that's an inadequate substitute, doomed to fail because I have neither the chance nor understanding of how to gather the relevant experiences? I could talk to people with those experiences, but there's only so much I can gather from that as well.
Times like this, I really wish I knew an author I could talk to about things, get some solid advice. What do you readers out there think?
But what if you haven't had that many experiences, by choice or by absence of opportunity?
It's something I've been worrying about recently. I've got a lot of ideas I want to turn into stories, but not a lot has happened to me that I can draw from for these specific stories. Others, maybe, but not many the ones I have in mind now. Elegy, one of the ones I've been holding forefront for a while now, is an exception; it's about regret, and life after high school, both of which are things I know. I think that's part of why it's so much more concrete in my head than others. But even it isn't fully covered by my experiences - unlike the main characters, I have both of my parents, and I've never been a foster child, a police officer, a ghost, or a homosexual, among other things.
I draw a lot of my inspiration for stories and characters from other stories; I experience them to understand how to write them into my own tales. But what if that's an inadequate substitute, doomed to fail because I have neither the chance nor understanding of how to gather the relevant experiences? I could talk to people with those experiences, but there's only so much I can gather from that as well.
Times like this, I really wish I knew an author I could talk to about things, get some solid advice. What do you readers out there think?
Concept Corner #13
Concept Corner #13 - Mirrors
In a futuristic city, there are stories drifting about a mysterious figure - a phantom thief, who broadcasts his heists to all who will watch and yet escapes capture without effort whilst stealing nothing. The police want to capture him. The public wants to know more, to be entertained. But nobody knows the thief's true motives, or the truth behind his targets.
Among the thief's fans is a young reporter who places him atop a pedestal, and who has made it her life goal to uncover the truth about his pursuits. A chance encounter gives her the opportunity she's sought after for so long, but in turn pulls her into a journey of revenge and danger that she may not be prepared for.
Never meet your heroes...
Despite what that description may imply, this is not to be a Twilight-esque romance story. The ages don't match up, and their personalities would ensure any romance is a stillborn one. Their relationship will be complex and changing, but romance is not in the cards between them.
I was inspired to write a phantom thief story after watching this anime, Dimension W, that features one such character. I get a lot of my inspiration this way; I see something in another story that I think is cool or intriguing, and I spin it into a story of my own. I'm not sure if that makes me unoriginal, but it's worked pretty well for me so far.
In a futuristic city, there are stories drifting about a mysterious figure - a phantom thief, who broadcasts his heists to all who will watch and yet escapes capture without effort whilst stealing nothing. The police want to capture him. The public wants to know more, to be entertained. But nobody knows the thief's true motives, or the truth behind his targets.
Among the thief's fans is a young reporter who places him atop a pedestal, and who has made it her life goal to uncover the truth about his pursuits. A chance encounter gives her the opportunity she's sought after for so long, but in turn pulls her into a journey of revenge and danger that she may not be prepared for.
Never meet your heroes...
Despite what that description may imply, this is not to be a Twilight-esque romance story. The ages don't match up, and their personalities would ensure any romance is a stillborn one. Their relationship will be complex and changing, but romance is not in the cards between them.
I was inspired to write a phantom thief story after watching this anime, Dimension W, that features one such character. I get a lot of my inspiration this way; I see something in another story that I think is cool or intriguing, and I spin it into a story of my own. I'm not sure if that makes me unoriginal, but it's worked pretty well for me so far.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
A high-class night
So I just got back from a pretty fun evening/night with my dad and my grandparents. We went down to Indianapolis and ate at the Weber Grill - sort of an upscale bar and restaurant. I got the meatloaf, which was quite appetizing. Very flavorful and tender. The broccoli was a little harder than I usually like, though. I'm eating a leftover pretzel roll as I write this, and it's just as good as it was in the restaurant.
After dinner, we went to the theater and watched The Mousetrap, this old stage show by Agatha Christie herself. I enjoyed it quite a lot, as I've always enjoyed her works. I did sort of guess the end ahead of time (at least, the murderer), but it was fun regardless.
It's nice, being able to do things like this every now and then. I know some people aren't so lucky.
After dinner, we went to the theater and watched The Mousetrap, this old stage show by Agatha Christie herself. I enjoyed it quite a lot, as I've always enjoyed her works. I did sort of guess the end ahead of time (at least, the murderer), but it was fun regardless.
It's nice, being able to do things like this every now and then. I know some people aren't so lucky.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Keep Moving Forward
Every now and then I think back to some point in my life, usually high school, and I sort of wish I could relive that part of my life. Except then, when I actually think about it, I can't help but wonder why I feel that way, because knowing what I know now that part of my life seems unfulfilling.
I used to be in an anime club when I was in high school, and every now and then I'll find something online that reminds me of those days and I get a little wistful, but I don't actually want to go back to those days. I didn't have much drive back in high school, I wasn't particularly close to anybody I went to school with, I did pretty well in class - but I do well in class these days too. So I'm not sure why I feel the way I do.
I wonder what it would be like to be one of those people who feels that the best parts of their life have passed them by, that it's all downhill from here. I think that's really scary.
I mean, I'm pretty young yet, and I'm sure when I get old and my body fails on me that I'll start pining at least a little bit for the "good old days," but I think there's a lot to look forward to in adult life as well. Having a job I love, being able to drive, having more freedom than before, getting married... I'm really hoping to get married someday. It's funny - adult life's so much more complex than being a kid, but I think I'll be happier as an adult than a child. I'm excited for that complexity - not sure why.
I used to be in an anime club when I was in high school, and every now and then I'll find something online that reminds me of those days and I get a little wistful, but I don't actually want to go back to those days. I didn't have much drive back in high school, I wasn't particularly close to anybody I went to school with, I did pretty well in class - but I do well in class these days too. So I'm not sure why I feel the way I do.
I wonder what it would be like to be one of those people who feels that the best parts of their life have passed them by, that it's all downhill from here. I think that's really scary.
I mean, I'm pretty young yet, and I'm sure when I get old and my body fails on me that I'll start pining at least a little bit for the "good old days," but I think there's a lot to look forward to in adult life as well. Having a job I love, being able to drive, having more freedom than before, getting married... I'm really hoping to get married someday. It's funny - adult life's so much more complex than being a kid, but I think I'll be happier as an adult than a child. I'm excited for that complexity - not sure why.
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