More Damned Snow: An AROW80 Sunday Check-in

Before I begin this week, I want to say that this has been an wonderful experience. I know that this round is coming to a close (but not yet). I have learned a great deal about my writing habits and what gets me inspired. Maybe I wasn't as successful at some of my goals, or life real did get in the way, but I really did have fun. I have a greater understanding of what I CAN do as a writer.

Okay, I still have time in this round to be productive... ~clears throat~

I am back to reading. Plugging along with "Inheritance". I started to get overwhelmed by the stories progress and I felt there was A LOT of similarities in the story with "The Lord of the Rings" stories. And don't get me wrong, I do love Tolkien, but I started this series because of the Dragons, not a story wanting to be "The Lord of the Rings." I absolutely love the books "Eragon" and "Eldest," even "Brisinger" was a more mature novel, in Paolini's writing style. I loved it, except for the really long and detailed Dwarven Parliament. The interwoven stories and the depth to the characters pulled me in. Inheritance is also good in the same way, but there are also moment that you are slogging through. My biggest beef is the battles, they play out like mini Helms Deep battles. I hit a hump in one of the chapters, where I didn't want to go on. There will be no spoilers here! I will just stay that in the chapter called "Conclave of Kings" I was overwhelmed (as stated previously). Two days ago, I made myself resume reading and to my delight i can still read it. I really was a small speed bump that made my head go 'AHHHHH' for a bit. I am clearly pasted my date of February 15th to finish "Inheritance". Oh well! I am getting the most out of this book.

I am making progress on my WIP. (Oooh, first time I used that. I see all my fellow writers using it and these are WIPs). The "In the City" may in fact turn into a longer story, maybe novella length, not too sure. I am just really intrigued by the current story flow. I want to see where I end up taking it. i find that when I start a story I will get bored with the premise. Now "Crying Mascara" (recently posted to my deviantart page, if you are curious to read it), that one was really easy. It flowed like some sort of gently flowing river until it reached the seashore and made passionate love to the sea. I know, what a strange way to describe a story. But, upon reflection, it's true. "In the City" could very well flow with the same passion, I just need to direct it more.

On the other side, my Doctor Who story (fan-fic) is proving to be harder to kick start. I will admit that the In the City" story has taken my fancy, but I've not given up hope. I like my base, now I need that thing to happen or that person to do that other thing to suddenly make the trickle turn into a roaring river. Maybe I should just listen to the sound of the Tardis Interior Hum to get inspired. There is something to the sound, because I have journaled to this sound, blogged, and written. Maybe it's algorithms. Maybe it's just cause I really like Doctor Who. I know.
"

Gearing up for more blog entries for non-ROW80 blogs. I am thinking that I want to do another themed month, maybe not a poetry one this time. Although, they are fun and I get some really interesting poems out of it.Again, I throw this out there all the time, but I love to get interesting poetry topics to write about. Leave me a comment below, and I shall compose a poem about your topic for you, Dear Readers. I am thinking of continuing AROW80 into the next round.

It's Sunday and it's snowing, again Dear Readers. ~GROANS~ Why does it have to be so pretty, when I am so sick of it's presence? I have a number of things to still accomplish today. So go out there, Dear Readers and make something amazing or go watch Sherlock and then make something amazing. I am going to be writing and rehearsing lines and meeting with Stephano (that would be Antoinette) later today to run lines (as I missed Wednesday rehearsal because of plague). Gonna be a full day, but feeling rather good this morning. Maybe an impromptu haiku for you this morning.

When March had begun

And the world is still covered

Know this, Spring will be.

 Have a fantastic week! Like I said before, go out there and make something beautiful. Go and check out my fellow writers at the Blog Hop for A Round of Words in 80 days! Be good to each other and I believe in all of you!!!

Oh and listen to some Meghan Andrews cover of "Jolene" today, you won't regret it. Here's one of her original songs:

ROW80 Midweek Update - Sherlock Wednesday

I woke up thinking that is was a pretty good day. I will admit that I spent my morning being a touch lazy and watching Sherlock. Not that that's a bad thing! Oh, Benedict Cumberbatch, you of the awesomely strange name and delightfully charming mannerisms... ~sigh~ *rolls eyes at the thought*

Having a lack of cable, I had to resort to more nefarious tactics to get caught up with the Everyone's Favourite British Sociopath. Today, I was at home and what better way to pass the morning than to watch Sherlock? Right? So, guilty as charged, I watched Sherlock. But this update is not without it's promises. Sherlock is a breath of fresh air. The story lines are inventive, the characters are rough around the edges, even flawed (I also like Torchwood, guilty too), and it's British. While I think Moffat has gotten too big for his britches, he does know how to make a great show! What Sherlock brings to the table is a sense of what I want to do in my writing. There is an engaging story with characters that everyone loves. I might not write mysteries well (only once or twice for a class), but this formula can work for any genre/style writing. Watching Sherlock, Doctor Who, and even The Walking Dead is an asset to my story writing.  I can learn to create better, more engaging stories and develop my characters better. Consider it homework!

AnyWho, the ROW80 update. Yes, I am getting a bit distracted here, what with the Cumberbatch. This week finds me getting comfortable with my journaling. A regular pattern of Tuesdays and Thursdays seems to be working out well. What am a learning? Well...That I have a lot of thoughts in my head for starters. It's deeply therapeutic though. I don't need to do it everyday. It helps me remember things that I had previously forgotten, gives me ideas, and sometimes I find that I will write something worthy to be included in a future blog, story, or poem.

Onward! I have read the Tempest. Auditions are tomorrow and Friday. I wish I could go to both days, but again things and events are starting to crop up. Maybe it's me, but I always feel that these things sneak up on me. No worries, I will not let my schedule get out of hand this year, but at the same time January was starting to look boring. What with the Holiday rush and bustle over, I think I needed to get to work. Maybe I was getting bored. I have decided what parts I am auditioning for. I shall not say until after auditions. I have loved Shakespeare since college, when I was able to gain a greater understanding of him as a writer and the language used. My favourite works have mostly been the comedies: "A Midsummer's Night Dream", "Much Ado About Nothing", and "As You Like It", but I am partial to [Insert Scottish Name Here]. I am excited for another chance to be involved in a Shakespearean Production. Now, to get over the nerves!

Okay, I read the "The Tempest" and finished "Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man", also have started "Inheritance". It's gonna get crazy with the writing/editing, reading, and acting all up in here. But, really the plan is to read either before work or before bedtime, maybe squeezing in a bit on lunch or mid-day depending. I don;t wanna read too fast, because then I will forget a few months after reading the book. Again, I just have to utilize my time as best as I can.

I started a story yesterday. I am not sure if it'll go anywhere, but I am going to try. Funny how many of my stories start with one line or concept; then somehow it snowballs into a complete story. Editing on the other hand, is proving harder devote time to. I AM going to devote some time to editing later tonight, I have let it pass too long, time to grab the bull by the horns. I feel that my mood from last week has hampered the editing drive (not that that's an excuse). No matter, I am doing quite well on my obscure poetry month. I have some good topics from my friends and readers; and am pushing to try new poetic forms and stretching the images into poems, even the more unique topics. I even have been doing some extra practicing on my haiku writing.

The hardest part of writing is the ambition, with inspiration being a close second.  This blog has helped get me to write more with a greater regularity, but I still have trouble with story writing. That is what I want to change the most over these 80 days. I want to write a story a month, even if it's a short story. Maybe only a few pages, but a story nonetheless. Also, I want to include a blog that is not a ROW80 and since the updates fall on Wednesdays and Sunday, I need a new Blog Day. Hmmmm....maybe Friday or Saturday? I guess you will have to check back either day to see when I update! :-)

The boring update: I also have been trying to keep up with the housework and set about to organize some of this house. It means that some time has been diverted to clearing out junk, putting the holiday stuff away, and actually spending time with David. Pretty sure my house will always look like a tornado fell through the roof, but I like having a clean sink (I loath doing dishes), freshly laundered clothing, and the like.

My mood is optimistic today. Do you, Dear Readers feel something similar? Like the holidays knock the wind out of you? That January is a barren wasteland waiting for Spring to arrive? That there is plenty of time? Leave me a comment below about how you view January as a productive or counter-productive month. How you handle the feeling of complacency. And the like...

Have a splendid day, Dear Readers!

Eragon: Book versus Movie

*Updated as of 3/10/2018*

Eragon: Book versus the Movie

I sat down and watched the movie Eragon after having read the book. I did this while book was still fresh in my mind and I was ready to takes notes. I wanted to pay close attention to the little details that were either in both versions and what was changed and/or omitted. It is my first attempt to compare two mediums and right off the bat I was rudely awakened to how much of a difference there was.

It was quite the viewing, I must say. 

I was very angry by the end. There were a number of points left out of the movie (some with reason of course) and some blatantly incorrect information presented as fact. I will take you and a trip through my viewing and what I consider to be a thorough review of the movie and the book.

Before I begin, there will be spoilers! If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book proceed at own risk! You have been warned!

Emotional outrage aside, there are some things that I can accept in movie adaptations:

          1. There is a time limit! A movie is only so long and logically you can only put so much into said movie.
          2. Sometimes you have budget constraints. You can only film what and where you can afford to film at/where.
          3. There are director’s cut. Directors have a right to pick and choose what gets in the movie. They can also adapt the story to fit their needs, or budgetary demands are.

So, there are things that even if they are not what is presented in the movie that I could and would ultimately forgive for not being correct to the book. The things in the movie that royally anger me range from the omitting of crucial details or flat out presenting incorrect facts.  Eragon is guilty of these two items on numerous occasions.

To start off with the biggest peeve of this movie is that they blatantly disregard a character that is critical for the second book, “Eldest”. In the book there is Eragon, Roran-Eragon’s cousin, Sloan-the butcher, and Katrina his daughter who is in love with Roran. She is not included in any of the movie. First, if you don’t include Katrina, then how are you going to continue the movies series? When (for those who have read the book) she appears in “Eldest” (the book) as the reason Roran and Eragon leave the group to go and search for her. It is frustrating because she is to become a central character (for those who have read the books). But, something else, Katrina has interactions with Roran and Eragon. Without these interactions at the very beginning in Carvahall (Eragon’s home) I feel that something is lost. Of, course if you haven’t read the book then you would know this. I just happen to know of a bunch of fellow readers who agree with me on this.

Speaking of Roran, in the movie he tells Eragon he is leaving because he is of age to be recruited to Galbatorix’s Army, which he doesn’t want. While in the book Roran is being apprenticed out to Dempton, a Miller from Therinsford (a nearby town). This is because Roran wants to marry Katrina, but doesn’t have the money to do so. By becoming Dempton’s apprentice, Roran will be able to save up money with which is can then ask Sloan for Katrina’s hand in marriage. This causes Eragon a bit of stress knowing that Roran is leaving (in both versions). Not only that, but now Eragon has Sapphira, his dragon, that creates a whole new tension; and this part of the book is non-existent in the movie and is confusing to me. You feel for Eragon, in the book, but in the movie the whole scene feels rushed. Eragon’s and Roran’s relationship is barely developed in the movie.  Even Sloan has only ONE short scene with Eragon in the movie (plus one very short scene with the Ra’zac).

Speaking of characters that are misplaced in this movie, there are at least three scenes throughout the movie that feature Galbatorix directly, while in the book he is only referenced and never actually shown. This feels like a distraction in the movie, because the story is supposed to be focused on Eragon and HIS journey. But you have this King who is not critical to the actual story plot (he is just a referenced plot point) who has his own scenes and it kind of becomes distracting. You don’t need to have Galbatorix when you have the Ra’zac, Durza (the shade), the Varden, Brom, and Murtaugh, all of whom actually interact with Eragon. He learns more about all of these characters as he goes on his journey, hence the concept of a JOURNEY. You don’t need to bring in Galbatorix, unless you just promised John Malkovich a role, when clearly he isn’t even interacting with Eragon directly.  In fact, here’s another point, Galbatorix in the book doesn’t learn of Eragon’s existence until about halfway through the book. By then, he has sent his army of Urgals to track and catch Eragon and Sapphira. I feel that getting John Malkovich to play Galbatorix was just reason to get more butts in the movie theatre seats. His scenes do not even add anything to the story, more of an exposition dump.

Okay, let’s focus on the plot now. The purpose of Eragon leaving Carvahall is because his uncle (Garrow) had been killed by the Ra’zac. In the book has Eragon is angry at the Ra’zac, he wants to kill them for Garrow’s death and the destruction of his home. He also has a dragon and guilty about what Roran will think. The presentation is wrong in the movie has Eragon is afraid of the Ra’zac and is now fleeing for his life. This irritates me when movie makers change a character’s motives. I like how Eragon is angry at Sloan, at Roran, and even Garrow (to an extent), but when he realizes that what the Ra’zac are and that they have done, he wants revenge on them. The movie changes the dynamic of the story. I feel that you lose something when the story is changed like that. Also, Eragon’s character is a boy on the cusp of manhood, faced with a cruel and changing world. He has to react and adapt, grow up, and deal with these changes. The book shows his changing and growing emotions, whereas the movie just glosses over many of these points. Eragon in the movie is already the character he is by the end of the book.

Speaking about weakened character development, let’s talk about Brom. He is an awesome father figure to Eragon, and is an enigma at the beginning, but is grows and develops throughout the story (in the book anyway). While in the movie he gets the short end of the stick. In the movie, his role in Carvahall is not even explained. So, when it’s revealed that he was a Dragonrider with the Varden and his dragon was killed in battle, and he went into hiding/was shamed by fleeing to Carvahall. This isn’t even correct! In the book he came to Carvahall to act as a watch for the Varden. Also, what setting they show of life in Carvahall doesn’t mention much of Brom let alone anyone else in Carvahall. Did you know that Brom was masquerading as a storyteller? You couldn’t tell in the movie. You don’t get his motive explained. The storyteller point is a set up for Eragon to get more information from Brom on dragons. The movie uses the opening narration to give us most of this information. This feels like cheating, because Brom is supposed to be a teacher and a father figure to Eragon. You don’t get invested in Brom in the movie because of this. You don’t even get Brom teaching Eragon much of anything, except a bit of ‘sword fighting’ with sticks and a magic vocabulary.

Now for Arya. Forced character development is something that this movie used easily to get you vested into Arya’s character. She is the lady who originally rescued Sapphira’s egg from Galbatorix. In the book you see her at the beginning fleeing from some of Galbatorix’s men (as with the book). The difference is that in the book she is captured and tortured. She only interacts with Eragon through telepathy, yet in the movie she is awake and an active member of Eragon’s journey (still captured and needs to be rescued in both versions) instead of another character in the story, Murtaugh who is Eragon’s traveling companion in the book. Arya is a FRI (forced romantic interest), similar to Arwen in the Lord of the Rings movies (even though Arwen was already a love interest, so to speak).

       Movie: Eragon has a dream with Arya and Eragon talking together in a forest.
       Book: Eragon has a dream of a woman who is imprisoned and being tortured.

This is very trite and overused in many modern movies. Also, Arya is an elf, but you wouldn’t know that from the movie, would you? She has no pointed ears, nor are her ‘people’ referred to as elves anytime in the movie. She claims to be from Ellesmere, but you know nothing of the people of Ellesmere or of her people.

Another point, there are also no dwarves in the movie. There is ONE line from one of Galbatorix’s scenes that mention elves and dwarves. Only one!!

The whole movie feels forced and lacking in character development for most of the characters that are in the story. Also, there are characters not mentioned such as Katrina (explained earlier), Orik (Hrothgar’s nephew), Hrothgar (the Dwarf King), and the Twins (mysterious magic users); while Sloan (the butcher), Horst (the blacksmith), Angela (the fortune-teller), and Murtaugh (outcast) are barely touched upon in the movie. There are those who are like Eragon, Brom, Sapphira, and Durza who are not fully developed and that loses something for me while watching the movie. You don’t feel connected to the characters.

There are facts that are incorrect, or stretched, such as when Eragon meets Angela in Daret (which is by what looks like a  lake) in the movie. While in the book originally Angela resides in Teirm (which is by the sea) with the were-cat Solembum (also not mentioned in the movie). These are things that, in my opinion are crucial to the story. I found that their lack of inclusion or distortion of the facts made the story weaker as a whole.

I must also note that when I first watched Eragon in the theatres back in 2006 I enjoyed the movie immensely, as I am fan of fantasy movies and books. When I read the book, much later, I was surprised by the differences, but hardly as upset as I am now having really compared the two in greater detail. The part of the absent Katrina in the movie still frustrates me (after I had read “Eldest” and realized what had been done). Still I thought that I could live with both, after all I have seen some poorer movie adaptations or sequels made, but still found them enjoyable to watch as a stand alone movie. It’s hard to watch Eragon now, knowing how vastly different the book and movie are from each other.

To those who like the movie. Go ahead and like it! I did (for a while anyway). It’s a decent movie if you have no connection to the book. It’s still not a good movie. In my mind,  the characters don’t feel fully development and there are many forced plot points that are too trite for my taste, and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth personally. I will stick with the book on this one. If I must watch the movie, I will watch the Rifftrax version nowadays, because that IS funny and really entertaining to watch.