Asymptomatic

Posts tagged: movies

Narration Factor

I saw the new Hobbit movie recently (what is the actual title of that multi-part film?) and something interesting struck me. I've known the opening words to The Hobbit well enough that I'd recognize them if someone spoke them, and the words in the film are (at least in part) some of those.  What I didn't expect was hearing them spoken differently than how I read them in my head.

Particularly, when Gandalf remind Bilbo who he is, he says the line, "I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me!" When Ian McKellen says the words, there is a discernible pause between "means" and "me", such that the audience is led to a particular conclusion about the spoken words.  When I read the book, I hear Gandalf proclaiming that Gandalf is his name and everyone should know it, by golly!  When I watch the movie, I get the impression that Gandalf is perplexed that Bilbo should have any other impression of what Gandalf means.  The difference is subtle, surprising, and caused by a mere pause in the narration.

Abbyana Jones and the DVD of Doom

On a whim and a wish to watch something with the kids that was not yet another animated film (not that I dislike them, but they seem all that the kids will tolerate in entirely) I threw in a copy of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I’m not sure I expected them to really watch the whole thing, but being that Indiana Jones was a favorite of mine over the years, I had hoped they would enjoy it as much as I do. As it turns out, my hopes have come true.

Tonight when we were out to dinner, I suggested to Abby that we pop some corn and watch another Indiana Jones movie. Her eyes flew wide open in shock, as she was surprised to learn that there was another movie!