The movie was made because the book was popular, not because it was good.
Zoe: What's that, sir? Mal: Freedom, is what. Zoe: No, I meant what's that? Mal: Oh. Yeah. Just step around it. I think something must've been living in here.
'Out Of Gas'
Buffista Movies 5: Development Hell
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Laga - Dec 17, 2006 6:16:35 pm PST #6468 of 10001
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.
Sean K - Dec 17, 2006 6:25:10 pm PST #6469 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
To which I can respond only by looking at Dan Brown again and heaving an exasperated sigh.
Strega - Dec 17, 2006 6:47:40 pm PST #6470 of 10001
Looking at Amazon and Wikipedia, the critical reviews of the book were mixed as far as it being full of fantasy cliches and so forth, but they all seem to agree that he's a talented writer.
Sean K - Dec 17, 2006 6:55:04 pm PST #6471 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
I mean, from all I've heard, Dan Brown is a brilliant plotter. My dad like Da Vinci Code, and I was really surprised. I would have thought the kindergardenish sentence construction would have put him off, as it has me (the samples I've read have left me unwilling to even read the one book all the way through).
But I just don't see how the most page-turning plot in the world can offset such cludgey sentence construction.
megan walker - Dec 17, 2006 7:07:52 pm PST #6472 of 10001
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
But I just don't see how the most page-turning plot in the world can offset such cludgey sentence construction.I know many people here didn't like it (although I believe the other Megan is with me on this--if only we could convince a few Amys), but I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code. The writing certainly wasn't its strong suit, but it was definitely a page turner. Of course, I may feel that way because I read it before all the hype (for some unknown reason, I pre-ordered a first edition from the "Men's" History Book Club). That's why I had such high hopes for the movie, because a lot of what was clunky or repetitive could have been stripped out.
Polter-Cow - Dec 17, 2006 7:19:37 pm PST #6473 of 10001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
I read it after the hype, and I enjoyed it too, but for the page-long digressions in the middle of action sequences.
Ailleann - Dec 17, 2006 7:50:05 pm PST #6474 of 10001
vanguard of the socialist Hollywood liberal homosexualist agenda
I had read Angels and Demons, an earlier book, first and I actually thought it was the better book. A lot of it seemed to be retreaded in the second book. Depending on the casting, the rumored movie could be pretty awesome.
megan walker - Dec 17, 2006 7:56:35 pm PST #6475 of 10001
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
I had read Angels and Demons, an earlier book, first and I actually thought it was the better book. A lot of it seemed to be retreaded in the second book.
I can see that. I read it after TDC, and I agree that it's the better book. If Brown had focused the second book as much on Paris as he did with Rome/Vatican City, I think it would have been much improved.
Ailleann - Dec 17, 2006 8:04:50 pm PST #6476 of 10001
vanguard of the socialist Hollywood liberal homosexualist agenda
Definitely. And I thought the ending was more exciting.
Polter-Cow - Dec 17, 2006 8:13:52 pm PST #6477 of 10001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Everyone who's read both has said Angels and Demons is the better book. Heh. I sorta kinda want to read it.