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Ray Bradbury

Details: Written by: Rod Boyle; Category: Books; Published: 15 February 2018; Hits: 1151

I found a couple of his in the thrift shop - "The Illustrated Man" and "The October Country", and as I hadn't read him since I was about 13 years old I picked them up and tried him again.

As a kid I loved him. And as an adult? I remembered the ends of the stories as I read them. The stories - the endings, especially, formulaic, occasionally predictable, twist endings, ironic, surprising (not often) - the plotting, the themes, that's not the main thing with him. 13 was the right age to fall under his spell for sure. But what's impressive is his use of adjectives, his evocations of mood, his descriptions, his intonation of charms, whispered, spoken, sung, the rhythm of his words, poetry almost, yet managing no meaning above the fantasies, images and moods he creates...

Surprisingly well written kids books I'd say, filled with imagination. But for adults, well...tastes change.

Whiplash

Details: Written by: Rod Boyle; Category: Film; Published: 15 February 2018; Hits: 1100

About a Mentor who in giving the sum of his life's knowledge and experience to an ungrateful protege, who in turn betrays him.

The Mentor then proceeds to run into him at a concert, forgives and gives him a second chance, which the protege takes to upstage him and steal the show.

I liked it, but anyone who argues "The Mentor" was abusive hasn't had the jobs I've had.

Liked it enough to watch her other movie, "La La Land", which was again - pretty damn good, the Bollywood styled song-and-dance married well with the subject, sort of this centuries "Moulin Rouge". Except a lot better written.

They're both fresh enough that if you want to see either you can search them out yourself and find them...