With the advent of the internet, I've noticed that what used to get people all in a tizzy is now accepted as normal. We used to call it plagiarism. Now we call it fan fiction.
All over the Web, you can find stories involving television, movie and book characters in brand new stories, not written by the original authors, creators or writers. And nobody minds. In fact, they have great followings.
I'm glad about that, actually. Nobody's trying to make any money off of it (which is probably why nobody objects) and it gives people a chance to try on pre-created characters and settings. Sometimes it can give you a better idea of where the original writers are going. Other times it points out where a show could or should be headed, especially when it comes to character development (Oh the frustration when you know you've come up with a cleaner way to explain something than the show actually uses!). I've even dabbled in it a little myself. And I've actually seen some elements of fan fiction stories I've read suddenly turn up in the show itself. In many cases, it was probably a coincidence, but sometimes, well, it's just eerie.
If I were in one of these shows, I would find it weird to surf the internet and find stories involving my character, some verging on pornography and some with relationships not intended by the writers. (Somebody out there has written something kinky involving Fred and George Weasley. Never mind that they're brothers.) I know of some actors who read the stories and crack up laughing, which is very generous considering some of the plots I've heard. But other times the intention is just to put the writer into something they really enjoy and want to emulate.
After all, they do say that imitation is the finest form of flattery. If that's the case, a lot of people should feel immensely flattered.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
DVD Review: The Matrix Trilogy
Full disclosure: I saw The Matrix on video, Reloaded in the theater and Revolutions on DVD. It wasn't until recently that I saw all three of them fairly close together.
But let's back up. When I first saw the Matrix, I was blown away by the concept but not just that - by the visuals. Forget bullet time. Sure, that's cool. But what I love about these movies is the glossy sharply defined Matrix world, filled with martial arts, sassy clothing, and a patina of richness in the color that seems almost far too real. It's overlaid with a green gloss that sharpens and defines every frame of film. And there's a fantasy element to it. Who do you want to be? What would you learn if it was only as easy as downloading it straight into your brain? How would you live if you could create your own view of yourself? It's a thinker's ass-kicking movie. Sure, some of the computer stuff passed me by, but I could really follow the film's plot.
By the time I saw Reloaded, I was excited to see what happened next. But Reloaded left me befuddled. Who was the Architect and what was he talking about? If the Ghost Brothers are programs and so is the Merovingian, how exactly do they work? What was the point of Perseophone wanting to liplock Neo? (Keanu Reeves is attractive, but he does nothing for me.) What's this about Zion and the people and ... huh??? (But I will take some of that special cake the Merovingian made.) Other than that I felt like I'd gotten left behind by some deeply philosophical computer geek's dream.
So I didn't go see Revolutions when it came out a few months later. I was just too lost. Even though people raved about the whole series, I wasn't sure I wanted to bother. After much persuasion, I finally sat down to see all three, and with the help of Wikipedia, it all began to make a lot more sense. I still don't get all the details, but I don't feel like I'm missing as much as before.
The Matrix, obviously, was meant to stand alone, and in that way it's the crown jewel of all three films because it's a complete story, even if the humans aren't freed from the Matrix as yet. Reloaded is a likeable, even though confusing, middle story that further expands upon the gloss. Revolutions spends far too much time - of necessity - in the drab real world, infested by these machines that are a cross between a spider and a malevolent octopus that just give me the heebie-jeebies. Everybody wears hand knitted sweaters and eats goo. Give me the leather body suits, fast cars, and ass-kicking maneuvers of the Matrix anyday. So I found the third installment a necessary piece but not nearly as visually pleasing as the first two.
The highlight of all three films, in terms of action sequences, has to be the freeway chase scene in Reloaded. What an amazing achievement, and if you watch the DVD extras, it's even more incredible for what WASN'T computer generated. Hydraulics launching cars, stunt doubles leaping motorcycles off semis, you name it. That's edge of your seat action. I could watch that scene over and over and marvel at the mastery involved.
Let's say a few things about the casting: Keanu Reeves is good for these roles, but he's just not much for emoting. Still, his fight scenes are well done and he looks good doing them. Carrie Anne Moss is quietly understated but rock solid, and the only time she's overlooked is when she's next to Monica Belluci's Persephone, who is far sexier than Moss's earthy beauty. Laurence Fishburne was the only choice, in my opinion, for Morpheus. He not only rocks the gear (those nose-pinching round lensed sunglasses - awesome!), but he's got that voice that both whispers and roars with authority. (Plus he looks good bald.) Jada Pinkett Smith is fun as the pilot Niobe. And Hugo Weaving is just brilliant as Agent Smith. We knew the guy could act, but seriously, he's the shit. (Plus the guy who plays Bane does a dead-on Agent Smith in Revolutions and it's really well done and creepy as hell.) The entire supporting cast is really well done and diverse too, which is a nice change from most blockbusters.
I realize this isn't really a 'review' per se, just some thoughts about this movie trilogy. I still like the original the best, and I could watch that one over and over. I could watch parts of Reloaded, but probably wouldn't sit through Revolutions again. I liked it well enough, but I'd rather hang out in the Matrix, where everybody is cool.
DVD: There are tons of extras. I couldn't even get into them all. Leave yourself an extra viewing day for each movie's extras.
Animals: None. I don't even think there are animals in the real world. I think the only one we see is the deja vu cat in the Matrix at the Oracle's apartment.
Overall: The best part of the films is the visual effects, hands down. As an overarching story, I give all three films together three and a half roses out of five, carried by the visuals and the first movie's storyline.
But let's back up. When I first saw the Matrix, I was blown away by the concept but not just that - by the visuals. Forget bullet time. Sure, that's cool. But what I love about these movies is the glossy sharply defined Matrix world, filled with martial arts, sassy clothing, and a patina of richness in the color that seems almost far too real. It's overlaid with a green gloss that sharpens and defines every frame of film. And there's a fantasy element to it. Who do you want to be? What would you learn if it was only as easy as downloading it straight into your brain? How would you live if you could create your own view of yourself? It's a thinker's ass-kicking movie. Sure, some of the computer stuff passed me by, but I could really follow the film's plot.
By the time I saw Reloaded, I was excited to see what happened next. But Reloaded left me befuddled. Who was the Architect and what was he talking about? If the Ghost Brothers are programs and so is the Merovingian, how exactly do they work? What was the point of Perseophone wanting to liplock Neo? (Keanu Reeves is attractive, but he does nothing for me.) What's this about Zion and the people and ... huh??? (But I will take some of that special cake the Merovingian made.) Other than that I felt like I'd gotten left behind by some deeply philosophical computer geek's dream.
So I didn't go see Revolutions when it came out a few months later. I was just too lost. Even though people raved about the whole series, I wasn't sure I wanted to bother. After much persuasion, I finally sat down to see all three, and with the help of Wikipedia, it all began to make a lot more sense. I still don't get all the details, but I don't feel like I'm missing as much as before.
The Matrix, obviously, was meant to stand alone, and in that way it's the crown jewel of all three films because it's a complete story, even if the humans aren't freed from the Matrix as yet. Reloaded is a likeable, even though confusing, middle story that further expands upon the gloss. Revolutions spends far too much time - of necessity - in the drab real world, infested by these machines that are a cross between a spider and a malevolent octopus that just give me the heebie-jeebies. Everybody wears hand knitted sweaters and eats goo. Give me the leather body suits, fast cars, and ass-kicking maneuvers of the Matrix anyday. So I found the third installment a necessary piece but not nearly as visually pleasing as the first two.
The highlight of all three films, in terms of action sequences, has to be the freeway chase scene in Reloaded. What an amazing achievement, and if you watch the DVD extras, it's even more incredible for what WASN'T computer generated. Hydraulics launching cars, stunt doubles leaping motorcycles off semis, you name it. That's edge of your seat action. I could watch that scene over and over and marvel at the mastery involved.
Let's say a few things about the casting: Keanu Reeves is good for these roles, but he's just not much for emoting. Still, his fight scenes are well done and he looks good doing them. Carrie Anne Moss is quietly understated but rock solid, and the only time she's overlooked is when she's next to Monica Belluci's Persephone, who is far sexier than Moss's earthy beauty. Laurence Fishburne was the only choice, in my opinion, for Morpheus. He not only rocks the gear (those nose-pinching round lensed sunglasses - awesome!), but he's got that voice that both whispers and roars with authority. (Plus he looks good bald.) Jada Pinkett Smith is fun as the pilot Niobe. And Hugo Weaving is just brilliant as Agent Smith. We knew the guy could act, but seriously, he's the shit. (Plus the guy who plays Bane does a dead-on Agent Smith in Revolutions and it's really well done and creepy as hell.) The entire supporting cast is really well done and diverse too, which is a nice change from most blockbusters.
I realize this isn't really a 'review' per se, just some thoughts about this movie trilogy. I still like the original the best, and I could watch that one over and over. I could watch parts of Reloaded, but probably wouldn't sit through Revolutions again. I liked it well enough, but I'd rather hang out in the Matrix, where everybody is cool.
DVD: There are tons of extras. I couldn't even get into them all. Leave yourself an extra viewing day for each movie's extras.
Animals: None. I don't even think there are animals in the real world. I think the only one we see is the deja vu cat in the Matrix at the Oracle's apartment.
Overall: The best part of the films is the visual effects, hands down. As an overarching story, I give all three films together three and a half roses out of five, carried by the visuals and the first movie's storyline.
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