Anne of Green Gables

 

When I told my mom that I had decided to start reading Anne of Green Gables the other week she said, “You haven’t read that yet?”  “What?  I saw the movie,” I replied.  But when I finished this book the other day, the first thing I told my fiance was, “I can’t believe I hadn’t read this!”

I had always liked the movie, and whenever PBS aired it I would automatically tune in to watch, no matter how late I came into it.  As a kid, I never realized there was already a book about Anne Shirley, and as I grew older I looked for new stories, instead of reliving ones I already knew.  However, now that I’ve read the first in the Anne (spelled with an “e”) series, I know I’ll have to read them all.  There are two things that have hooked me to these novels: Anne’s undying and unsurpassed spirit, and the language that flows through the pages and sticks in my head.  I’ve found myself thinking in Anne’s terms, using “big words” and colorful adjectives, and dreaming about beautiful places.

Lucky for Anne, however, she didn’t have to use her imagination to dream up nature at its finest (although should could have without even trying).  Prince Edward’s Island, the setting of Avonlea and our story, is described as one of the most beautiful places I can imagine; trees blossom around every corner and flowery scents pervade the air.  Of course, Anne grew up in the early 1900s, and that is probably one of the reasons  L.M. Montgomery could describe such beauty.  Had she tried to place Anne in a new home today, the poor girl would have had to use a whole lot more imagination.  This story really made me look around our city and realize that nature is basically what we have in between the strip malls and highways.  We have just enough trees to give us a little bit of color, but nothing that would make you stop and take notice, just for its beauty.  It makes me want to take a long vacation in some remote part of the world that’s been untouched by human hands.

Anne of Green Gables tells the story of an orphan who is adopted (unwillingly at first) by an older brother and sister who want help on their farm.  Anne is nothing short of a surprise on all accounts, from her red hair (and temper to match) to her constant story-tellings and imaginings.  She isn’t the dependable boy the Cuthberts had planned on adopting, but Anne’s vivacity and gratitude for the home she never thought she’d have win over not just her benefactors, but the entire town.  Anne is unlike anyone in Avonlea has ever met, and this not only causes her to get into a few scrapes, but catapults her into their hearts.  It doesn’t matter if you’re 12 or 50, Anne’s spirit will win you over, and the language Montgomery uses will transport you into her world.

5 out of 5 stars for being one of the best books I have read in a long time, and for making me want to read it again and again in the years to come.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

I watched (for the first time ever) The Rocky Horror Picture Show last night just before going to bed. I know, I can’t believe it took me 22 years to see this, either. However, now that I have, I’m not sure I’ll be seeing it again. No, that’s not true. I’ll probably watch it one more time, just to make sure my first instincts were correct. This movie is…..well, weird is the only word I can think of and that’s just not descriptive enough.

I knew this movie was out there, but I had no idea it was that out there. I don’t even know if I can summarize it. There’s a lot of singing, a criminologist cuts in every so often for some foreshadowing, everyone is mostly naked and/or dressed in the opposite sex’s clothes, and I’m pretty sure this is Tim Curry’s greatest role. (Don’t be mad, Tim. I thought you did great as the voice of Hexxus in Fern Gully and I loved Muppet Treasure Island – in fact, you’ve been in a lot of movies and TV shows I love.)

You know what? I can’t describe this movie. It was so bizarre and completely different from anything I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen Cannibal! The Musical). I definitely understand how this became such a popular cult classic….I just don’t think it’s a cult I’m going to be joining any time soon.

3.5 out of 5 stars for being so bizarre that I’ll have to watch it again, but so crazy that I’m not sure that I want to.

Semi-Pro

Sorry it’s been so long. I know you’ve probably all forgotten about this blog, but really, give me another chance! I promise I can make more regular posts, really I can……

Anyway, Friday night I was treated to two good things: dinner at JK O’Donnell’s (an amazing Irish Pub right next door to where I work) and a movie: Semi-Pro, starring the always ridiculous Will Ferrell.

Let me begin my review by saying that I have a love-hate relationship with Ferrell’s movies. Some are great (Talladega Nights, Stranger Than Fiction) and some completely bomb in my book (Anchor Man, Old School). I know many people will never agree with me on this point, but I’m just letting you know that I tend to like Will Ferrell as a cameo (Wedding Crashers, Starsky and Hutch) more than I like his movies where he’s a leading man. Not that I don’t like him, but some of these movies are a little to ridiculous. Even for me.

So, with all that said, let’s move on. I enjoyed Semi-Pro, and I agree with user Zete’s comment on IMDb, “Not Ferrell’s best work, but still pretty funny.” I found myself quoting it later that night, which is a pretty good sign; however, that’s not always the best judge. For example, I have no desire to ever watch Anchorman again, but I absolutely crack up every time someone quotes it. I don’t know why, but it’s funnier as a one-liner rather than a full movie. But back to the movie at hand.

Semi-Pro tells the story of the Flint Michigan Tropics, a team in the doomed 1976 American Basketball Association. As the ABA collapses, the top four teams will be merged with the NBA, and owner-coach-player Jackie Moon (Ferrell) is determined to promote his last-place team into the top four. There were several glimpses into other characters’ lives, and I thought Woody Harrelson’s and Andre Benjamin’s characters were both played well and convincingly. I actually cared what happened to them in a movie designed to make you laugh and rarely think about people’s feelings. Will Ferrell was his usual funny, outrageous self, and you really have to love the guy for being able to pull off a lovable, goofy idiot movie after movie and still have people line up to go see him. The movie’s ending was a bit conventional and I even called the last play of the game well before it happened, but, when it comes to sports movies, they would all be terribly disappointing if they didn’t have the typical exciting Hollywood ending.

3 out of 5 stars because it’s a Will Ferrell movie I would actually watch again, I was quoting it almost immediately, and I really liked Harrelson’s and Benjamin’s roles.