Puntabulous

Random Notes

1. I saw The Golden Compass this weekend. It was a big bag of meh. It was pretty to look at, and the polar bears were awesome, but overall it was a bit unfocused. The best parts are when they focused on the kidnapped children and what they were doing to them and their struggle to escape. They should have focused on that more, rather than tacking it on at the end. Nicole Kidman was pretty awesome as Mrs. Coulter though. Is her character based on Ann Coulter? Has anyone read the books? Do you recommend them? And don’t start talking about the anti-religious stuff, just tell me if I should read them or not. I promise I’ll say 10 Hail Aslan’s after I’m done.

2. Speaking of books I just finished The Children of HÃºrin. It was good, if not a bit repetitive. I wasn’t a fan of the small scope of the book. I would have preferred a larger scale or at least a remote connection to the events of The Lord of the Rings. But it was really good and I recommend it for anyone who needs a Tolkien fix.

3. Now I’m reading Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Fury. Seriously. Does anyone else read these books? I love them. I need to talk to real life people about them so I don’t have to troll internet message boards to get my fix.

4. Who else is excited about the return of American Gladiators? I am giddy with anticipation! I hope the gladiators have ridiculous names like they used to: Ice, Nitro, Turbo. Laser was my favorite. Swoon! I accredit 95% of my gayness to watching American Gladiators as a kid. The other 5% goes to Uncle Jessie on Full House. Have mercy!

5. My company Christmas party is this week. Open bar. Wish me luck! Speaking of Office Christmas Parties, here’s a video called The 12 Stages of the Office Holiday Party:

RANDOM | Craig | December 11, 2007 10:33 am

21 Comments

By docjohnboy, December 11, 2007 @ 10:58 am

I’m currently reading The Golden Compass and it is good. The movie moved way too fast and left a LOT out.

I didn’t know they were bringing back American Gladiators until I read this. Now I’m excited!

The names make me think of Dodgeball
“Allow me the pleasure of introducing you to Blade… Laser… Blazer…”
By Howard, December 11, 2007 @ 10:59 am

Ha, that’s funny. When emailed about The Golden Compass, all I wrote back was “Meh”. Yes, by all means read the books! I’m sitting down with them again and just started The Subtle Knife. Great books.
By David, December 11, 2007 @ 11:50 am

#3: Quite possibly the answer to your previous post’s question. :-p
By Jere, December 11, 2007 @ 12:53 pm

Should you read the books? Two words: gay angels. I think they show up in book 3.

Haven’t seen the movie yet, but I loved the books. I don’t think this Coulter is based off Ann because the character in the books is a ruthless, evil bitch intent on destroying children and controlling the universe and, therefore, a more decent human being than the real life Ann Coulter.
By Ben, December 11, 2007 @ 1:09 pm

Yeah, read the books, they are much better than the movie, mainly because the movie left off the climax/resolution of the first book.
By Dora, December 11, 2007 @ 1:31 pm

I read Star Wars books, but I tend to stick with Timothy Zahn ones. So I’m a snobby dork?
By Denise, December 11, 2007 @ 1:32 pm

I read The Golden Compass just a few months ago and was completely engrossed. The movie was one of a small few I was looking forward to this winter, but I’ve heard so many “meh”-like reviews that it’s now been downgraded to Netflix release status. I hate it when that happens to movies I was initially excited about.
By JP, December 11, 2007 @ 1:52 pm

yes, Yes and YES!!! read the books. I loved them when they first came out and I still love them. Another great series to read is “the Wayfarer Redemption” followed by “the Axis Trilogy”. They are 6 books that follow a “starman” and then his children as they save their homeland Tencendor. They’re by Sara Douglass. Check them out
By Poopsicle McRumproast, December 11, 2007 @ 2:07 pm

I’m not into Science Fiction or Fantasy movies, but I’m with you on the American Gladiators. I wanted to be one when I was little. And I also wanted a great name like Ice or Lace or Diamond. I still do…
By heels, December 11, 2007 @ 2:37 pm

The books- REEEEEEAAAAAD THEEEEEMMMMMMMM!!!!! They are awesome.
By Queen of Shake Shake, December 11, 2007 @ 3:50 pm

Sigh. I wish my office Xmas parties were still like that. Instead, we have to make sure we don’t get drunk so we can drive home by 10 to relieve the babysitter…or else we end up paying the babysitter 80.00.
By Nick, December 11, 2007 @ 3:52 pm

The books are good, but I definitely got more out of them the second time I read them. The problem with the series as far as cinema goes is that The Golden Compass is by far the easiest one to translate, and you saw how well they did that. The Subtle Knife is entertaining, but The Amber Spyglass goes WAY off the reservation with Mulefa community and the decent into “hell” (no, I am not giving too much away here). Trust me…it’s quite out there.

I really enjoy Pullman’s vision that is setup in The Golden Compass, but the rest of the books seem a bit like he tossed in everything but the kitchen sink.

I’m impressed you made it through The Children of Hurin. My brain started to fog just like when I read the Silmarillion.
By Avitable, December 11, 2007 @ 4:42 pm

I read the entire Star Wars series up through the end of the Yuzzhan Vong war, and I haven’t gotten back into them. They’re pretty fun reads, though.
By DeanStar, December 11, 2007 @ 5:02 pm

The books are so much better then the movie is. Even though the third book is a little wacky the first one is one of my favorite Fantasy stories of all time. Mrs.Coulter is an amazing character that, even though the character was great in the movie, is a lot better in the book.
By Adric, December 11, 2007 @ 5:28 pm

I’ve been reading the Legacy books but on a fairly sporadic basis. I think i’m two books behind you but i can’t really remember. The last thing i remember was Ben being on the sith homeworld and narrowly escaping…

Ugh talking about it makes me want to go pick up the latest few books and hunker down under a blanket, in pajamas with an endless supply of apple cider. My crush on Jacen Solo knows no bounds…
By Frank, December 11, 2007 @ 6:48 pm

Read the Golden Compass and then other two in the trilogy!

Though now when you read them, you will definitely be picturing Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter, that’s hardly a bad thing.

The movie was very disappointing. All the best things about the book were missing.

xo F
By Gulp-n-Blow, December 12, 2007 @ 11:30 am

Craig, darling,

Pizza is italian, not american!
By Phillip, December 12, 2007 @ 3:31 pm

i’ve always been a fan of american gladiators…i even used to watch the international gladiators that showed on espn for a while. if you look on wikipedia you can see a little more information about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gladiators#2008_revival_.28Season_8.29

including the names of the new gladiators (one of the women has named herself helga…) there’s also water involved in some of the challenges now. so excited…
By Richard, December 12, 2007 @ 11:49 pm

Read the book series twice.. loved it both times… and when you have a memory like mine.. it becomes a page turner again.. I can’t wait to read them again.. I said years ago that they should be made into movies.. glad they listened to me. Right. Haven’t seen the movie yet, dad issues.. but whats new.. new day same conversation. Today he talked on the phone to my sister holding the phone upside down… oh and put on a phantom sweater. Its a funny story for parties and my blog, but….I sense carbo loading soon. love your blog.. i vote the gay bloggies every time:-)
By Meg, December 13, 2007 @ 5:53 pm

Craig, you will love the books. Love them. They will make you cry. They will make you wish for your own little animal daemon. And they are so much better than the movie!
By KÃ¡ri, December 14, 2007 @ 3:57 pm

The Golden Compass and the other two His Dark Materials books are my favorite books actually. I would recommend them. And no, Coulter and Coulter are not related AFAIK.