Shiny Things
By BOP Staff
February 4, 2005
Welcome to Shiny Things, where the BOP staff members take a little time to let readers know what's catching our attention this week. Whether it's film-related, a new musical group or a great book, we've got such an eclectic group that you're almost certain to find something that also suits your fancy.
The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles is kind of an odd duck in the book world. A cross between a traditional novel and an anthology, it deals with humankind's exploration and colonization of the Red Planet, and later in the book, it relates in concert the events of the colonists' home planet as well. But each of the chapters are really short stories; while each fits into the overarching narrative and advances the encompassing plot, each is also completely self-contained and can stand on its own apart from the master storyline. And while each story, as is often the case with science fiction, is a veiled commentary on the shortcomings of the human race, Bradbury doesn't beat the reader about the head and shoulders with his point; instead, each moral lesson, if you will, is hidden like a creamy nougat center in the middle of a very tasty chocolate coating. OK, the candy metaphor is a bit lame, but you hopefully get the drift; the stories are interesting enough to keep your attention whilst reading, and you are left to ponder the greater picture and deeper meaning after you've enjoyed your reading time and close the book. As if this wasn't enough to recommend the book, it contains what I consider to be one of the five best stories Ray Bradbury has ever written, There Will Come Soft Rains. To reveal anything about the tale would be to spoil it; suffice it to say that it will likely haunt you long after you've finished reading The Martian Chronicles. (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)
Kris and Jon of The Amazing Race 6
The conventional wisdom of reality television is that people only want to see fighting and dysfunction, which explains why the producers of The Amazing Race felt the need to give endless airtime to the repugnant exploits of Jonathan and Victoria. What they failed to realize was that maybe the viewing audience would actually enjoy seeing a couple who actually got along, so even though CBS didn't give them much tube time we still fell and love with the "long distance dating couple" Kris and Jon. They are obviously in the early stages of their relationship, and it's fun to watch (not to mention that if you play the "take a drink every time they kiss" drinking game, you'll
be a bit tipsy by the end of each episode.) They also seem to actually enjoy the traveling aspect of the show and express interest in interacting with the cultures and environments they race through.
Note to the Travel Channel: hire them immediately to host a show where they travel to different destination each week. We promise we'll watch. (Dan Krovich/BOP)
The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film
As many of you may know, Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay for the 1995 film version of the Jane Austen novel. That Oscar-winning adaptation is included here, along with Thompson's diaries of the pre-production and shooting of the film. One could almost say this is two books in one: the screenplay itself, which serves as a wonderful introduction to the writing of Jane Austen for those who are not familiar with the printed versions of her work, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes in to getting a film made and ready for release at your local megaplex. Thompson is an engaging and witty writer, and her observations on her co-stars as well as the shooting process are hilarious. The book also includes stills from the picture, which are sprinkled throughout the script, making it easy to match face and voice with characters, thus enriching the reading of the screenplay. The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries will not only give you a new appreciation for just how hard people in the moviemaking business truly do work, but will also create an interest in seeking out not only the novel on which this film was based, but Austen's other work as well. (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)
Endurance
Saturday morning television ain't what it used to be, so it's not surprising that the one network show worth getting up for before noon on a Saturday is a reality show. Part of NBC's Discover Kids lineup, Endurance is basically a pre-teen Survivor. The contestants pair up into boy/girl teams and compete against each other in contests. The winners of contests win game pieces and also win the right to send two other teams to the Temple of Fate, where they play a modified game of rock-paper-scissors to determine who gets eliminated. It's standard reality material, but something about seeing the pre-teens as the cast members adds another dimension. It's obvious that most reality show material is pure middle school drama, so why not use actual middle schoolers? (Dan Krovich/BOP)
The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett
Known for his World War II thrillers, prolific writer Ken Follett produced his masterpiece within a decidedly different genre. The Pillars of the Earth is set in 12th century England, a time of civil unrest where religion and politics clash. While it is a hefty novel, coming in at almost 1,000 pages in its latest paperback printing, Pillars is a real page-turner with Follett setting a torrid narrative pace, stopping only briefly to enlighten the reader about the scope and majesty of Cathedral building. And while the Cathedral building is at the center of the novel, the book is more about societal injustices and inequities inherent in the serf systems of those times. Often, the book is quite critical of the church’s stand on the issues of the era as well as the hypocrisy
abundant in organized religion. Follett, however, is always sympathetic to the common men, whether they are pious or distant from the teachings of the church. The Pillars of the Earth is an exciting read full of intrigue and social commentary that is chock-full of unexpected twists and turns. It will please the most cynical of readers. (Walid Habboub/BOP)
Medium (NBC, Mondays) and Committed (NBC, Tuesdays)
All we heard about all fall was how Lost and Desperate Housewives were revitalizing both ABC and non-reality programming in general. Now, in the neverending chessgame of network prime time, NBC introduces two new shows that are worth a midseason look. Medium offers a new twist on the one-hour detective drama; it could easily be titled CSI: Psychic Hotline. Patricia Arquette plays Allison, a medium whose extra sensory ability - she sees dead people! - helps her deconstruct crime scenes and otherwise assist the district attorney's office in building cases. Though it is hands down the bloodiest show on television (you will have to decide if that's a deal breaker), Medium has offered in its initial half dozen or so episodes intriguing stories that are crisply plotted and capably acted (by Arquette standards, at least). One of the more interesting themes thus far relates to the interplay between Allison's talents and the justice system; you see, just because she "knows" who the killer is, doesn't mean it can be proven by measures accepted within the confines of a courtroom. The show also scores points by showing Allison's homelife, and how her clairvoyance impacts her relationship with her husband and daughters.
On the lighter side, Committed is a solid relationship comedy that plays the eccentricities and neuroses of the lead characters for big laughs. Comedy is all about the writing, and Committed bears a decent writer's pedigree from creators Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline (Roseanne, Murphy Brown, Ellen). A standout lead performance from charisma-oozing Jennifer Finnigan anchors the show, while recurring supporting turns from Tom Poston and RonReaco Lee keep the laughs coming. The show has already featured guest appearances by Bob Newhart and Jerry Van Dyke, indicating that it might have staying power. In fact, Committed compares well to another show about a quirky couple that saw frequent guest spots from comedy legends - Mad About You. (Calvin Trager/BOP)
Donkey Konga and Taiko Drum Master
If you’re tired of first-person shooter video games and the dance pad music games (Dance Dance Revolution) just aren’t for you, here are a couple of recent alternatives in the music genre. If you had a Sega Dreamcast, you may remember a game called Samba de Amigo, where you shook a pair of maracas to keep in time with the music. It was all the rage at the time. Nintendo’s GameCube now offers Donkey Konga. The player hits a pair of bongos (left, right, both, or clap) based on visual cues going across the screen. A wide selection of songs is included for this game, such as Rock Lobster, Bingo, and We Will Rock You. If you have a Playstation 2 instead, get Taiko Drum Master. The game is basically the same idea as Donkey Konga, but you use a Japanese drum with a pair of plastic drumsticks. Again, there is a good variety of music, including classical music such as the Prelude from Carmen and the William Tell Overture. And if you’re worried about the special
controllers working with only one game, Nintendo is already releasing a second game to work with the bongos. Remember, video games don’t always have to be blood and guts to be fun. (Marty Doskins/BOP)
Planet Simpson, by Chris Turner
If you thought The Simpsons related to anything and everything in pop culture, you didn't know the half of it. According to Chris Turner's new book, The Simpsons *were* pop culture for the '90s and the first half of the '00s, putting a mirror to everything from rampant individualism (Homer) the rebirth of punk (Bart), activism and the social conscience (Lisa), the search for a moral meaning (Marge) to globalism and unfettered capitalism (Mr. Burns). Partly a history of the origin of the show and its direct impact on the culture and partly a look at the hidden meanings behind the jokes you only thought you got, this unauthorized look at Our Favorite Family is as much about us as it is about The Simpsons and the show's creators. At times it might slip a bit too much into repeating verbatim clips from the show and might attach a bit too much meaning to brief asides made for the point of a joke, but perhaps that's where the real insight has always been. (Reagen Sulewski/BOP)
Katamari Damacy
This is one bizarre and unique video game. You are a prince and your father is the King of All Cosmos. To prove your worth, he sends you to Earth to create a katamari for him. And what the heck is a katamari? I don’t know the literal translation, but it is basically a big ball of stuff. The king gives you a “magnetic” ball for a foundation. Your task is to roll this ball around and gather up everything in sight. As your katamari grows bigger, you can pick up larger and larger things. You start with stuff like dice, tacks, and AA batteries. Soon you are gathering up mice (real ones), shoes, traffic cones, and RC cars. As you continue through the game, your katamaris get bigger until you are picking up buses, cars, and buildings. When you are done with your task and if your katamari is big enough, the king makes it into a star. This game sounds real weird, and it is, but it’s also a lot of fun. And another plus, it’s one of the cheaper games out there – under $20. (Marty Doskins/BOP)
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