In Reply to: Duncan Shepherd, on the problem of books, in "No Country". posted by clarkjohnsen on December 19, 2007 at 11:54:57:
Of course Duncan Shepherd's reviews will invariably cut the mustard with some, presumably due to the laughably pretentious nature of Duncan's over the top critical narrative (reading Shepherd's stereotypical opinions is reminiscent of watching Peter O'Toole's Anton Ego food critic character in Ratatouille). Hey, as long as you saw the film we're discussing I won't take issue with the linking of your favorite critic's opinions.
FTR, it appears that I place a higher value on the source literature being appreciated as a separate and distinct form of cultural expression than Mr. Shepherd. He sees a novel as merely a vessel in which to hold the more valued film-going experience. Well, Duncan is paid for his film criticism so I guess a little bias is reasonable, but how we approach the two mediums might provide a better understanding of why things work better in novels than they do in film at times.
It would appear that Mr. Shepherd considers Cormac McCarthy's book further removed from reality than the film by the very nature of it's action taking place in the mind of the reader, and I would agree. However, I also consider all novels as more contemplative and controllable by design. Books allow the reader to absorb an author's intent at the readers own pace. This provides novels with a distinct advantage over film in some respects, but more importantly it also reinforces the need for film adaptations to be constructed on a different blueprint than the source literature.
Ciao,
AuPh
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Follow Ups
- My critique comes to a somewhat similar conclusion, but without so much grey poupon smugness, I hope. - Audiophilander 12:44:59 12/20/07 (9)
- Auph, your head is a big jar of that yellow stuff. * - mr grits 13:00:12 12/20/07 (6)
- Well, at least it isn't hillbilly Shinola. (nt) - Audiophilander 13:40:57 12/20/07 (5)
- Don't be offering to polish my tu%d !! * - mr girts 14:08:05 12/20/07 (4)
- I don't blame you for changing your moniker. (nt) - Audiophilander 14:17:46 12/20/07 (3)
- I sell them in my spare time....you could use one of the vast plains of ignorace surrounding Dalworth. * - mr grits 06:27:54 12/21/07 (2)
- Huh? You lost me there, bubba. Ummm, has ya been samplin' yo' pappy's 'shine 'gin? - Audiophilander 08:30:54 12/21/07 (1)
- Nearly acurate.... - mr grits 11:10:33 12/21/07 (0)
- Translation: Shepherd hugely disliked LOTR s and RTPOTA - clarkjohnsen 12:50:41 12/20/07 (1)
- Don't recall reading his LoTR review, but it doesn't surprise me that he thinks his tastes... - Audiophilander 13:56:39 12/20/07 (0)