Is it safe?

I finished reading 'Marathon Man' last week and the DVD just arrived from Netflix! I'm really interested to see what the movie is like, though I'm scared to death of the "Is it safe?" scene! My teeth hurt just thinking about it!

I'm about halfway through 'Amber Spyglass' now. Not sure where the hell that is going! ( spoilers )

On Vox: Movie Thoughts : Marathon Man (1976)

Marathon Man

"Is it safe?"

'Marathon Man' was almost scene for scene out of the book.  Not every part of the book was in the film, but everything in the film was in the book and almost exactly the same. 

Since so much of 'Marathon Man' takes place in the mind of "Babe" Levy, it's a tricky story to translate onto the screen, but I think William Goldman's script worked very well.  It wasn't as deep as the book (how could it be?) but the core of the story was there.  The entire cast was perfect, especially Dustin Hoffman as Levy.  And, of course, Laurence Olivier as Szell. 

Except for the ending.  They changed the ending from the book.  And, after watching the special features, I understood why, but I wasn't sure I agreed.  Part of it was Dustin Hoffman and the director disagreeing on Levy's killing of Szell.  Though it was clear from some other comments made that the change might also have come about because of the sort of anti-violence rumblings going on in Hollywood.  I mean, the 1970s were chock full over the violent flicks like "Taxi Driver" and things like that.  So I could see a major studio starting to quake a little when (rumor has it) someone said during a preview that the film was "sadistic". 

But, I'm not sure if it works.  For me, at least.  But maybe it was because I've read the book.  But if you're going to take Levy on this journey as a character, you shouldn't cop out at the end. 

Also, they mentioned in the 'making of' that they shot the opening scene for Scylla in the book but they were asked to remove it from the film (because of the "sadistic" shout out).   I wonder if that footage still exists somewhere in the vaults of Paramount or if it was just tossed out, in the days before DVDs and their "bonus features" were even thought of.  I would like to have seen it.  Roy Schneider seemed particularly proud of it.

Overall, as a standalone film, I'd probably give 'Marathon Man'  3 1/2 stars.  Solid cast, solid script.  If I'm comparing it to the book, I'd probably bump it down to 2 1/2 - 3 stars. 

Read the book first! 

Originally posted on orangerful.vox.com

dorky fangirl squee moment

So, in our Star Wars club, our video guru has made 3 episodes of 'Star Wars Cribs'. They are tours of our members collections and interviews with them about their Star Wars fandom and passion. So far, it's been all guys, and they all happen to be officers in the club.

But guess what? StarWarsDaddy just aked me if I wanted to be the star of the next 'Star Wars Cribs'!!!!

I'm far too excited about this. But it will be so fun! I said we should create a handout for everyone and see how many alternate fandoms they can spot during the program since my collection is scattered around the apartment and it's hard to look at a Star Wars figure and not see some other character from another tv show or movie floating nearby.

That or we joked about blurring out the other fandoms, and putting a disclaimer that StarWarsDaddy does not endorse or condone the use of other fandoms LOL!

jimithingy is already rolling his eyes at me over it, but he has to be here! They always talk to the significant other for some part of the show. Usually the sig. other rolls their eyes and talks about how "well at least it's not drugs or drinking". jimithingy could turn the stereotype around and talk about how I'm such a cheap date! most girls want diamonds, I just want a special edition SDCC holographic Princess Leia!

Anyhoo, don't know when this will actually happen. But when it does, I'll see if I can convince StarWarsDaddy to post the video on YouTube or something so I can share it with you all! (unless I make a total ass out of myself, in which case, you never saw this post)