What Would Wendy Say?

Last night I decided to treat myself like a child.

Let me explain.

After having had such a wonderful weekend, I could finally return to the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series. BUT - I wouldn’t let myself. Nope... not until I took care of some stuff first. You see, a few things around my place were really bothering me...or to be more accurate, the fact that I still had not done certain things around my place such as putting away the clean laundry (in which case it cluttered up part of the living area) really bothered me.

So I decided I would not be allowed to read Scott Pilgrim until I took care of it. And I really wanted to read Scott Pilgrim! Hence, I treated myself like a child. It worked. After accomplishing putting away the clothes and even a few other small tasks that I’d been negligent on, I enjoyed Volume 2 of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s world.

I’ll have to try this more often... if I can pretend that Wendy won’t let me have the adventure I want until some chore is done, I might actually wind up not hating myself for being lazy when it comes to them.

Peter... is it you?

I just came across this statue and thought I'd share it.

It's in the United Kingdom, at the Sheffield Botanical Gardens (in Sheffield), to be exact.

The bronze statue, cast by Cashmore & Company of London, was deeded to Sheffield in 1934 by Sir Charles Clifford, former owner of The Sheffield Telegraph newspaper and founder of the Sir Charles Clifford Dental Hospital in Sheffield. After the war years, Pan was placed in the Botanical Gardens, gracing the formal, Italianate-style Rose Garden developed in 1953 by the new managers, Sheffield City Council.*

Its official title is
Pan, Spirit of the Woods.
There's some debate, however, as to which Pan it depicts.
Is it Barrie's eternal boy?  Or simply the Greek god?
Many refer to it as Peter, but there's nothing specific to confirm that idea.

 

If you ask me, though, it is the boy who never grew up, since the character does not have the legs of a goat nor horns.

Nice statue indeed. 

 And I cannot help but wonder... is this Solomon Caw?  :)

* Quoted from this page.

Crocodile Rock---er RING!

I know I said I'd be away, but the truth is I'm scheduling this in advance.  I didn't want to forget to re-post this one!  A friend of mine put this up on Facebook.  And there's NO way I couldn't post it, too.

Here's ONE way to bring Peter Pan into the 21st Century!   (Goodness, even I haven't done that!)

It seems a crocodile swallowed a cell phone and it can be heard rining inside of it!

Here's the article.

Laughter Weekend

 
Please pardon me from posting this weekend.
My best friend Laughter is coming in and staying with us.

On the agenda:

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

I’m ecstatic to be the one to show it to him. He hasn’t seen it yet and I, as well as Banky and Clara, believe that it’s impossible for Laughter to not love this movie and know that he does/will in the very opening moments.

Jim Henson's Fantastic World

It’s the last weekend for this exhibit at The Museum of Science & Industry here in Chicago. Among the things that have stirred from creative juices which make Laughter happy, The Muppets just might top the list. Who doesn’t love Henson’s work and legacy?

Banana’s Foster

Yep. Laughter’s hooked on this cozy corner eatery as well.  We plan to cap off the fun with a scrumptious Sunday brunch before he leaves.

Carousing as usual.
‘Nuff said.

If time (and carousing) permits [as Bart and I have an opera at Lyric to go to on Saturday night, which already had to be rescheduled and this is only time Laughter can make it up to Chicago] I’m also hoping we can squeeze in another one of my favorite flicks of all time - Paprika.

It also means I'll not be able to get to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the second volume of the comic novel series for a little longer than the planned week.  Which is just as well, since I'll be seeing the movie yet again (and it can only serve to refresh my memory as to the parallels) and it will create an even longer "anticipation simulation." [An attempt to recreate the "waiting" endured by fans unable to have the whole series at one time.]

One thing I know for certain - when Laughter’s around, there’s plenty of just that.

Pan vs. Pippi!

Yesterday's post mentions Pippi Longstocking.

I couldn't help but think of another "pairing."

What if we pitted Peter Pan against spit-fire tomboy Pippi?

Just for fun, mind you... I'm not suggesting it's plausible, feasible nor that it should even be attempted.  Just for the sake of argument and the sheer joy of imagining how these two stubborn leaders of children would interact.  Could Pan handle her take-charge attitude?  Would Pippi like to fly - and would Peter teach her?  Can Longstocking tame Pan?

I don't have answers... I'm just playing around.  Just because.

Other 'pairings'

The New Novel (note the date of the post)

Get "Cross" with Me...

Pan vs. Poppins?
The Candy Pan

Hip Hip PIPPI

Are you ready for more
Pippi Longstocking?

Ready or not, here it comes.... a Pippi re-do. I wouldn’t call this one a “remake.”  For it’s not like it hasn’t had a few go’s at it before. Sure, it’s being “remade” but it’s more of a new adaptation.  It seems to me that if a story has had more than one incarnation on screen it no longer qualifies as a flat-out "remake."  Assuming we may split (red) hairs.

At first a new production of this received an eye roll, but then I thought further and read the rationale behind it.

It seems director Debra Granik wants to bring a good “coming of age” heroine story to the screen. In a sea of great flicks involving boys as the ones who get all the good adventures... why not make one for little ladies while at the same time honoring this wonderfully wacky character of Astrid Lindgren? Disenchanted with the sorts of scenarios and depictions of female role models, Granik thinks putting Pippi back in the limelight is just what’s needed.  I'm inclined to agree.

Another good reason for it is that today’s F/X can help bring the story to life. Not only will it be ‘easier’ to create and believably show her unbelievable “super strength” but it will help with smaller details, too. Such as when Pippi gets angry (a rare occurrence - perturbed, annoyed, sure... but angry?) she turns white around the nose. Easily accomplished via CGI, I’d imagine... and one extra detail of the book(s) faithfully captured.

I know Pippi had been one of Bart and his sister Lage's favorites as kid.  It's a little outlandish or ridiculous at times for me (as if flying boys and a magical island were not!) but I can and do appreciate Ms. Lindgren's creation.  It will be interesting to see if it makes as much a stir as much as the character's hair.

A Toast to the Comics

In case anyone is wondering...

I've gotten through The Complete Peanuts box set for this year.  1978 turned out to be an extra hilarious year, at least for this guy's funny bone.

And yes, I've also gotten through Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, the first book Scott Pilgrim series this past Friday night.  So... how did it hold up?  Which is really a 'reversal' [story reference there!] since I technically should have come to the work of Bryan Lee O'Malley first.  How do I relate to the source having loved the translation over the moon?   The answer is I like it very much.  I so enjoyed the parts of the film that utilize O'Malley's deceptively simple art.  It's great to experience it first hand.

I'd been surprised to find out that the movie begins at the same place as the books.  I had expected a tiny bit of backstory... having known from the film extras that there had been a bus scene of Scott meeting Knives and such.  Well, that's surely there, but it's one of those "cut to" moments.  Hence, any scene from before shows up as a flashback, a la remembrance of the character.  Which is just fine.  I'm happier this way, that the two are so close.  That's not to say they are exact, but on the whole, it's the same thing... just with some added or shifted scenes.  (Film: Knives comes to the door when Scott had already been at rehearsal.  Book:  Knives approaches the rehearsal with Scott as he talks with her.)  Such differences are to be expected and it's nice to see "new" material.  In both senses.  New to me, as we all keeping the film fresh without drastically altering what scenes exist.

So as to help me savor it... I took a break about halfway through.  But I couldn't not finish that same night.  What a treat to see the real images and unfolding (literally of turning pages) layout of my favorite of the Evil Ex's, Matthew Patel.

What I wonder the most... and will unfortunately never know... is how I would have heard the voices of but more importantly perceived the characters if I'd not had the movie versions in the back of my mind.  Yes, it's true.  I can't not think of Michael Cera's performance.  What would 'my' Scott have been like?  Would I have put in the same levels of emotion (or lack there of) or inflectary* patterns?  Oh well, I'll take solace in the fact that O'Malley didn't object to what Cera presented and go on with that as a basis.

Of course, now I have to wait a week before I can move on to the next book.  I'm not even picking it up.  It shall remain in the box set until time to read it.  I must simulate the 'torture' of having to await the next chapter of O'Malley's fun and strange little world.

But in other news, I saw an ad recently and I won't have to wait much longer for new episodes of Johnny Test.  He's been off for quite a while now and I don't know how I've survived.  That's only partial jest.

Hmm.  Scott Pilgrim vs. Johnny Test?  Who would win?
Tough call, if you ask me.

* Coined word, see here.

*Also in case anyone is wondering, the title is a View Askew reference.