WritingMadeHard

There are many things in life (my life) that make writing hard for me. Grandkids, kids, the wife, circumstances, arthritis, TV, movies (especially good movies and good TV--I watch when I should write) The same goes for books, especially good books, I read when I should be writing. Last night I went to see Casino Royal, the new James Bond movie instead of writing. It was a terrific movie, the best Bond since Sean Connery quit doing it. It seems that since Connery, everyone has tried not be be like him. Especially Roger Moore and since Roger Moore, every one has tired to be like Roger Moore. The new Bond is very like Connery in character and approach. It was a real pleasure to see something finally done right. Casino Royale was made into a movie once before--a comedy with Woody Allen and David Niven. It was a disaster. This one was really good.

People who remake moves all seem to be making the same disastrous mistake. Perhaps it is a result of the times we live in, but it seems the writers and editors who remake such films as House of Wax and War of The Worlds, take a movie that we love because we love the characters in them. They update the story which seems to translate into change the characters into people we don't like and therefore don't care if they survive or not. This takes all the fun and tension out of the story and all that is left is the central theme...will these characters survive strange events, only the audience doesn't care...sometimes they even hope the characters don't survive. Then the producers wonder why a movie that was loved the first time around is shunned the second time around. Go figure. I believe the first task of a good writer is the make the characters into people the reader cares about--either loves or hates. Then put them into a good story with tension where the reader can root for the characters. Til next time. Steve

# posted by Stephen LaFevers @ 6:29 PM