I know that it has been quite awhile but I have had a lot going on. And yes there have been movies, as well as books that I probably should have posted about but I have decided to write about but I didn't. And though there are movies I should post about but I think I am going to post about a book. Not just any book and honestly not one that I have read recently, a little controversial I know, but a book that I loved reading. It is a non-fiction book, mostly, titled "The Devil In The White City" by Eric Larson.
In the author's notes in the back of the book he admits that in a few places he took artistic liberties due to no substantial record of certain conversations but the majority of the book is all fact. Anyway the book is about the World Fair which took place in Chicago in the 1800's. During the prep and building of the fair a man moved in to the city. A man named Dr. H.H. Holmes who turned out to be a serial killer. Dr. Holmes bought a building a short distance from the final sight for the fair. Because of the excitment of the fair the "doctor" was able to lure young, single, impressionable women to his "hotel" and slowly torture and kill them.
The book not only follows Dr. H.H. Holmes's exploits and interests but it follows the construction of the very large fair from the very first bid for Chicago to be the ultimate site to the very last ticket sold. It is a truly amazing feat that the architects and workers undertook. Many died due to fires, buildings collapsing and countless other mishaps that occured during the building of the fair. It was truly unbelieveable some of the things that these people had to do in order to put together what later became known as "The White City." The tales intertwine and throughout the book we meet many of the people that put together one of the greatest fairs ever seen. It's a true experience.
When it comes to non-fiction books I usually have a hard time sticking to reading just that. I have to have a fiction book to keep me interested. But this book was so full of intrigue and supremely interesting facts about construction. And it was written so well that I read through the book as if it were a fascinating fiction novel. I think it took me a week to read through the whole thing. Which considering how busy I am most weeks that's pretty fast. It combines mystery, drama, and facts perfectly. The whole thing written with great care to detail and at times even soaring poetry.
For any architecture buff or history lover, anyone that is morbidly curious about a serial killer who marred one of the US's greatest moments with death then the is the book for you. It's more than just a non-fiction book about the Chicago's World Fair it's a mystery that keeps you hanging on until the very end. I give "The Devil In The White City" a very high recommendation. I hope you all enjoy it as well.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
"How Can You Tell The Dancer From The Dance?"
It has been a little while, mainly because I haven't really been watching that many movies (it's been mainly bad TV shows comfort watching!) and although I have read a couple of books that I might eventually review here I just watched a film that takes precedence over all. I want to say that the title of this post is a quote but not from the movie. It is from one of the books in a trilogy by Guy Gaverial Kay, a trilogy that I will review eventually, but it so perfectly describes the movie I want to talk about that I had to use it. So on to the review!
I truly enjoy the fact that I get to see the new movies the weekend before they come out for general release. I get to do this because I work at a video store, as I have said before, and being able to do so is usually a pretty great thing. But the movies that came out last week were nothing but c level movies and so I watched nothing. This weekend I was again prepared to watch nothing but I reconsidered when I found out about one film in particular. It was called "Mao's Last Dancer." A film based on the true story of a Chinese boy who was recruited as a ballet dancer. Taken from home as a young boy and brought to Beijing to live and study at a school for ballet with other boys and girls away from his family. His name was Li Cunxin. He was at first a reluctent student once telling one of his teachers that he didn't like ballet, that he didn't understand it. Until one day he sees a video of Mikhail Baryshnikov dancing and suddenly he understands. He begins training harder, gaining muscle and percision, wanting to fly.
He is not only learning to be a great ballet dancer he is also learning the Communist ways that goverened China at the time. Learning that through communisim China would become one of the greatest nations in the world, that they will have no poverty, no hunger, no greed, no classes. All will be equal and perfect. They learn that places such as America will corrupt them and turn them into mindless consumers. And so when the Houston ballet company asks the Chinese government to lend them a dancer they do so with hopes that whatever young dancer they choose will not only be able to stand against the evils of America but also do what they can to promote China and it's agendas. Li Cunxin is chosen. Soon he becomes the talk of the company even as just a student.
He meets a young beautiful dancer who is still trying to get accepted into the company named Liz. They form a tentative friendship that eventually blossoms into more. One night Li gets the chance of a lifetime when one of the principle dancers is injured right before a big performance. Li gets to step in and show what he is really made of. The crowd goes wild for him and he begins performing more and more as a principle dancer. Then when it is time to leave he finds he wants nothing more then to stay in America and dance there. The Chinese government refuses his request and so Li begins taking drastic measures. Measures that eventually leave him barred from ever going home.
This movie was incredible. Not only from the stand point of it being an great dance movie but as a whole the film was amazing. The strength that Li had in fighting for what he wanted and his true love of the dance was breathtaking. When they say that the movie is based on an incredible true story they are not exaggerating in any way. It really is an incredible story. And the movie itself was wonderful as well. Written by Jan Sardi and directed by Bruce Beresford the film captured all the elements of beauty, struggle, loss and joy that Li went through. Add in the insanely talented dancing that occured and you have a truly great film. I give this a ten out of ten and I highly reccomend it! I do warn that there are some subtitles but the movie is mainly in english. I say to thee go forth and watch you will not be disappointed!
I truly enjoy the fact that I get to see the new movies the weekend before they come out for general release. I get to do this because I work at a video store, as I have said before, and being able to do so is usually a pretty great thing. But the movies that came out last week were nothing but c level movies and so I watched nothing. This weekend I was again prepared to watch nothing but I reconsidered when I found out about one film in particular. It was called "Mao's Last Dancer." A film based on the true story of a Chinese boy who was recruited as a ballet dancer. Taken from home as a young boy and brought to Beijing to live and study at a school for ballet with other boys and girls away from his family. His name was Li Cunxin. He was at first a reluctent student once telling one of his teachers that he didn't like ballet, that he didn't understand it. Until one day he sees a video of Mikhail Baryshnikov dancing and suddenly he understands. He begins training harder, gaining muscle and percision, wanting to fly.
He is not only learning to be a great ballet dancer he is also learning the Communist ways that goverened China at the time. Learning that through communisim China would become one of the greatest nations in the world, that they will have no poverty, no hunger, no greed, no classes. All will be equal and perfect. They learn that places such as America will corrupt them and turn them into mindless consumers. And so when the Houston ballet company asks the Chinese government to lend them a dancer they do so with hopes that whatever young dancer they choose will not only be able to stand against the evils of America but also do what they can to promote China and it's agendas. Li Cunxin is chosen. Soon he becomes the talk of the company even as just a student.
He meets a young beautiful dancer who is still trying to get accepted into the company named Liz. They form a tentative friendship that eventually blossoms into more. One night Li gets the chance of a lifetime when one of the principle dancers is injured right before a big performance. Li gets to step in and show what he is really made of. The crowd goes wild for him and he begins performing more and more as a principle dancer. Then when it is time to leave he finds he wants nothing more then to stay in America and dance there. The Chinese government refuses his request and so Li begins taking drastic measures. Measures that eventually leave him barred from ever going home.
This movie was incredible. Not only from the stand point of it being an great dance movie but as a whole the film was amazing. The strength that Li had in fighting for what he wanted and his true love of the dance was breathtaking. When they say that the movie is based on an incredible true story they are not exaggerating in any way. It really is an incredible story. And the movie itself was wonderful as well. Written by Jan Sardi and directed by Bruce Beresford the film captured all the elements of beauty, struggle, loss and joy that Li went through. Add in the insanely talented dancing that occured and you have a truly great film. I give this a ten out of ten and I highly reccomend it! I do warn that there are some subtitles but the movie is mainly in english. I say to thee go forth and watch you will not be disappointed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)