Book and Movie Review: Watership Down

Honestly, this is the third and last time I'll mention this book. I borrowed it from our school so I kept having to remind myself to finish reading it and return it at some point. What better way than posting said reminders on the world wide web? And don't say post its, because I keep losing the @^@$&@& things.

WD is one of those books I wish I was forced to read in high school.(Don't get me started on that one.) If I wanted to oversimplify it I'd call it a cross between Lord of the Rings (fortunately in one,smaller volume) and Animal Farm. Only the farm is made entirely of rabbits, and... oh, well. That's why I don't oversimplify.

There was plenty to enjoy about this book. First, it's an adventure based in everyday elements. If you get past the talking animal part, the rest of the story has an earthy element to it. I hadn't even bothered making a green book list, as I don't remember many worth mentioning. This would make the cut.

Second, it has a human story to it. Apparently, Richard Adams started telling his daughters the stories to entertain them on long trips. The stories were based on his experiences in WWII, and it shows. The elements of bravery, friendship, loyalty and even simple faith shine in the best moments.

I read up on this book, so to speak, and found out it was accused of being misogynist when it was first published. In its defense, I'll say this is only because it was published in the 1970s. If Tolkien had written it in the 1950s (and the oversight of female characters in his writing is comparable) there wouldn't have been such a fuss. This was just an author writing about what he knew, and(like Tolkien)he didn't know women that well. It happens.

I made the mistake of watching the movie around the same time I read the book. Movies go faster. Much faster. Oops.

The animated movie was made shortly after the book and is surprisingly well-made. The expressions and backgrounds rival some of my favorite Miazaki movies. If I could go back and change my green movies list, I would. Maybe it can take Shane's spot.

Nope, I'm lazy. Shane stays.

I should put a warning here. Watership Down may be animated and PG, but it's at least as violent as the book. Neither are made for young kids.

Another warning. The movie is good, but it's better and makes more sense if you read the book first. Some changes were made for time purposes, as we've yet to see a three hour animated movie. Still, those changes make for some nice head-scratchers here and there. Overall, the movie gets the best parts right.

Yet another warning. It doesn't have much to do with water or anything to do with sinking ships, so don't expect rabbits in a sinking ship and get all disappointed. Now you know.

I've read a lot of non-fiction lately, so this was refreshing. It reminds me that some of the best fiction can be more true than a lot of non-fiction out there. As Stephen King said, it's "the truth in the lie".

Oscar, Meet Good Movies (for a change)

Finally, a movie I like won a lot of awards. Go Slumdog.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/oscars/7904567.stm

Yet Another Video

You may have seen the whole video of this elsewhere, but I found this hilarious, too true, and yes, even a little convicting. Enjoy, unless you did already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus

More Fun with Lyrics

Fast Lessons

Two weeks passed since my friends and I went on a media fast. We pinpointed major time-wasters and cut them out for a week. We replaced aforementioned wasters with more productive activities. We had some glitches, so to speak, but overall we came out with some good observations. I'll share some of mine below.

The first day is the hardest, not that it gets easier after that. But the first day I decided to cut out internet at home because it distracted from my quiet time in the mornings. The first morning one distraction after another presented itself. I wanted to use the internet for some reason, but didn't. Then I noticed the DVD player was on, and I had to turn the TV on to turn it off. Neither of us recall leaving the DVD player on. There's the proof;technology is possessed. After that, I laughed and finished my quiet time.

I still decided to cut down on internet time at home, after I realized how strong of a pull that stupid thing had on me. I didn't need a reason, but I would just want to go online. It's insane.

One of my co-fasters said the point of fasting is what you replace it with. For me it turned out to be reading. Exercising would have worked, but I overdid it the first day. I read Ethics by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and really learned a lot from it. I even wrote better notes than usual in the book. I'm not saying this to brag, I just never felt I had that kind of time before. Stupid Tetris.

One subtle point Bonhoeffer made helped my direction in the fast. I mentioned a couple of posts back that I watched Lost and the Office with my wife, as that was quality time together. Bonhoeffer's point helped me with that realization and more.

He defined things as more than just material possessions. Think about it. Your conviction can be a thing. Your committment to fasting can be a thing. As things they can slip their way onto the throne where God belongs. If we push them off, they'll take the number two slot. What comes after love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind? Something about your neighbor. Love God and love people. If things get in the way of loving people, we need to start from scratch. And it may seem basic, but I had to remember that. I knew God was Lord over my convictions, but they were getting too close to the number two slot. Tricky little suckers.

Love God and love people. It sounds so simple, but it takes a lot of work.

Scolded by Bunnies

I'm reading an excellent adventure novel called Watership Down. I got past the talking animals part and started enjoying the characters and suspense on their own merits. Out of nowhere, I found myself challenged.

According to Mr. Adams, (Richard not Douglas) rabbits differ in the way they receive catastrophic news. They are emotionally involved with the story they hear, and it takes a while for them to get over it. He contrasted this to the detatched way humans read their newspapers.

For me it's a computer screen, but still, ouch.

Thoughts on Fasting Part 3 :Media Fast

Some friends and I decided that in matters of time, our things own us. We listed said things and resolved to fast from them for a week. For me, it was internet at home. Other wasters were TV and movies at home, but I hadn't wasted too much with them lately. Instead of those activities, we'd find something more productive to do.

I'll have more to say on the subject, but I wanted to briefly share some tips if this sounds like something you want to try.

1. Have something else in mind to do. I like to read, so I was in heaven. Of course, that flipped when I looked at the computer longingly, and it's ridiculous how little it takes to make that happen. Pushups worked well the first day, but I overdid it so day two and three were a no-go. Day four onward were my days of rest. Rules are rules.

2. Tell everyone what you are doing. This might be common sense, but as I stated in parts one and two about fasting, I thought it was biblical not to tell about it. Of course, "tell" and "show off" aren't the same thing, but you live and learn.

3. Put people above stuff or you miss the point. If your wife wants to watch the Office with you on the computer, that's time together. More on this later, but I'm sure the point is not to read a book and shut people out. After all, they're not the ones making the noise.

More is coming.

Reruns are Cool

If you missed any posts on this site a while back, now would be a good time to catch up. Some friends and I have started a media fast, which includes internet for me and will end in a few days. I'll have some thoughts on it when we're done. (And thanks for your concern, but I'm not currently breaking my fast. Techni...I mean, in the spirit of the law.)

Until then, think fast.