Writer Unboxed

Be the hero of your own story.
It’s been a long time since I’ve watched a movie hew so closely and so explicitly to theme. Yet this little film about a girl living on a South Pacific island, and who has amazing adventures, provides writers a wonderful lesson in how theme informs story. For […]

Those of us hoping New Line’s movie version of The Hobbit would proceed now that its dispute with filmmaker Peter Jackson is resolved have taken another blow.  New Line is now being sued by JRR Tolkien’s heirs (NYT, free subscription required):
Following in the footsteps of Peter Jackson, the director of the Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” […]

“A bird may love a fish, signore, but where will they live?” -from the movie Ever After
I was unsure what to write about this week until I stumbled upon a fun article titled “15 Nominees for Worst Movie Dialogue Ever.” You know I had to read it. Sure, I cringed remembering some of the lines. […]

Short one this week, folks.  But then, you just heard from me last week.  I’d hate to end up being too much of a good thing. 
So.  Cloverfield.  Finally saw it.
I’ve only been talking about since last summer, right?  Since the first time I saw the trailer, featuring that beautiful, long shaky-cam shot of the Statue […]

Tis the season, as Richard Matheson says, to be jelly.
Speaking of Matheson, has anybody seen the latest filmed adaptation of I Am Legend? I was so enthused when I saw trailers this summer – not about the film so much; I can’t wait to see Cloverfield, but Matheson’s timeless man-as-monster parable has been beaten […]

From IMDb News:
Filmmaker Peter Jackson has signed on to produce two movies based on author J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, after resolving his legal feud with studio bosses over unpaid royalties. Jackson has been involved in a long and bitter despite with bosses at New Line Cinema after claiming he had not been properly paid […]

I saw The Golden Compass over the weekend, and mostly I enjoyed it. As many of you know, it’s a film rendering of the first book in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Lyra Belaqua, the poster child for Victorian naughtiness, is at the center of the battle between those who wish conformity […]

Hmm, I’m not sure I believe this one. Check out THIS SITE and chime in on your thoughts after viewing. Is this a Warner Bros. flick in the making? A prequel? A sequel? Or is this “secret test marketing” all a hoax? An interesting article on the site is also HERE.

Halloween is over, but here at my house we’re still working off our Snickers high while images of this year’s vivid costumes linger. (My son went as an evil jester, and not even I would want to meet up with anyone wearing that thing on a non-Halloween eve.)
Created characters can be whatever we want them […]

You’ll have to excuse me, but I haven’t been writing very much since Transformers was released on DVD. I saw it twice in the theater, and have watched at least once a day since I bought my copy.
Ahhh … now we find out who actually reads this blog.
I simplify the reaction possibilities considerably by […]

Occasionally, a genre film comes along which stays firmly rooted in the conventions of the genre while messing with the viewers preconceptions and expectations. Usually the attempts are clumsy and self-indulgent. Paul Verhoeven’s Zwartboek, or Black Book, is anything but.
I’m a sucker for good war movies, and Black Book leaped off the shelf […]

Last weekend I took my daughter to see the animated movie Ratatouille, and I was blown away. I’d expected a light PG romp about Disneyfied animals who have crazy adventures in Paris. I didn’t realize I was going to be treated to a meditation on creativity and artistic expression in a subtle and […]