Last night I watched an interview on Dateline with Peter Jackson, most famous of being the director of the LOTR trilogy. This interview was because of the imminent release of an updated King Kong. It was fascinating to see what inspires people. He talked about being 9 and loving the original movie so much he knew what he wanted to become when he grew up. He said he got a camera and made his own movie, even cutting up his mother’s stole for hair for his King Kong. These days he owns original models from the 1933 King Kong. He was holding this tiny King Kong with a sort of reference that was unmistakable. It made me think he’s kind of a fanatic. That’s good. And, I think it shows in the quality of his work. During the interview he said something about making the movies he loves, not trying to guess what people would watch.
Conversely, I saw Charleze Theron on TV saying she had no idea when she was a kid growing up in South Africa she’d end up in movies. It made me wonder if it is her lack of a deep-rooted drive/love of her craft that makes her movies so unmemorable. If you happen to think she’s a good actress, I’ll allow for the notion that she is improving. Guess I better allow for that because I think she is being nominated for an Oscar. Or at least a hopeful for nomination. I am just stating that her earlier movies that I’ve seen are completely unmemorable. I don’t recall not liking them at the time. If I didn’t like the movies in fact, I’d probably remember them better. Anyway, seeing both these statements, I got to connecting them in my mind and wondering if it is that extra bit of drive that is needed to take something that extra step?
Ah, but you may say that... of course people will know Lord of the Rings because that story is so much more popular to begin with. Okay, true! But, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I enjoyed the Hobbit, and that is the reason that I tolerated watching the LOTR series. I could never get into those books, so I watched the movies because I wanted to know the entire story without the investment of time. Even then, I couldn’t get into the super-duper long and drawn out battle scenes and I felt like smacking Samwise for being such a cry baby. Even though I will not be a devoted LOTR fan, I can still see that something special in these movies. There’s no doubt that Peter Jackson’s love for those stories and movies shows in the finish product. So I’ll probably want to see the new King Kong too.
By the way... even though I believe that Peter Jackson was being honest about working on things that he loves. I also am not so naive as to think that someone (and probably him too) didn't think there would a be a huge payday as a result of the new King Kong. Is this the first movie advertised on credit cards?
To end this long post... maybe the makers and actors in Charleze Theron movies had that drive too, but I just can't recall because of personal preferences. So I Googled her and recall now that she was in Sweet November with Keanu Reeves. He's one of my all-time favorite actors and I still couldn't really recall that movie.
Well, I best leave wondering about drive and passion and how it relates to writing for some other day. I've got to get ready for work this evening. The payday is what motivates that job and I'm not ashamed to admit it. :)
Conversely, I saw Charleze Theron on TV saying she had no idea when she was a kid growing up in South Africa she’d end up in movies. It made me wonder if it is her lack of a deep-rooted drive/love of her craft that makes her movies so unmemorable. If you happen to think she’s a good actress, I’ll allow for the notion that she is improving. Guess I better allow for that because I think she is being nominated for an Oscar. Or at least a hopeful for nomination. I am just stating that her earlier movies that I’ve seen are completely unmemorable. I don’t recall not liking them at the time. If I didn’t like the movies in fact, I’d probably remember them better. Anyway, seeing both these statements, I got to connecting them in my mind and wondering if it is that extra bit of drive that is needed to take something that extra step?
Ah, but you may say that... of course people will know Lord of the Rings because that story is so much more popular to begin with. Okay, true! But, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I enjoyed the Hobbit, and that is the reason that I tolerated watching the LOTR series. I could never get into those books, so I watched the movies because I wanted to know the entire story without the investment of time. Even then, I couldn’t get into the super-duper long and drawn out battle scenes and I felt like smacking Samwise for being such a cry baby. Even though I will not be a devoted LOTR fan, I can still see that something special in these movies. There’s no doubt that Peter Jackson’s love for those stories and movies shows in the finish product. So I’ll probably want to see the new King Kong too.
By the way... even though I believe that Peter Jackson was being honest about working on things that he loves. I also am not so naive as to think that someone (and probably him too) didn't think there would a be a huge payday as a result of the new King Kong. Is this the first movie advertised on credit cards? To end this long post... maybe the makers and actors in Charleze Theron movies had that drive too, but I just can't recall because of personal preferences. So I Googled her and recall now that she was in Sweet November with Keanu Reeves. He's one of my all-time favorite actors and I still couldn't really recall that movie.
Well, I best leave wondering about drive and passion and how it relates to writing for some other day. I've got to get ready for work this evening. The payday is what motivates that job and I'm not ashamed to admit it. :)
I think that people would be more critical of the LOTR trilogy precisely because the stories are so beloved. They'd be more willing to look for every error and mistake the director makes. I've only read the 1st of the trilogy - couldn't get into the next two - but enjoyed the movies. I'm looking forward to King Kong mostly because of the great job Jackson did on LOTR, even though they'll probably never make it on my top ten list of movies.
ReplyDeleteTrue. People like me wouldn't know what the errors are. It wouldn't even be my romance-dominate reading tastes that stopped me from reading these books. I first read The Hobbit in elementary school... which was long ago.
ReplyDeleteAll New Zealanders are very proud of Peter Jackson - he definitely has a passion. We have some other great directors here, too, with recent movies, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Worlds Greatest Indian (not sure if that title is quite right) being shot in NZ with NZ directors Roger Donaldson and Andrew Adamson.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe! I really, really want to see that movie too. Can't wait until it is released.
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