I'm a little behind with the news having found out just now that Stephenie Meyer's novel The Host is going to make it to the big screen. I was never too captivated by her Twilight saga, but The Host is a completely different story. I really liked the book, maybe because it is sci fi and not fantasy and it's aimed at a more mature audience for a change. Sure, the book has its flaws, the first hundred of pages could disappear and no one would miss them, and it becomes quite a tearjerker in places, but as a whole reading it was a pleasant experience for me and the characters haunted me for a while. A year later when I heard that it was turned into a movie I was not surprised but happy with the news. And then I started to wonder if they could get it right. They need a decent script, which shouldn't be that hard to achieve since the book is providing more than enough material, but they also need actors able to do justice to the characters they're portraying. This made me think. I don't normally see actors' faces when the action plays inside my head while reading a book so this was and interesting exercise.
After doing a bit of research on-line this is what I came up with:
Melanie Stryder - No clue. I know many people are cheering for Sophia Bush but I beg to differ. Melanie is not supposed to be smoking hot, she is described as a pretty girl with an athletic body, which Sophia Bush is not. It sort of makes me think of the girl in Quantum of Solance only with softer features. Like I said, no clue.
Jared Howe - Jensen Ackles No doubt about it. I mean, come on, playing tough, conflicted and emotional is just about all he does in Supernatural beside being hilariously funny. If only he could fit this movie in his busy schedule. He needs to get out of that show, enough is enough, and do some real movies. If you're not convinced check the pic spam bellow.
OK, enough with that, I think you got the idea.
Moving to the next one.
Ian O'Shea - Sadly no clue. I can't think of anyone tall handsome with dark hair and striking blue eyes. Some people are suggesting Ian Somerhalder, but I haven't seen him in enough movies to make an impression and those eyebrows don't quite do it for me.Johnathan Rhys Meyers also comes to mind but I'm not at all decided...
Kyle O'Shea - Still thinking. The problem is that the O'Shea brother are suppose to look very similar so his casting will have to depend on who's playing Ian. I would suggest Sam Worthington because he can play a rough brute well, but after staring in Terminator Salvation, Avatar and Clash of the Titans there's slim chance he might want to do this.
Jamie Stryder - Logan Lerman That was an easy choice, provided he doesn't grow too much before the shooting starts. Come to think of it, he would make a great Ian in 10 years but then we'd lose the rest of the cast.
Uncle Jeb - Kris Kristofferson I have this image in my head and I'm pretty sure it's from a movie but for the life of me I can't remember which it was or who's playing it. There are great actors out there who could take the part, and while all good, Robert Duval is a bit too cold and strict, Sam Eliot a bit too playful, and Robert Redford way too pretty for it. So I'm still debating, but I wouldn't mind seeing Robert Duval impersonating him. As an image though Kris Kristofferson looks closer to what I've envisaged Uncle Jeb to look like.
Doc - err... Christian Bale would be my first choice, but unfortunately he's become too big for the part. No way we're getting him and that's a shame. Another idea, that some might find a little odd, would be a 10 years younger Kevin Bacon which, again, is not possible.
Wanderer/Pet - AnnaSophia Robb Hands down, she's got the look and the talent to do it.
The Seeker - Christina Ricci Another easy choice, and no explanation needed.
Sunny - Anna Friel She's got the perfect face and hair.
Aunt Maggie - Maureen Lipman Too bad that Maggie Smith is too old for the part, but Maureen Lipman would do just fine.
Sharon - Amy Adams I'm a bit in two minds regarding this one as I couldn't care less who plays her, just get some obnoxious red head, still I think Amy Adams would make a fine addition to the cast.
OK, so this is as far as I got for now. I'll update when I get more ideas. Suggestions are welcome.
It's official, Eurosport won't broadcast any of the figure skating Grand Prix competitions this season. Dunno why, everyone seemed to be very enthusiastic last season when it did, but it looks like it was just an exception and too good to be true, especially during an Olympic season. Small consolation, at least we won't have to listen to Yvonne Ghita's rambling, though watching with the sound turned off would be still better than nothing.
Trophee Eric Bompard Paris, France 15.10.2009 - 18.10.2009
For the past year or so I've been a member of a certain on-line literary workshop. I wasn't a very active member. If one wants to write then there's no time to spend on message boards participating in useless bickering. So I was pretty quiet, commenting only when I really had to. I can't say my career there had anything remarkable.
The first story was a disaster, the first sci fi story written in about ten years but that's not an excuse. The second one even I didn't like it. Aside from other things, it wasn't really my style. It was mostly an idea, an image. The third one was a bit different. It was submitted for a contest actually. I had started about three stories and had to give each one up when I realised it would end being too long. Size limitations are a killer, I hate them.
This story was an easy write though, I had it done in one afternoon after I got the idea out of the blue. It wasn't great, not exactly good according to my own standards, but it was decent enough, and if you're into fantasy then probably a pleasant read. I wasn't aiming for more, at that point a story written by a professional writer had already been submitted and I knew that, although it had its problems, it would be hard to beat. Why a professional writer would enter an amateur contest is beyond me, so I won't even go there.
No, my goal was to see if I could get something decent there and receive apropriate feedback. The comments weren't bad, most of them were positive, and only one person took the time to disect the text and tell me exactly what wasn't working, which I really appeciated.
So I guess I got my wish, the story got better marks compared to the previous two, no member openly hated it or thought it was crap, and it ended in second place.
