I've been doing this really great thing lately called "getting-up-earlier-than-everybody-else." It is in the wee hours of the early morning where the house has this certain stillness that it doesn't have at any other time of day. Even late at night the house still feels like it is buzzing from the business of the day that is left over. Laundry may still be tumbling in the dryer, the dish washer may be running, the television is most certainly on-flashing images of things that mean nothing to me or my wife. Beyond the noise makers, though, the house in the evening still feels like it has electricity running through it. Like it is trying to settle down and relax but has too many thoughts in its head.
The mornings are not like this. I can sit still in the morning and it feels like the world is sitting still with me. At least my world I've built around myself sits still. In these moments I can breathe. I can take my time. Even though I know that in just an hour or so the day will begin its relentless unwinding, the gears will start to turn faster and the inner workings that make up a day will begin to tick-tock and before I know it there will be traffic and photographs, and paperwork, and time clock and smiling at clients, and the world will once again awake. It seems that in this moment-the early moments-one can simply pause and watch the beast sleep and realize how beautiful a creature it is while it just lies there softly breathing.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
second spring
In grade school either in text books, or worksheets, or printed on a colorful poster with cartoony drawings it is taught that there are indeed four season. Say them with me now: Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall (or Autumn if you so choose). Question: why does Fall get two names? Anyway-the point being their are indeed four season. No more, no less. Not even during a leap year. Neither El Nino nor global warming can change this. We have four seasons. Done.
Unless you live in Texas. Well, I guess I can only speak of Fort Worth because I've never lived anywhere else in Texas, but there are clearly more than four seasons in Fort Worth, Texas. There is Fall, which hits about mid November and quickly leads to Winter. Winter has its fair share of below freezing weather and usually we get a good snow in at least for a day or two. Then comes spring. Spring lasts for approximately three weeks, long enough to get photographs taken with the roadside bluebonnets and then BOOM, it's Summer. Summer lasts for six months-typically April through September.
Then comes...Second Spring? Second Spring is that few weeks where we can enjoy a bit cooler weather, and are reminded what rain is. It's during this time that the grass grows again and the leaves on the trees turn green...before they eventually turn those warm Autumn colors. Welcome to Second Spring.
Second Spring is always nice at first because my grass begins to grow again and sort of lets me know that it isn't dead and gone forever, which I always assume it is. I mean, that crunching sound underfoot during those Summer months are never a reassuring sense, yet every Second Spring the grass perks right up and says, "I was here the whole time, underground, shielding my green skin from the sun! Just wanted to stand up, stretch my legs a bit before I go down for the big sleep, the one that lasts until the First Spring!" Second Spring is a sort of odd feeling in and of itself. It's out of place. It's the awkward person in the room that says things that relate to nothing but no one has the heart to ask the reasons why. It isn't like First Spring-or Original Spring-where the world feels like it was hibernating, staying inside for weeks at a time; burning fire in our fireplaces and wrapping scarves around our necks, emerging only when we see those first signs of Original Spring. Those buds on the tips of the trees. The days warming ever so slightly. Cold mornings that fade into warm days, those days where I can start off with a coat and be in short sleeves by early afternoon. Ah! so refreshing is Original Spring. Refreshing because by the time Original Spring arrives we are ready for it! We've been waiting for it! We've been shivering in our shoes for six weeks (the average Texas winter)! All the signs of Original Spring start showing up. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, troubadours discover new inspiration and begin writing their suggestive songs of nature's version of match.com: SPRING!
So, what about Second Spring? Well, Second Spring comes at a sort of awkward time during the year. You see, Fall sort of ushers in the holidays-you know-Pumpkin Spice Latte season! October is all about Halloween. November, Thanksgiving which gives way to Winter and the Father of all other holidays Christmas. Anyway, after having sweat it out for half a year during our incredibly long Summer we are ready for Fall, just as we were ready for Original Spring. We are ready to open the windows and let the cool air come fill up our homes. We are ready for the colors to start changing on the trees and to start putting on long sleeves and long pants and begin planning holiday events, Halloween parties, Christmas shopping, looking forward to Grandma's turkey on Thanksgiving Day! We busy ourselves and our minds with Fall. Advertisers change their campaigns, retail stores stock their shelves with winter items, and-like I said-tastebuds start warming towards hot cocoa, pumpkin pies, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and banana pudding. Then it starts to rain. And it rains for a while. The rain comes and then goes and then comes again. The skies turn cloudy and the rain drops fall towards Texas and things turn green again, but this time the birds-you know-they are already here. And the flowers, yeah they've been blooming for a while now because we've had to keep watering them on our own-no thanks to Summer. The hibernation has been over for six, seven, eight long months. Everyone asks what the heck is Spring doing back? Second Spring is the house guest who has warn out their welcome, and the day comes to drive them back to the airport (Hallelujah), so you drive and drop them off and say your good byes and drive back home and sit on your couch and say to yourself, "It's so nice to just be back in my house by myself again...sigh..." when the doorbell rings and they're back again. Apparently there were some problems at the airport and they can't leave for another few days and by the way, the cab driver needs some money.
The good news is, it will go away, and it will go away soon. Maybe not soon enough, but usually after Halloween. Hopefully sooner. It will go straight from Second Spring into Fall and the nights will grow cold and the days will get cooler and the leaves in the trees will start to turn, but don't expect it to last for any real length of time. It seems that as soon as they start to turn, they promptly fall from the branches. I still find I am able to enjoy Fall thoroughly enough what with the holidays firmly in place that help make it enjoyable. Still I find myself yearning for those crisp Fall days of cool weather and blue, blue skies. Those mornings filled with light and color and lighter attitudes as our attention focuses on upcoming holidays, gift giving, family, and the hope that a new year brings. Yes, Second Spring, you did your thing, you let yourself be known, but I think it's time for you to go. Please, we already spent some time with you this year, don't be like Summer and over stay your welcome. Sorry Spring it just isn't the same the second time around.
Unless you live in Texas. Well, I guess I can only speak of Fort Worth because I've never lived anywhere else in Texas, but there are clearly more than four seasons in Fort Worth, Texas. There is Fall, which hits about mid November and quickly leads to Winter. Winter has its fair share of below freezing weather and usually we get a good snow in at least for a day or two. Then comes spring. Spring lasts for approximately three weeks, long enough to get photographs taken with the roadside bluebonnets and then BOOM, it's Summer. Summer lasts for six months-typically April through September.
Then comes...Second Spring? Second Spring is that few weeks where we can enjoy a bit cooler weather, and are reminded what rain is. It's during this time that the grass grows again and the leaves on the trees turn green...before they eventually turn those warm Autumn colors. Welcome to Second Spring.
Second Spring is always nice at first because my grass begins to grow again and sort of lets me know that it isn't dead and gone forever, which I always assume it is. I mean, that crunching sound underfoot during those Summer months are never a reassuring sense, yet every Second Spring the grass perks right up and says, "I was here the whole time, underground, shielding my green skin from the sun! Just wanted to stand up, stretch my legs a bit before I go down for the big sleep, the one that lasts until the First Spring!" Second Spring is a sort of odd feeling in and of itself. It's out of place. It's the awkward person in the room that says things that relate to nothing but no one has the heart to ask the reasons why. It isn't like First Spring-or Original Spring-where the world feels like it was hibernating, staying inside for weeks at a time; burning fire in our fireplaces and wrapping scarves around our necks, emerging only when we see those first signs of Original Spring. Those buds on the tips of the trees. The days warming ever so slightly. Cold mornings that fade into warm days, those days where I can start off with a coat and be in short sleeves by early afternoon. Ah! so refreshing is Original Spring. Refreshing because by the time Original Spring arrives we are ready for it! We've been waiting for it! We've been shivering in our shoes for six weeks (the average Texas winter)! All the signs of Original Spring start showing up. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, troubadours discover new inspiration and begin writing their suggestive songs of nature's version of match.com: SPRING!
So, what about Second Spring? Well, Second Spring comes at a sort of awkward time during the year. You see, Fall sort of ushers in the holidays-you know-Pumpkin Spice Latte season! October is all about Halloween. November, Thanksgiving which gives way to Winter and the Father of all other holidays Christmas. Anyway, after having sweat it out for half a year during our incredibly long Summer we are ready for Fall, just as we were ready for Original Spring. We are ready to open the windows and let the cool air come fill up our homes. We are ready for the colors to start changing on the trees and to start putting on long sleeves and long pants and begin planning holiday events, Halloween parties, Christmas shopping, looking forward to Grandma's turkey on Thanksgiving Day! We busy ourselves and our minds with Fall. Advertisers change their campaigns, retail stores stock their shelves with winter items, and-like I said-tastebuds start warming towards hot cocoa, pumpkin pies, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and banana pudding. Then it starts to rain. And it rains for a while. The rain comes and then goes and then comes again. The skies turn cloudy and the rain drops fall towards Texas and things turn green again, but this time the birds-you know-they are already here. And the flowers, yeah they've been blooming for a while now because we've had to keep watering them on our own-no thanks to Summer. The hibernation has been over for six, seven, eight long months. Everyone asks what the heck is Spring doing back? Second Spring is the house guest who has warn out their welcome, and the day comes to drive them back to the airport (Hallelujah), so you drive and drop them off and say your good byes and drive back home and sit on your couch and say to yourself, "It's so nice to just be back in my house by myself again...sigh..." when the doorbell rings and they're back again. Apparently there were some problems at the airport and they can't leave for another few days and by the way, the cab driver needs some money.
The good news is, it will go away, and it will go away soon. Maybe not soon enough, but usually after Halloween. Hopefully sooner. It will go straight from Second Spring into Fall and the nights will grow cold and the days will get cooler and the leaves in the trees will start to turn, but don't expect it to last for any real length of time. It seems that as soon as they start to turn, they promptly fall from the branches. I still find I am able to enjoy Fall thoroughly enough what with the holidays firmly in place that help make it enjoyable. Still I find myself yearning for those crisp Fall days of cool weather and blue, blue skies. Those mornings filled with light and color and lighter attitudes as our attention focuses on upcoming holidays, gift giving, family, and the hope that a new year brings. Yes, Second Spring, you did your thing, you let yourself be known, but I think it's time for you to go. Please, we already spent some time with you this year, don't be like Summer and over stay your welcome. Sorry Spring it just isn't the same the second time around.
Friday, October 11, 2013
my apologies to you, autumn
Autumn, I would like to apologize for not recognizing that you had arrived until now. What a horrible, awful, inconsiderate host am I for not acknowledging you for the first three weeks you've even been in town! I'm sure you must hate me and if so I completely understand, I would too in your position.
It's not like I had no idea you were here. I mean, the signs were everywhere. I would wake up in the morning and you had left some of your clothes right there on the floor by the couch, I found myself washing towels more often, and the milk in the fridge was half empty the day after I bought it! The air conditioning isn't running half as much anymore and the mornings outside are wonderful. So, don't think it was like I didn't notice or anything. Oh I noticed! And even if it wasn't so obvious-with your cool mornings and the thin layer of moisture, little teeny tiny beads of water droplets that haven't fallen from the sky but drifted ever so gently through the night air, while I slept and fought off the alarm clock, and then decided to make its eternal resting place on the hood, the roof, and window, and bed of my truck-be well aware that Starbucks sure made it known with the early arrival of another seasonal guest (one, I must admit, that isn't so kind and quiet as yourself) the PUMPKIN SPICED LATTE a.k.a. hashtag PSL. #PSL came early this year in case you or I or my twitter account, or both my emails, and even my old school mailbox didn't know it is EARLY THIS YEAR. #PSL! YUMMY FALL GOODNESS!STARBUCKS! #PSL! enough...
Anyway.
I know that even though you haven't said anything you still must be feeling a little sore over how my feelings have changed over the years about Summer. You've got to realize, though, that Summer is one charmer of a season. When she comes over it's all sunshine and snowcones and splashing in the pool and no school and the Fourth of July! Come on now, you've got to give her that, she brings the Fourth of July! My point is that Summer offers all these awesome things and I just get all caught up in the middle of it all. Grant it, Summer quite often wears out her welcome, especially in Texas when it doesn't rain for days on end and the over 100 degree temperatures is sure to kill every green thing that comes out of the ground, but still you have to admit she's a pretty fun season to hang out with. Please realize this: everyone is always so grateful to see you when you do arrive because we know that means you are about to usher Summer right out the door and the time has come to slow down a bit-stop with the Summer vacations, stop with the pool parties, it's time to slow back down to a normal pace. Hey, the fact that you bring in the new school year is celebration enough that you, over all of the seasons should be proud. Don't think I don't realize that school starts up again when you arrive, which means I don't have to find ways to entertain my children twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. I mean, that's why we invented Summer camp, but don't worry, Summer's camp isn't half as great as your School is. Yes. School in the Fall is a blessing unto itself and if you did this single thing alone every parent across the globe are forever indebted to you, my dear.
Pardon my forgetting, but what do you take in your coffee again?
Where was I-oh, your being the start of school. Yes, you know all of us parents are forever grateful for you bringing the start of school, but you-a season of such character-you could have just brought school and left the rest for Old Man Winter to take care of, but no you go above and beyond. You turn the trees into beautiful warm colors, Halloween and Thanksgiving come during your visit and both holidays-in their unique ways-have a lot to do with eating too much food and you know how much we all like to eat too much food! Ah, yes, Autumn, it is a treat that you are home now. I am so sorry I didn't say hello earlier. What do you say to sitting outside with me around the fire pit? It is perfect weather for it!
It's not like I had no idea you were here. I mean, the signs were everywhere. I would wake up in the morning and you had left some of your clothes right there on the floor by the couch, I found myself washing towels more often, and the milk in the fridge was half empty the day after I bought it! The air conditioning isn't running half as much anymore and the mornings outside are wonderful. So, don't think it was like I didn't notice or anything. Oh I noticed! And even if it wasn't so obvious-with your cool mornings and the thin layer of moisture, little teeny tiny beads of water droplets that haven't fallen from the sky but drifted ever so gently through the night air, while I slept and fought off the alarm clock, and then decided to make its eternal resting place on the hood, the roof, and window, and bed of my truck-be well aware that Starbucks sure made it known with the early arrival of another seasonal guest (one, I must admit, that isn't so kind and quiet as yourself) the PUMPKIN SPICED LATTE a.k.a. hashtag PSL. #PSL came early this year in case you or I or my twitter account, or both my emails, and even my old school mailbox didn't know it is EARLY THIS YEAR. #PSL! YUMMY FALL GOODNESS!STARBUCKS! #PSL! enough...
Anyway.
I know that even though you haven't said anything you still must be feeling a little sore over how my feelings have changed over the years about Summer. You've got to realize, though, that Summer is one charmer of a season. When she comes over it's all sunshine and snowcones and splashing in the pool and no school and the Fourth of July! Come on now, you've got to give her that, she brings the Fourth of July! My point is that Summer offers all these awesome things and I just get all caught up in the middle of it all. Grant it, Summer quite often wears out her welcome, especially in Texas when it doesn't rain for days on end and the over 100 degree temperatures is sure to kill every green thing that comes out of the ground, but still you have to admit she's a pretty fun season to hang out with. Please realize this: everyone is always so grateful to see you when you do arrive because we know that means you are about to usher Summer right out the door and the time has come to slow down a bit-stop with the Summer vacations, stop with the pool parties, it's time to slow back down to a normal pace. Hey, the fact that you bring in the new school year is celebration enough that you, over all of the seasons should be proud. Don't think I don't realize that school starts up again when you arrive, which means I don't have to find ways to entertain my children twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. I mean, that's why we invented Summer camp, but don't worry, Summer's camp isn't half as great as your School is. Yes. School in the Fall is a blessing unto itself and if you did this single thing alone every parent across the globe are forever indebted to you, my dear.
Pardon my forgetting, but what do you take in your coffee again?
Where was I-oh, your being the start of school. Yes, you know all of us parents are forever grateful for you bringing the start of school, but you-a season of such character-you could have just brought school and left the rest for Old Man Winter to take care of, but no you go above and beyond. You turn the trees into beautiful warm colors, Halloween and Thanksgiving come during your visit and both holidays-in their unique ways-have a lot to do with eating too much food and you know how much we all like to eat too much food! Ah, yes, Autumn, it is a treat that you are home now. I am so sorry I didn't say hello earlier. What do you say to sitting outside with me around the fire pit? It is perfect weather for it!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
an open letter to michael chabon
Dear Michael,
I want to be a writer and I'm writing to you about this because we have a few things in common and I'm thinking that a lot of time friends become friends based on the things they have in common so, even if we can't be friends, maybe you can give me a little advice on the subject of writing. Namely: How to make it big? a.k.a. How to get started -or- You tell me what to do and I'm going to do it to a tee because I think you're a literary genius. Just so you know, I've read like two and a half of your books and they are fantastic! Now I know you are thinking "Really, just two and a half of my books and you think I'm a literary genius?" The short answer, yes.
The long answer is that it is not only that but, like I mentioned earlier, there are things about you and I that go together. For starters you are a dad. Guess what? I'm a dad! You like comic books. I like comic books! I mean, I used to like comic books! When I was in high school! Another thing we have in common, you are a writer...(read my mind!). I'm a writer too! It's just that nobody knows my name yet-and that is precisely where you come in.
I'm sure you are also wondering why I've only read half of that book of yours. Well, the truth of the matter is that I went back to school and they make me read other literary geniuses like Homer and Blake and O'Brien and Twain and Hemingway and Faulkner and Miller, and even though they haven't made me read any of your work quite yet (I'm sure they will, it's still early in my semester) I had to interrupt one of your books of awesome to read one of theirs. I would have stood up for your work any day of the week and boycotted reading any of the required material but, y'know, there would be a quiz later on so... Anyway, I would have written to any one of those other geniuses but you are still alive and seemed the most approachable. I mean, I don't think I could have ever been BFF's with Hemingway or Blake besides. They don't know anything about Dr. Who or Superman.
Look at me rattling on like a star struck imbecile, back to the issue at hand. What is the best route for me to travel in order to become a literary genius like yourself. Well, I guess I should say a well known literary genius. Here is my situation. I'm married and have a full time job as a photographer. A great job-to be sure. Let me make it plain: I am blessed, but being able to add "Literary Genius" on my resume instead of "photographer" I thought would look and sound so much more prestigious. They always say never miss and opportunity to better oneself. Besides the full time job I, as I mentioned earlier, am a full time dad too. My wife and I do well for ourselves in our current careers but I've always had this dream of becoming a writer in hopes to one day establish myself as a bonafied literary genius-y'know, like yourself; so I'm thinking hey, Michael Chabon is a dad and a husband and a genius writer and likes superheroes and watches TV and probably hates four way stops just as much as the next person who hates four ways stops and I'm sure he will know what to do. Like any common American citizen I am positive Mr. Chabon will want to evoke his superhero fantasies of his childhood and see me, another common American citizen, in need. Maybe not in need of saving in the same sense of being trapped under a bus, but instead being trapped underneath a life a mediocrity. I may not be drowning in an undercurrent of river water, but instead am gasping for air at a job equal to that of stagnate water.
Since I think I've clearly shown just how absolutely normal a person I am and that if I lived in the same school district as you, and your kiddos, we would most certainly be co-members of the local PTA together (if not best friends) and hopefully you will understand and help out a friend in need (if not, at least a fellow common American).
Well, I've got to go start dinner for my family (as I'm sure you have to as well if it's around six or so in the evening when you read this), in the mean time I will await your response. I know you are a busy person but please get back to me ASAP, the world is always in need of another literary genius, like yourself.
Sincerely,
brandon hayman (future literary genius)
I want to be a writer and I'm writing to you about this because we have a few things in common and I'm thinking that a lot of time friends become friends based on the things they have in common so, even if we can't be friends, maybe you can give me a little advice on the subject of writing. Namely: How to make it big? a.k.a. How to get started -or- You tell me what to do and I'm going to do it to a tee because I think you're a literary genius. Just so you know, I've read like two and a half of your books and they are fantastic! Now I know you are thinking "Really, just two and a half of my books and you think I'm a literary genius?" The short answer, yes.
The long answer is that it is not only that but, like I mentioned earlier, there are things about you and I that go together. For starters you are a dad. Guess what? I'm a dad! You like comic books. I like comic books! I mean, I used to like comic books! When I was in high school! Another thing we have in common, you are a writer...(read my mind!). I'm a writer too! It's just that nobody knows my name yet-and that is precisely where you come in.
I'm sure you are also wondering why I've only read half of that book of yours. Well, the truth of the matter is that I went back to school and they make me read other literary geniuses like Homer and Blake and O'Brien and Twain and Hemingway and Faulkner and Miller, and even though they haven't made me read any of your work quite yet (I'm sure they will, it's still early in my semester) I had to interrupt one of your books of awesome to read one of theirs. I would have stood up for your work any day of the week and boycotted reading any of the required material but, y'know, there would be a quiz later on so... Anyway, I would have written to any one of those other geniuses but you are still alive and seemed the most approachable. I mean, I don't think I could have ever been BFF's with Hemingway or Blake besides. They don't know anything about Dr. Who or Superman.
Look at me rattling on like a star struck imbecile, back to the issue at hand. What is the best route for me to travel in order to become a literary genius like yourself. Well, I guess I should say a well known literary genius. Here is my situation. I'm married and have a full time job as a photographer. A great job-to be sure. Let me make it plain: I am blessed, but being able to add "Literary Genius" on my resume instead of "photographer" I thought would look and sound so much more prestigious. They always say never miss and opportunity to better oneself. Besides the full time job I, as I mentioned earlier, am a full time dad too. My wife and I do well for ourselves in our current careers but I've always had this dream of becoming a writer in hopes to one day establish myself as a bonafied literary genius-y'know, like yourself; so I'm thinking hey, Michael Chabon is a dad and a husband and a genius writer and likes superheroes and watches TV and probably hates four way stops just as much as the next person who hates four ways stops and I'm sure he will know what to do. Like any common American citizen I am positive Mr. Chabon will want to evoke his superhero fantasies of his childhood and see me, another common American citizen, in need. Maybe not in need of saving in the same sense of being trapped under a bus, but instead being trapped underneath a life a mediocrity. I may not be drowning in an undercurrent of river water, but instead am gasping for air at a job equal to that of stagnate water.
Since I think I've clearly shown just how absolutely normal a person I am and that if I lived in the same school district as you, and your kiddos, we would most certainly be co-members of the local PTA together (if not best friends) and hopefully you will understand and help out a friend in need (if not, at least a fellow common American).
Well, I've got to go start dinner for my family (as I'm sure you have to as well if it's around six or so in the evening when you read this), in the mean time I will await your response. I know you are a busy person but please get back to me ASAP, the world is always in need of another literary genius, like yourself.
Sincerely,
brandon hayman (future literary genius)
Friday, February 22, 2013
video :: scenes of winter
I remember a Valentine's Day where I awoke to tons of snow on the ground. It wasn't too long after I moved to Fort Worth and it was then I learned that, while a White Christmas was rare, we were almost guaranteed snow after the new year. As we approach the end of February snow isn't in the forecast, but today was quite cold and with it was a cutting wind. Quite beautiful
Friday, January 25, 2013
the hobbit :: a review
First a couple of disclaimers: I’m not a movie critic in any official
capacity whatsoever. I’m not up on the
latest art house indie darlings, nor am I a huge contributor towards giant,
explosive, karate-alien-super-soldier-villain-turned-hero summer blockbuster
films (in 3D!). I’m just a guy who likes
movies and likes the movies he likes because he likes them. Period.
I also was late to the party that was thrown (and apparently boycotted
by some) when Peter Jackson announced that The Hobbit would be filmed at 48 fps
therefore ushering in an entire new movie industry while the rest of us 24
framers just sit at home and watch our Hi-8 home movies until we cry. A co-worker actually informed me of this
newest controversy which I ignored since I live in a city that apparently isn’t
capable of even showing the film at such speeds.
Even though
I hold no degree in film, film making, or film history one thing is true: I,
like most people, love movies. As I
stated before, I like what I like because I like it, but before I say whether
or not I like The Hobbit allow me to explain what I was thinking before I paid
a visit to the box office.
A trilogy
Mr. Jackson, are you for real? I’ll give
it to you. I’ll give it to you that the
first three movies, which I was at the midnight showings for (that’s the night before regular people woke up) were
pretty amazing. Yes, I was a card
carrying member of the Lord of the Rings fan club. I read the books, I watched the movies, I
bought the DVDs, then I turned around and bought the extended director’s cut
special edition DVD boxed set with another hour and a half’s worth of movie…and
then I watched the special features. I
was that guy though I drew the line
at dressing up in costume. That never
happened. Even so, I was pretty happy watching
the academy awards after the final LOTR had been released and the Academy
pretty much gave LOTR every award there was unless it had to do with
acting. Sorry, but that’s the
truth. I remember thinking as the
credits rolled at Return of the King that yes, The Hobbit should be next.
My
apprehensions came when I learned that it was going to be two films. Having read the book I thought that two films
was a bit of a stretch. I mean, it has
been a while, but I remember the book being a fairly easy read with simple
language and a fun undertone; obviously meant for kiddoes. So, how exactly will he stretch this into two
feature films? I equate it with adapting
Goodnight Moon into a full fledged television series. After realizing that Mr. Jackson never asked me
and that when it came down to it the two-part-er has no bearing on my life, I
moved on, got over it, and forgot about it.
Until I
learned he was going to make it into three movies. Okay, hold up. A trilogy?
You mean, like three big long movies-epic ones-like LOTR only a prelogy
to LOTR? After learning about the
planned trilogy the whole idea became a giant money-grab for me. Just another way for Jackson,
Hollywood,
Warner Bros., etc. to pad their pockets and fill the theaters with fluff and
feather and leave the pillow fighting up to the viewers and critics to figure
out if it was all worth it, knowing all the while that for us to find out if it
is worth it we’d have to pony up the money first. In fact I wouldn’t have seen the film at all
had it not been for my oldest son who was really excited about it. Soon enough I found the two of us paying for
tickets and walking into the theater.
Since I had
pre-conceived thoughts of the entire franchise being a money-grab I opted out
of the 48 frame per second edition and the
3D. Good ol’ fashioned 2D and 24 slow
frames per second for my old eyes.
Therefore I can’t give a report about the picture. Even if I had seen it at the faster rate I
don’t know enough about the subject matter to give any voice to it anyway. What I do know is that it was nice to start
at the film’s ending and at the beginning of the first. Meaning it was nice to see the old Bilbo
Baggins and Frodo again, if nothing else for nostalgia’s sake. Seeing familiar faces at Bag End before Frodo
began his own adventure coupled with a soundtrack that I did fall in love with
stirred up that old excitement of the first films within me and truly made me
want to go home and watch the old films again.
It’s like coming across a photograph of yourself with your arm around
the neck of an old friend, and being reminded of all the great fun you had with
them, then missing them. Once the film
starts you have to suffer a little back story beforehand that helps you put
into perspective the reason why these dwarfs need to take back their mountain,
but as soon as that big round door comes into view it seems that all the mayhem
of before and all the darkness that is yet to come years down the road doesn’t
even matter; if Frodo and Bilbo are content with their simple lives, then so
too am I.
In
hindsight, I realized that 45 minutes of the movie passes before Bilbo even
begins his journey to the Lonely Mountain, but I really wasn’t bothered by it because
spending time in Bag End is like when I take a trip home to South
Louisiana. There time sort
of slows down and I’m forced to sit back and just listen to the wind. One can never spend too much time in Bag End,
like the good ol’ South I’m sure the food alone is reason enough to never leave. Of course if two more movies are soon to come
after this one then yes, eventually Bilbo must be off on an adventure of his
own, and so the movie’s momentum finally begins.
Like the
other films that came before it, The Hobbit doesn’t really slow down once the
adventure starts. Of course the parts
that are my favorite are the parts I remember from reading the book, namely the
goblins that turn to stone and of course Gollum deep inside the cavern. That isn’t to say I haven’t got new favorite
parts, such as the meeting between Gandalf, Elrond, Saruman, and Galadriel; and
the moment in which Bilbo saves a life.
For me the entire film is a journey back to the places I loved
before. Seeing them again on the big
screen while new characters-along with a couple of older ones-travel them is
just as fun. Each scene is beautifully
photographed as before and Martin Freeman’s portrayal of Bilbo is spot on. As an audience member you are never quite
sure if Bilbo is in or out. At one
moment he is the hero he is told to be, another moment he is the coward he
knows he is. Which direction he takes
seems to change by the second and even Bilbo himself seems surprised to have
made it as far as he has once the last shot goes dark.
In
preparing to write this review, I read some reviews of my own, just to get a
feel for what was being said, and to educate myself a little more about the
hype surrounding the film and its touted 48 fps. One critic noted that by the end of the movie
he was all in. I have to admit that the
filmmakers’ hinting at the dragon that is just waking up inside the mountain
underneath its own mountain of gold and treasure was a perfect way to end the
film. I found myself siding with the
critic as I debated what I really thought about the movie. Is it a money-grab? Yes, it most certainly is, but it can be
argued what isn’t a money-grab in Hollywood
these days? Is it overkill? Yes, and so were the extended director’s cut
special edition DVD boxed set that I bought of LOTR, and loved every minute of
it. Do I like the film? The answer may not be as obvious as The
Hobbit’s predecessors, but if the next film serves up a halfling facing down a
fire breathing dragon then the answer is a definite, “Two tickets,
please.”
Monday, January 7, 2013
old man winter
Old Man Winter should be cold and the skies should be gray. The only way to find comfort in his presence is to wear a scarf, earmuffs, and a knit hat. If not, the wind from his breath will truly numb the tips of your fingers and toes. He begs for hot chocolate to be served and a glowing fire in the house. A sunny day isn't a characteristic he prides himself in, even if the temperatures are below freezing. His mornings are frost-bitten, his nights bitter and cold like crushed ice they crunch underfoot. During the day the sun hides behind a veil of clouds, fog, and mist, threatening Winter's perfect day, but never making good on his threat. The sun stays back a ways knowing his time will come and be filled with swimming pools, beaches, barbecues, and hot, humid, nights. For now, winter has his way. I bundle up and take a walk through the park appreciating Winter's handiwork as much as I appreciate those summer nights. In Texas we seldom see much of Old Man Winter so I want to spend as much time with him as I can.
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