Update on James Bond

The James Bond film 'Diamonds Are Forever' definitely took the phrase "artistic license" to a new level. There was a HUGE difference in the plot- I hardly recognized the storyline, which deviated quite far from Bond's original "following the pipeline through the U.S." Most of the characters were the same, but a few were added on like Plenty- didn't remember her at all in the book, and I was super disappointed in Tiffany's character. First of all, she was supposed to be blonde, and second of all, she and James's relationship was not like that at all- in this "case", I prefer the book, as opposed to Casino Royale, where the Daniel Craig version of the film is supremely better than its origin.
I did however hear a fascinating back story about Sean Connery- apparently after a midnight 'rendezvous' with Plenty O'Toole actress Lana Wood, Lana expected he was in love with her, only to have been used by the Big Tam. ...Scandalous.

I Am Loving: P.B. & J.

No, not the sandwich (although, when in the mood, peanut butter and jelly is super tasty). No I am talking about the dynamic duo, Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly. One of my friends theorizes that Jennifer married Paul because he is English and blond (he is red-haired in my opinion) and she needed that to satisfy her love of the unavailable David Bowie since they starred in Labyrinth together. I think that my friend is silly. But I also think, that at least from my viewpoint, not knowing them personally or anything, that they are a great couple. I admire them not just because they are gorgeous and stylish and together and ooze chemistry (in the very brief cameo appearance she makes in Inkheart, you'll see what I mean) but also because as individuals they are awesomely talented. So here is a visual aid for you!

Kickon? Kickup? Kickme?

I'm wondering what the opposite of "kickoff" is... certainly not "kickon"... Well, the point is, after the move, and being a bridesmaid, and getting sick twice, I got rather tired of James Bond's frankly unhappy life. Sure, he enjoys great food, the occasional butt-kicking, and being a womanizer, but at the heart of it he's constantly surrounded by people he can't trust and when he does open up his heart, it gets broken. So I quit halfway through From Russia With Love. Another obstacle to my project has been the lack of James Bond films available at the library and local video rental place. I wanted to read-watch-compare and all I got was read-search-get disappointed. I will DEFINITELY pick it back up again someday, as Ian Fleming's writing takes you right into the heart of it, with details so vivid I'm curious to know if his books ever endangered his life for revealing enemy secrets! But for now, I'm going to try and read some happy things.
Of course, the first thing I picked up was a romance novel, but we can skip that one. Next I read Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris. I was super needing of the Sookie Stackhouse books but I am on the wait list right now. So I read this instead, and of course, it is neither happy nor uplifting (what was I thinking) but it was adventurous, even if I did guess the killer I did not guess the motive, as it was out of left field. It was also quite interesting to read Harris's first novel, and to see how her style developed, not only by later incorporating the supernatural (Sweet and Deadly's villain is purely human) but how she matured as a writer and developed her characters later on, able to make them more likeable.
Also as of late I have been getting seriously into old film noirs about the supernatural. See my other blog about that!
P.S. If any of my friends are ever out shopping anywhere and see any Matryoshka Russian Nesting Dolls, please tell me where I can find some! (I really don't want to but them off ebay- shipping is nuts) I heart them.