My Beloved and I went to see Avatar again yesterday. We first saw it on Christmas Eve. It was even better this time round; I could pick up on bits of the story that foreshadowed what would happen later and I could be more relaxed about following the plot. I felt just as involved and my Beloved was surprised at how much I startled at the scary moments.
I was thinking about how this relates to books. A really good book will not only bear re-reading but will be enjoyable on a second read because I know what's coming. There are two distinct experiences of a book or a film: when you first come to the story with no expectations and and when you return to it with a knowledge of what happens. I like it when I can enjoy both.
14 COMMENTS:
Oh I can't read a book twice much as I like it! I'd re-read my favourite bits though but I like the first time read and the thrill of the first time read!
As for films - I can seriously become so obsessed with the ones I really like I can watch them infinitum! There are 1 or two exceptions - absolutely fab films but so upsetting I can't bring myself to watch them again - Courage Under Fire is one of them. Bambi is another!
Happy Valentine's to you and your beloved - hope you are getting lots of chocolates and treats.
Take care
x
Kitty, it's strange to me that you can rewatch a film but not reread a book. I do much more of the latter than of the former!
Thanks for the Valentine's wishes. I've got some ginger chocolates - but I bought them for myself! I hope you're having a good New Year too!
I love to re-read and re-watch. I even have a DVD at work and I just listen to a couple of movies - over and over.
I just re-read Mercedes Lackey's Vanyel trilogy. Yeah, I know how it ends and all the bits in between, but I love spending time with this old friend in this familiar place.
I love spending time with this old friend in this familiar place. What a lovely way of summing it up!
As it happens I went to see Avatar for the first time last night. Enjoyed it, dazzlingly beautiful, found the 3D a bit annoying and distracting. Not sure I'd go out of my way to see it again, though.
I couldn't help thinking that it bore some resemblence to Ursula K. Le Guin's The Word for World is Forest too ...
I loved Avatar. And I agree, I think the best books should always bear re-reading, the way great movies bear re-watching.
I loved Avatar in 3D... it's the first 3D film I've ever seen that 'looked right' that way and I can't imagine how it would be 'plain' now.
It is a movie I could watch again and again - the 'world' is very believable and a place I'd love to visit for myself. :-)
If something is available as both book and movie, I'll always make sure I see the movie before reading the book, otherwise the movie will almost inevitably be a disappointment.
Cinematography very rarely matches 'the theatre of the mind', although I suspect 3D Avatar might be one of those few exceptional cases.
Simon, I have to confess that I don't know The Word for World is Forest. I ought to get hold of it.
Rebecca, I'm glad to see another Avatar fan!
Richard, I thought the 3D was well done, too. They didn't seem to go for the obvious "coming right at you" effects, more like looking into a window.
I haven't seen Avatar yet. Must be the only one in the universe! I love re-reading my favorite books. When a movie resonates with me, I must possess it. I have a wonderful collection of films.
Ann, I'd love to know what's in your DVD collection!
I'm looking forward to seeing this. My husband say it in 3D and says its amazing.
Lisa, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I want to see Avatar again -this time in 3-D. I'll get there.
I usually don't reread books, however, I did reread Shadows of the Wind, and enjoyed it as much as I did before, maybe more so, since, as you pointed out I knew what was coming. I'm now rereading a Beta story by blogger and book reviewer <a href="http://www.tianevitt.com/weblog/> Tia Nevitt. </a> and I'm enjoying that again. I'll read it again once it's published!
Lisa, the 3D in Avatar is well worth seeing.
I didn't get on with Shadow of the Wind. You'll have to let us know when Tia Nevitt's story is published.
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