It's always nice to end a day with a group of friends and an amusing television show; everyone gets a laugh at something, even if the program itself is atrocious, and you come away feeling a bit better about life in general. A few of us ended up doing just this, skimming through one guy's Netflix recommendations and arguing halfheartedly over what to watch. You have to admit, there's quite the variety of intriguing television out there to choose from, so it's understandable that each new genre brought more conflict. Finally, we gave up, flicked the joystick on the Xbox controller a few times, and clicked on what was highlighted to watch: H.R. Pufnstuf.
Not a single one of us had seen nor heard of this before, and I'm not surprised; the show aired from 1969 until 1971, and was apparently targeted at a young audience. Of the five of us in the room, all in Park, nobody could get past some of the absurdities of Sid and Marty Krofft's world in its early stages, though apparently the siblings used this storyline as a basis for many future adventures (fairy tale, good versus bad approach to each episode's problem). What really got me were the life sized puppets, the whimsical transitions, and attempts at almost Hanna-Barbera-esqe action. In comparison to the costuming and effects of today's productions, these look absolutely childish; yet, in their time, this was the sort of thing that led a generation's entertainment. It's interesting to look at what children's television started with, and how it's evolved into what's seen today. The basic story remains the same despite the years and technical advances, though, so at it's core, there's always one of the same few starting points for a kids' production. I'm definitely planning on seeing what else the Kroffts produced, just to find out where they went from this.
Edit: So, I looked into more of the Krofft's work, and you can see the list of productions here. I'm curious to know, is anyone familiar with any of these titles?
3 months, or 13 weeks, or 91 days. However you want to look at it, December is fast approaching. No, I'm not counting down to what many believe will be the end of the world. Lord of the Rings fans will know exactly what I'm counting down to... the release date of The Hobbit (Part 1)! Exactly three months from today, there will be huge lines in the theaters, with popcorn exploding from the seams and soda slurped up huge, plastic straws. All will be waiting impatiently for the movie to start.
December 14, 2012. A young Bilbo Baggins will be begin his own journey down a dangerous and exciting road. A road that will eventually send fate hurling his own nephew, Frodo, into a perilous journey as well. This is a story that is very near and dear to my heart. The Hobbit by Tolkien was the first fantasy book I ever read. My dad, the source from which I draw my love of everything fantasy and sci-fi, handed Tolkien's book to me when I was eleven and told me that it was a story worth reading over and over again. So I read it, and I loved it. I continued the story by following up with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I was an avid reader since then. I read books that ranged from the Shannara Series by Terry Brooks to Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. At this point in my short life, my refrain had commonly become, "The book is always better than the movie." When I saw The Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson, my whole world was shaken.
Not only was the story preserved in the films, but it was done in such a way that the beloved characters I saw in my mind were there before my very eyes. It is hard to find another movie that can actually sit so close to their paper and ink counterpart. I am still an avid reader and believe me when I say that the only other movie that I have seen is The Hunger Games directed by Gary Ross. In The Lord of the Rings, the whole of Middle Earth was there; it was almost tangible to my imagination. This was such an amazing feat that required so much talent on the part of both the cast and the crew. The acting was so superb, the visuals were perfect, the story was intriguing, character development was fantastic, this movie was and is truly a classic.
I was so drawn into this film, that at the age of fourteen, I watched all of the Behind the Scenes footage that came with the extended versions of the films. Again, my life was utterly changed. I fell in love with everything that is FILM. From learning about the make-up to the intricate creation of the miniatures, to the development of the different cultures through costumes, to the creation of all the magical creatures, to how they actually built the sets, to location scouting, the list can go on and on with how much I absorbed. It opened my eyes to a way to make the worlds I read about in books "come alive" in our reality in some way. It was at this point that I found a dream that resides so strong in my heart that it feels as if my entire being is going to explode. This is how I became so passionate about acting, and from there, about what happens behind the camera too. For the discovery of my passion, I have to thank all who were involved in the making of these fabulous films.
Peter Jackson is and forever will be one of my favorite directors. So many of his films, including King Kong, have kept me sitting on the edge of my seat and allowed me to escape into worlds and times that I can only do through reading books most of the time. Such is the depth with which his films are created. Every detail must be and is as perfect as can be. My favorite book series is the Green Rider series written by Kristen Britain. If anyone ever tries to make these fabulous books into movies, I would hope that it would be Peter Jackson, because they deserve the best.
I encourage any who have not seen The Lord of the Rings to borrow the film from someone. It is an experience that shouldn't be missed. I can't wait for The Hobbit! Someone said to me the other day, "Yes, but they have a lot to live up to after Lord of the Rings." I agree, but I trust that both the cast and crew will be able to pull it off. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, it is below:
~ posted by Amber Capogrossi
