Over the holidays my in-laws were in town and I took a few days off (whew). That meant I had time to read some books, and also my wife and I were able to go out to the movies for the first time in a long while (the saga of having an infant).
If you're looking for a movie and you want something that activates more of your brain than National Treasure (did not see that) then you should see Charlie Wilson's War. Fantastic. Hanks and Roberts and Seymour Hoffman all good, and my favorite screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men) has done it again, maybe better than ever. How is it possible that TV producers keep pulling his shows (Sports Night, Studio 60) or removing him (after season 4 of West Wing)? By the way, having now seen the movie I think the marketing for Charlie Wilson's War stinks -- I really had no idea what the movie would be like. Hollywood just doesn't know what to do with intelligent art.
And I finally got to the last Harry Potter book. Wow. Every plot element, every twist and turn, seemed entirely "realistic" within the world of the characters, and exactly right. Here's what I'll say about JK Rowling -- to write 7 books, and not short books, and to basically not miss a note, is an amazing accomplishment. And I admire that she's not afraid to create complex characters and take chances. While her writing style may not match Tolkien, her storytelling and timing is superior and these books are going to last for a long, long time. Loved it.
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