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Book v. Movie

reviewed by Gris

Gris
08/26/2009

Book v. Movie 3

Depends on the movie As well as the Book. You just can not depict a Good explosion in a Book. Shootouts, car Chases and other such action demands A movie to really be appreciated.

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Lena commented 98 days ago.
Kersmash doesn't do it for you? :)

Although, I can theoretically imagine a well-written explosion description, I can't identify one in practice.

It's true that the picture in my head would come straight out of things I've seen personally including a predominance of movies and one I witnessed while waiting for the bus in Philly (aftermath pictured below).

Philly Fire

Gris commented 98 days ago.
A) I Love Kersmash and it is now my New favorite word.
B) I'm gonna Need to know more about that explosion. Was that a building Or something? (Hopefully not too many killed/injured?)

Lena commented 98 days ago.
It actually didn't get a whole lot of news coverage. Philly has bigger problems than a house fire, mainly related to murder and corruption.

I believe a house gas line had a leak and was ignited. The blaze was epic. I doubt the house survived. Ever the curious photographer I chose to walk towards it to get a better shot. I imagine that sort of behavior will eventually get me into trouble.

Gris commented 98 days ago.
Pretty damn good Shot though. But your right, Not worth your Life. Be careful. :-)

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
awesome photograph!

I know what you mean about descriptions of explosions - I've been near one (about 100 meters away) and still can't describe it (same goes for flaming infernos... been close VERY close to one of those too)

I think it's down to both the experience and ability of the writer whether they can successfully describe a situation so that you can picture it in your mind's eye.

Gris commented 98 days ago.
Jedi: I think some of what You said comes down to the old "Describe the color Blue to a man born Blind" rhetoric. If I have never seen an Explosion I don't think that you could adequately describe it to me in such a Way that I could envision it, no Matter how skilled a Writer you were.

Gris commented 98 days ago.
But since I have Seen explosions, I guess there is no way to Prove this...

Lena commented 98 days ago.
haha, thanks.

so long as they keep on improving optical zoom i think i'll be safe :)

@jedi...also relies upon the imaginative capacity of the reader himself.

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
@Gris - I think the problem with people imagining explosions is that they imagine them to be these huge, brightly coloured balls of petrol-fueled flame due to the depiction of them by most Hollywood films. In reality, most the time they are pretty much nothing more than "shock waves" and kicked up dust

@Lena - very good point :)

Gris commented 98 days ago.
Jedi: You're right, I always Picture Huge-ass Mushroom clouds

Lena commented 98 days ago.
@gris...describing or depicting something a person has never seen or experienced might actually be easier. Consider explosions in space (which thanks to the physical properties of a vacuum, are unlikely to resemble anything we've seen in movies).

Given complete fiction with no real-life reference, the author is free to control the world as he or she likes, giving the reader whatever information in as fantastical a form as desired. There's no such thing as fact-checking the imaginary.

numbah16tdhaha commented 98 days ago.
The sights and sounds of a real explosion are nothing compared to the feel of good demo. When ever I was around artillery, bombs from jets, or just good old C4 it just made an odd little vibration that just washes over you. Its almost unsettling in a way.

Lena commented 98 days ago.
that's a great description, numbah. Never been close an implosion, myself, but that helps me to envision it in a very visceral way.

Gris commented 98 days ago.
Lena: Embellishing does Always make for a better story. If not always Accurate.

Numbah: Remember to wear Protective Earwear.

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
@numbah I know what you mean... I was sitting in a cinema once and an IRA bomb went off outside, all we knew of it was a quick bang that sounded a little like a firework, and a very slight rumble... it was surreal, I think the panicked crowds are easier to describe and to remember, and I think enough people have seen panicked crowds in movies to be able to picture one

numbah16tdhaha commented 98 days ago.
Yeah, I've been around demo that the combat engineers played with, tanks, grenades, 1000 pound bombs off an F-18 that hit within a couple miles of where I was observing from, and an arty barrage or two. Its some crazy stuff. Some moron even blew himself up about half a mile from my house with a pipe bomb a couple years back and I didn't have to be told what it was.

Lena commented 98 days ago.
@jedi...wow...that must have been frightening. Did people instantly know what it was? I'm not sure I would have.

Lena commented 98 days ago.
@numbah, did you see the hurt locker, by any chance? I'm curious what your take on that film would be.

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
@Lena nope, no one knew... we just carried on watching Ghostbusters 2 (yes it was quite some time ago) until we were evacuated. When we got outside there were a lot of people being directed away in case there were any other bombs. It wasn't scary at the time, just confusing, but looking back the bomb went off on a side street we would have been walking down had we seen the previous showing... but we hadn't as the showing was full at the time. Now, where I work is pretty much bang on top of where it went off o_O

numbah16tdhaha commented 98 days ago.
Nope, haven't seen it. I know just enough about demo to be happy I wasn't a combat engineer...

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
@numbah, it sounds like you've lead an explosive life though ;)

Lena commented 98 days ago.
@jedi it's maddening to think about what ifs like that.

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
@Lena I know, sorry, sometimes I can't help myself :(

Lena commented 98 days ago.
me too. Hence, insomnia.

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
:( if it's what ifs like that which keep you awake, I'm always online to listen if you need someone to talk to

Lena commented 98 days ago.
haha thanks to the magic of time zones you usually are :P

that's not a frequent cause, merely a small contribution to a broader "can't shut off my brain" problem.

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
i know! we should invent the human "off switch" - it could operate on a timer so that after X hours it turns on again :P

Lena commented 98 days ago.
lol. I don't think I'd trade my mind for one less active, honestly. that minor inconvenience has quite beneficial consequences.

jedi58 commented 98 days ago.
and you're all the more interesting for it :)
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