Watched Casanova last night. Heath Ledger did a reasonable job as the lead, but I would’ve liked the most notorious hedonist and lady’s man in history, “the world’s greatest lover,” to smolder and sizzle, and instead he was essentially a flirty playboy. Then again, it was a Touchstone movie; there wasn’t even any blood in the sword fight scenes. Admittedly, it’s a bit unrealistic to expect Disney to do sizzle.
I was very amused to see Oliver Platt in it, cast in the exact opposite role that he played in Dangerous Beauty, another movie (the superior one) set in Venice during the same time period.
Apparently, Casanova flopped in the theater, which I think is a shame. It was a fun romantic comedy with lushly beautiful costumes and cinematography. Shot completely on location in Venice, it did a fine job of capturing the magic and romance of the City of Canals.
One day, I’d like to see Venice. Right after Paris.
Writing Stuff
It’s public now (and it seems it was mentioned in Locus too), so I can finally squee about this! The Frog Princess story I wrote last November, “Princess Bufo marinus, I Call Her Amy,” was for mroctober, who is editing a fantasy anthology aimed at teen girls published by Mirrorstone Books!
Mirrorstone is the YA imprint owned by Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro (ex-TSR) and its titles are in every chain store in America. The final ToC needs to be approved by the Mirrorstone folks, and my froggie tale is not guaranteed passing muster, but mroctober (who is a fount of keenly discriminating judgement and brilliant taste) liked it and wants it, so I maintain high hopes. *squee squee squee!*
New Words:
– 750 on my guest blogger post for A Writer’s Vanity. It’s not up yet, but I assume Jason’ll post it later today.
[Edit: It’s up, it’s up! Clickie HERE.]
– 200 on the YA novel, and I’m already dissatisfied with it. I think the opening needs more of a kick. Pondering. Ponder ponder. Also been thinking about trying to resume work on A Harmony of Foxes.
500/day
32
My suggestion would be to see Venice before Paris…Paris isn’t sinking 😉
But Venice is *Totally* worth it!
Good point. Although I seem to remember reading somewhere that folks are speculating that it’s not sinking anymore. Still, it seems a wise assumption to make that a city built in what is essentially a lagoon next to the sea is not the most permanent of locales.
Venice may not be sinking anymore (I’ve read similar things, but am rather skeptical) but the flooding every spring gets worse… whether it’s Global Warming or not is up in the air, but a report I heard on BBC last year was that they may start curtailing access to certain parts of the islands in the next ten years or so…especially since the Italian government can’t seem to get it’s act together to make an actual decision on whether or not to build a sea wall like the the Netherlands in case of flooding…
Long thing short…go to Venice when you have the chance… I really think you would like it.. and then compare Paris to it later!
I thought that ‘Casanova’ movie was good fun too!
*squeeing with you* asked *me* to contribute to that anthology too!!! Omigosh, I have to write a short story. I may be stalking you off-line with help-me emails. Hee. Hee. Just kidding. 😉
*squee!* I would absolutely love to get the chance to share a ToC with you!
“I may be stalking you off-line with help-me emails. Hee. Hee. Just kidding. 😉“
Seriously, if you ever want to exchange crits sometime, I’d be more than willing.
Really? Oh, thank you! You are such an amazing short story writer! I would totally like to exchange crits with you! 😀
Aw, pshaw, thanks. But definitely, anytime you’d like short story feedback, feel free! (And then I won’t feel quite so guilty about picking your brain on the care and feeding of a novel.)
Hahaha! No problem, as lord knows everything I writes turns into a novel. 😉
Working with is a pleasure. I know she would give you excellent feedback and she has a good idea what I like to read.
Good to know! Thanks! 😀
Whoa! Anthology! Kickass!
Congratulations!!!
Thanks, sweetie!
You know I’m hungry when I see your subject line and read it as “Cassanova and Minnestrone”
Squee for you on the Mirrorstone anthology.
And I loved your blog piece–lovely and very true stuff. (You put in much longer days on average than I tend to, which explains a great deal.*tries to throw off the guilt-bunnies)
Safirasilv, your icon would be a lot funnier if I hadn’t come downstairs this morning to find out my two disaster-mongers had done that, but with a paper-towel roll! *grin*
Thanks, sweetie! But you should definitely detonate those guilt bunnies
. I don’t recommend my work hours as conducive to health or sanity, and I look forward to (with a blind and patently absurd optimism) a time when I’ll have enough income coming in that I can put in fewer hours and maybe get some weekends back.
Thank you for the detonating guilt bunnies!
I liked Casanova, but then I like Heath Ledger, and it reminded me somewhat of Dangerous Beauty.
The “My Lady says the pig must stay outside, but we will take the animal.” line was utterly brilliant 😀
There was a certain similarity to Dangerous Beauty, but more Dangerous Beauty-lite–same setting, bad guy(s), and approximate theme, but without any of the depth or thoughtfulness.
Congrats as always.
I liked Casanova. It was good, cheesy, romantic comedy slapstick fun! And Oliver Platt is one of my very favorite character actors, especially his roles in Three To Tango (the only worthwhile Matthew Perry movie) and Three Musketeers (one of my all-time favorite guilty pleasure movies. Save the King!)
Ooo. I forgot he was in Three Musketeers! Yeah, I’m totally there with you on giving major props to Oliver Platt.
Good going on the Mirrorstone antho! Crossing fingers and hoping your story gets in (But I’m pretty sure it will). So far I’m at 3Fiction/1Non-Fiction this month on acceptances.
Thanks! And mega congrats to you on your beaucoup sales month!
Thanks!
I haven’t seen the cinema Casanova, due to an extreme allergic reaction to Heath Ledger.
If you can, track down the BBC version which came out last year – David Tennant plays Casanova, and it’s a lot of fun.
Huh. I didn’t realize the BBC did a version of Casanova. Wonder if it’s on Netflix . . .
And by the by – just read the bit about the Mirrorstone anthology! Good luck! If your story makes it, I may actually see it in Australia!
Thanks! I’ve got my fingers tightly crossed.
::winks::