Comments are reopened, because Gordon asked me. We’ll see how it goes.
Fifth Element is one of my favorie movies for many reasons, pacing, humor, setting, casting (Tiny Zeus makes an awesome president.) So when we set down to watch it with the Kid 1 yesterday, I thought she might dig it. Instead I got the “I’m bored, I will sit here and suffer because you want me to” looks. The looks continued until the Bruce Willis pulled his cab into the traffic and Mila Jovovich escaped from the lab. Mila dove off the building, landed into Bruce’s cab, the cops zeroed in on them, and the chase was on.
Meanwhile two cops are sitting in their car trying to buy lunch.
Suddenly Kid 1 perked up. “Is that a McDonalds?”
“Yep.”
“That’s so cool. Wait, Kid 2 needs to see this movie.”
“Because of McDonalds?”
“Yes. Sorry, It’s a good movie, but I’ve seen like four movies that start in Ancient Egypt. But this – this is cool.”
Our kids have never been to Ancient Egypt and Kid 1 is right, it’s overused as a setting. But they had been to McDonalds and they got a kick out of the new futuristic version. Now they wanted to see what other familiar things the movie twisted. Kid 2 was hooked when the Thai boat pulled away into the traffic.
There is an interesting lesson in worldbuilding here. New and exotic is interesting, but a twist on the familiar is even better. People find warping of their reality fascinating and they want to see what comes next.
yay! comments are back! thank you!
fifth element rocks. hehe. multipass. hehe. ruby rhod. hehe ruby rhod and air hostess. damn now i need to find my stupid dvd of the movie and watch it again! i love being reminded of stuff like this!
thank you for snippet too!
If I ever posted stuff that was negative, I appologize! Get mean if I or others are being inappropriate. It’s your house.
Thanks so much for bringing comments back!! I love that you guys interact with us through the blog. That’s the reason why I check it every other day…. Well, that and snippet-awesomeness.
Nice little snippet! Luvs!
Super Green! Any kind of Green you want!
My favourite part is what I think of as “The Scene with The Diva”, starting out with the beautiful soft classical singing, and then jumping back and forth from the concert to the ongoing fight scene in The Diva’s quarters.
Yes thanks for bringing comments back Gordon and Ilona!
I agree with you on the world building – That’s one of the coolest things (well there are many but this is yet ANOTHER cool thing) about your books. You take Atlanta and you take the swampy south and twist it into something familiar – but not. It’s incredibly interesting to read how everything works in your familiar-but-not worlds.
I’m with KatieC – if i ever posted something you didn’t like sorry!
Ooh I got paid today I just remembered! On that note I’m going to go buy the books – I’ve been dying to read Bayou Moon, Alpha and Magic at the Gate but haven’t been able to buy them until now. Cheers!
I read your blog daily, but rarely comment. Just wanted to say **Thanks** for the snippet and for giving comments another chance. You are an awesome duo and you always brighten my day!
And, yes, The Fifth Element rules!
I don’t remember if we watched the Fifth Element with the boys, but we did get Blade Runner and they were bored with it. They make up for it by loving Star Wars and Firefly as much as we do, but still:)
Ooooh, what a lovely snippet. I know I’m late on this, but I wish you could ban people like can be done on forums. There really is never an excuse to be mean. I remember when I found out about online trolls– I still can’t wrap my head around people who purposely want to hurt others and cause trouble. Life is too short for that kind of crap.
Sugar woogums… PRICELESS.
I find, as a literature teacher of middle school students, that they love love love love things that they see, feel, touch, connect with in their own lives. Sure there are timeless human emotion moments. But if they don’t go “Oh yeah! I could have done that on the way home!” they tend to go into drool-on-the-desk mode. Introducing them to alternate history had been deliciously fun . Especially when they take a crack at writing their own. The 8th graders, in particular, love it.
My kids love this movie. Micky D’s was a highlight for them as well. We all want the cars ! Haw fabulous would it be to travel that way : )
Sugar Woogums, LOL- priceless Thanks for the snippet, it lifted my spirits.
I hope I never posted anything that was hurtful. I certainly never meant to in any way. I admire your writing and your attention to your family. With all you both do everyday, you still find time to communicate with us, your fans, I thank you.
Both of my kids enjoyed the movie when I introduced it to them last year (I have it on DVD). At the ages of 8 & 7, I wasn’t sure how they’d take to it. Both thought it was cool with flying cars and McDonald’s. But my daughter is more into fantasy (magic, vamps, weres, etc.) whereas my son craves action (anything with fast cars, fight scenes, shootouts, etc.). But it’s definitely a movie to remember and I’m glad I own it on DVD. Actually, quite a few things sort of remind me of the “In Death” series by J.D. Robb – a lot of similarities. I’m glad your kids enjoyed the movie, even if Ancient Egypt isn’t up their alley.
On another note, I, too, want to thank you for bringing the comments back. And if anyone else says anything negative while they’re on here, we’ll all get in line right behind you to kick butt. If anyone wants negativity, they can watch the news and post it on their own blogs – negativity doesn’t belong here!
I totally agree with The Fifth Element being one of the best movies of all time:) Thanks for the return of the comments, but comments or no you guys are amazing and I totally love your books. This is your site and however you run it as long as it is here I will be visiting it as often as I possibly can!
Thanks for the return of the comments section. Sometimes when I am having a really bad day and I read your blog I end of with a smile on my face. And thank YOU Gordon!!!!!!
cannot begin to count how many times the words “Aziz! LIGHT!” has escaped my lips in my lifetime. And I love the aria the blue woman sings.
I tried to describe the movie “red” to someone and they just weren’t getting it, so finally I said, bruce willis, guns, explosions. Then suddenly they’re all about seeing it. Which btw, it was an AWESOME movie, I recommend seeing it.
[...] come care of several links I received through my Google Alerts. The first is Ilona Andrews and World Building and Fifth Element. She brings up a great point, that some things are so overused they become boring, but it’s [...]
Thank you for the snippet! Even short snips are good snips. (thank you for not tossing out Andi altogether. she’s the most adorable crack-shot ever.)
I think the 5th Element is woefully under appre… should it bother me that the cork just flew out of my EMPTY mead bottle?
I have had the phrase ‘Mulit-pass’ stuck in my head since I read this post. Maybe re-watching the movie will help jar it loose.
I found a meat popsicle t-shirt.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/popculture/d73b/?pfm=Search&t=meat%20popsicle
I can just imagine the stares I would get if I wore it. Very few people get my “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die” shirt. Except the kids bagging my groceries.
If they liked the Fifth Element because of the futuristic references, you should try Demolition Man next.