The list phenomenon is a popular one that the blogosphere and VH-1 have taken to new heights.  Every Tom, Dick, and Perez has lists of every such thing, including lists of lists.  But they are efficient, easy,  good, clean fun, and every one likes skimming them up and spitting them out.

So what makes our Nine Words or More lists so engaging?  Nine items, for one thing?  Ehh? Also, our opinions.  And four of the five of us (not I) work in the filmmaking/visual effects/entertainment industry, so they have an insider’s view of things. As for me, well, I have the free time to think of and type up these things.

When it comes to consumable entertainment, my loves, in order, go a little something like this: music, Howard Stern, books, TV, movies, professional sports, NPR podcasts, the summer Olympics, college sports, people-watching in Wrigleyville, watching Taco Bell employees assemble chalupas, the winter Olympics.

That was more of a digression than I’d intended, but the point is that books are at the top of my interest list, with movies a not-so-distant trailer. The combination, when done effectively, can be a beautiful thing.  And while movies that take their inspiration from books are a favorite of mine, they also have to tread very carefully, lest they be simply effing terrible. Worst ever: The Lords of Discipline, which simply flat-out removed one of two major plots from the suspenseful and compelling Pat Conroy novel. Load of hooey.  Shouldn’t have even been made. Don’t get me started on the Demi version of Scarlett Letter. (more…)