Sam Downing - Latest Comments

Re: Charlie in the White House: Roald Dahl’s unwritten sequel

Briony Coote — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:31:50 -0000

It would have been interesting to see how Mr Wonka squares off with that strict nanny. Would she have met his match in him? Or would he have met his match in her?

Re: Harry Potter advocates the death penalty

Rocko212 — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:50:31 -0000

This is not true. Bellatrix Lestrange and the other Death Eaters happen to be both extremely powerful and completely believe that Muggles and Muggleborns are worthless and should die (why else would you join an organization dedicated to their destruction?), meaning that less than fourteen years in Azkaban probably won't do much to stop them. Voldemort's death was inevitable, due to the prophecy.
In addition, there are numerous examples when Rowling seems to be against the death penalty. As you said, Dumbledore refuses to kill Grindelwald. Harry himself never kills anyone, and "good guys" in the books only ever kill anyone out of absolute necessity or extreme anger.

Re: Short story: The Midnight Game

Sam Downing — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:22:37 -0000

Thanks!

Re: Short story: The Midnight Game

Casey Maree Saul — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:14:40 -0000

wow i could not stop reading that as soon as i started! great short story hope you keep writing :)

Re: Movie review: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Sam Downing — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:02:19 -0000

What happens at the end of the book? The movie ends (SPOILER ALERT!) with the salmon wadis getting destroyed by terrorists, but everyone's kind of "Ho ho, not to worry, we'll just do it all again then with no major consequences for anybody".

Re: Movie review: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

No — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:45:48 -0000

"there’s still never much sense everything won’t work out okay in the end"

Which is exactly how the film butchered the books ending.

Re: Book review: The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson

Sorcas — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:32:10 -0000

In all fairness, the novel didn't exactly end conclusively. We were kind of left hanging. Nothing actually *resolved*. Sure, the shade that they were after did eventually get what was coming to him--but not from our lead protagonists. Just a ghost who made the occasional guest appearance. Jo may as well have been the main character. I think the desire for "More", as you put it, was kind of her intention.

But I agree, everything lost focus about midway through. She kind of abandoned some of the characters who were key in the beginning and replaced them for some more mysterious, albeit lackluster characters. We didn't get to bond with them as readers as well as I'm sure we would have liked. Jerome and Jazzy kind of drifted to occasional cameos; Poor Jerome turned into nothing more than a fluffy boy-toy, and I never quite understood the dynamics of their relationship, because the author kept dodging it, almost deliberately. Even Alistair began to lose his appeal as the book wore on (which was tragic, because I appreciated his character. He had that snarky british sarcasm that I absolutely ADORED.) Johnson nailed the propelling of suspense, plot development, and
intrigue. Yet her character development fizzled and became overshadowed with a way-too-meticulous plot exploitation. It became apparent to me that she wanted to wrap the novel up and try and clear any confusion for her readers. But doing that made her villians and protagonists lose their flair, which had so much potential at the novel's start.

I was left
hanging in a very confused, and mildly disappointed state upon
finishing. I think she wants her overall arc to tie into future novels,
as was her way of keeping her audience captivated. Only problem
is, I saw no hint of upcoming books or promise of a sequel. So now I'm just frustrated. Still appealed and impressed with her work as a whole. She had an awesome idea for this novel, it just needed a bit more conceptualizing. And more macabre/eerie tone in the novel would help it go a long way as well--especially in the climax, so that the Ripper could maintain his dangerous and sinister nature. Monologuing is the worst punishment an author can bestow a morbid antagonist. He needed a bit more spark at the end.

Flaws aside, I still have to admit that it was among the best Young Adult novels I've read in a LONG time. I get really anal with the recipe stoylines and over-done romances YA novels tend to provide. The overabundance of cliches rapidly become unbearable. Johnson at least managed to keep surprising me as I read and successfully kept me enthralled. (though Rory's choking episode I think needed more emphasis...I glazed over that part and never realized how crucial that scene was until later on.) And the romantic elements didn't overshadow the storyline and make me want to gag. So that was a major plus.

Though I do wish Jerome played a bigger part rather than just a "Sort of love interest who only shows up when the main character needs to be distracted from her anxiety." That made his character flatter than I'd've liked, and it made me lose respect for Rory. :/

Re: The limits of Genie’s power in Aladdin, or, why Jafar is an idiot

Edavis_2002 — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:45:50 -0000

funny thing is..in the tv show abis mal wished to be a giant with laser eyes..but genie turned him back to normal later in the episode by making a door on his back with magic and pullling out some batteries..lol..so abis mal wish was un-done because genie said he didnt wish to be like that forever......so my question is...why didnt he do that to Jafar?...I mean really..Jafar didnt wish to be like that forever either.

Re: The limits of Genie’s power in Aladdin, or, why Jafar is an idiot

Aladdin Phanatic — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:13:16 -0000

Actually, the Genies rules were
1. No bringing people back from the dead
2. No killing anyone
3. No forced falling in love
The wishing for wishes wasn't actually a rule. "But don't wish for more wishes, because that was sooo last year!"

Re: Book review: Blaze of Glory, Michael Pryor

Cdi10 — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:23:20 -0000

The Blaze of Glory is the best book i have read, even though i am 14 and read constantly. I got this and the second novel, Heart of Gold from the library on a friday at around 4 p.m. I had it finished Monday morning at 5:30. Yes, i actually got up early and finished this book, on a school day where i live righ across from my school. Definitely the best book i have read.

Re: Short story: The Midnight Game

superjuniorfan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:27:56 -0000

oh my god this is soooo good...

Re: Short story: The Midnight Game

superjuniorfan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:27:04 -0000

this is like so old but I just wanna say that this is really good.

Re: Dumble-war: Michael Gambon vs Richard Harris

Pianoperson — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:28:37 -0000

One of the stupidest things I have read in a long time - basically, because it blames an actor for the actions/foibles of a character, or indeed, a script!!! Both Harris and Gambon are fine actors, and EITHER would have been capable of playing Dumbledore from start to finish. Had Harris survived, he'd doubtless have done a great job. As it was, he didn't... and Gambon filled his shoes wonderfully. One can really only speculate (pointlessly) on what would have happened to the role otherwise. Whoever wrote this 'comparison' has WAY too much time on their hands.

Re: Dumble-war: Michael Gambon vs Richard Harris

Sam Downing — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:11:41 -0000

Your poor diaphragm.

Re: Dumble-war: Michael Gambon vs Richard Harris

HarrisAlltheWay — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 07:45:23 -0000

Okay, I sighed so many times reading this article that my diaphragm collapsed, so give me a second ...

Alright, here we go. First off, let's go by absolute fact. Michael Gambon, although not entirely his fault, never looked or acted remotely like the book Dumbledore ... EVER. Yeah okay, he wasn't bad in HBP but even in POA (where he, like in HBP, didn't get aggressive) he had no real grasp of Dumbledore's wisdom, his twinkling eyes, his warm smile and he was just too aloof in POA. That isn't Dumbledore. Now, let's talk about something I have read on countless blog pages and websites about Richard Harris being too old for the action scenes in OoP.

No one seems to remember that the poor man was dying of Hodgkin's Lymphoma a.k.a cancer of the lymphatic system. He was sick! Of course he seemed frail in Chamber of Secrets! Watch him in that film and, although he seems to walk around reasonably well, his voice sounds phlegmy and wispish. My strong belief is that it was the disease causing these effects on his body, not the results of being 71-72 years old.

So, if we are to imagine him in future films, picture him at a time when he at least appeared not to be suffering from cancer ... YEP, Philosopher's Stone, guys! Watch him closely in that movie, and you can tell that he was pretty much fine then! That movie was made less than a year before CoS, so you tell me: Would it likely be that aging a year caused him to sound so frail and, forgive me Mr Harris, appear to be breathing through his mouth most of the time? Or does it make more sense that his disease had taken its toll?

Re: Book review: A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin

Sam Downing — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:58:53 -0000

The third paragraph of the review explicitly says it contains spoilers for Dragons. So...

Re: Book review: A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin

tony — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:49:37 -0000

what the fuck ? why did you give away the ending for dragons right at the start of the review is it that hard to give a review without telling everyone what happens at the end of the book ? idiot

Re: Book review: Monsters of Men, Patrick Ness

ljm3001 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:22:04 -0000

This review has been completely spot on. I have read other reviews but no one has come this close to how i felt.
This meaning that i was also completely confused by the Mayor. I wanted to hate him and crush him but what if that"hum" was really good? And as far as characters go, what does Ness see of himself in the Mayor and what scary traits does he have that we see in ourselves? I wont be able to get him out if my head for a very long time. I feel like i could just write a book about the mayor.
I agree that books ended well but i still wanted just a little bit more. And alsi the last plot twist did almost make me hate the book but i think that you are right about the shock value observation. But over all i do think this is one of the best series i have ever read.

Re: Charlie in the White House: Roald Dahl’s unwritten sequel

FALCON PAWNCH — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:57:39 -0000

i wish he finished it :(

Re: Book review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling, read by Stephen Fry

Drunkwriter — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:31:37 -0000

I also 'read' these as an audiobook. (Stephen Fry, of course) and found these books to be the greatest serial novels I've ever read. And this, after all my (admittedly wrong) 'Harry Potter is for kids' comments. Sometimes, it feels fine to eat crow.

Re: Book review: Monsters of Men, Patrick Ness

Firecyclones — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:51:41 -0000

My favorite book series of all time.

Re: Book review: Boys and Girls, edited by Paul Burston

Vglee — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 06:10:55 -0000

Hello Sam, just to say what a lovely review of Boys and Girls. I'm so pleased you enjoyed Knitting for Beginners. All best wishes,
VGL

Re: Adults reading kids’ books is not, in fact, “bullshit”

cat — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 11:33:06 -0000

one opinion and another opinion
i agree with the author that hungry beast better grew up and maybe then they reailize the world of a kid and an adult are not so different if you're wise enough

Re: Short story: The Midnight Game

Kamillilewis — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:38:48 -0000

i think im not gonna play this game

Re: Dumble-war: ranking the Harry Potter films

Miro — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:59:50 -0000

your article made me really laugh : D
thank you - you've got some interesting points about the films ...
i think many fans were angry that he stood just there watching dumble being killed off in the halfblood-prince but not many noticed that kid who explained the grim to harry
did you notice in DH part 2 in the best scene of the film (if you ask me) ... when snape stood in the great hall talking about punishing those who help harry ...
there is a girl standing on the left side of the screen who just doesn't look at all as if she were going to hogwarts?
she's got coloured black hair and glasses and while everybody stands still with their head down cause snape's talking and snarling and menacing she steps from one foot to the other one and looks just straight up .... and she's looking so not-hogwarts-like i was angry every time i watched the film (3 times)!