Movie - 61, The Station Agent

The Station Agent (2003)

by 

Thomas McCarthy

Movie Seen: 06 December 2015

Note Written: 08 December 2015

Ronnie Manuel Joseph (my cousin/aspiring film-maker/already short-film-maker) recommended this film to me. Another incentive to watch was that there was Peter Dinklage in it. When I did a brief search online I found that this film was his breakthrough role. The story follows a lonely man who moves to a train depot which he inherited and his experience with the people whom he meets there. 

'The Station Agent' is a light-hearted, simple film. Some of the characters were really great - my favourites are Cleo the kid and the non-stop talking Joe. The alienation faced by people who are 'different' in our society and the general public's attitude toward them, shown through the film, is easily recognizable from all around us. People should see people as people. The walks through the railway tracks, the train watching, the pocket watch, all were elements that strike you emotionally as well as being realistic. It is the normality of the whole film that makes it special. A wonderful watch.

Book - 61, A Dance with Dragons

A Dance with Dragons (2011)

by

George R R Martin

Book Read: 04-15 March 2016

Note Written: 22 June 2016

'A Dance with Dragons' is massive, going over a thousand pages. It took me nine days of commute reading to finish the book (I think I am getting faster at reading with each book). The novel is a delight for the fans of the series but the problem is that there are too many characters in it, too many perspectives to follow, too many settings to know and still more of new popping up. 

George R R Martin could have split the book neatly as he did with 'A Storm of Swords'. I think even the author is experimenting with the styles of crafting a massive series such as this. 

As usual, there are many plot twists, horrific deaths, moments of awe and everything you expect from the series and the author. You also find additional stuff than the TV series, which has actually moved ahead of the book with the season just aired. Still, once you have read the books and watched the series, you feel like a 'know-it-all' and can throw in facts here and there during GoT discussions to the annoyance and wonder of the 'only TV series' people. It's a great feeling, hehe. It goes something like this, "See, in the book it is like this..."