Total let down ... twice

I think I was disappointed.

To begin with, NOT really a kids' movie. At least, not for kids who can't sit still and quietly for a good two hours.

Secondly, for a book that's touted for being about controlling and dealing with your anger and frustration, this movie (I think) took it the other way. Retribution. Aggression. Violence. Not at all what I would have expected to see in a movie based on such an amazing book. The part that really gets me is it was (co)produced by Maurice Sendak.

I was so excited to see it. But I left feeling unsettled. I really want(ed) to like the movie, but at first blush, I'm not so sure that I can.

I hope it does wonderful things for the sales of the original book though--I think it's a true addition to anyone's ex libris collection.

Another general let down. Great start, lots of energy, totally captured my attention. In fact, I read it in two sittings (I did the same thing with The DaVinci Code).

On the bright side, it was filled with symbolism and clarified forgotten meanings of many things (shocking... since isn't that really his schtick? I mean that in a good way--great tidbits of info in it, and for someone in my profession, I'm hoping those tidbits come in handy on some job someday). I spent several days in DC when I was in middle school, and not really mentally mature enough to realize what I was seeing, other than the fact that is was cool to see our nation's capitol. This book makes me want to go back and spend some time just meandering my way around, taking a "The Lost Symbol" tour of the city, much like what I'd love to do in Rome a la The DaVinci Code.

However, it started to sputter out by about 2/3 of the way through, and I thought actually started to drag. I felt like I was forcing myself to finish it. The denoument was too laboriously drawn out. There were a couple of good twists and turns in the plot, but the ending totally turned me off, fascinating lore though it may be.

Tomorrow I'm planning on scaring the total crap out of myself and going to see Paranormal Activity. Please let it be better than the Blair Witch Project!