Comments on: On the Glorious Alex Garland

By: Zombie Purism: My Creepy Creature Can Beat Up Your Creepy Creature! « Natalia Antonova

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:42:57 +0000

[...] in the aforementioned movies (the idea of a Rage virus was initially conceived by the brilliant Alex Garland, of course, and it feels eerily plausible), are very much alive, just murderously enraged. And some [...]

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:38:47 +0000

Never read The Beach but I did see the movie (I know, I know). I thought it did a pretty good job of capturing the flaws inherit in any attempt to create paradise. I don’t know if this scene was in the book but the way they dealt with the individual hurt in a shark attack summed it up for me.

By: Natalia Antonova

Natalia Antonova — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:51:19 +0000

Well hey there, FA. Long time no troll.

I have to admit, I originally deleted your comment… but since I know save all this stuff in a text file for posterity, I was able to change my mind.

‘Cause you are just so lovable and cute.

So, tell me, do you have a problem with reading Chekhov? He was pretty hot…

By: Feminist Anonymist

Feminist Anonymist — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:54:30 +0000

Spare it. the reason why you like Alex Garland (like the reason you like anything, from what I’ve learned of you) is because you think he is hot.

By: parallelsidewalk

parallelsidewalk — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:38:33 +0000

I love Garland (28 Days Later was pretty great too, even though the Garland-less sequel sucked). I’ve traveled a bit and met some backpackers that match up to characters in the book pretty well. This Cat and Girl seems choice at this point;

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2677/1652/1600/cg0395backpacker.gif

But anyway, yeah, I don’t really get his critics. I mean, I accept that I like some writers that others don’t and can often see why someone might dislike one of my pet authors, but seriously, pretty much every critique I’ve read has caused me to think “Umm, did you actually (read the book/watch the movie)?”

By: Natalia Antonova

Natalia Antonova — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:48:15 +0000

I think The Tesseract is the cat’s pajamas, personally. Haven’t read Coma yet.

I think it’s interesting that you compare the Odyssey to the Beach. I wouldn’t have thought of that. I think some basic elements really do ring true, but Richard is doesn’t just survive… he also romanticizes violence and war (kinda like Homer, no?).

And then when he’s confronted with reality, he’s like, “oh, shit.” The Beach is a book-gasm.

By: Cliff Burns

Cliff Burns — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:03:43 +0000

I think Garland captured some sort of zeitgeist with THE BEACH, though not so much with his other efforts. To be in danger far from home, having to rely on one’s own resourcefulness and survival skills…those are compelling components for a story from ANY age, from THE ODYSSEY to, yes, THE BEACH. Like revenge, some myths are timeless…