"Struck by Lightning" - the story which has changed my thinking

5/02/2015

Hello everyone! 

First of all I'd love to say big THANK YOU for being here! :)
My number of visits has been increasing like never recently and it makes me very happy and proud! 
Also I feel more obligated with my blog now - if somebody reads it, I need to spend more time on it. So as you probably noticed I enriched the apperance of my blog, hope you like it.
 - Now you can find link to My Pinterest so that maybe find out more about me.
 - There is also "Movie trailers" at the bottom of the site. If you want to know which movie it comes from just click the little sign "connection" next to "widening the screen" bottom. I wish you fruitful movies searching! These ones found by chance always were interesting for me! 

About one I'm going to write today. That one is really important for me. There is also a book, which came after the movie -  it has been originaly as a script. So 2 in 1 - book and the movie, which form whole.
                       Both worth your time. Both worth exploring. Both worth reflecting.
Here we go!




- About the author firstly - 

I wouldn't be myself if I didin't write about this man. His name is Chris Colfer, mostly known from his Golden Globe - winning role of Kurt in series "Glee". I love Glee, but I discovered him much more earlier. I discovered him at the time I really needed that kind of discovery. I know it sounds a bit like non-sens but that's excatly what I can say. 

Chris Colfer is a young, intelligent and extremely talented human who inspires me in each cathegory of my life. I started believe in my own art work, seeing him, so young (24 years old!), being NYT-bestselling author. He has already written own series "The Land of Stories" counting 4 books so far (4th soon publishing) and totally different book - Struck by Lightning. 
I feel kind of braver, seeing him being frank and direct about important matters. He supports many organisations, he helps animals, fights for equality. He speaks about young's problems (e.g. bullying he even experienced) and alarm to solve them. He announce to be ourselves and be proud of our differences. He has also got fantastic distance to himself so that it makes him even more admirable. 
Because you should know, he has got very characteristic, high voice, very unusual for a man. It's checked he can sing high "F" normally people can't (at least boys). He can joke of himself, which I've also improved. 
There is so much to say about him, but I'm running out of time a little. I'll come back with seperate post about Chris Colfer, be sure. But what I have to say still is Chris's sensitivity seen in his creating. This is the main thing I believe connects us somehow, that's why I admire his work so much.

We're all different. Some of people won't be as delighted of  Struck by Lightning story, some will. Our differences are needful, I know. But I will try to encourage to look at this work my way, because I got a great gift on this way - realization the sense of my days.

                                                          - Struck by Lightning movie - 
Why don't you see the trailer?


And the poster?


Do we have "see-try to remember" part after us?
Brilliant! 

The story seems maybe typical teenage american comedy - we have this look at american high school, these cheerleaders and so on... However we see it from perspective of Carson Phillips - the one who simply can't stand the whole situation. He wants to get out of this town and start his life-dream, being the journalist of the most famous american magazines. To make it possible, he has to do something remarkable so he starts running School Literary Magazine. However, to get others involved in, he starts complex process of blackmailing.

Enough for the action summary. 

My impressions about the movie:

I liked it very much. Honestly. Maybe it wasn't that kind of movie to be nominated to Oscar. 
Because this movie didn't intend to be like that. It entertains, has pleasant soundtrack but that movie is not (in my opinion) supposed to be scored like others: technical sides, variety of shots, dee]ep analysis of actors's play... No. "Struck by Lightning" is a message. The message expressed as a combination of words and pictures following to reflections and realizations. That's maybe why the movie hasn't become a blockbuster or something. Probably a lot of people expected simple entertainment, not a message. Because when the movie is a message, we need to force our minds to thinking. Not only during watching or just afterwards, I'm thinking about the message EVEN today, while I've watched the movie few months ago. 

What I can say more? I was really nicely surprised by Chris (again!). When an actor gets a original and characteristic role (Jack Sparrow, Harry Potter etc.) - in that case Kurt Hummel in "Glee" series, it's very hard to cut off the previous experiences and show all other acting abilities. For me, Chris created special character, which I bought completely. If I can identify with the character while watching, I believe the actor did good job. And Chris did. 

 - Struck by Lightning book - 



Chris not only played. He also produced and wrote whole script, which drives the story, which drives the importance of the message. Then he decided to write (he's a really good writer!) a book too, which was a very good step as well - the book shows even more details about Carson Philips's character. We can understand him more. I recommend always order: first book - then the movie
In that case it's little ironic talking about the order, but if you have a choice, follow mine. 
The book contains also something movie doesn't. I mean effects of writing works in school magazine. In the movie it would be boring to look at the screen and just read: because it's a movie. But here you have even more to focus on: each story I took is a next young people's problem hidden behind original metaphors. That makes the whole story very true and complex. And of course the specific humor - believe me, you will have moments like: oh, Carson (lots of laugh right now).

I know this review is pretty chaotic but I want to include it in my Book Challenge 2015 as the response for point: THE AUTHOR IS UNDER 30. 
I put grade 10 (trust me, I'm objective but lately reading too many fantastic books) and hope you accept this one exception :) 

The Message of Struck by Lighting  
- it's not spoiling, because everyone will explore this message by their own. 
That's what I explored. That's how it affected to me. 

I don't remember the thing which influenced my attitude to life so strong like this story. Struck by Lightning showed me that I should be happy of every day in my life. I shouldn't wait for my life to begin, because it's NOW. Now is my life. Now is the most important. I should dream and fight for my dreams, but I won't be completely happy if I will focus on my life plan only. Each day is different and actually nothing will be as we see it. The point to appreciate our now, then the unexpected future will be good for us too. 
We should live by now, because we don't know if we'll be struck by lightning the next day.




Thank you for being here. 


                                                                                                                    ~ GigiBax 




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3 comments

  1. Replies
    1. good point!
      soon a review of "The Land of Stories" 1st book ! ;)

      Delete
  2. Chris, Chirs, Chris and you know....... hahahaha <3 #love

    ReplyDelete