Trends in Entertainment

Have you all noticed the trend in fairytale based movies lately? Oh, and TV shows, too. Once Upon a Time, anyone? (Yes, I am a big fan, just FYI. If you haven’t already, I recommend checking it out.) Two current versions of Snow White, Red Riding Hood (which I finally saw), and now Hansel and Gretel (which I need to see). And if we look back a few years, some great, and fairly current, versions of Cinderella.

And personally, I really like this trend, because I have always been a big fan of fairy tales.  Seriously, who doesn’t love a little happily ever after every now and then?

Also, I’m hearing (and seeing) announcements for a number of multi-cultural historical books being sold, which I find exciting, because these stories are different, and different is interesting.  And I am also a fan of culture and history, so putting the two together sounds like a good combination to me.

What else? Alternate reality stories. LOVE. Great stories about plagues, and toppled governments, and characters who leap off the pages with their tough bravado as they try to restore and rebuild broken societies.

I’m excited about all these trends, and looking forward to seeing the movies and reading the books. What about you? What new trends/movies/books are you exciting to you?

That Fairy Tale Life

Dudes. I don’t watch a lot of TV. Seriously, I think Chopped is about the only show I watch regularly because it’s on late at night as I’m getting ready for bed. But every once in a while, there is an exception.

Like the new abc series, Once Upon a Time. *clutches chest* LOVE!

Usually, when I find a TV series and watch it regularly, it’s because I love both the characters and the storyline. But this one’s even better, because it has been created out of stories and characters I already loved, put a new twist on all my favorite fairy tales, and plunked them down in the modern world.

More love!

This is what it feels like to be on the other side of brilliant writing. It’s a learning experience, and not just for writers, but for everyone. I think whenever you take a perfect life lesson and turn it and twist it and move it into different places and take it to new heights, it makes us question our morals, our values, and our how far we would go for love, life, and the pursuit of, well, happily ever after.

What’s more, it makes me personally evaluate my own happily ever after. Have I reached that place yet? Keeping in mind that life changes daily, I ask myself if I died tomorrow, would I be happy with the life I’ve lived?

I still have a long bucket list, so I hope I don’t die tomorrow. But if I did, if some freak accident happened and I was hit by lightning or a bus or dropped off a cliff, would I be able to say I’d loved as deeply as I could, given back to the world in the best way I knew how, and affected someone else’s life for the better?

I certainly hope so. What about you? Are you living a fairy-tale kind of life?

Recipe for a Happy Ending

So. Given that we’ve established what it takes to defeat the forces of evil and let love conquer all, do we automatically assume our story has a happy ending?

Okay, not always. Just because the hero managed to vanquish the evil villain doesn’t mean they automatically ride off into the sunset with his/her prince/princess and live happily ever after. What about the loose ends? What about the consequences of the battle? What about the sacrifices made by everyone involved? What happens to the other characters in the story?

Just because the hero solved his/her own problem doesn’t mean the world has been saved and everyone is happy. No. I think a true happy ending is usually somewhat bittersweet. There is some loss, some heartache and pain. Establishing a happy ending should require rebuilding of broken ideals, foundations, or…windows (whatever). It might even require an apology. *gasps*

Whenever one of life’s battles ensues, there’s a fallout that seems to be remarkably absent in fairy tale stories. And guilt. What about guilt? Does the hero ever feel guilty for his/her part in the death or destruction of the villain? Even if they deserved it?

These are things to be considered before jumping on that noble steed to ride off into the sunset. So. Just because the battle is over and the good guys won, never forget that there is always more around the corner. Another battle to fight, another city to rebuild, another consequence to face.

Don’t fear it, just remember it. Acknowledge it. And then, when it comes, hopefully, you—ahem, I mean, your hero—will be ready to face it.

All the Forces of Evil

Okay, so staying on the same subject as Monday’s post, (and because I’m apparently on a fairy tale kick) if love conquers all, is that all it takes to save the world from all the forces of evil?

Well, okay, I suppose you probably need a sword or a bow and quiver of arrows or special powers or something. And a plan. Yes, a plan is a good thing, don’t you think? Because bad guys are devious and smart, so you can’t just expect to waltz into their evil lair and defeat them simply with your presence.

Or can you? Does intimidation work? Maybe sometimes. In real life it does affect some things. But I think probably the best weapon generally ends up being words. Even the good guy with the sharpest sword (or the strongest power or whatever) ends up talking their way into and out of messes on a regular basis. Yes?

And then, in the climactic moment when something has to give, it’s words that ultimately have the most impact on the outcome of the battle.

So, besides being brave, I think in order for the good guy to defeat the evil stepmother-turned-dragon (ala Enchanted) he or she needs to be intelligent and well spoken. They need to have it in them to run toward the scary dragon while everyone else is running away, asking why? Why did this happen? Why to this person or these people and in this situation? And how can I fix it or make it better?

Because only by running toward the forces of evil can the hero realize what needs to be done to save the day. Happens all the time in real life, just not in such an obvious way. Think about it. Is there a situation in your life in which words have won a battle for you? I’d love to hear about it.