I recently came across some photos I had copied and stored on my computer during my “SNAG!” phase. (So Nuts About Gerry – that’s Gerard Butler to those of you aren’t privy to his nickname.) I would be. Privy, that is – since I spent much of my time following (not stalking, mind you) his daily routine.
Having confessed this let me assure you I no longer follow his every move, to the relief of my children.
As I looked at the photos it occurred to me how much television and movies color our opinions. They tend to "romanticize" the bad guys. Now since I write romance, I certainly can understand the appeal. Nevertheless, I do find irony in some of the portrayals.
They can rewrite history; turning historical villains into heartthrobs. I can not believe Attila had a six pack, toned thighs and a sexy five o'clock shadow. In this case I would say Hollywood, while not historically accurate, definitely improved the man. I know I did my share of drooling.
Having confessed this let me assure you I no longer follow his every move, to the relief of my children.
As I looked at the photos it occurred to me how much television and movies color our opinions. They tend to "romanticize" the bad guys. Now since I write romance, I certainly can understand the appeal. Nevertheless, I do find irony in some of the portrayals.
They can rewrite history; turning historical villains into heartthrobs. I can not believe Attila had a six pack, toned thighs and a sexy five o'clock shadow. In this case I would say Hollywood, while not historically accurate, definitely improved the man. I know I did my share of drooling.
Attila (the Hun) a romantic?
Look at "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," portrayed by Paul Newman and Robert Redford. They certainly didn't seem like the notorious train and bank robbers they were in real life.
In the movie we get to listen to the whimsical "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" soundtrack while Paul Newman rides a bike a with Katherine Ross on the handle bars. Hardly the scary, gun-toting criminal he was. I imagine the fact that the movie is only "loosely" based on the true lives of .Butch & Sundance makes up for the fact that the audience comes away sympathetic to their demise.
According to Wikipedia the movie ranks among the 100 top-grossing movies of all time and the top 10 for its decade. Amazingly, in 2003, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Really? Don't get me wrong, I liked to movie but I can't believe it was historically significant.
In the movie we get to listen to the whimsical "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" soundtrack while Paul Newman rides a bike a with Katherine Ross on the handle bars. Hardly the scary, gun-toting criminal he was. I imagine the fact that the movie is only "loosely" based on the true lives of .Butch & Sundance makes up for the fact that the audience comes away sympathetic to their demise.
According to Wikipedia the movie ranks among the 100 top-grossing movies of all time and the top 10 for its decade. Amazingly, in 2003, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Really? Don't get me wrong, I liked to movie but I can't believe it was historically significant.
 Robert LeRoy Parker, known as Butch Cassidy |  Harry Longabaugh, the "Sundance Kid" |
"Phantom of the Opera" starring Gerard Butler :)
Even a Phantom,with a hideously scarred face, kept hidden behind a mask, can come off as the victim, rather than the murdering monster he truly has become.
Now in this movie, as was in the stage production, the beautiful, romantic music pulls the audience in and creates a sympathetic bond with the Phantom.
When I first saw this movie, (all six times in the theater) It didn't bother me how artfully manipulative the Phantom acted. My thoughts were more in tune with, "Oh my God, he is so sexy. He can take me to his lair, and have his way with me, any time he wants. Now, of course, the Phantom was played by Gerry, so what do you expect.
After seeing the movie with my daughter, who was ten at the time, I remember having a conversation.
I said, "You shouldn't feel sorry for the Phantom. He was a bad person. He killed people."
She said, "But, mom, he didn't mean to. He was just misunderstood. He loved Christine sooooo much."
"Okay, that's true but remember it's just a movie. In real life it would not be romantic".
Now in this movie, as was in the stage production, the beautiful, romantic music pulls the audience in and creates a sympathetic bond with the Phantom.
When I first saw this movie, (all six times in the theater) It didn't bother me how artfully manipulative the Phantom acted. My thoughts were more in tune with, "Oh my God, he is so sexy. He can take me to his lair, and have his way with me, any time he wants. Now, of course, the Phantom was played by Gerry, so what do you expect.
After seeing the movie with my daughter, who was ten at the time, I remember having a conversation.
I said, "You shouldn't feel sorry for the Phantom. He was a bad person. He killed people."
She said, "But, mom, he didn't mean to. He was just misunderstood. He loved Christine sooooo much."
"Okay, that's true but remember it's just a movie. In real life it would not be romantic".
We have now romanticized vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters. There are books, movies and television shows dedicated to creatures previously thought of as creepy.
Twilight became an instant bestseller, debuting at #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list within a month of its release and later peaking at #1. The novel was also the biggest selling book of 2008 and the second biggest selling of 2009, only behind its sequel New Moon. (according to Wikipedia)
Hardly the first book written about creatures of the night. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1818. Then there is Bram Stoker's Gothic horror novel Dracula written in 1897.While the Dracula and Frankenstein scared the bejeebees out of me, what is read nowadays or shown on TV or the big screen doesn't have the same feel. They don't emanate a sense of danger, rather we are intrigued, charmed, even seduced.
Twilight became an instant bestseller, debuting at #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list within a month of its release and later peaking at #1. The novel was also the biggest selling book of 2008 and the second biggest selling of 2009, only behind its sequel New Moon. (according to Wikipedia)
Hardly the first book written about creatures of the night. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1818. Then there is Bram Stoker's Gothic horror novel Dracula written in 1897.While the Dracula and Frankenstein scared the bejeebees out of me, what is read nowadays or shown on TV or the big screen doesn't have the same feel. They don't emanate a sense of danger, rather we are intrigued, charmed, even seduced.
 |  |
The following endorsement is 100% true!
Speaking of intrigued, charmed, and seduced... this is certainly the case with the men in Nancy Gideon's paranormal romance series, "Mooonlight".
Max Savoie, from the first book, Masked By Moonlight, is sweet and funny and incredibly sexy, even though he is a shape-shifter. The author had me hooked before I finished reading the prologue! I love the following blurb - taken from Nancy Gideon's website: "If Max is the murderer she seeks, Cee Cee might be his next victim. She can’t afford to trust any man. Good thing Max isn't one." Publishers Weekly starred review said, " Intriguing characters and zippy action." I agree!
Her latest book, Seeker of Shadows, is due out in May and promises to be every bit as great as the others in the series.
Max Savoie, from the first book, Masked By Moonlight, is sweet and funny and incredibly sexy, even though he is a shape-shifter. The author had me hooked before I finished reading the prologue! I love the following blurb - taken from Nancy Gideon's website: "If Max is the murderer she seeks, Cee Cee might be his next victim. She can’t afford to trust any man. Good thing Max isn't one." Publishers Weekly starred review said, " Intriguing characters and zippy action." I agree!
Her latest book, Seeker of Shadows, is due out in May and promises to be every bit as great as the others in the series.
So what does all this say about me? Basically, I can be intrigued, charmed, and seduced by even a villainous character as long as he has a six pack, toned thighs and a sexy five o'clock shadow especially if he looks like Gerard Butler.
RSS Feed