1519 - The Road

 I think this is the closest I've ever finished reading something and then watched it's film counter-part.  And really, it's not all that fair to the movie.  So... that being said.
I love the look.  It's pretty impressive scope to have all that devastation surrounding your actors.  Viggo and Kodi Smit-McPhee are pretty much perfect as the father and son duo.  I think that giving The Man a voice over worked well enough.  While trying not to compare this to the source material, I have to say that there was a little disconnect.  I didn't feel the desperation that I felt while reading the book.  I never really felt like these two were in grave danger of anything.  I think this is because of the tone and feel of the book - it's more intimate.  I'd be interested to talk to people who have seen the film but know nothing of the book.  Don't get me wrong - the film is pretty decent - I think that there are quite a few things that I would done a little differently, but to each their own.
It's a film that's full of wonderful performances, large and small.  There is some fantastic acting here and some really great moments.  For me, like with most adaptations, I think it captures a decent amount of the book, but I do feel like it rushed over a bunch and therefore wasn't in keeping with the spirit of the original text.
Either way, worth checking it out - although far warning - it's not exactly the feeling good film of the year :)
The Road  The Road [Blu-ray]

The Road

I'm a little behind the rest of the world on reading this masterwork.  I was loaned it after seeing No Country For Old Men in the theatres, and it's been sitting on my shelf ever since.  I knew it would be good, but I also knew that it was going to be heavy and so I put it off until I was in "the mood" whatever the hell that means...
While in the middle of reading this I described it to someone as "Take The Walking Dead and remove the hope".  But now I don't think that's true.  In fact, I think what this book about is hope.  Or, as McCarthy states, carrying the fire.
For those who don't know, it's about a post-apocalyptic world.  No explanation is given as to how long it's been this way, or what's happened.  We fellow a man and a boy, and that's the most they are ever described, and that's just fine.  As a father myself I found myself easily connecting to this book - profoundly so.  It broke my heart over and over, but mended it by the end (just barely).  It's the kind of book that makes you wonder how you would fare in the same situation, especially with a small child acting as your inner voice. 
I love McCarthy's simplistic writing style.  Despite the content, it's the kind of book that's a treat to read.  Pages turn effortlessly.  And it's the kind of book that you read quickly because you don't want to watch these people suffer anymore, but it's also the kind of book that you dread ending because it's so damn good, but also because... well... you know something has to happen...
This is a fantastic book and a quick read.  It's beautiful and affirming, heartbreaking, and earnest.  It's the kind of book that you just absolutely have to read.  I'm going to watch the film tonight - which should be interesting to see how they deal with the adaptation... stay tuned for that!
The Road --2007 publication