Literature:  I had started reading the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series in 2011, but in January of this year I read the third through fifth ones.  I also read Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and Dumas' The Three Musketeers, and, amongst my Nobel Laureate readings, some of the work of Jose Saramago and Aleksandr…

Literature:  I had started reading the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series in 2011, but in January of this year I read the third through fifth ones.  I also read Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and Dumas' The Three Musketeers, and, amongst my Nobel Laureate readings, some of the work of Jose Saramago and Aleksandr…

The size/location of the barricade is actually historically accurate, from what I understand.

The size/location of the barricade is actually historically accurate, from what I understand.

Even in the novel, frankly, I don't think the stuff after Valjean and wee little Cosette make it to the convent lives up to the strongest parts in the beginning and middle.  There are long segments where Valjean, the most compelling and central character, isn't onscreen at all.

Even in the novel, frankly, I don't think the stuff after Valjean and wee little Cosette make it to the convent lives up to the strongest parts in the beginning and middle.  There are long segments where Valjean, the most compelling and central character, isn't onscreen at all.

As I recall, his grandfather really doesn't have all that much money anymore; Cosette's (i.e., Valjean's) money is what guarantees their future.

As I recall, his grandfather really doesn't have all that much money anymore; Cosette's (i.e., Valjean's) money is what guarantees their future.

He would, really, have to know that, because there's no reason to suspect they would run off with her without getting Eskimo Joe (who is, to all appearances, the whole reason they're there to begin with) unless Broomhilda is their main interest.

He would, really, have to know that, because there's no reason to suspect they would run off with her without getting Eskimo Joe (who is, to all appearances, the whole reason they're there to begin with) unless Broomhilda is their main interest.

Many things, since the issues dealt with have many contemporary repercussions?  Django alone has drawn fire both from conservatives (though they tend to do that for everything he does, for one reason or another) and some corners of the black community (i.e., Spike Lee).  Just because it's set in the past doesn't…

Many things, since the issues dealt with have many contemporary repercussions?  Django alone has drawn fire both from conservatives (though they tend to do that for everything he does, for one reason or another) and some corners of the black community (i.e., Spike Lee).  Just because it's set in the past doesn't…

While there's no real sense of threat, I see the post-shootout stuff as something akin to pure character development.  They put Django more or less back where he was at the start of the film (in chains in a caravan), without Magical Whitey Dr. Schultz to rescue him, and he escapes by using his guile (something he…

While there's no real sense of threat, I see the post-shootout stuff as something akin to pure character development.  They put Django more or less back where he was at the start of the film (in chains in a caravan), without Magical Whitey Dr. Schultz to rescue him, and he escapes by using his guile (something he…

He gave an interview to Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at The Root a few days ago (Part 1 of one, anyway) a few days ago where he talks about some of his ideas for the future (among other things):

He gave an interview to Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at The Root a few days ago (Part 1 of one, anyway) a few days ago where he talks about some of his ideas for the future (among other things):

I mean what if Candie had said okay, you can have her too, but she has to stay here as a kind of insurance that you're not just wasting my time and screwing me over. Is that giving Candie too much credit though?

I mean what if Candie had said okay, you can have her too, but she has to stay here as a kind of insurance that you're not just wasting my time and screwing me over. Is that giving Candie too much credit though?

I thought it was impressive, albeit somewhat undisciplined in its story.

I thought it was impressive, albeit somewhat undisciplined in its story.