They are both really, really, really good. I watched the movie first then read the book and didn't think that either ruined the enjoyment of the other.

The movie's probably a little bit more fun because it's more American and has Cusack.

The movie is fairly faithful to the book. That said, I enjoyed the movie more, partly because of the soundtrack, and partly because I recognize the area. There is a Vintage Vinyl sticker on the counter in the record shop in the movie. I have shopped at Vintage Vinyl many times.

Also, if you like Jack Black at ALL, then the movie is a necessity.

William_Miller

South Berwick, ME

January 2005

APR 28, 2006 10:57 PM

"And, uh, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want'."
"No... immediate disqualification because of it's involvement with the Big Chill."
"Oh, God, you're right."

"The night's Laura daddy died, sha na na na na na na na... brother what a night it really was, mother what a night it really -- Angina's tough. Glory be, Brother what a night it really was, brother what a night, Angina's tough --" *shake shake shake slap slap*

I can go on. This is one of my favorite books and probably my fourth or fifth favorite movie ever.

[Edited on Apr 29, 2006 by William_Miller]

AkiraLi

Norristown, PA

March 2003

APR 28, 2006 11:08 PM

"We're no longer called Sonic Death Monkey. We're on the verge of becoming Kathleen Turner Overdrive, but just for tonight, we are Barry Jive and his Uptown Five. "

"You are as abandoned and noisy as any character in a porn film, Laura. You are Ian's plaything, responding to his touch with shrieks of orgasmic delight. No woman in the history of the world is having better sex than sex you are having with Ian... in my head."

"You guys are snobs. You feel like the unappreciated scholars, so you shit on everybody who knows less than you--"
"No!"
"--which is everybody"
"Yes"

[Edited on Apr 29, 2006 by Akira]

Jeff_Fries

Humptulips, WA

September 2003

APR 28, 2006 11:22 PM

Shalome said:
Just for the record, this thead inspired me to go watch this movie again, and it just finished.

I now feel warm and fuzzy, yet strangely melancholy, and am somewhat inspired to go paint.

It inspired me to reread Ebert's review, which gave me a similar feeling:

This is a film about--and also for--not only obsessed clerks in record stores, but the video store clerks who have seen all the movies, and the bookstore employees who have read all the books. Also for bartenders, waitresses, greengrocers in health food stores, kitchen slaves at vegetarian restaurants, the people at GNC who know all the herbs, writers for alternative weeklies, disc jockeys on college stations, salespeople in retro clothing shops, tattoo artists and those they tattoo, poets, artists, musicians, novelists, and the hip, the pierced and the lonely. They may not see themselves but they will recognize people they know.

adjunct

Philadelphia, PA

July 2002

APR 29, 2006 06:23 AM

Keith said:

Landed said:
Isn't the moral of the story in "High Fidelity" that Rob's life is so dominated by his obsession with music that it interferes with his relationships with women, though?

The moral is not that his love of music interferes with relationships, but rather that his desperate fear of commitment and success cause him to hide himself in music trivia. Maybe that's the same thing said differently, but to me the difference is key.

I also thought that Hornby was trying to say that Rob learns how to overcome this fear of commitment through his love of music, specifically love songs. All of the musing in the book on love songs seemed to be about learning about what devotion sounds like, and taking from that what he could to make the relationship work when things weren't going perfectly.

[Edited on Apr 29, 2006 by adjunct]

Kris7

Bridgewater, MA

July 2003

APR 29, 2006 06:50 AM

Shalome said:
"Autobiographical."

I actually attempted to put my CD's in autobiographical order after seeing this movie, but I was having too much trouble remembering where and when I get some of them. I'd like to try it again, but it's kind of pointless now that most of them are now on my computer.

I love how this movie captured the importance of music not only for entertainment, but also as an essential tool in the process of healing and reflection on ones life. I don't like all the same kind of music that Rob likes, but I still love my music as deeply and thoroughly as he loves his, and that really connected with me.

Did anyone else here love the fact that Eighteen Visions had a song called "Sonic Death Monkey" on their album Vanity?

St_Expedite

New Orleans, LA

January 2004

APR 29, 2006 06:34 PM

I knew there was a reason I wore a skirt today.

JustAShadow

USA

July 2005

APR 29, 2006 06:38 PM

I can, with the utmost confidence, say No.

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San Francisco, CA

July 2004

APR 28, 2006 10:42 PM