The New York Times has one of those read-it-before-it-goes-behind-the-firewall stories, a profile of Goro Miyazaki and his recent adaptation of Ursula K. LeGuin’s THE FARTHEST SHORE. The story, written by Charles Solomon, covers the difficulties Miyazaki has as the son of perhaps the greatest animator of all times, and their sometimes strained relationship. It also contains the news that we won’t see GEDO SENKI here until maybe 2009 because stinky Sci-Fi Channel owns the domestic rights to the Earthseas books.
In a telephone interview from her home in Portland, Ore., Ms. Le Guin said: “Mr. Miyazaki’s movie won’t be shown as long as the Sci-Fi Channel people sit on their rights, which they have until ’09, unless they decide to stop being a dog in the manger.�? Representatives from the Sci-Fi Channel did not respond to calls seeking a comment.
Now this makes us sad — although attaining a copy of the movie won’t be too difficult, if you know what I mean — but it also makes us happy. Why? BECAUSE URSULA K. LEGUIN USED THE PHRASE “DOG IN THE MANGER”!
We’ve used this many times in conversation to blank stares. In fact no one we ever met had ever heard the phrase “dog in the manger,” which refers to one of Aesop’s fables. (Despite the fact it has over 100K references on Google.) We were beginning to think we were crazy and it was one of those weird family things that we let slip out now and then, like asking “What’s your capacity?” when dishing up macaroni and cheese. But Ursula K. LeGuin knows it, so we’re not crazy. In fact…we’re LITERATE! Yeah, baby! Suck that, bee-yotches!1000 fast loancredit loans 1000 bad forjobs 12 loan payday 17loan 125 credit equity homeequity loan 125 credit125 equity loan no homehome georgia equity loans 125pennsylvania loans home 125 equity Map
In fact no one we ever met had ever heard the phrase âdog in the mangerâ?
People don’t know what “dog in the manger” means? O_o I remember having a book of Aesop’s fables when I was little, and I even remember the little illustration that went with it. What are people reading to their kids these days? ;)
Just you wait — 2000 years from now, people are going to get puzzled looks for using terms like “muggle.”
There was a profile of Goro published by Reuters earlier this month at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061002/film_nm/japan_director_dc_1 that either sugarcoats the issues less or plays up the “father/son antagonism” more, depending on your point of view.
BTW, the headline and article need to correct the spelling of “Miyazaki.”
I’m confused. Last thing I heard about this adaptation Le Guin was being reported as hating it. Now she’s pissed that its american release is delayed?
And BTW Edward, my guess would be closer to 20 years than 2000.