Joshua Grover-David Patterson
@joshuagroverdavid.bsky.social
Author of five books, including Kindle bestseller Blood Calling. Award-winning screenwriter. Freelance journalist.
Granted: Almost no second acts are as good as the first. So, there's that, as well.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Granted: Almost no second acts are as good as the first. So, there's that, as well.
But, yeah. The second act doesn't really add anything and the "twists" are just there to try to keep plates spinning.
That's why it isn't as good.
That's why it isn't as good.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
But, yeah. The second act doesn't really add anything and the "twists" are just there to try to keep plates spinning.
That's why it isn't as good.
That's why it isn't as good.
As a story by itself, I think it's fine. But in the context it's supposed to be context-ing, it doesn't actually work.
Clearly, the story has brought happiness to millions, and millions of dollars as well.
I should be so lucky to do something like this.
Clearly, the story has brought happiness to millions, and millions of dollars as well.
I should be so lucky to do something like this.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
As a story by itself, I think it's fine. But in the context it's supposed to be context-ing, it doesn't actually work.
Clearly, the story has brought happiness to millions, and millions of dollars as well.
I should be so lucky to do something like this.
Clearly, the story has brought happiness to millions, and millions of dollars as well.
I should be so lucky to do something like this.
If you've read the original Oz novels, you know the story of Dorothy's companions, and they don't match up with the ones in the show.
Moreover, while the story tries mightily to give some kind of happiness or at least a bittersweet ending, and it... doesn't really work in context.
Moreover, while the story tries mightily to give some kind of happiness or at least a bittersweet ending, and it... doesn't really work in context.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
If you've read the original Oz novels, you know the story of Dorothy's companions, and they don't match up with the ones in the show.
Moreover, while the story tries mightily to give some kind of happiness or at least a bittersweet ending, and it... doesn't really work in context.
Moreover, while the story tries mightily to give some kind of happiness or at least a bittersweet ending, and it... doesn't really work in context.
The truth is, there's nothing for the second act to do.
There are twists, yes, but at the end of the first act we've established that the Wizard (spoilers, I guess?) is the bad guy and the Witch is the good guy.
Everything else is irrelevant or flat-out breaks the canon of the story.
There are twists, yes, but at the end of the first act we've established that the Wizard (spoilers, I guess?) is the bad guy and the Witch is the good guy.
Everything else is irrelevant or flat-out breaks the canon of the story.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The truth is, there's nothing for the second act to do.
There are twists, yes, but at the end of the first act we've established that the Wizard (spoilers, I guess?) is the bad guy and the Witch is the good guy.
Everything else is irrelevant or flat-out breaks the canon of the story.
There are twists, yes, but at the end of the first act we've established that the Wizard (spoilers, I guess?) is the bad guy and the Witch is the good guy.
Everything else is irrelevant or flat-out breaks the canon of the story.
Apparently, to the point where audience members sometimes leave after the first act.
Which is crazy, given the cost of theater tickets.
But I get it.
I thought it was weird that some people were thinking the movie would fix the problem -- because it isn't fixable.
Which is crazy, given the cost of theater tickets.
But I get it.
I thought it was weird that some people were thinking the movie would fix the problem -- because it isn't fixable.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Apparently, to the point where audience members sometimes leave after the first act.
Which is crazy, given the cost of theater tickets.
But I get it.
I thought it was weird that some people were thinking the movie would fix the problem -- because it isn't fixable.
Which is crazy, given the cost of theater tickets.
But I get it.
I thought it was weird that some people were thinking the movie would fix the problem -- because it isn't fixable.
I can relate, though at this point I want to go a hotel room and not talk to anyone for like a year.
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I can relate, though at this point I want to go a hotel room and not talk to anyone for like a year.
My only real concern is: Can the author keep it up?
He says he's got three books to go, so... fingers crossed.
He says he's got three books to go, so... fingers crossed.
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
My only real concern is: Can the author keep it up?
He says he's got three books to go, so... fingers crossed.
He says he's got three books to go, so... fingers crossed.
And that's the third thing, really. The book works because it does a lot of things, and does them all pretty darn well. It's fun for gamers to suss out the rules. It's fun for Game of Thrones fans to follow all the politics. It's fun for people who just like good twists.
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
And that's the third thing, really. The book works because it does a lot of things, and does them all pretty darn well. It's fun for gamers to suss out the rules. It's fun for Game of Thrones fans to follow all the politics. It's fun for people who just like good twists.
It's going to sound odd, but it reminds me of my favorite college game, asking someone to try to explain Pulp Fiction.
Inevitably, they would say, "Well, the story is told out of order," and then just stare at the wall, trying to tease out the threads of the story.
But there are just too many.
Inevitably, they would say, "Well, the story is told out of order," and then just stare at the wall, trying to tease out the threads of the story.
But there are just too many.
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It's going to sound odd, but it reminds me of my favorite college game, asking someone to try to explain Pulp Fiction.
Inevitably, they would say, "Well, the story is told out of order," and then just stare at the wall, trying to tease out the threads of the story.
But there are just too many.
Inevitably, they would say, "Well, the story is told out of order," and then just stare at the wall, trying to tease out the threads of the story.
But there are just too many.
Second, the plot can't really be spoiled.
Unlike, say, Harry Potter, where you can spoil all the twists in about five sentences, so much happens in every DCC book that it would sound like utter nonsense to anyone who hasn't read it.
Unlike, say, Harry Potter, where you can spoil all the twists in about five sentences, so much happens in every DCC book that it would sound like utter nonsense to anyone who hasn't read it.
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Second, the plot can't really be spoiled.
Unlike, say, Harry Potter, where you can spoil all the twists in about five sentences, so much happens in every DCC book that it would sound like utter nonsense to anyone who hasn't read it.
Unlike, say, Harry Potter, where you can spoil all the twists in about five sentences, so much happens in every DCC book that it would sound like utter nonsense to anyone who hasn't read it.
Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Either way, I hope these next two books knock it out of the park.
And if there's more after that, I'll try to savor every one of them.
Either way, I hope these next two books knock it out of the park.
And if there's more after that, I'll try to savor every one of them.
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Either way, I hope these next two books knock it out of the park.
And if there's more after that, I'll try to savor every one of them.
Either way, I hope these next two books knock it out of the park.
And if there's more after that, I'll try to savor every one of them.
But it's hard to envision a world where King isn't out there, somewhere, with another one in the pipeline.
Apparently his son, Joe Hill, has decided to take his 50s and put out a novel a year.
It feels, in some way, like he's trying to ease us all through the loss of his iconic father.
Apparently his son, Joe Hill, has decided to take his 50s and put out a novel a year.
It feels, in some way, like he's trying to ease us all through the loss of his iconic father.
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
But it's hard to envision a world where King isn't out there, somewhere, with another one in the pipeline.
Apparently his son, Joe Hill, has decided to take his 50s and put out a novel a year.
It feels, in some way, like he's trying to ease us all through the loss of his iconic father.
Apparently his son, Joe Hill, has decided to take his 50s and put out a novel a year.
It feels, in some way, like he's trying to ease us all through the loss of his iconic father.
And the fact that his most recent novel had to be massively rewritten.
And... he only has two novels in the pipeline. The third Talisman book, and one more Holly novel.
I understand, of course, that King owes us nothing. He's written 80-something books, if my math is right.
And... he only has two novels in the pipeline. The third Talisman book, and one more Holly novel.
I understand, of course, that King owes us nothing. He's written 80-something books, if my math is right.
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
And the fact that his most recent novel had to be massively rewritten.
And... he only has two novels in the pipeline. The third Talisman book, and one more Holly novel.
I understand, of course, that King owes us nothing. He's written 80-something books, if my math is right.
And... he only has two novels in the pipeline. The third Talisman book, and one more Holly novel.
I understand, of course, that King owes us nothing. He's written 80-something books, if my math is right.
But I really do think we're short on time, now. And I think Stephen knows it.
He sold his radio stations, of course.
But then, there's all the talk of his hip surgery. And how he's walking with a cane pretty much all the time, now.
He sold his radio stations, of course.
But then, there's all the talk of his hip surgery. And how he's walking with a cane pretty much all the time, now.
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
But I really do think we're short on time, now. And I think Stephen knows it.
He sold his radio stations, of course.
But then, there's all the talk of his hip surgery. And how he's walking with a cane pretty much all the time, now.
He sold his radio stations, of course.
But then, there's all the talk of his hip surgery. And how he's walking with a cane pretty much all the time, now.
I suspect most people already watched their Keaton faves when the news broke, but the next time you're looking for a movie that's basically a warm hug... this one is for you.
Bonus: Eugene Levy absolutely kills it, and Josh Peck has a great moment.
Bonus: Eugene Levy absolutely kills it, and Josh Peck has a great moment.
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I suspect most people already watched their Keaton faves when the news broke, but the next time you're looking for a movie that's basically a warm hug... this one is for you.
Bonus: Eugene Levy absolutely kills it, and Josh Peck has a great moment.
Bonus: Eugene Levy absolutely kills it, and Josh Peck has a great moment.
Put bluntly, it's a real standard script -- old friends meet up at a summer camp reunion decades later. It's been done. It's been done quite a bit.
But the cast, which is stellar, makes it work. It's a film funning on 98% charm.
But the cast, which is stellar, makes it work. It's a film funning on 98% charm.
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Put bluntly, it's a real standard script -- old friends meet up at a summer camp reunion decades later. It's been done. It's been done quite a bit.
But the cast, which is stellar, makes it work. It's a film funning on 98% charm.
But the cast, which is stellar, makes it work. It's a film funning on 98% charm.
I'm not going to claim it's brilliant -- but I will claim that it's the kind of movie they don't make very much these days. It's a movie for adults.
Shove it back three decades and it probably would have done Grumpy Old Men numbers.
Shove it back three decades and it probably would have done Grumpy Old Men numbers.
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I'm not going to claim it's brilliant -- but I will claim that it's the kind of movie they don't make very much these days. It's a movie for adults.
Shove it back three decades and it probably would have done Grumpy Old Men numbers.
Shove it back three decades and it probably would have done Grumpy Old Men numbers.
Keaton's current last film, Summer Camp, came and went in 2024. My kid and I happened to catch it as a "blind" movie at our local theater -- you pay your $5 and you takes your chances.
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Keaton's current last film, Summer Camp, came and went in 2024. My kid and I happened to catch it as a "blind" movie at our local theater -- you pay your $5 and you takes your chances.
Children of the Corn benefits from solid casting, a 10/10 opening, and some simple effects that really work well.
For the record: 2 is an oddball, campy thing that's worth a look. And III is quite good and has some very fun effects. Also a solid final twist. (And a Charlize Theron cameo!)
For the record: 2 is an oddball, campy thing that's worth a look. And III is quite good and has some very fun effects. Also a solid final twist. (And a Charlize Theron cameo!)
November 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Children of the Corn benefits from solid casting, a 10/10 opening, and some simple effects that really work well.
For the record: 2 is an oddball, campy thing that's worth a look. And III is quite good and has some very fun effects. Also a solid final twist. (And a Charlize Theron cameo!)
For the record: 2 is an oddball, campy thing that's worth a look. And III is quite good and has some very fun effects. Also a solid final twist. (And a Charlize Theron cameo!)