Mark: if it just "reeks" then please DO NOT READ IT, read only the authors from about 1930-1950 and leave all other authors alone--they will JUST REEK of someone else's work! Do you NOT understand that it DOES NOT MATTER? if the authors don't care--why should you? and how do you not KNOW that other authors where not consulted beforehand--you don't...so leave it be...it's been done to death!

These books are for enjoyment, they are a person's imagination put into a very good order and put together very well; and should be enjoyed for what they are...

btw...for all you who critic these works as copies...if that's all you got...then that ought to tell you that the books are good and getting better all the time...

2nd btw...if you don't like reading "someone else's" works...don't read your histories---they too JUST REEK of someone else's work!

Y-no.

Every piece of literature should aim for originality. It's the only rule I abide by. It's like an inventor saying everything's already been invented--sorry sweetheart, but it just shows your own brainwave capacity. The 1930s comment also implies there are no good authors around today. May I please direct you to J.K. Rowling, Ian McEwan, Terry Pratchett, Markus Zusak and all the rest? If this truly is the only waste of celluoid junk you read, then, quite frankly, it's no surprise you think that.

Why should I care? Well, deerie, because I read them. I know how difficult it is being a writer and when some get through thanks to Mommy and Daddy's farm, after stealing everything from others, expect annoyance at the least.

These books are for enjoyment, they are a person's imagination put into a very good order and put together very well; and should be enjoyed for what they are...

I'm afraid not. Let's summarise Eragon: farmboy finds egg and thinks it's a rock (what an idiot). It becomes a dragon and saves him, turning into some deus ex machina and saying the world from the campness of a dude with a pathetic name. Oh ye, he wins too. This is me enjoying them for what they are; they are nothing and so I cannot enjoy them. Ya?

btw...for all you who critic these works as copies...if that's all you got...then that ought to tell you that the books are good and getting better all the time...

I am struggling to understand what you mean by that comment. Are you saying that plagiarism is the key to success? If so, it's no wonder you admire this brat.

2nd btw...if you don't like reading "someone else's" works...don't read your histories---they too JUST REEK of someone else's work!

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean at all by this (honestly!).

Past the Paolini example, there are those out there who do not aspire to be Tolkien wannabes, because they know of originality.

            When a discussion about the movie and the game of Lord of the Rings (LOTR) comes up everyone always tries to compare the two and decide which one is better; better at narrating a story or better at immersing the audience in the fictional world of Middle Earth or better at any number of other aspects. I am of a different mind: Why can’t we all just get along? Neither media is better than the other but rather each has its distinctive pros and cons.

First let’s examine the movie: In Tolkien’s LOTR series he created a vast and detailed world for the reader to enter. Most of the audience for the movies already knew the plot for the books and had an expectation of what would occur in the movie. However, regardless of what they knew or expected to happen, the movies were in effect just a visual portrayal of what someone else imagined the LOTR’s tale to be like; that someone being the director. In that sense there was far more rigidity in the movie than any other media (ie book, game). We, as the audience, had no say in what happened, but rather we were ‘along for the ride’ so to speak as the director and actors took us through the story/plot. Getting this real-life sensory (visual and auditory) portrayal is both positive and negative. Positively, it gives us a greater sense of ‘real’ than if we just imagined what was occurring. A movie entails seeing actual people interact, being in actual environments (whether they be real places or CG backdrops is irrelevant) and hearing actual sounds. While these are nice and, more often than not, add to the experience of the stories development they can have the negative effect of taking away from our imagination and creative input to the story. For example, if you read the LOTRs books you may imagine a scene differently than what the movie forces you to see and if the difference is substantial it can detract from the enjoyment and even remove you from your immersion in the story all together.

Now let’s contrast what is said above about movies with LOTRO (Lord of the Rings Online). Game play excels where the movies lack. Although every game is by definition “fiction and rules” (Juuls), LOTRO is the same fictional Middle Earth of the movies and books but with fewer rules. By that I mean that the audience, or in this case the player, has far more control over the outcomes and the stories progression. Yes, you can only do what the rules of the game allow you to do but they allow you to have a huge say in what actions are taken. Loosely, you follow the plot of the ‘One Ring’ and the actions in the world of Tolkien’s Middle Earth but with far more available options and paths. For instance, as a character I don’t have to follow the path Frodo took to Mordor nor go join the battle for Helms Deep. Rather, I can walk from town to town leisurely or go hang out with other LOTRO players or if I choose do exactly as I previously mentioned. There is no agenda one has to follow. On the other hand, whereas in a movie perceives a real world the game is far less stimulating. Not to the point where one will not be immersed in the fictional reality but the graphics are not a life-like simulation, the sounds are limited to what the game can produce, and the action is limited to what the game allows the characters to emote – run, swim, fight, etc.

            So to sum up: The movie puts you in the passenger seat of a reality and the game give you control of fiction. However, do not get the wrong impression about what I mean by that. I am neither challenging nor proving the superiority of movies over games or vice versa, but rather, qualifying both as useful tools. They simply do different things. And is different really so bad? Honestly, why can’t we all just get along?

My latest painting, approximately 15 hours in Photoshop:) It is called "With a Sigh" mainly because I had Arwen's song on repeat while I painted it, and used the elven princess as my inspiration source.

The final 7 millionaires in training have been selected through 7million7years.com and 7m7y.com and now it is time to take action. Massive action is now necessary in the great battle to achieve our goal together as a team, to prove that this grand experiment is possible and can and will happen if our purpose is great enough!

Hopefully, those of you who have fought with us up to this point to make this experiment happen will continue to join us and provide a source of support as well as learn along with us and reach your own financial goals in the process. This effort will help to develop a more concrete, repeatable plan that others can use to build wealth and reach their own financial dreams. In the upcoming days, months and years, we will all share our visions, our dreams, our methods, our ups and downs, all under the guidance of our own "King Theoden", an extremely successful multimillionaire, who dared to share his vision with us and pioneer this grand experiment to teach others how to become wealthy.

So grab your swords, bows and arrows and subscribe to 7 millionaires in training and join in the battle!

Crispin Freeman and Victoria Vives at SacAnime

Crispin Freeman is an amazing Voice Over artist. Some of his credits are: Final Fantasy VII, Pirates of the Caribean, Lord of The Rings, The Sopranos, Ice Age, and Digimon. He is also a Writer in the Pokémon series!!!!

Liam O'Brien and Victoria Vives at SacAnime

Sam Riegel & Victoria Vives | Victoria Vives & Neil Kaplan

Victoria Vives & Spike Spencer

Victoria Vives, Terry Taneie and Natasha Cordova, members of Kung Fu Femmes

Natasha and Victoria in a sword fight, video coming soon!!!

Biddy and Terry trying to get Victoria's teddy bear.  Video coming soon!!!!

VICTORIA VIVES
http://www.victoriavives.com/

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