What Should I do #5: Cloverfield.

I was hoping to make an announcement about something cool tonight, but I got caught up working on a project and I don’t have the energy to do it justice right now. Tomorrow for sure…

However, It’s been a little while since I’ve answered the perennial question, “What should I do until your next book comes out?” Luckily, a friend dragged me to see Cloverfield on Saturday, and a good time was had by all.

Am I saying you should rush out and see it? No. But I will say the following…

1. I very much enjoyed it.

2. I suspect that people will either love the movie, or hate it. I don’t think many folks will be in the middle.

3. I expect that people who like my book will have a greater chance of liking Cloverfield than the general population.

Why?

Hmmm… That’s hard to say….

You remember those SAT questions they used to give? Like this?

Apple is to Pie, as Nathan Fillian is to _____

A) More different pie.
B) Duck.
C) Firefly.
D) All of the Above.

I don’t do reviews because I detest spoilers. (Speaking of which, feel free to give your own opinions of the movie in the comments below, but I’m declaring it a strict spoiler free zone. Prosecutors will be violated.)

But while I don’t review, I can give you an impression of the movie using this SAT format.

The Wheel of Time is to the Name of the Wind, as King Kong is to Cloverfield.

Not entirely accurate, but I think it gives a general feel for the flavor of the movie.

Maybe it’s the sleep deprivation talking, but these word puzzles are kinda fun. Now I can see why they constantly gave us those tests. Here’s one you can finish on your own.

Kvothe is to Harry Potter, as _____ is to _____.

Oh yeah. This seems like a really funny idea right now, but I know as soon as I open my eyes tomorrow I’m going to cringe in anticipation of what’ll be waiting for me in the comments…

Night all,

pat

This entry was posted in recommendationsBy Pat53 Responses

53 Comments

  1. Blake
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 8:09 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as free cake is to normal cake. Free cake is a whole lot better. yea, that sums it up. I’ll give it another go when its not 12 am.XD

  2. pdxtrent
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 9:19 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Panthers are to housecats, both look similar from a distance, but the closer you get, the feelings they inspire are……. notably different.And if I cringe at this in the AM it’s cause I’ve been up since almost this time yesterday morning.

  3. Dan Hawkins
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 10:20 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as James Bond is to Chuck Barris.Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Chuck Barris is to Ryan Seacrest.Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Charlie Kaufman is to John R. Cherry III.*Guess which movie I just watched.*Author of the “Ernest Goes to…” Movies

  4. Miriam
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 1:14 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Raistlin is to Micky Mouse in that Fantasia bit where he pretends to be a wizard and falls seriously short.

  5. Josh Anderson
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 1:33 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Prince Vultan is to Patrick Rothfuss.I know some may consider being compared to Harry a put down. I, however, do not. The kid is damn cool and I am not afraid to say it in Harry-Hating circles.For those that think it is, I am sorry, but while Pat’s authorical powers (yeah, I made that up) are obviously killer, Prince Vultan flies and carries a massive club. That’s pretty hard to compete with…

  6. Vorbis
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 1:44 PM | Permalink

    As Aragorn is to Belgarion. They may both be on a quest and destined to become King, but which one would you really want in your corner?

  7. Michael
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 1:46 PM | Permalink

    Kvote is to Harry Potter as Richard Rahl is to Eragon.

  8. Kelly Swails
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 2:28 PM | Permalink

    I loved Cloverfield too. Granted, I took a hit of dramamine before, and that helped. I laughed! I cried! I got a little seasick! What’s not to like? I’d pay full price to see it again. Hmmm. Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Jayne is to Wash. There’s only one badass in that room. One gets by on charm and luck while the other just fuckin’ kills everything that moves. (I’m a little over half-way through, by the way. Kvothe has just found his Aloine.)

  9. cpierson
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 2:37 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Don Cheadle is to Will Smith*. They’re both good at what they do, and they’re both talented, but Smith makes more money while Cheadle’s the better actor.(Alternately, Kvothe is Forest Whitaker, because he wins awards and hell, he’s the freakin’ Ghost Dog.)*: This would, of course, make Gandalf Sidney Poitier.Oh, and Cloverfield? Fantastic. And people who think its shakycam is too extreme clearly haven’t seen Dancer in the Dark.

  10. MSBaker
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 2:41 PM | Permalink

    Kelly – That’s too funny…you’re at the exact spot I am in the book! Good stuff…good stuff! I saw Cloverfield on opening night and LOVED it. It was one of the most intense movies I’ve ever seen. Granted, the lack of resolution left me wanting, but I loved the originality of the creature. Very nice. The motion didn’t bother me, either…I’ve been playing first-person-shooter games since ’92, so I’m very used to the movement.

  11. Mary J.
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 3:01 PM | Permalink

    Man, I’d wish I’d seen Cloverfield so I could post spoilers!(Violate me, please!) Anyway- think, think… Kvothe is to Harry Potter as <>Oblivion<> is to <>Two Worlds<>. I almost used my current addiction, <>Mass Effect<>, but I didn’t feel that would be an apples to apples comparison. I wonder if I can come up with a better one later in the morning?

  12. black Sunshine
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 3:49 PM | Permalink

    i also LOVED Cloverfield. not just for the hot, hot, hot girls in it . . . it was awesome! even more so for all the people that are getting sick (physically) from watching it!!!Kvothe is to Harry Potter as The Watchmen is to The Golden Compass. meaning, i’m waiting desperately to see the one on the big screen, and i’ve seen the movies of the other two, i have not read the books!damn, that kinda sucked. did it?

  13. Mainjari
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 3:54 PM | Permalink

    For the sake of science, I just wanted to say that I loved Name of the Wind and I loved Cloverfield. Pooh on those who hated it because they didn’t like shakycam (which I thought made it more fun).

  14. Jim C. Hines
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 4:44 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as–Hm. I wonder if anyone is writing Kvothe/Potter fanfic yet.Sorry. Short attention span this morning, and– Ooh, shiny.

  15. Jeff
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 5:46 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Chuck Norris is to Paris Hilton. I haven’t seen Cloverfield yet, but I’m sure planning on watching it sometime soon. While into movies and stuff, has anyone shown interest yet in making The Name of the Wind a motion picture?

  16. Pat
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 5:48 PM | Permalink

    Jeff: Kinda…. I don’t think I can talk about it in any detail yet…

  17. Jenna
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 5:55 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Post-Rock is to Emo.Post-Rock: Deep emotional content, starts out quiet and builds to resounding heights (and sometimes back down…), a whole range of good sounds and feelings. Not incredibly well-known, but with a devoted following. (See: God is an Astronaut.)Emo: All sounds the same after a while, following the same themes and tropes, generally fairly shallow-feeling. Very popular/well-known in the mainstream.8D

  18. Jenna
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 5:58 PM | Permalink

    And:PAT I JUST READ YOUR COMMENT AND IT MADE MY DAY, ALRIGHT? I THINK EVEN THE ‘I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you’ HINT MERITS THIS OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE OF CAPSLOCK.YES.<3

  19. Kip
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 6:19 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as D&D is to MMORPGsI’d rather have Belgarion than Aragorn anyday, Aragorn totally rubbed me the wrong way, as a matter of fact I completely dislike the Tolken series, It tends to get slow and awkward like some one shattered it’s knees. the Belgariad and the subsequent Mallorean have an nice comfortable Homey feel. (Also aragorn is a pervvy hobbit fancier). And if you hung around Belgarion, you would also get to know Silk, Barak, Relg, Belgarath, and the rest. My Author Heirarchy:<>George R.R. Martin<> (amazing)<>Patrick Rothfuss<> (Also Amazing, but less material than Martin)<>David Eddings<><> R.A. Salvadore<> (Drizzt is epic)<> Warren Ellis<><>Robert Asprin<><>Terry Goodkind<> (I just disagree with how he uses his magic to get his characters out of sticky situations)<>Peirs Anthony<><>Steven Erikson<><>Tad Williams<>there are others too.

  20. Amanda
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 6:28 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as ambrosia is to honey.:)

  21. rosa b.
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 6:34 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as the Colosseum is to Legoland.

  22. Sean
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 7:09 PM | Permalink

    I feel the need to point out that if you have to explain your word puzzle, it rather defeats the purpose of a word puzzle.That said…these are open for your own interpretation.Kvothe is to Harry Potter, …as Forrest Griffin is to Randy CoutureWhile we’re on the topic of ways to pass time, I enjoyed Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series.Pat,I can’t wait to read the next book, but for the love of all that is holy, please don’t let the series go the way of The Wheel of Time, Sword of Truth, and I fear The Song of Ice and Fire is going.Great epics were meant to end.p.s. Why no loving for Milwaukee? It’s so close, come sign books here!

  23. Gehennaheretic
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 9:04 PM | Permalink

    I was in the middle on Cloverfield. I recognize its quality, but have never been a fan of the ‘shaking camera’ technique. Unfortunately, Cloverfield wouldn’t have worked without the shaking camera technique.Harry Potter is to Kvothe as Dora the Explorer is to Laura Croft.(Peter David’s five year old daughter did do the Shore Leave (or was it Far Point? Masquerade last year as Dora Croft, complete with the pink backpack and .50 cal Desert Eagles and leg holsters. The kid is a genius.)

  24. Regann
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 9:42 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Neil Gaiman is to Philip PullmanOf course Neil Gaiman is superior, but Philip Pullman is a pretty close second.*Is currently reading Interworld, American Gods, and The Amber Spyglass…. hahaIf I wasn’t sleep deprived, I would have thought of a better one.. but I thought you’d appreciate something with Neil Gaiman in it.. haha

  25. nickjman
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 9:49 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Bruce Lee is to Chuck NorrisSame Genre, no comparison.alternately,Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Clint Eastwood is to a whiny teenaged John Wayne. Both cool, but one is incredibly less annoying.

  26. Kalligenia
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 10:02 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy is to Kristy Swanson’s Buffy.OR as Anthony Head’s watcher to Donald Sutherland’s watcher.The old Buffy movie was fun, but the TV series is kick ass!

  27. Jay Belt
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 10:06 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Smithwick’s is to Bud Light.

  28. PyritesLifeForMe
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 10:13 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Portal is to Bioshock.Portal was fun, witty, well thought-out, and deep (if you know where to look). Bioshock was tedious, generic, plot-hole ridden, black-and-white (reasoning), foul-mouthed for its setting, a huge let-down, and nearly a complete rip off of Star Wars episodes four through six.*prepares to be drawn and quartered for his true statements.* ;)

  29. Sienged
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 10:16 PM | Permalink

    I was going to see Cloverfield but the person who said they wanted to go see it changed their mind when we were in line. (If only I hadn’t told them it was like the Blair Witch Project} Anyways…Kvothe is to Harry Potter, as 1 new lover is to 7 old flings.Harry potter is to The Name of the Wind, as ‘You cant judge a book by it’s cover’ is to ‘You cant judge a naked woman by her covers’.p.s. Sean you made my post a lot shorter

  30. Brad
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 10:29 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as pudding is to cats. I’m not sure what it means. I never took the SATs.

  31. Anonymous
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 10:34 PM | Permalink

    If you suffer from motion sickness badly…I’d advise you to consider not watching Cloverfield. My friend threw up…wasn’t all that pretty.That said, I enjoyed the movie in retrospect. I just couldn’t like it while I was watching it. I like conclusion…

  32. qwertbook82
    Posted January 29, 2008 at 11:51 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as awesome is to mediocreKvothe is to Harry Potter as Aeneas is to Henry and MudgeKvothe is to Harry Potter as hero is to troublemakerKvothe is to Harry Potter as books are to movies based on booksKvothe is to Harry Potter as fantasy is to a school storyKvothe is to Harry Potter as Literature is to Romance novelsKvothe is to Harry Potter as living is to getting by

  33. Anonymous
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 1:39 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter, as blank is to wrong answer.

  34. SWEETDADDY_73
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 1:50 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter, as Kote is to Woody Harrelson in Cheers.Harry’s great and all, but he’s only really equiped to act as Voldemort’s Bane, not to be as great as Dumbledore. Although his bravery level is at 213%, afterall.

  35. Michael
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 2:07 AM | Permalink

    The commercials for cloverfield make it look horrible. I wasn’t going to watch it, but if pat likes it…Maybe I’ll rent it.

  36. unique_stephen
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 2:54 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Belgian beer is to any other beer

  37. Alison
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 5:06 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter, as double chocolate fudge cookie dough coffee creme delight is to a vanilla ice cream sandwich.Gotta love the food analogies..Mmmmmm.. ice cream..Also, I don’t think I’ll see Cloverfield because I’m afraid I might puke right there in the theatre. Y’know, motion sickness.

  38. Kate Kio
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 3:13 PM | Permalink

    Ouch so many Harry Potter put downs. Where’s the love people? Pat is an awesome writer and his book is complex, funny, and adult, but so is Harry Potter. It just seems more flippant because they wave wooden sticks and shout funny words. I love Harry Potter and I think its fantastic, creative, witty, and full to the brim with wonderful characterization. Jo Rowling can write, people. So Kvothe is to Harry Potter as vanilla ice cream is to chocolate ice cream.Both brilliant and intensely delicious, but different flavors for different moods. There’s no way I could consider one better than the other, but they are both definitely ice cream.Damn, I just saw how many others used the food items for their analogies. Oh well.

  39. Kate
    Posted January 30, 2008 at 5:09 PM | Permalink

    I gotta say, I really think the panthers-housecats analogy is the winner. Nothing against Harry Potter, and nothing against housecats, but we all know which is cooler.

  40. Incubus Jax
    Posted January 31, 2008 at 5:42 PM | Permalink

    A day late… sorry (maybe 2 days)Kvothe is to Harry Potter as John Lenin is to Acid…Oh wait that… just… oh.

  41. Jillian
    Posted February 1, 2008 at 2:16 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as a Lindt Lindor is to a Mars Bar.

  42. nightingail
    Posted February 1, 2008 at 4:40 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as seared steak with bleu cheese and peppercorns is to an ice cream cone with your friends on a hot summer day.Hehehe. Kvothe is a steak.Uh… I’m hungry now.

  43. J
    Posted February 4, 2008 at 3:13 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Gandalf is to Ron Weasley.Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Morgoth is to Voldemort.Kvothe is to Harry Potter as a prime, hungry Bengal tiger is to a pet kitty.Kvothe is to Harry Potter as The Luggage is to Rincewind.Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Ender Wiggins is to me when playing Rise and Decline of the Third Reich.

  44. AussieSimmo
    Posted February 7, 2008 at 2:04 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Drunk is to Hung-over

  45. Alexander Hoyles
    Posted February 15, 2008 at 9:23 AM | Permalink

    ‘Kvothe’ is to ‘Harry Potter’ as ‘the death of innocents at the hands of desperate men’ is to ‘rumours and mixed myths blaming disaster on demons’

  46. Karl
    Posted February 16, 2008 at 7:58 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe : Harry Potter :: MAT : SATKvothe : Harry Potter :: Wil Wheaton : Wesley CrusherKvothe : Harry Potter :: St. Paul : MinneapolisKvothe : Harry Potter :: Madison : DuluthKvothe : Harry Potter :: Dream of the Endless : Hector HallKvothe : Harry Potter :: Scott Favor : Ted “Theodore” Logan I think that’s enough for now.

  47. KMack
    Posted January 17, 2009 at 10:05 PM | Permalink

    Well, the thing that springs insantly to mind is: Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Dracula is to Twilight. Unfortunately, much as I love Kvothe, it’s not a fair comparisson because I like Harry a lot more than I like Twilight. Still, the sentiment is there.

  48. Anonymous
    Posted February 11, 2009 at 8:35 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as real butter is to margarine. At first both appear same in quality, then you realise one is way…WAY better. Loved the book, it rocked, Awesome!im calling my hamster Devi!! :D can’t wait till the next one.

  49. Majst0r Vtc
    Posted April 1, 2009 at 8:31 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Gandalf is to Merlin.

  50. Erin
    Posted July 24, 2009 at 3:26 AM | Permalink

    Hnn… Let’s see…

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Interview with a Vampire is to Twilight

  51. Anonymous
    Posted September 17, 2009 at 6:27 PM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Arlen is to Rojer (from the warded man)

  52. sarai7
    Posted August 19, 2010 at 4:23 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter, as Chap is to Dug… I loved Cloverfield and I think that the video camera motion made it more… real…too late to think of a better word :-/. d:-D Kvothe is to Harry Potter, as Back to the Future is to Xanadu! oh Xanadu, haha!

  53. Ezekiel
    Posted March 16, 2011 at 5:00 AM | Permalink

    Kvothe is to Harry Potter as Optimus Prime is to A Monster Truck.

    Both are pretty awesome, but Kvothe could kick Harry’s ass in a fight…

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