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30 May 2002
oh oh OH. This is just too great. Try The Wrath of God if you're having a bad day, and I promise you, you will feel better.
I really love that. Found it on Gretchen Pirillo's blog. Must remember to add her to my links list.
I really love that. Found it on Gretchen Pirillo's blog. Must remember to add her to my links list.
29 May 2002
27 May 2002
Rings-Thing Weblog Project--week 2
There were obviously a lot of changes (additions, deletions, just plain changes) made in adapting The Fellowship of the Ring from book to film. Discuss one or more, in any degree of detail you wish.
Just got back from MediaWestCon, am exhausted, and incapable of rational thought. So I'll repeat a couple of observations I made months ago in my blog, and hope to do better if we tackle this topic again.
1. In the book, Frodo has a vision of Gandalf pacing in captivity at Isengard (even though he sees this vision NOT when the event is happening, it is still a true vision). In the movie, Frodo calls out to Gandalf in his extremity after being stabbed by the morgul blade. Interesting how PJ kept the psychic connection but in an entirely different manner. This particular change doesn't strike me as either positive or negative--it's just something PJ changed that I think works as well as the original.
2. The "I wish the ring had never come to me" speech in Moria between Gandalf and Frodo is actually a reworked conversation from the very beginning of the book ("The Shadow of the Past"), and originally took place in Bag End. In its original form, Gandalf had just explained to Frodo what the ring he inherited from Bilbo actually was, and Frodo comments "I wish it need not have happened in my time." To which Gandalf responds, "So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide." Etc. I think the conversation is SO much more poignant and meaningful where Peter Jackson has moved it.
26 May 2002
Chain of Fools aka "Little Boy, Big Gun"
Thanks to the VCD, a couple of laptops and a VCR, I have now watched Chain of Fools several times--the last two being Elijah's scenes only, cloned off onto VHS. It's hard to review the movie as a whole--I like it a whole lot better than my friend Karen does, that's for sure. It's a comedy, meant to be a very over-the-top comedy, but mostly it just doesn't work. I have a hard time telling how much of it is just a bad script and how much is the lead actor, Steve Zahn, not being able to carry it off. Certainly Jeff Goldblum manages to make his material work, and Elijah Wood is hysterically funny as Mikey, the 17-year-old hitman who is studying for his GED (and, according to one mob leader, has "balls... like pomegranates"). Elijah seems to be having the time of his life breaking chairs over people's heads, kicking down doors, doing whirling high leg kicks, and running while shooting his gun left handed. I'd love to see him do more characters like this that he can have fun with.
The Witness
Boy, this one was hard to get my hands on, and now I see why. It's less than half an hour in length, with no dialogue. Very odd little piece, featuring Gary Sinise and Elijah as a nazi concentration camp guard and the young internee with the haunting eyes. I'm definitely glad I got it, but it's not easy to watch.
Thanks to the VCD, a couple of laptops and a VCR, I have now watched Chain of Fools several times--the last two being Elijah's scenes only, cloned off onto VHS. It's hard to review the movie as a whole--I like it a whole lot better than my friend Karen does, that's for sure. It's a comedy, meant to be a very over-the-top comedy, but mostly it just doesn't work. I have a hard time telling how much of it is just a bad script and how much is the lead actor, Steve Zahn, not being able to carry it off. Certainly Jeff Goldblum manages to make his material work, and Elijah Wood is hysterically funny as Mikey, the 17-year-old hitman who is studying for his GED (and, according to one mob leader, has "balls... like pomegranates"). Elijah seems to be having the time of his life breaking chairs over people's heads, kicking down doors, doing whirling high leg kicks, and running while shooting his gun left handed. I'd love to see him do more characters like this that he can have fun with.
The Witness
Boy, this one was hard to get my hands on, and now I see why. It's less than half an hour in length, with no dialogue. Very odd little piece, featuring Gary Sinise and Elijah as a nazi concentration camp guard and the young internee with the haunting eyes. I'm definitely glad I got it, but it's not easy to watch.
22 May 2002
Lord of the Rings Survey
How'd you get into it?
So long ago, I can't even remember--close to 40 years ago, I think. I know I read The Hobbit first, which I would never recommend to any child unless s/he had shown an interest in that type of book--I disliked it and very nearly didn't read the others. Fortunately, my mother was never much of a believer in "children's books" and let me go right on to the trilogy. And considering my mother owned (and wore) a "Frodo Lives" button for most of my childhood, you'd better believe she encouraged me in my Tolkien enthusiasm. We even once, on my junior high class field trip to Chicago, discovered a store called "Reddig's Randolph Street Newstand and Middle Earth Bookshop" which we made another pilgrimate to the following year. I was most unhappy, when I finally moved to Chicago, to find it had disappeared.
How many of the books have you read?
The trilogy, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, The Book of Lost Tales... at least, I remember reading the last two, although I don't remember the contents. Think I might have had one more, at one time, but whether read or unread, I do not remember.
How many times did you see the damn movie, you obsessive spaz?
25, and although I keep trying for #26, it just won't happen for me, so maybe that is my mystical, magical number until an eventual re-release.
How many of those times included the Two Towers trailer?
4, I think--although we try to go early and see the trailer at the end of the showing before, so I've seen it many times. And, since I'm paranoid and tend to go in early, I've seen Boromir die a whole lot more than 25 times, too, unfortunately.
Merchandise freak?
Yes and no. Not totally obsessive. I have the action figures that I like, the complete set of Topps cards and 3 of the 4 of the autograph cards (Sir Ian, Elijah, Billy and SeanB), a couple of the Game sets, the complete set of British stickers, maybe 7-8 of the Burger King Toys, two of the BK goblets (Gandalf, Frodo), a couple of notebooks, a bunch of t-shirts, a baseball cap... OK, maybe more obsessive than I think I am. And don't even get me *started* on what I've spent on ebay.
If so, whaddya got? (aside from the books)
See above, plus I'm in the midst of making a whole slew of window clings, magnets, and "arty" prints for myself and my friends.
Roleplayer?
Nope, at least not yet...
Favorite...
...book
Toughie. I'm making a point not to re-read them until I've seen the appropriate movie enough times to judge it on its own, so it's been more than 20 years since I read anything but FOTR. I guess for now I'll say FOTR, although I'm sure that wasn't it at the time I read them. Less angst.
...passage from any of the books
Just about anything with elves or elvish in it. "A Elbereth..."
...part of the Fellowship movie
I have changed that so many times I've lost count. The way Frodo looks at Gandalf in the cart after the wizard sets off the fireworks--that one is just special. Most of my favorite scenes are between Frodo and Gandalf--when Frodo agrees to leave the Shire ("What must I do?"), the famous scene in Moria where Frodo admits that he wishes he'd never taken on the quest... I'm pretty predictable
...race
Elves, easily. That's the one thing that's been constant for me the last umpteen years. Hobbits are growing on me, though.
...character
In the books? I suppose Gollum, but I never really had one. Movieverse, see my Rings-Thing answer, which was Boromir, but it was a very close race between him, Frodo, and Gandalf. I feel bad that I didn't simply say Frodo, but I'm sure I will for the other two movies.
...actor
Elijah Wood. I've gone around and around on that one for months, but that's where I've settled. Other favorites are, basically in order, Sean Bean, Sir Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, and Billy Boyd.
...piece of merchandising
Right now, the British sticker cards. They're lovely. But I'm enjoying my home-made window clings a lot, too.
...song off the soundtrack
Don't know the names of any of the pieces--I guess I'm not *that* obsessive. But there are two pieces I particularly like--the one that plays in Moria when they come upon Dwarrowdelf, and the piece at the very end in the scene with Frodo and Sam, the same music as in the Shire, but with added percussion.
...song off David Arkenstone's album
Don't know it.
...line from the movie
They have a cave troll (of COURSE). Closely followed by: "What must I do?" and "Gondor has no king. Gondor *needs* no king."
...moviegoing experience
Although I didn't necessarily think so at the time, I enjoyed seeing it right after having read the Very Secret Diaries for the first time, with all of us going into hysterics. It was at least 4 more viewings before I could see the carrot or the point hat or the horn of Gondor without totally losing it... I also enjoyed the time Heidi and Laurie went with us--we had a BIG group that day and a lot of fun. And all the times we ran into our teen-age counterparts in Evanston were a blast.
...experience involving... anything LotR related
I think it must be going to ICON. I decided that I just HAD to go, at the very last minute, and the bbnet "loons" were all so helpful in getting me set-up with room, rides, people to meet and places to go, etc. And both Viggo and Billy were so much more than I ever could have hoped. (AND my photos turned out fairly well--always a plus!)
...V. Secret Diary
Another tough one. I guess it must be Arwen, because I still say "there is no Gap in Rohan..."
...line from a parody fic
Although I enjoy them, I can't say I find them (other than the VSD) memorable enough to quote a line. See above...
...slash pairing (if you're into that sort of thing, you perv)
Frodo/Aragorn. Thanks, Lily!!
And of course,
What are you looking forward to seeing most in The Two Towers?
Frodo angst in general. No scene in particular, although "It's the ring. It's getting heavier..." from the trailer nearly kills me. And Pippin with Treebeard, of course. And Gandalf's return!
How about Return of the King?
Which book is it in which Sam finds Frodo minus his clothing? Is that ROTK or TTT? Whichever...
Pissed about that Shelob thing?
Nope. Actually, I missed the barrow-wights more than I'll ever miss a spider. Gave Frodo a chance to prove that he's resourceful and brave (which Lij could have used). And even then, I totally understand Peter's choices and agree with 99% of them.
People who think 'The Two Towers' is an insensitive name.
Unfortunately, as Karen would say, fans are too stupid to live. (I tell her that it's PEOPLE, not just FANS, but she says "whatever".) First of all, the book name precedes the buildings, let alone their destruction. And even if it hadn't, I'm tired of people pretending that the WTC never existed--it did, and I loved it. I was just at Ground Zero, and although it's not nearly as devastated as a few months ago, the skyline will just never look right again.
What's the worst tease you've come across, picturewise, about the coming movies?
Still photo? I can't think of anything that wasn't also in the trailer. I guess, if you count the DVD, it's the shot of Pippin in Lothlorien, lying on his back with his head on a big pillow, looking gorgeous and thoughtful. If Billy is right and that scene *is* restored in the DVD, I'm dying to see it!
The Silmarillion.
Don't remember a thing about it.
Anything else to say?
Yeah, and I've been saying it in this blog for months now! Mostly my paranoid Galadriel theories.
How'd you get into it?
So long ago, I can't even remember--close to 40 years ago, I think. I know I read The Hobbit first, which I would never recommend to any child unless s/he had shown an interest in that type of book--I disliked it and very nearly didn't read the others. Fortunately, my mother was never much of a believer in "children's books" and let me go right on to the trilogy. And considering my mother owned (and wore) a "Frodo Lives" button for most of my childhood, you'd better believe she encouraged me in my Tolkien enthusiasm. We even once, on my junior high class field trip to Chicago, discovered a store called "Reddig's Randolph Street Newstand and Middle Earth Bookshop" which we made another pilgrimate to the following year. I was most unhappy, when I finally moved to Chicago, to find it had disappeared.
How many of the books have you read?
The trilogy, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, The Book of Lost Tales... at least, I remember reading the last two, although I don't remember the contents. Think I might have had one more, at one time, but whether read or unread, I do not remember.
How many times did you see the damn movie, you obsessive spaz?
25, and although I keep trying for #26, it just won't happen for me, so maybe that is my mystical, magical number until an eventual re-release.
How many of those times included the Two Towers trailer?
4, I think--although we try to go early and see the trailer at the end of the showing before, so I've seen it many times. And, since I'm paranoid and tend to go in early, I've seen Boromir die a whole lot more than 25 times, too, unfortunately.
Merchandise freak?
Yes and no. Not totally obsessive. I have the action figures that I like, the complete set of Topps cards and 3 of the 4 of the autograph cards (Sir Ian, Elijah, Billy and SeanB), a couple of the Game sets, the complete set of British stickers, maybe 7-8 of the Burger King Toys, two of the BK goblets (Gandalf, Frodo), a couple of notebooks, a bunch of t-shirts, a baseball cap... OK, maybe more obsessive than I think I am. And don't even get me *started* on what I've spent on ebay.
If so, whaddya got? (aside from the books)
See above, plus I'm in the midst of making a whole slew of window clings, magnets, and "arty" prints for myself and my friends.
Roleplayer?
Nope, at least not yet...
Favorite...
...book
Toughie. I'm making a point not to re-read them until I've seen the appropriate movie enough times to judge it on its own, so it's been more than 20 years since I read anything but FOTR. I guess for now I'll say FOTR, although I'm sure that wasn't it at the time I read them. Less angst.
...passage from any of the books
Just about anything with elves or elvish in it. "A Elbereth..."
...part of the Fellowship movie
I have changed that so many times I've lost count. The way Frodo looks at Gandalf in the cart after the wizard sets off the fireworks--that one is just special. Most of my favorite scenes are between Frodo and Gandalf--when Frodo agrees to leave the Shire ("What must I do?"), the famous scene in Moria where Frodo admits that he wishes he'd never taken on the quest... I'm pretty predictable
...race
Elves, easily. That's the one thing that's been constant for me the last umpteen years. Hobbits are growing on me, though.
...character
In the books? I suppose Gollum, but I never really had one. Movieverse, see my Rings-Thing answer, which was Boromir, but it was a very close race between him, Frodo, and Gandalf. I feel bad that I didn't simply say Frodo, but I'm sure I will for the other two movies.
...actor
Elijah Wood. I've gone around and around on that one for months, but that's where I've settled. Other favorites are, basically in order, Sean Bean, Sir Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, and Billy Boyd.
...piece of merchandising
Right now, the British sticker cards. They're lovely. But I'm enjoying my home-made window clings a lot, too.
...song off the soundtrack
Don't know the names of any of the pieces--I guess I'm not *that* obsessive. But there are two pieces I particularly like--the one that plays in Moria when they come upon Dwarrowdelf, and the piece at the very end in the scene with Frodo and Sam, the same music as in the Shire, but with added percussion.
...song off David Arkenstone's album
Don't know it.
...line from the movie
They have a cave troll (of COURSE). Closely followed by: "What must I do?" and "Gondor has no king. Gondor *needs* no king."
...moviegoing experience
Although I didn't necessarily think so at the time, I enjoyed seeing it right after having read the Very Secret Diaries for the first time, with all of us going into hysterics. It was at least 4 more viewings before I could see the carrot or the point hat or the horn of Gondor without totally losing it... I also enjoyed the time Heidi and Laurie went with us--we had a BIG group that day and a lot of fun. And all the times we ran into our teen-age counterparts in Evanston were a blast.
...experience involving... anything LotR related
I think it must be going to ICON. I decided that I just HAD to go, at the very last minute, and the bbnet "loons" were all so helpful in getting me set-up with room, rides, people to meet and places to go, etc. And both Viggo and Billy were so much more than I ever could have hoped. (AND my photos turned out fairly well--always a plus!)
...V. Secret Diary
Another tough one. I guess it must be Arwen, because I still say "there is no Gap in Rohan..."
...line from a parody fic
Although I enjoy them, I can't say I find them (other than the VSD) memorable enough to quote a line. See above...
...slash pairing (if you're into that sort of thing, you perv)
Frodo/Aragorn. Thanks, Lily!!
And of course,
What are you looking forward to seeing most in The Two Towers?
Frodo angst in general. No scene in particular, although "It's the ring. It's getting heavier..." from the trailer nearly kills me. And Pippin with Treebeard, of course. And Gandalf's return!
How about Return of the King?
Which book is it in which Sam finds Frodo minus his clothing? Is that ROTK or TTT? Whichever...
Pissed about that Shelob thing?
Nope. Actually, I missed the barrow-wights more than I'll ever miss a spider. Gave Frodo a chance to prove that he's resourceful and brave (which Lij could have used). And even then, I totally understand Peter's choices and agree with 99% of them.
People who think 'The Two Towers' is an insensitive name.
Unfortunately, as Karen would say, fans are too stupid to live. (I tell her that it's PEOPLE, not just FANS, but she says "whatever".) First of all, the book name precedes the buildings, let alone their destruction. And even if it hadn't, I'm tired of people pretending that the WTC never existed--it did, and I loved it. I was just at Ground Zero, and although it's not nearly as devastated as a few months ago, the skyline will just never look right again.
What's the worst tease you've come across, picturewise, about the coming movies?
Still photo? I can't think of anything that wasn't also in the trailer. I guess, if you count the DVD, it's the shot of Pippin in Lothlorien, lying on his back with his head on a big pillow, looking gorgeous and thoughtful. If Billy is right and that scene *is* restored in the DVD, I'm dying to see it!
The Silmarillion.
Don't remember a thing about it.
Anything else to say?
Yeah, and I've been saying it in this blog for months now! Mostly my paranoid Galadriel theories.
21 May 2002
First week's topic: Who is your favorite Lord of the Rings character (movieverse) and why?
Hey, this first one was supposed to be easy--why am I stuck???
Reading back through my blog entries from the beginning, I have pretty much stuck with the same three characters as the ones I consistently watched: Boromir, Frodo and Gandalf. Not surprisingly, two of the actors who played these characters were favorites of mine long before this movie even began, and the third has become a favorite since. Hard to separate the characters from the performances, and I can't even fall back on my favorite from the books, because I didn't really have one. (I did have a favorite race, by far: the elves. But much as I love both Legolas and Orlando Bloom, I'm not going to take that way out.)
OK, my decision is Boromir. Now I suppose I have to say *why*...
Boromir is a noble man, in all senses of the word. He sets out to try to do his best for his father and his country, and never wavers from that goal. He doesn't really understand what Elrond tries to tell him, or doesn't quite believe it is exactly as stated--which comes to the same thing. He sees one way out of the current situation and (misled to some degree by Galadriel, I firmly believe) tries to make that happen by the only means available to him, since no-one will listen: by using force. His good intentions are of no help when the Fellowship is broken, but he is allowed to redeem himself through death.
In some ways, I think Boromir is the noblest character of all in this first book, especially in the movie. We are shown that he is loyal, brave, and intelligent. We see him as caring, through his concern for Gimli and the others after they exit Moria. We see his deep inner conflict during his conversation with Aragorn in Lothlorien. And we hear his remorse, both as Frodo is fleeing from him and after the Uruk Hai take Merry and Pippin. He is a good man put in an untenable position, who does the best he can. What more could you ask of a character than that?
17 May 2002
Today's Friday Five
1. What shampoo do you use? I'm terrible--I can never settle on one. When my hair is colored, which it almost always is anymore, I try to use a shampoo for colored hair (even though my hair tends to be oily and these are awfully mild). I guess my favorite is Colorvive.
2. Do you use conditioner? What kind? Again, I'm not married to one, and even more than shampoos, I tend to have several open at any time. I like Paul Mitchell's The Detangler about the best, although it's a bit expensive for my budget. Some of the Suave generic ones usually sit on my shelf, and maybe one or two with a UV filter in the summer.
3. When was the last time you got your hair cut? Too long ago--it needs to be done soon. Don't usually opt for more than once a year. I absolutely *swore* that when I hit 40, I would get it cut significantly shorter. I did get 6" or so cut off, but it grows fast and was long enough that even that amount still left it in the category "long." I really should take it back to no longer than shoulder length, but I hate change...
4. What styling products do you use? None if I can help it. I usually wash it and just get on the train for work--don't even dry it unless I expect to be outdoors for a significant amount of time and the temperature is well below freezing. For important occasions, I may use one of the sprays or gels that works with a curling iron. I've been known to carry hairspray on longer trips, but except for the very occasional spraying down of errant strands, they are mostly unopened.
5. What's your worst hair-related experience? I got a perm once, not too long before I went to my first Omnicon (in Fort Lauderdale, FL). I have naturally curly hair, so I've only ever gotten maybe 4 perms in my life, when I really wanted my hair to act like it all belonged to the same person (parts are very curly, several areas always seem to grow in straight, etc.). This one was supposed to be something like a curly version of a shag, but let's just leave it at that when I got to the con, someone suggested I dress up as Tom Baker's version of The Doctor...
11 May 2002
I'm writing to you tonight from the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Don't ask--it's a LONG story that I will post more details of when I get back.
At any rate, through a series of bizarre coincidences, I saw a screening of Elijah's movie "Ash Wednesday" this afternoon. Since it won't be released until fall, I don't want to give away any details, but it's a great movie and Elijah is excellent in it.
I hope a lot of the younger Elijah fans don't go see it just for him--it's a supporting role, rather than the lead (Ed Burns is the lead actor, as well as the director, co-producer, and writer) and the movie itself is pretty dark. But it's a great role and Elijah does well with it--it's his first really adult role, and he's playing a 21-year-old Irish-American ("Sean") who grows up with a father and brother in the Irish Mafia. Set in New York, the majority of it takes place on one day -- Ash Wednesday -- in 1983, with the opening sequence taking place on the same holiday 3 years previously. Ed Burns plays his older brother Francis,and is very much the heart of this movie.
I'm in awe of Ed Burns after seeing this--he is obviously incredibly talented, and the Q&A after the screening confirmed that, with those actors who were in attendance, as well as his co-producer Margot Brider, having unanimously positive things to say about him in all his hats, but especially as a director. Apparently he not only gives his actors a lot of leeway with their roles, he actually expects them to improv (at least in part) much of the dialoge--I'd be interested to hear how Burns' approach worked for Elijah, who seemed very at ease in this film (unlike the almost totally improved "Black and White" in which he seemed very much out of his element).
What else can I say about this? It's very obviously a small-budget indie, but Ed makes that work for it instead of against it by using the gritty, slightly claustrophic feel to contribute to the atmosphere of the movie. I was struck by what appeared to be its lack of "polish," but I think this may have been intentionally as well.
More when I get home, including a few photos of the producer, the Q&A session, and some of the many LOTR fans who turned out for the screening.
At any rate, through a series of bizarre coincidences, I saw a screening of Elijah's movie "Ash Wednesday" this afternoon. Since it won't be released until fall, I don't want to give away any details, but it's a great movie and Elijah is excellent in it.
I hope a lot of the younger Elijah fans don't go see it just for him--it's a supporting role, rather than the lead (Ed Burns is the lead actor, as well as the director, co-producer, and writer) and the movie itself is pretty dark. But it's a great role and Elijah does well with it--it's his first really adult role, and he's playing a 21-year-old Irish-American ("Sean") who grows up with a father and brother in the Irish Mafia. Set in New York, the majority of it takes place on one day -- Ash Wednesday -- in 1983, with the opening sequence taking place on the same holiday 3 years previously. Ed Burns plays his older brother Francis,and is very much the heart of this movie.
I'm in awe of Ed Burns after seeing this--he is obviously incredibly talented, and the Q&A after the screening confirmed that, with those actors who were in attendance, as well as his co-producer Margot Brider, having unanimously positive things to say about him in all his hats, but especially as a director. Apparently he not only gives his actors a lot of leeway with their roles, he actually expects them to improv (at least in part) much of the dialoge--I'd be interested to hear how Burns' approach worked for Elijah, who seemed very at ease in this film (unlike the almost totally improved "Black and White" in which he seemed very much out of his element).
What else can I say about this? It's very obviously a small-budget indie, but Ed makes that work for it instead of against it by using the gritty, slightly claustrophic feel to contribute to the atmosphere of the movie. I was struck by what appeared to be its lack of "polish," but I think this may have been intentionally as well.
More when I get home, including a few photos of the producer, the Q&A session, and some of the many LOTR fans who turned out for the screening.
07 May 2002
06 May 2002
I finally made it to see "Cat's Meow" today. I wasn't expecting much, since the reviews have been tepid, but I liked it immensely. The plot itself took the kind of liberties that "based on fact" pics usually do (I thought the result no more outlandish than usual), but Kirsten's superb performance would have made up for a LOT more problems than the movie actually had. OK, so she's a little young to be playing Marion Davies--I think making someone stick to playing within a few years of their actual appearance is equivalent to saying that only Englishmen, for example, should play Englishmen. She captured the 20's superbly and looked fantastic in the clothes, the dances, the situation--what more could you ask for?
03 May 2002
I'm horrendously behind again here. I should be doing Friday Five and I haven't even posted my notes for LOTR Viewing #25 yet.
It was sad to see that movie for what will probably be the last time on the big screen (unless it's re-released before TTT). Went with Karen last Sunday, early enough again that we could see the trailer both before and after. Decided, in unison, that Craig (Haldir) is really hot... Took no notes whatsoever. End of an era.
It was sad to see that movie for what will probably be the last time on the big screen (unless it's re-released before TTT). Went with Karen last Sunday, early enough again that we could see the trailer both before and after. Decided, in unison, that Craig (Haldir) is really hot... Took no notes whatsoever. End of an era.