Today is Sunday. Post is not delivered on a Sunday. That's just The Way Of The World.
But today, I got post. Today. Sunday. Sunday! And this from the same postal service I've had to complain to several times for delivering my post to the wrong address.
So, I'm not complaining -- especially as the delivery brought me my 900th DVD (more on that later) -- but I am rather surprised.
I mean... it's Sunday!
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Bond from the Beginning #6: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
I used to proudly lay my allegiance with the fans who believe OHMSS is an underrated classic; now I'm not so sure, though I wouldn't say it's among the worst -- all told, it's a mixed bag.
The first third is an unusual (for Bond) love story, which unfortunately seems quite hollow after Casino Royale did the same thing so brilliantly. Finally the actual 'Bond film' gets underway, complete with proper spying... and a ridiculous kilt-based outfit. The final third holds all the action sequences: crammed into 40 minutes there's two ski chases, a toboggan chase, a car chase, a helicopter raid, a large gunfight and an avalanche; the latter is especially well realised. This unbalanced structure undoubtedly helps unbalance some fans' view of the film.
Elsewhere there's an effort to remind us this is the same series: the titles are full of clips from the previous films and there are numerous other references. While the reasoning behind them at the time is clear, we're now familiar with Bond's changing face and they're just intrusive. As the new Bond, Lazenby is certainly no Connery, but he could be worse. His performance helps sell the final scene, which is still incredibly sad (indeed, while Casino Royale's romance plot may be more convincing overall, the death scene isn't a patch on this).
The direction is largely fantastic (though there are some dire sped-up shots) and the score is perfect; the instrumental main theme is probably my favourite ever.
There's still a lot to be said about OHMSS, but my opinion (for now) is that it's neither as bad nor as great as most of fandom would claim.
The first third is an unusual (for Bond) love story, which unfortunately seems quite hollow after Casino Royale did the same thing so brilliantly. Finally the actual 'Bond film' gets underway, complete with proper spying... and a ridiculous kilt-based outfit. The final third holds all the action sequences: crammed into 40 minutes there's two ski chases, a toboggan chase, a car chase, a helicopter raid, a large gunfight and an avalanche; the latter is especially well realised. This unbalanced structure undoubtedly helps unbalance some fans' view of the film.
Elsewhere there's an effort to remind us this is the same series: the titles are full of clips from the previous films and there are numerous other references. While the reasoning behind them at the time is clear, we're now familiar with Bond's changing face and they're just intrusive. As the new Bond, Lazenby is certainly no Connery, but he could be worse. His performance helps sell the final scene, which is still incredibly sad (indeed, while Casino Royale's romance plot may be more convincing overall, the death scene isn't a patch on this).
The direction is largely fantastic (though there are some dire sped-up shots) and the score is perfect; the instrumental main theme is probably my favourite ever.
There's still a lot to be said about OHMSS, but my opinion (for now) is that it's neither as bad nor as great as most of fandom would claim.
Saturday, 15 November 2008
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats
7x11 (13/11/08 edition)
Merlin
1x09 Excalibur
Russell Brand's Ponderland
2x03 Education
We Are Most Amused
Comedy show for Prince Charles' 60th birthday. Split in half (or two-thirds and third, to be accurate) for no reason other than bunging The X-Factor in the middle. Bloody load of rubbish, that is. Though, if one's being generous, the split could be seen as a way to keep the adults-only material separate from kiddy-friendly stuff.
7x11 (13/11/08 edition)
Merlin
1x09 Excalibur
Russell Brand's Ponderland
2x03 Education
We Are Most Amused
Comedy show for Prince Charles' 60th birthday. Split in half (or two-thirds and third, to be accurate) for no reason other than bunging The X-Factor in the middle. Bloody load of rubbish, that is. Though, if one's being generous, the split could be seen as a way to keep the adults-only material separate from kiddy-friendly stuff.
Films
Fist of Legend (1994)
[#77 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
I hadn't intended to watch this, but wound up getting sucked into it after Children in Need. Apparently it's "regarded as one of the best martial arts films of all time, and almost universally viewed as Jet Li's best" (source: Wikipedia), but the dire English dub does its best to hide this. The fights are still good though.
Star Trek Trailer
This trailer isn't officially released online 'til Monday, but as it's attached to a certain major release that's just come out in the States there're some surprisingly good bootlegs online already. Like this one, for example. Hard to judge properly without being able to see it properly (though the quality's probably better than you expect), but, as someone who's not much of a Star Trek fan anyway, I remain unconvinced. But it looks like Simon Pegg will be good at least.
[#77 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
I hadn't intended to watch this, but wound up getting sucked into it after Children in Need. Apparently it's "regarded as one of the best martial arts films of all time, and almost universally viewed as Jet Li's best" (source: Wikipedia), but the dire English dub does its best to hide this. The fights are still good though.
Star Trek Trailer
This trailer isn't officially released online 'til Monday, but as it's attached to a certain major release that's just come out in the States there're some surprisingly good bootlegs online already. Like this one, for example. Hard to judge properly without being able to see it properly (though the quality's probably better than you expect), but, as someone who's not much of a Star Trek fan anyway, I remain unconvinced. But it looks like Simon Pegg will be good at least.
Music
Hold Your Colour by Pendulum
and
In Silico by Pendulum
Having heard their great cover of Coldplay's Violet Hill on Radio 1's Live Lounge Volume 3 (the original version, incidentally, is comparatively mediocre -- just as I'd expect of Coldplay), I somewhat eagerly acquired Pendulum's two albums... only to discover they're rather dance-y and mostly not my sort of thing at all.
The more recent In Silico (trivia: the title was chosen as a riff on Nirvana's In Utero) is the better of the two. I only made it a third of the way through Hold Your Colour before giving up, while the other at least has a few decent tracks: Propane Nightmares, The Tempest, Mutiny, and perhaps Granite and 9,000 Miles.
This is probably because -- according to Wikipedia -- "[In Silico] represents a change in sound from the band's debut album Hold Your Colour, away from drum and bass, incorporating more rock and electronic influences." I suspect these are incorporated in a way that makes it seem a huge change to drum & bass fans, whereas to rock or electronic fans it just sounds like an above-averagely-pleasing selection of drum & bass tracks.
and
In Silico by Pendulum
Having heard their great cover of Coldplay's Violet Hill on Radio 1's Live Lounge Volume 3 (the original version, incidentally, is comparatively mediocre -- just as I'd expect of Coldplay), I somewhat eagerly acquired Pendulum's two albums... only to discover they're rather dance-y and mostly not my sort of thing at all.
The more recent In Silico (trivia: the title was chosen as a riff on Nirvana's In Utero) is the better of the two. I only made it a third of the way through Hold Your Colour before giving up, while the other at least has a few decent tracks: Propane Nightmares, The Tempest, Mutiny, and perhaps Granite and 9,000 Miles.
This is probably because -- according to Wikipedia -- "[In Silico] represents a change in sound from the band's debut album Hold Your Colour, away from drum and bass, incorporating more rock and electronic influences." I suspect these are incorporated in a way that makes it seem a huge change to drum & bass fans, whereas to rock or electronic fans it just sounds like an above-averagely-pleasing selection of drum & bass tracks.
Articles
AMPAS Rejects Dark Knight Score
(from Studio Briefing)
"an uproar has now followed the decision of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's decision to disqualify the score of The Dark Knight because credited composers James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer were unable to establish that they were directly responsible for more than 70% of the music... The two had listed three others as composers on the official cue sheet... in order to qualify them for royalties. The Academy's music committee reportedly spent hours debating the issue, with several members arguing unsuccessfully that the score merited nomination notwithstanding the cue-sheet issue."
Quantum of Solace US Opening Day Haul Estimated At $27 Million by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
"The numbers are yet to be confirmed, but it’s clear that 007 convincingly beat off competition from Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ($8.1 million) and Role Models ($3.76 million). At $27 million, Quantum of Solace would have the 26th highest US opening day ever. The only 2008 release to top this opening would be The Dark Knight [obviously]... $27 million would place it above other 2008 big-hitters Sex And The City and Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. It would also place it above [frequent film of comparison] The Bourne Ultimatum." The last Bond film, Casino Royale, had an opening day of $14.7 million -- nearly half QoS's. It leaves the new release "on track to a weekend haul of approximately $70 million" -- the franchise's opening weekend record is held by Die Another Day at $47.1 million.
The Showdown: Wall-E Vs. Batman
(from Studio Briefing)
"While many industry observers are predicting that The Dark Knight on DVD will become the year's biggest video hit, a few others suggest that Disney/Pixar's Wall-E [sic] should not be overlooked. They point out that animated features have a long history of dominance in home-video sales and that Wall-e [sic] is one of the few that holds as much appeal for adults as it does for children. Meanwhile, websites that focus on high-definition fare have unanimously endorsed the Blu-ray version of Wall-e as the HD gold standard."
The thick Sharpe's Peril and why Jonathan Ross and Brand should stay by AA Gill
(from Times Online)
Belated commentary on the Ross/Brand/Sachs thing (I'm not even going to bother linking back to it any more), but, as regular readers know, I love this position on it -- especially as it has added Piers Morgan-slating, which is always welcome. Also, eventually, Gill gets round to his point -- slating the latest Sharpe. He's mostly wrong about that though.
"We will take some more risks and shake things up a little bit more." by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
The great thing about fansites is that they often summarise interviews and articles from other sites, so you just get what's new or interesting instead of having to trawl through all the same old publicity fluff. Here, the best bits are comments from producer Barbara Broccoli: "In Casino Royale, the book, there was no Moneypenny or Q so that is why they are not in that story. And, in this follow-up, there didn’t seem to be a reason or a place for them. That doesn’t mean that they won’t appear later on. We made a decision to strip everything away. Some things will come back, some things won’t. Some things will come back in a different way. We will take some more risks and shake things up a little bit more and hope audiences are with us." Sensible, I think.
Also: "Hopefully at the end of Quantum of Solace, we have this ‘whole’ character [for Bond]. And now we can do what we want. I think in some way, he will go after the organisation [Quantum]. So in that sense, it may become a trilogy, but we haven’t really structured it that way." Super. And what else will be back? "I don’t want [Judi Dench] to leave. She keeps threatening to leave but I will not let her!" Good girl. Anything further? Gadgets, apparently! "The trouble is, everyone has gadgets. We will need to come up with a few that have not been invented by the Sony Corp!" Good luck!
(from Studio Briefing)
"an uproar has now followed the decision of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's decision to disqualify the score of The Dark Knight because credited composers James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer were unable to establish that they were directly responsible for more than 70% of the music... The two had listed three others as composers on the official cue sheet... in order to qualify them for royalties. The Academy's music committee reportedly spent hours debating the issue, with several members arguing unsuccessfully that the score merited nomination notwithstanding the cue-sheet issue."
Quantum of Solace US Opening Day Haul Estimated At $27 Million by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
"The numbers are yet to be confirmed, but it’s clear that 007 convincingly beat off competition from Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ($8.1 million) and Role Models ($3.76 million). At $27 million, Quantum of Solace would have the 26th highest US opening day ever. The only 2008 release to top this opening would be The Dark Knight [obviously]... $27 million would place it above other 2008 big-hitters Sex And The City and Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. It would also place it above [frequent film of comparison] The Bourne Ultimatum." The last Bond film, Casino Royale, had an opening day of $14.7 million -- nearly half QoS's. It leaves the new release "on track to a weekend haul of approximately $70 million" -- the franchise's opening weekend record is held by Die Another Day at $47.1 million.
The Showdown: Wall-E Vs. Batman
(from Studio Briefing)
"While many industry observers are predicting that The Dark Knight on DVD will become the year's biggest video hit, a few others suggest that Disney/Pixar's Wall-E [sic] should not be overlooked. They point out that animated features have a long history of dominance in home-video sales and that Wall-e [sic] is one of the few that holds as much appeal for adults as it does for children. Meanwhile, websites that focus on high-definition fare have unanimously endorsed the Blu-ray version of Wall-e as the HD gold standard."
The thick Sharpe's Peril and why Jonathan Ross and Brand should stay by AA Gill
(from Times Online)
Belated commentary on the Ross/Brand/Sachs thing (I'm not even going to bother linking back to it any more), but, as regular readers know, I love this position on it -- especially as it has added Piers Morgan-slating, which is always welcome. Also, eventually, Gill gets round to his point -- slating the latest Sharpe. He's mostly wrong about that though.
"We will take some more risks and shake things up a little bit more." by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
The great thing about fansites is that they often summarise interviews and articles from other sites, so you just get what's new or interesting instead of having to trawl through all the same old publicity fluff. Here, the best bits are comments from producer Barbara Broccoli: "In Casino Royale, the book, there was no Moneypenny or Q so that is why they are not in that story. And, in this follow-up, there didn’t seem to be a reason or a place for them. That doesn’t mean that they won’t appear later on. We made a decision to strip everything away. Some things will come back, some things won’t. Some things will come back in a different way. We will take some more risks and shake things up a little bit more and hope audiences are with us." Sensible, I think.
Also: "Hopefully at the end of Quantum of Solace, we have this ‘whole’ character [for Bond]. And now we can do what we want. I think in some way, he will go after the organisation [Quantum]. So in that sense, it may become a trilogy, but we haven’t really structured it that way." Super. And what else will be back? "I don’t want [Judi Dench] to leave. She keeps threatening to leave but I will not let her!" Good girl. Anything further? Gadgets, apparently! "The trouble is, everyone has gadgets. We will need to come up with a few that have not been invented by the Sony Corp!" Good luck!
Friday, 14 November 2008
TV
Children in Need 2008
Hurray! I love Children in Need. Even when it's below-par (and, let's face it, it's well past its best -- it's mostly music these days, with no natty 3D or Smell-o-Vision gimmicks and very few original sketches or whatnot) it's still entertaining, still has its moments, and, of course, it's all for a good cause. Plus anything with this much Terry Wogan has to be good. But this year was better than most -- highlights being Doctor Who and Top Gear/Ashes to Ashes -- so that was super.
[Watch it (again) in hour-long chunks on iPlayer.]
QI
6x01 Families [Children in Need special]
For those who don't know, each series of QI has an alphabetical theme -- i.e. series one was "A", series two "B", and so on -- making series six "F". So in that sense, this is at the end of series six; of course, being filmed more recently, it could be called 7x01. Rubbish, says I. Not that it matters, or anyone cares. Anyway -- it's all the better for having added Terry Wogan, who was (of course) brilliant. I love QI -- there's a Christmas special on the way, followed by series "G" in 2009.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Edit: Oh, the confusion! I blame TV.com. Anyway, this is 6x01, not 6x11, because the (first?) 2009 series if "F".
Hurray! I love Children in Need. Even when it's below-par (and, let's face it, it's well past its best -- it's mostly music these days, with no natty 3D or Smell-o-Vision gimmicks and very few original sketches or whatnot) it's still entertaining, still has its moments, and, of course, it's all for a good cause. Plus anything with this much Terry Wogan has to be good. But this year was better than most -- highlights being Doctor Who and Top Gear/Ashes to Ashes -- so that was super.
[Watch it (again) in hour-long chunks on iPlayer.]
QI
6x01 Families [Children in Need special]
For those who don't know, each series of QI has an alphabetical theme -- i.e. series one was "A", series two "B", and so on -- making series six "F". So in that sense, this is at the end of series six; of course, being filmed more recently, it could be called 7x01. Rubbish, says I. Not that it matters, or anyone cares. Anyway -- it's all the better for having added Terry Wogan, who was (of course) brilliant. I love QI -- there's a Christmas special on the way, followed by series "G" in 2009.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Edit: Oh, the confusion! I blame TV.com. Anyway, this is 6x01, not 6x11, because the (first?) 2009 series if "F".
Films
Fargo (1996)
[2nd watch]
I hadn't been intending to re-watch Fargo, but we watched about half of it (mostly from the first half, but also a few scenes toward the end) in my screenwriting module, analysing a certain aspect of screenwriting theory and how it appears in every scene. Unfortunately I don't have my DVD of the film with me to watch the rest.
[2nd watch]
I hadn't been intending to re-watch Fargo, but we watched about half of it (mostly from the first half, but also a few scenes toward the end) in my screenwriting module, analysing a certain aspect of screenwriting theory and how it appears in every scene. Unfortunately I don't have my DVD of the film with me to watch the rest.
Poem of the Day: The Pencil Case
by coolositymax
I never said all the stuff posted in this strand had to be 'professional' or 'published' or anything (I have no rules, remember) -- I may even post stuff by me at some point -- so here's a favourite of mine from the World Wide Web. I've always liked its simplicity and humour -- making it an especially good choice for a Friday, I think -- which works because of the rhyme and rhythm. Poetry doesn't have to be Deep, Complex and Meaningful to be good.
This poem is available online at deviantART. If you're a member, please comment (and fav, if you wish) there.
Unlike the rest of the blog, Poem of the Day will be taking breaks at weekends, so see you on Monday.
I never said all the stuff posted in this strand had to be 'professional' or 'published' or anything (I have no rules, remember) -- I may even post stuff by me at some point -- so here's a favourite of mine from the World Wide Web. I've always liked its simplicity and humour -- making it an especially good choice for a Friday, I think -- which works because of the rhyme and rhythm. Poetry doesn't have to be Deep, Complex and Meaningful to be good.
Pen, Pencil, Ruler,
Scissors, Paper, Glue.
Crayons, Staples, Eraser,
Pencil Shavings Too.
This poem is available online at deviantART. If you're a member, please comment (and fav, if you wish) there.
Unlike the rest of the blog, Poem of the Day will be taking breaks at weekends, so see you on Monday.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
TV
The Graham Norton Show
4x06 (6/11/08 edition, uncut repeat)
Glasvegas are appallingly overrated, it seems to me. Karen Allen, on the other hand, is lovely.
Little Dorrit
Part 6 (of 14)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x07 (13/11/08 edition)
4x06 (6/11/08 edition, uncut repeat)
Glasvegas are appallingly overrated, it seems to me. Karen Allen, on the other hand, is lovely.
Little Dorrit
Part 6 (of 14)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x07 (13/11/08 edition)
Articles: Bond
Bond 23 Expected In 2011 by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
So much for 2010, it seems they may be following the release pattern (or, at least, spacing) of Pierce Brosnan's era. The piece is an interview with Bond producer Michael G. Wilson and includes a few other snippets of interest to fans, such as thoughts on returns for Judi Dench and Jeffrey Wright, and comparisons between Quantum and SPECTRE.
Movie Reviews: Quantum Of Solace
(from Studio Briefing)
An intriguing set of reviews for Quantum of Solace in the US: some critics assert the view widely expressed over here that it's not enough like the Bond of old and too much like Bourne, while at least one other lists elements that may've seemed appropriate in Bonds of the past but don't fit now. Oh the irony.
(from CommanderBond.net)
So much for 2010, it seems they may be following the release pattern (or, at least, spacing) of Pierce Brosnan's era. The piece is an interview with Bond producer Michael G. Wilson and includes a few other snippets of interest to fans, such as thoughts on returns for Judi Dench and Jeffrey Wright, and comparisons between Quantum and SPECTRE.
Movie Reviews: Quantum Of Solace
(from Studio Briefing)
An intriguing set of reviews for Quantum of Solace in the US: some critics assert the view widely expressed over here that it's not enough like the Bond of old and too much like Bourne, while at least one other lists elements that may've seemed appropriate in Bonds of the past but don't fit now. Oh the irony.
Poem of the Day: The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd
by Sir Walter Raleigh
Today's poem is indeed by the famous Elizabethan "writer, poet, soldier, courtier and explorer". It was written as a response to another piece -- The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe (yep, the Elizabethan dramatist and poet, allegedly a spy, an atheist and a homosexual) -- but the cynicism in Raleigh's reply suits me better.
To nab a brief bit of analysis from Wikipedia's entry on the poem: "It could be considered a criticism, or at least a negative reaction to the original poem, as the nymph is in fact rejecting the shepherd in question quite harshly, and includes many lines that are directly connected to propositions made in Marlowe's poem. However her main reason for rejecting him is more related to her own feelings of mortality and the transience of life".
Tomorrow, it's Funny Friday.
Today's poem is indeed by the famous Elizabethan "writer, poet, soldier, courtier and explorer". It was written as a response to another piece -- The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe (yep, the Elizabethan dramatist and poet, allegedly a spy, an atheist and a homosexual) -- but the cynicism in Raleigh's reply suits me better.
If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every shepherd's tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee and be thy love.
Time drives the flocks from field to fold
When rivers rage and rocks grow cold,
And Philomel becometh dumb;
The rest complains of cares to come.
The flowers do fade, and wanton fields
To wayward winter reckoning yields;
A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall,
Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses,
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten--
In folly ripe, in reason rotten.
Thy belt of straw and ivy buds,
Thy coral clasps and amber studs,
All these in me no means can move
To come to thee and be thy love.
But could youth last and love still breed,
Had joys no date nor age no need,
Then these delights my mind might move
To live with thee and be thy love.
To nab a brief bit of analysis from Wikipedia's entry on the poem: "It could be considered a criticism, or at least a negative reaction to the original poem, as the nymph is in fact rejecting the shepherd in question quite harshly, and includes many lines that are directly connected to propositions made in Marlowe's poem. However her main reason for rejecting him is more related to her own feelings of mortality and the transience of life".
Tomorrow, it's Funny Friday.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
TV
Charles at 60: The Passionate Prince
There have been lots of excellent documentaries about the monarchy in the past year or two. Just an observation.
Little Dorrit
Part 5 (of 14)
There have been lots of excellent documentaries about the monarchy in the past year or two. Just an observation.
Little Dorrit
Part 5 (of 14)
Articles
First Full Enterprise Photo From Star Trek Unearthed
(from AceShowbiz)
It's a pretty good re-design if you ask me (a non-Trekkie, I should add). It's faithful but not slavish; modernised, but also stylised (like a lot of the film seems to be). Director J.J. Abrams describes it as "realistic", which I think might be a bit of a stretch, but I would certainly call it "appropriate". Anyhow, see for yourself:
Keep going for more on Star Trek...
Monopoly Movie Finally Passes Go by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
This is the oddest idea & director pairing for a movie ever. Ever.
Shuler Donner Talks Magneto by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
The other X-Men prequel, which is still in development, sort of. Sounds like it could be good, though it'll be a helluva challenge to find two actors as good as McKellen and Stewart. (Incidentally, why isn't Stewart a Knight yet? His part in Extras should've sealed that one, I think.)
Star Trek Footage Revealed by James Dyer
(from the Empire Blog)
Empire have seen a whole chunk of the new Star Trek film (the 11th, but it's simply called Star Trek), and it actually sounds like it might be quite good. Shocking, I know. Read the spoiler-filled summary at that link, and look out for a new trailer soon (it's attached to Quantum of Solace in US -- clearly expecting that to be a Big Hit over the pond too, then).
(from AceShowbiz)
It's a pretty good re-design if you ask me (a non-Trekkie, I should add). It's faithful but not slavish; modernised, but also stylised (like a lot of the film seems to be). Director J.J. Abrams describes it as "realistic", which I think might be a bit of a stretch, but I would certainly call it "appropriate". Anyhow, see for yourself:
Keep going for more on Star Trek...
Monopoly Movie Finally Passes Go by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
This is the oddest idea & director pairing for a movie ever. Ever.
Shuler Donner Talks Magneto by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
The other X-Men prequel, which is still in development, sort of. Sounds like it could be good, though it'll be a helluva challenge to find two actors as good as McKellen and Stewart. (Incidentally, why isn't Stewart a Knight yet? His part in Extras should've sealed that one, I think.)
Star Trek Footage Revealed by James Dyer
(from the Empire Blog)
Empire have seen a whole chunk of the new Star Trek film (the 11th, but it's simply called Star Trek), and it actually sounds like it might be quite good. Shocking, I know. Read the spoiler-filled summary at that link, and look out for a new trailer soon (it's attached to Quantum of Solace in US -- clearly expecting that to be a Big Hit over the pond too, then).
How many syllables are in the word "hour"?
Not something I'd thought about until today, when trying to write a poem in a specific meter.
Think it's simple? It isn't, as this complex answer to that simple question proves. Said answer is long and quite technical, but so interesting that I wanted to share it.
Source: Yahoo! Answers
Think it's simple? It isn't, as this complex answer to that simple question proves. Said answer is long and quite technical, but so interesting that I wanted to share it.
Source: Yahoo! Answers
Poem of the Day: If--
by Rudyard Kipling
I originally posted this yesterday, before alighting on something more appropriate, so here it is again today. If-- was written in 1895 (first published 1910), in reaction to an event that contributed to the start of the Boer War. It's a justly famous poem, voted Britain's favourite in the '90s and one of mine too, which makes it an appropriate early choice for this series.
See you tomorrow!
I originally posted this yesterday, before alighting on something more appropriate, so here it is again today. If-- was written in 1895 (first published 1910), in reaction to an event that contributed to the start of the Boer War. It's a justly famous poem, voted Britain's favourite in the '90s and one of mine too, which makes it an appropriate early choice for this series.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!
See you tomorrow!
Che in the UK
After all the coverage I've given it, I feel I should point out that the only real interest I have in Steven Soderbergh's two-part Che Guevera biopic is to do with the fuss surrounding whether it would be released and, if so, in how many parts. I don't share the common student's passing obsession with him -- or, rather, with the iconography of That T-Shirt.
Just so we're clear.
Anyway, it seems the UK release will be split in two, with Part One hitting our shores on January 1st 2009, and Part Two following seven weeks later on February 20th. Why such a gap I don't know, especially as Soderbergh expressed a desire for them to be released at the same time, so people could see all four hours in one go if they wished. I guess anyone wanting to do that will just have to wait for the DVD. To be honest, it's not that epic a running time; certainly not on DVD. I've watched all three extended Lord of the Rings films in one day -- that is an epic.
Anyway, here's the UK Che poster:
The technically-minded part of me wonders, "will they be called Che: Part One and Che: Part Two on screen, or retain the original, different titles on each half (still listed on IMDb)?" It hardly matters, but that's more likely to persuade me to fork out £7 (total) to go see them than their actual contents. Unless they win Oscars, in which case that reason edges into the lead.
Just.
Just so we're clear.
Anyway, it seems the UK release will be split in two, with Part One hitting our shores on January 1st 2009, and Part Two following seven weeks later on February 20th. Why such a gap I don't know, especially as Soderbergh expressed a desire for them to be released at the same time, so people could see all four hours in one go if they wished. I guess anyone wanting to do that will just have to wait for the DVD. To be honest, it's not that epic a running time; certainly not on DVD. I've watched all three extended Lord of the Rings films in one day -- that is an epic.
Anyway, here's the UK Che poster:
The technically-minded part of me wonders, "will they be called Che: Part One and Che: Part Two on screen, or retain the original, different titles on each half (still listed on IMDb)?" It hardly matters, but that's more likely to persuade me to fork out £7 (total) to go see them than their actual contents. Unless they win Oscars, in which case that reason edges into the lead.
Just.
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