He is safe behind the bullet proof, necromatically proof, sarcasm proof, mathimatic proof Glass. Or are we safe because he is behind it?
STRANGE SPANNERS being an accounting of strangeness of the warp and woof of my mind For those of you new here, think of this as 1/2 "Night Gallery" Our Motto: Nos somnium quisnam es futurus fatum quod insolitus tutus vos!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Queen of Raptors
The Queen of Raptors parades in front of her quisling, sycophantic supporters. They fear her more than love her, and that suits her fine. Her nails are red not by polish. It is rumored that she has become enamored by the shiny internet. Beware certain tweets.
The Zombie Combat Manual
Need to take care of that pesky Zombie infestation? Say no more! The Zombie Combat Manual is for you. Not only does it outline optimum weapons and strategies, but it is also a guide for how to become a lean mean zombie fighting machine. Squats and jumping jacks are suggested.
Robert Ma's book, is fun little novelty item and a good read along with World War Z.
Robert Ma's book, is fun little novelty item and a good read along with World War Z.
Blue Beard
I really enjoyed this french film directed by Catherine Breillat. It has a wonderful visual sense that lifts us up into the world of fairytales without being too Tim Burtony. It has two young girls telling each other, and daring each other to tell, the story of Blue Beard. So then we are back to age of fairy tales where poor Lola is taken as a child bride to Lord Blue Beard whom everyone knows kills his bride but are the people to do?
While it is no Beauty and the Beast situation, Lola is enchanted at first by Blue Beard who honestly describes himself as a monster. It becomes a question of how close can she dance close to the flames of the monster and impending adulthood.
Definitely well worth watching!
While it is no Beauty and the Beast situation, Lola is enchanted at first by Blue Beard who honestly describes himself as a monster. It becomes a question of how close can she dance close to the flames of the monster and impending adulthood.
Definitely well worth watching!
Creation
As I recall, "Creation" had a heck of a time getting a distributor here in the United States. Some thought it was because we are all a bunch of baptist yahoos who believe that God created Adam and Eve. I don't know though, maybe secretly it was more that BBC might be gripping drama but Americans tend to be ungripped in the face of a lot of naked British accents and costumes. In either case, this was rather unfairly skipped.
Paul Bettany is Darwin, and Jennifer Connelly is his wife Emma. Interestingly enough, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany are married in real life. It certainly helps the chemistry on screen and they make a very believable couple. The story takes up after Darwin returned from his epic voyage and he makes ready to publish his findings. The drama unfolds as he faces illness both his own and his daughter, and the daunting social implications of his theories.
I liked the film a lot. I feel I learned quite a bit about Darwin. I also really really enjoyed the early scenes between him and his daughter. He was such a good genial father that it really breaks your heart later as his daughter fights for her life. If you can adapt to costume drama this is certainly worth seeing.
Paul Bettany is Darwin, and Jennifer Connelly is his wife Emma. Interestingly enough, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany are married in real life. It certainly helps the chemistry on screen and they make a very believable couple. The story takes up after Darwin returned from his epic voyage and he makes ready to publish his findings. The drama unfolds as he faces illness both his own and his daughter, and the daunting social implications of his theories.
I liked the film a lot. I feel I learned quite a bit about Darwin. I also really really enjoyed the early scenes between him and his daughter. He was such a good genial father that it really breaks your heart later as his daughter fights for her life. If you can adapt to costume drama this is certainly worth seeing.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland has been adapted for the screen many times, and stolen or mutated into other forms even more times. For some reason many of these adaptions become celebrity magnets. I guess everyone wants to do something for their kids, or the kids they might someday have and the idea of spouting ten lines or so as the Caterpillar is fairly painless. At least painless for them, for the audience we are often subjected to wild over acting.
This is not a problem with the 1966 version produced for the BBC show "This Wednesday's Play." Oh, it has a lot of British stars including Peter Sellers, Peter Cook, Michael Redgrave, and Sir John Gielgud. Special mention has to be made of Leo McKern, who Iwill always remember fondly as #2 in the Prisoner, as the Duchess. With the exception of McKern's Duchess however the acting is very very purposefully flat and without affect. Instead of a manic, madcap, rompish tea party we are given basically cupcakes with people already on their anti psychotic meds. The worst offender is Anne Marie Mallik who plays Alice. I swear she looks and acts like the zombie girl from "Night of the Living Dead." All and all, this flatness makes the disturbing parts of Alice stick out far more. There is certainly more of a nightmare here than a day dream.
Another interesting decision was to forego make up. Everyone is dressed in the period that the story takes place but there is no dormouse or caterpillar, except that they are called that. Also, though Alice doesn't really change sizes she refers to often which again makes things all the more mad.
The only really upbeat thing in this adaption is music. It is mostly done by Ravi Shankar and his sitar playing creates a bright otherworldly feel to this Victorian dreamy nightmare. There's a wonderful section on the DVD where the director and Ravi are working together on the soundrack that should certainly be watched. The film itself is beautifully shot and lit, and is certainly a worth a watch.
I certainly don't think children would warm to this version though.
This is not a problem with the 1966 version produced for the BBC show "This Wednesday's Play." Oh, it has a lot of British stars including Peter Sellers, Peter Cook, Michael Redgrave, and Sir John Gielgud. Special mention has to be made of Leo McKern, who Iwill always remember fondly as #2 in the Prisoner, as the Duchess. With the exception of McKern's Duchess however the acting is very very purposefully flat and without affect. Instead of a manic, madcap, rompish tea party we are given basically cupcakes with people already on their anti psychotic meds. The worst offender is Anne Marie Mallik who plays Alice. I swear she looks and acts like the zombie girl from "Night of the Living Dead." All and all, this flatness makes the disturbing parts of Alice stick out far more. There is certainly more of a nightmare here than a day dream.
Another interesting decision was to forego make up. Everyone is dressed in the period that the story takes place but there is no dormouse or caterpillar, except that they are called that. Also, though Alice doesn't really change sizes she refers to often which again makes things all the more mad.
The only really upbeat thing in this adaption is music. It is mostly done by Ravi Shankar and his sitar playing creates a bright otherworldly feel to this Victorian dreamy nightmare. There's a wonderful section on the DVD where the director and Ravi are working together on the soundrack that should certainly be watched. The film itself is beautifully shot and lit, and is certainly a worth a watch.
I certainly don't think children would warm to this version though.
Today's Secret Code: July 1 2010
"Ten Russian recruits, nine Nicaraguan nihilists, eight Egyptian educators, seven Syrian spies, six Salvadorian slavers, and FIVE FREAKIN' FREEDONIANS..." Again: "Ten Russian recruits, nine Nicaraguan nihilists, eight Egyptian educators, seven Syrian spies, six Salvadorian slavers, and FIVE FREAKIN' FREEDONIANS..." Today's colours are redacted. Today's author is enacted. That is all, Maho Maho.
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