Strange weekend...

[fajrdrako]

I came home from work on Friday dead tired - almost too tired to think. Then I spent most of the weekend sleeping. When not sleeping, I lounged in front of maaseru's television and watched things - including the first of the Battlestar Galactica episodes shown on Space, 33. It was at least as good a second time; what a terrific science fiction show in the classic mode. With such good performances.

Things I did over the weekend, besides sleep and sleep and sleep some more:

• I read Caesar: a novel by Allan Massie. I didn't like it. It had its moments, but Caesar was dull; his intelligence and charm just didn't come through. There were other flaws, but that was the one that bothered me most.


• I watched the movie Spartan with Val Kilmer. And excellent movie, a tense thriller with no car chases or big explosions, just a tough, tight plot, good script and acting.... And plenty of suspense.


• I read Same Sex Unions in Premodern Europe by John Boswell. A fascinating book in many ways, and no doubt telling a history that ought to be told - the long history of the instution of gay marriage, an aspect of history that for the past century or two has been so suppressed that most people deny that there even is a long history of gay marriage. Note: it isn't a history of of homosexuality, but of legal, ceremonial, personal and sexual social bonding sanctioned by the cultures and nations in question, and even the Christian church. Much as I appreciated the theme, I got impatient with a lot of the book that was simply linguistic studies of liturgy and a study of heterosexual marriage from many points of view, for comparison. I think this book need to be written, but considering that it was written and published in the United States in 1995, I think it had an aim that was more political than scholarly.


• An episode of Century City that I had never seen before, called "To Know Her". I managed to tape it for rosiespark, too. Again, a though-provoking plot that wasn't overly obvious. And some terrific acting from Ioan Gruffudd.


• Watched part of the Golden Globe Awards with maaseru and maaboroshi. Enjoyed it; the dresses were a lot nicer than those worn for the Oscars. It was fun seeing Liam Neeson. But so many people I don't recognize, and awards for shows I've never seen or (in some cases) heard of - it's a little frustrating too.


• Watched Ebert and Roeper do their picks for the worst movies of the year. Ebert's picks for worst was a tie between Troy and Alexander and that got us discussing how some movies aren't so bad, but seem worse because of a disappointment factor - "Troy" and "Alexander" can only be considered bad if you expected them to be better. They aren't even on the same scale of some of those really bad movies. And I loved both Troy and Alexander on a purely visceral level, though I think both were flawed, in different ways.


• Listened to the CD that I gave maaseru for Christmas; Il Trovatore, with Andrea Bocelli. Loved it.


• Talked to my cousin Bob, who updated me on my father's condition. (Basically, he seems to be okay, but is having trouble walking.) Then I phoned my father. Why is that always so difficult? He was glad I called, and it was a pleasant conversation.

I should go to bed... and hope I'll feel all right tomorrow.

Comments

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

" Watched Ebert and Roeper do their picks for the worst movies of the year. Ebert's picks for worst was a tie between Troy and Alexander and that got us discussing how some movies aren't so bad, but seem worse because of a disappointment factor - "Troy" and "Alexander" can only be considered bad if you expected them to be better. They aren't even on the same scale of some of those really bad movies. And I loved both Troy and Alexander on a purely visceral level, though I think both were flawed, in different ways."

You know, I went into Alexander with very low expectations (because I had heard nothing good, and I was already pretty disallusioned with the casting) and it was STILL bad. It only confirmed my expectations! Though Baogoas was nice...

I would love to see a great Alexander movie made, but I didn't harbor expectations for this one, from what I had already seen, and it was only confirmed.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

An episode of Century City that I had never seen before, called "To Know Her". I managed to tape it for rosiespark, too.

Yay! Thank you. Talking of copying stuff, I think we established that I'm sending you (eventually - sorry it's taking so long!) the BSG mini and the special edition TEP double dvd, but I can't remember whether you still want the BSG episodes as avi files on cd... do you?

Again, a though-provoking plot that wasn't overly obvious. And some terrific acting from Ioan Gruffudd.

I'd be overjoyed to see some new Ioan stuff. He's been a bit overshadowed just recently by my all-out adoration of the Crumpet...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sadly, my initial impression of the Leonardo DiCaprio version of Alexander's life will only be worse, though perhaps I am being too pessimistic there. There is such potential for a good movie - I dinf it incrediblt that Stone blew it so badly. But he did.

Yeah, Bagoas was very nice.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I must admit that my appreciation of a certain Bamber has risen high since I started watching BSG, and I haven't seen Ioan in anything new since Century City. More would be nice. Really nice.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

When is the DiCaprio version expected out? I don't have many expectations from that one either and don't know any details on how it's being handled storywise.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You can see what info there is on it (precious little) at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327405/ - it seems to have neither a title for a real release date, though they say 2006. I wouldn't be surprised if it is never made or released. Nicole Kidman as Olympias? Well, at least it will be... different. Since I like Nicole Kidman almost as little as I like Leonardo DiCaprio, I think I might avoid this one altogether. Unless compelled by curiosity.... Face it, my curiosity is compelling even though I can't see any ray of hope for it.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Did you watch the series Lowdown? Not really much of substance but it did feature a hilarious take of James Callis saying "Baltar-star Galactica", very much in character. Plus clips of Jamie in London with windswept scruffy hair complaining about how one can't say "bugger" properly when using an American accent. P'raps he's practising for a prequel to Mutiny and Retribution in which Archie requests Horatio to.... Oh, sorry - forgot that's not your pairing of choice for Horatio. *g*

Your answer to my question seems to have got lost in the general Bamber squeeage - BSG eps on cd are still on offer. Or was a yes implicit in the statement of Bamber appreciation?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Did you watch the series Lowdown?

Never heard of it....

clips of Jamie in London with windswept scruffy hair

Oooh nice image.

one can't say "bugger" properly when using an American accent

No, absolutely not. It must be something about the air.

sorry - forgot that's not your pairing of choice for Horatio.

hmm, personally I'm all for variety and I think there's enough fantasy-Horatio go go around.

BSG eps: yes please!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

It's a bitty sort of feature thingy about the new series - there's a link to a site with a download in the comments to this post (http://www.livejournal.com/community/crumpeteers/81892.html). Or I could put it on the cds with the episodes.

Jamie looks lovely if not very Apollo-like. The hair, as I mentioned, and he's pale and stubbly - quite dishy!

BSG eps will be copied as soon as I get my computer sorted out. I've been downloading so much stuff recently that my pathetic 13GB hard disk has run out of space - yesterday I was in the Catch 22 situation of not having enough space on the hard disk to even allow the pc to write stuff to cd in order to free some hard disc space... help! I think a second hard disc is in order. Bad timing financially, but can't be helped.

Kobol's Last Gleaming Part 1 is at 21.8%. Meep! Can't wait.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You're way ahead of me with BSG and I don't know when I'll catch up. But I think we get a 'new' episode aired tonight.... One I've already seen, but it'll be nice to get it on tape.