Movie day...

[fajrdrako]

Today was a day to watch movies. I was ensconced on maaseru's sofa from an early hour, watching movies with josanpq, maaboroshi and lunacy_gal.

We watched:

• Ice Blues, the fourth Donald Strachey movie, which I'd seen before;
  
  
• Big Eden, which I'd also seen before, but which I think I enjoyed more the second time round, knowing what to expect. I certainly enjoy watching Eric Schweig!
  
  
• Shakespeare Retold: The Taming of the Shew, with Rufus Sewell and Shirley Henderson. Rufus Sewell is one of those actors I adore and would watch in anything - and Petrucchio just might be his best role yet. Shirley Henderson was Ursula in the remarkable Doctor Who episode "Love and Monsters" and Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter. This adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew was magnificent, in my opinion: it is in so many ways one of Shakespeare's more problematic plays for our time, and yet, done right, is exceptionally clever and funny.
  
  Actually, the more remarkable thing about Henderson's performance here is that she reminded me of the first woman I ever fell in love with. I imagine that gave me an extra bit of identification with Petrucchio.
  
  
• Theatre of Blood, with Vincent Price and Diana Rigg, from 1973. A wildly lurid and somewhat silly story about an actor who, driven mad by critics' opinions of his play, become a serial killer enacting revenge upon the critics by killing them in the manner of murders in Shakepeare's plays. It was a real treat to see the young Diana Rigg again. In one scene, a man's beloved poodles are brutally murdered; I couldn't help thinking of Captain John Hart.

Then maaseru and I actually ventured out into the world to see The Dark Knight at a movie theatre. I had many thoughts on the movie. As always, I'm fussy about movies based on comics, especially comic and characters I love, and I certainly love Batman. The movie Batman is not the comic book Batman, and I generally prefer the one in the comic - with the caveat that there is no one comic book version of the character. None of the Batman movies capture what I most love about Batman¹, but I do like Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne.

1. Heath Ledger as the Joker was as good as they say. It wasn't just his doing: the direction and writing on the Joker was superb. Loved it that he was a 'mad dog', an agent of chaos; loved it that he had a different version of his origin every time he told it. Loved it that he really wore make-up, and didn't have his skin stained in a chemical factory accident. Loved his Nurse Jane scene with Harvey Dent. The Joker was the best thing about the movie.
   
   
2. The second best thing about the movie was Garry Oldman as Jim Gordon . Convincing, interesting, a good friend and foil to Batman. He has a son in the movie: this surprised me, as I've only ever known him to have a daughter (Barbara); but I see from the Wikipedia entry that in pre-Crisis continuity he had a son named Tony.
   
   
3. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Daws was infinitely better than Katie Holmes, or at least, much more convincing as an Assistant D.A. She still was not the equal of Bruce Wayne or Harvey Dent, and a prime example of a Refrigerator Woman - something movies do much more blatantly than comics, in my opinion.
   
   She did have a role in the plot that I loved, though: the whole theme of her choosing between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent, and writing the letter to Bruce, which Alfred burned after the fact. I loved that with a passion.
   
   
4. In terms of weakness, I thought the movie was very badly paced, repetitious, a little too long, and sometimes difficult to follow. I'd have edited it so differently. And I'd have added gargoyles and narrow dark alleyways.
   
   
5. They didn't identify Detective Ramirez by name for a long time, and for a long time I was all excited because I thought the movie was featuring Renée Montoya, one of my favourite DC characters. It wasn't. Damn.
   
   
6. Michael Caine remains delightful as Alfred.
   
   
7. I spent the whole movie, of course, waiting for the accident that would turn Harvey Dent into Two-Face.

One further Batman-related comment: a week ago a bunch of my friends were discussing the movie, which I hadn't then seen. The were commenting on Christian Bale in the Batman role, and several of them said how much they'd loved the old show with Adam West. I had to bite my tongue not to rant about how much I hated that show in general, and Adam West in particular. Even at the very worst, I look at versions of Batman and thing, "At least it isn't Adam West."

¹ Which I'd love to go into but not now. Later sometime.

Comments

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Gonna not look at your comments till after I've seen it... which I'd been planning to do two days ago, but then saw only The X Files instead. Which, as I mentioned to your answering machine, I pretty much hope you don't try to go see, as it's incredibly and unpleasantly gory.

This Wednesday for The Dark Knight.

It's bemusing how the papers have taken to discussing how dark comic book characters are these days. Just because Iron Man was the way it was, and now Frank Miller's masterpiece comes out and has apparently been done very well? That does not mean that all comic books are grim. I think that sort of media contemplation says much more about the inaccurate stereotypes which the media has long applied to comic books, than it does to any change currently happening in either the comics or the movies being made of them. What, do they think that 300 and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories should be judged with the same yardstick? Silliness.

I can't not see your last comment, about Adam West. I agree with you. At the same time, I think that Adam West did for Batman what the man who took the stage name of Stepin Fetchit did for black entertainers, and more's the pity! After Fetchit broke big with his shuffling-dimwit act, suddenly every black was supposed to be just like that. Ditto for Adam West's goofy Batman, eh? Just a thought.

Anyway, I was apparently the perfect age to love the old Batman show, and I watched it indeed I did, but... it left me deeply unsatisfied each time. Still, at that time it was all that we had, and so I took it and was grateful. No wonder I grabbed up hard SF like a starving person, when I discovered them (in that same general time, age seven or eight or so). Yep, that was what I was waiting for!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the X-Files warning. I was thinking of going to see it, though I haven't heard much good about it - except from the producers.

Just because Iron Man was the way it was,

I didn't think it was very dark. Did they think so?

I think there's a stereotyped expectation among those who have no idea that comics are all aimed at kids and feature light stories, rather like Disney stuff. That's about 50 years out of date and never was true, but it seems to be a perception that's out there.

And people keep forgetting too that comics are a medium not a genre, so there are all sorts of styles and tones and genres. It's the same sort of thing that happens when people are shocked that comics have sex in them. Comics are no more all the same that television or movies. Which is to say that yes, there are fashions. And there are innovators. And there are genre stereotypes. All of that. And it isn't the same from one country to another, either.

When the Adam West Batman came out, I was already old enough (12, I think) to adore Batman as a detective-action-hero, and I thought he was very sexy and cool. Adam West was the opposite. This may be when I started to hate comedy, and particularly satire.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

The stereotyped expectation that comic books are simple and cute and only for either children or adults who have a problem with still wishing that they were children... well, it's pretty entrenched, alas. It puts me in mind of the mental near-sightedness of a college friend of mine, a devout Irish Catholic, who refused to believe me when I was talking one day about vulgar phrases of Latin that my professor had been passing on to us. To her, Latin was only the Church's language, and it could never have vulgar things in it. Gad, imagine! A language spoken in all situations by many generations of people of all walks of life, and it didn't have any insults, epithets, or off-color vernacular. Amazing, huh?

Aha, so there may be a trackable source of your dislike of comedy... hm. Well, that show was broad, broad comedy, so I can see why it hit you as hard as that.

But what's with you and the ultra-extended bedtime these days, hm? Ok, no, not my place, I'll shut up! (Never enough hours in the day, are there? nope.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

To her, Latin was only the Church's language, and it could never have
vulgar things in it. Gad, imagine!

And this woman made it as far as college? Egad. (And I can't resist saying: hadn't she ever heard the phrase 'vulgar Latin'?) Not even mentioning the fact that Latin predated Christianity by many centuries.

so there may be a trackable source of your dislike of comedy...

That didn't help.

what's with you and the ultra-extended bedtime these days, hm?

Sigh. Bad behaviour and lack of self-control?

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

And this woman made it as far as college? Egad. (And I can't resist saying: hadn't she ever heard the phrase 'vulgar Latin'?) Not even mentioning the fact that Latin predated Christianity by many centuries.

And needs to read The Wandering Scholars!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Absolutely!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Vivat Archipoeta!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

And this woman made it as far as college? Egad.

Heh. She had many such blind spots! She was youngest of five siblings, and all five of them had attended college ("university," to you), and none of them took out loans to do it... their dad worked for the electric company and paid their way through. Ahem. Compare that to me, who attended college thanks to my mother's dad having bought me savings bonds for it (and I just barely had enough, too). Yet she referred to me and others like me (non-Catholics, basically) as "booszhh." That's insulting-short for "... shit, I can't even begin to spell the word. Karl Marx's word for the arrogant middle class, right? Bougiose? No, but I got the first letter right! Ah, such fun dyslexia is.

Anyway! Her family actually was this middle class, while mine was true-blue dirt-poor creative/intellectual/Evangelical United Brethren, and she really couldn't see the intense irony there. And, no, she never did believe me about Latin being a language of everyday people. Heh.

Re disliking comedy.... Do you dislike all comedy, or just certain sorts? I know you enjoy humor. But only quality humor.

I'm getting a strong impression that your dislike of comedy is akin to my dislike of being looked at too long. Ask me later.

Sigh. Bad behaviour and lack of self-control?

Yeah, but more fun for me! ...Actually, seems your days are shorter now that you have an external schedule to keep again, and the quiet end of the day is just a good time for being online, no?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Bourgoisie is the word you wanted. It just means 'middle-class'. All the middle class, whether arrogant or not. Nothing to do with religion, just the economic role - people who were neither working class nor aristocrats.

The world has changed since Marx's time and the words don't quite apply the way they used to.

I am suspicious of all comedy, but I do like some - though almost never movies who are just billed as 'comedy'. It needs an adjective in front of it. Social comedy, romantic comedy, musical comedy - that I like. Shakespearean comedy. Sitcoms: no. Farces: only if they're live on stage.

I'm getting a strong impression that your dislike of comedy is akin to my dislike of being looked at too long. Ask me later.

That sounds as if you think it's related to an embarrassment factor. It isn't. More likely related to my dislike of puns, but not necessarily that either. A lot of comedy is ridiculing subjects or people and I don't much like that. Sometimes it's just setting up ridiculous situations that make no sense.

I did like Monty Python, when it was on.

seems your days are shorter now that you have an external schedule to keep again, and the quiet end of the day is just a good time for being online, no?

Not to mention one of the few times I get to read and answer email and write in my LJ.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

[ I'm getting a strong impression that your dislike of comedy is akin to my dislike of being looked at too long. Ask me later. ]

That sounds as if you think it's related to an embarrassment factor. It isn't.

No, not at all. I was referring to the intrinsic mechanism which makes you dislike comedy, and which makes me not like being stared at. As I said -- ask me later. Sorry!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't think there is an intrinsic mechanism. I think it's just something I don't much like.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Yes, it means "middle class," those with expendable income who are able to pay for their children's college tuition themselves, out of savings. Which she was one of. And I, who was being casually attacked for being "boozsh," was the one who was the true proletariat. As far as I know, she never did grow up and quit playing diva... ah, well.

The world has changed since Marx's time and the words don't quite apply the way they used to.

The world has changed since Adam Smith's time, too, and I am increasingly bemused that people keep calling out "survival of the fittest" and "free marketplace" and "the law of supply and demand" to make excuses for the excesses of greed in this present-day economy which is ruled by huge corporations who want money at all costs. Smith had it right back in the day, but things have evolved in economics as the world has gotten incresingly more inter-connected. What do you think? Do I have economics all wrong, there?

Comedy -- later.

Or maybe not. Sorry again, I am totally wiped out by sensory onslaught, here, and part of it is from the single other user of the computer lab, who had been talking on her phone at will when I was in the outer room, and now -- not my choice -- is facing directly at me through the window separating the back room of quiet from the front room of anything goes within reason... and her gaze is adding to my sensory-input overload. I'm doing typos like mad, and doing them again when trying to correct them, and my tight collar is suddenly three times as annoying as it was in the outer room, and... oh, gad, do I sound insane or what? How could another person's direct gaze (and annoyance at me for being so bothered by her phoen calls that I silently stood up from my other computer and walked into the quiet room, shutting the door behind me) actually affect me in these direct and practical ways? Yeah, sure, I'm imagining it.

Let me tell you the stories about how Ilearned how to make people trip while they're walking past me. I can do it still. I just don't, because it is too unpleasant to then feel their feelings after they do it.

A bad pun, a bad comedic set-up, is the same thing as an unwanted blast of direct energy: it sets you up and you are open to accept it, and then when it plays out and you realize it's crappy and unfunny, you are still stuck in "receive" mode and thus get a cupfull of distasteful, time-wasting crap poured into your input sector. That's how lousy comedy is like an unwanted direct gaze.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Why would you want to trip someone?

Hope your sensory problems ease soon.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I don't. But the person who taught me this was self-centered and very into "I can so I have the right," and I showed bad judgement. I think I felt so awful after doing it just once or twice that I refused to try it ever again, and after 30 years I still feel ashamed about it.

Thank you... today was rough again, and I just don't know why. Then again, that week and a half of lesser problems seems, sadly, to have been the anomaly. At least so far this year. I'm seriously wondering if this is my natural state, and somehow I un-numbed my intakes (so to speak) by getting myself off the soy-laden foods...? Ai, what a thought. I just don't know.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's hard to find the answers, isn't it? I wish I had something helpful to add! I don't know why your good days happen, or your bad days, in terms of sensory input. I hope you have more good days.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I can't stand it when people go on about the 'good old Batman,' i.e. Adam West Batman. They are usually people who haven't read the comics and that was their first impression of Batman. Ugh ugh ugh. I watched it only because I liked Batman so much, I'd watch anything Batman. Batman Begins was much closer to the comic for me.

When I left the movie, I felt it was too long, definitely could have been edited down, I figured it would be confusing to follow (for a lot of people, if they really tried)... I wasn't really trying to follow it. I was just waiting for another Joker scene.

Which instantly reveals why *I* truly liked the movie. I thought many of the actors overshadowed Batman, which I'm not sure was their intention. When it was over, I wanted to see it again, but only to fast forward through Joker's scenes.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

They are usually people who haven't read the comics and that was their first impression of Batman.

Yes, exactly. People who have no idea what the character is about, and don't care what he stands for.

Batman Begins was much closer to the comic for me.

I agree. It had its flaws, but it had the right spirit.

I felt it was too long, definitely could have been edited down, I figured it would be confusing to follow

The plot could have been made a lot tighter, a lot tenser. Maybe they ran out of editing time? It wasn't bad, just that it could have been better.

I can understand about 'waiting for the next Joker' scene. He really lit up the screen.

I thought many of the actors overshadowed Batman, which I'm not sure was their intention.

I agree. I'm sure they wanted to feature Harvey Dent (for example) in a positive light, but Batman got a little bit lost and forgotten from time to time in his own movie. And we had very, very little of his point of view. The comics often do that too, so there's precedent, but I'm much happier when we (a) get Batman's point of view and (b) have him a part of most of the action. I would have liked more characterization of Bruce/Batman; as it was, I think they thought they set up his character in the last movie, and didn't need to focus on him this time. Wrong choice, I'd say.

I thought we should have had more scenes that were conversations between Batman and the Joker. I'd have also liked some scenes between the Joker and Bruce Wayne, the Joker not knowing he was Batman.

When it was over, I wanted to see it again, but only to fast forward through Joker's scenes.

You'll be able to do that, soon enough.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Adding my love for the Sewell...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Isn't he wonderful? He often takes villainous roles, in which he is good, but I think he's a bit wasted as a villain; he has such charm. I love his smile, and the way he plays comedy.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Rufus is gorgeous!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And talented. Another actor whom I believe to be under-appreciated.

I like the way he has fit himself into a historical-movie niche, though.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

In the days when I thought the Boy was brunet (as per icon), I would have dream-cast him… But the shocking discovery of blondness sent me back to the drawing-board…

Still, he might do for Cousin Poldi, who was half-Greek.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Nice thoughts. Very, very nice thoughts. Yes, he does have the right sort of look.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yes. He needs to play someone semi-Byzantine.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, he'd be perfect for those Byzantine characters.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

He was great fun in Cold Comfort Farm, though I still think Peter has the edge on him as Seth in the 1968 version, partly because of a better script that gave him more of his classic lines from the book, and partly because of the clothes he was almost wearing…

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I love both. I first saw - and loved - Sewell as Fortinbras in the Branagh Hamlet. Bring on the breastplate!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I greatly approve of tinned Rufus. He was a lovely Hotspur in Henry IV!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I swoon at the thought. Was that on stage?

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

No, on TV.
I have it on disc, if you are interested… ;-D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Woo! Yes, if you can send it along sometime. That would be terrific. I've been very much enjoying the things you've already sent.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I shall supply! There are already about 3 packages from me en route to you: one with some m/m material, another with f/f, and another with lots of Whoviana.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Big happy smile - thank you so much! things to look forward to.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Has the first lot arrived yet, with Lorca in it?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No. Nothing has arrived except bills and flyers. (Grump.)

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

OK, so there are 3 packets en route, and I'll probably be sending a fourth!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so tired of nothing but bills and ads in my mailbox!

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

I am a huge fan of that version of Shrew, and I've never been in love with anyone like Henderson's Kate.
You should also try some of the other Shakespeare Retold episodes. I particularly like Much ado.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I usually love "Much Ado"; it's my favourite Shakespeare comedy. I will certainly look for it.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

Was "Ice Blues" good? I've heard not a peep about it from anyone at all, to the point to where I didn't even think it aired.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that it hasn't aired in the US yet but it will. We all liked it best of all the movies; Timmy gets lots of scenes and good piece of the action.

It was my favourite of the books, too, but they changed the story radically.

[elebridith]

Wow, thanks for the ShakespeaRe-Told thing - I only had to read Rufus Sewell and went over to amazon.uk which had amazingly enough a bargain. And James McAvoy is also in it! Another big plus!
I can recall Theatre of blood, but it's loong ago I saw that. Was an old videotape, unfortunately my VCR ate it one day... :-(

Dark Knight starts in three weeks here. I really hope they don't mess up the dubbing. *growls* Batman Begins was ok, so I have hope, but dubbing Heath's Joker... guess that's difficult.

Oh, and there's a Torchwood soundtrack CD coming out in September! Don't know if you're interested in soundtracks, but I like the score, so I pre-ordered.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I only had to read Rufus Sewell and went over to amazon.uk which had amazingly enough a bargain.

Wonderful!

Batman Begins was ok, so I have hope, but dubbing Heath's Joker... guess that's difficult.

The voice is very specific but it might be all right. A lot of the acting is his his body language and motions. The way he looks. A very visual performance.

there's a Torchwood soundtrack CD coming out in September!

Yay!

Don't know if you're interested in soundtracks, but I like the score, so I pre-ordered.

I am interested - thanks for pointing it out.

[maisedoat.livejournal.com]

Personally, I liked the old Adam West shows, and I like the darker comic/movies version. I just treat them as two entirely separate things - like drinking instant and proper coffee - they both have their place.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I never managed to be so even-handed about it. I just disliked the one and liked the other.

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Yes, that version of "The Taming of the Shrew" is fabulous :) I love Rufus Sewell and his big hair and mad eyes ;)

I saw http://www.creationtheatre.co.uk/ perform it wonderfully, last summer, outside, in the grounds of the Oxford Castle.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be seeing The Taming of the Shew today! Yay!