stuff that I've watched lately

[rose_griffes]

I've watched stuff! I'm so impressed with me! You can assume spoilers behind each cut, though it's mostly me blathering about my reaction.

Inspired by beatonna's awesome comic Get me off this freaking moor!, I watched the BBC version of Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It was a bit like Jane Eyre with gender reversals. Mysterious brooding woman attracts the attention of an ordinary farmer. Three hour-long episodes--I watched them with Netflix livestreaming. Quite enjoyable, though I sort of wish the ending had been longer and sappier. (It was happy enough, but still--I was in the mood for shmoopiness at the time.)

Another BBC production: Ultraviolet, a six-episode mini-series done in shades of grey--not literal, just figurative. Cop Michael Colefield gets drawn deeper and deeper into a confusing puzzle when his good friend disappears on the eve of his wedding. Complicating matters, Michael's in love with the bride-to-be, and when he finds out the truth, he can't reveal it to her. The truth? His friend became a vampire, "Code V." (The word vampire is never actually used in the show.) But are the 'Code V' members truly evil? Does the organization that fights them have right on its side? I was so impressed with how this interpretation of a vampire mini-series goes to the scientific side, rather than delving into vampire lore.

Relatedly, I want fic. Specifically Angie/Vaughan fic. (Aha, Vaughan Rice was played by Idris Elba. QoT, I get the attraction now. Photos don't do him justice. I didn't recall much about him from the first time I watched this mini-series, but he made quite the impression this time round.)

I actually saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the day it opened in theaters. (Geek cred re-established for another year!) It was late enough in the day that I had to ask three different people not to talk about it (please!) while I was near. Apparently I know a lot of other geeks.

Did I love it? No... I enjoyed it well enough. This isn't like the fifth movie, when I thought the changes made from book to movie were quite logical and necessary. Here, some of the choices worked well, others didn't.

Something that struck me this time around was the framing--so many shots had such elegant composition. It was a visually beautiful movie. Other positives:
- Fenrir Greyback honestly gave me the creeps every time I saw him.
- The Ginny/Harry romance was sweet and not so consuming (as it was in the book--I remember being somewhat annoyed by it in the book)
- Draco. Brilliant performance by the young actor in the role.
- The lit wands near the end were a moving touch.

Two drawbacks--not enough given to us to tie in the title. Snape's one brief line I am the half-blood Prince isn't enough. And the other: the last third of the movie was emotional, but lacking in action. I didn't need the big battle scene after Dumbledore's death, but it felt like everything was a bit stifled, ultimately.

In non-TV/movie news, I'm rereading a novel that should be titled Young Sociopaths in Love. (I'm just giving this as a hint about my general reaction, DB!)

Comments

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Relatedly, I want fic. Specifically Angie/Vaughan fic. (Aha, Vaughan Rice was played by Idris Elba. QoT, I get the attraction now. Photos don't do him justice. I didn't recall much about him from the first time I watched this mini-series, but he made quite the impression this time round.

Yeah, he's pretty awesome, huh? :P (I forget whether you've seen "The Wire" or not, but he has a huge role in that, and is both hot and a very good actor :P)

I totally second you on the Angie/Vaughn fic. In fact, if there isn't any out there, maybe you should write some :P I loved their scenes together, and that moment when Vaughn thinks he's going to die and he calls her is just ... GUH! Damn, now I want to watch this all TONIGHT!!

ETA: I love "Tenant of Wildfell Hall" mostly because of Toby Stephens (and all the actors from "Rome" who have small roles, e.g. James Cranham and James Purefoy.) I normally really like Tara Fitzgerald, but her hairstyles just felt so painful to me throughout the film - those tiny braids and the way her hair was pulled back so hard that her eyebrows looked like they hurt. So I spent all the time that she was onscreen just mulling over the hair :P

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I forget whether you've seen "The Wire" or not, but he has a huge role in that, and is both hot and a very good actor

Haven't seen The Wire--it might be a bit too grim for me. But Elba is definitely an impressive actor. And a pretty face!

I totally second you on the Angie/Vaughn fic. In fact, if there isn't any out there, maybe you should write some :P

You'd have to promise to comment if I do! ;-)

I normally really like Tara Fitzgerald, but her hairstyles just felt so painful to me throughout the film - those tiny braids and the way her hair was pulled back so hard that her eyebrows looked like they hurt. So I spent all the time that she was onscreen just mulling over the hair :P

Hah! Yeah, it took a concerted effort on my part not to be distracted by her hair the whole time.

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

Aren't you having a Brontë week between Anne and Emily? I have been remiss in my post. I should get to that post but I had been attacked by vid bunnies. I will get to it, soon!

Sociopaths, hee! That seems to be a take on it. We'll see!

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Heh, I really am having a Brontë week.

Sociopaths, hee! That seems to be a take on it. We'll see!
I'm worried that I'll be the cranky person making comments that Cathy/Heathcliff fans will find irritating...