intertext

Elizabeth: The Golden Years

It's appropriate that I start teaching Spenser next week. There was Gloriana, the Virgin Queen, up there on the screen for everyone to adore! Perhaps fortunately, I don't know enough to be annoyed about historical accuracy, or lack thereof. It was luscious eyecandy, especially with the delectable Clive Owen buckling his swash with vigour, and Cate Blanchett in armor, hair blowing in the same wind that blows away the Armada. I was taken with the sheer Girls Own Annual almost jingoism of it all - surely this would not have been PC a decade or so ago ... what has changed?? This is not to say that I did not enjoy it; I did. Just wanted to say, that's all.

Hot Fuzz

This was hilarious. So much fun. And I almost peed myself in the big shoot-out at the end.

The Descent

Courtesy of the film club - visceral, feminist horror. Rather good. Good company, too :)

And on the small screen...

Torchwood

I think so far I like this better than Dr. Who (at least recent offerings - being on record as not totally enamoured of the latest incarnation of him). It's a bit darker, a bit more textured, at least so far.

Deadwood

I suspect I'm going to have to buy my own copy of this. I keep taking the dvd's back to the store unwatched, or only half-watched, because the individual episodes are so powerful that I don't want to watch more than one in a week. The production values are fabulous - everything is so good: music, photography, acting - that each episode seems like a little movie. And the language ("limber-dicked cunt suckers" is my favourite)!!

I have to report that I am now watching "Angel" to assuage somewhat my Buffy withdrawal. It serves the purpose; I'm enjoying it, though have to confess that I'm hoping for an antidote to two very tragic episodes in a row. In one, Angel becomes human for a day and a night, long enough to spend a passionate time with Buffy, who was visiting. In a noble sacrifice, he gives up being human in order to continue his mission to fight evil and better protect his true love. He remembers; she doesn't. Sniff. And THEN, in the very next episode, Doyle, whom I really liked, gives his life in an intense, noble, heroic way. Sniff sniff.

It's not that I'm loth to admit that I'm an Alias fan. I'll tell anyone who listens. I guess I just didn't want to buy into the whole message board " save Michael Vartan" thing that's going on. But BOY am I pissed off that they ... seem ... at least to have killed off Vaughn. Or that they are SERIOUSLY messing with our heads by making it a fake death. Or that I'm even taking the time to be thinking about it for more than a few minutes. Jeez.