The Birthday Girl Speaketh
May. 26th, 2006 01:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieThank you EVERYONE for the lovely lovely birthday wishes!!!!!!!
As a hopeless geek that I am, I am going to be spending my birthday evening watching Fanaa with Lord and Master (heeee. He hates it when I call him that :P) as well as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aliterati and katranna. Yay. And tomorrow L&M and I are going down to Key West as his birthday present. Of course, our flight leaves at 6am so we shall see how awake I'll be, but I am all giddy!
And speaking of Bollywood,katranna posted a great post about gender norms in Bollywood: basically her thoughts on Paheli (with pictures) and how Bollywood is in some ways more equal than Hollywood because if it objectifies women, it objectifies men. Check it out.
In other news, I started watching the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven, and even though I am only half an hour in, it's amazing what a difference this cut makes (after all, theatrical cut is only 70% of this one). I liked the TC just fine, but after watching this I am mad at the studio hacks who are responsible for the cuts that makes TC look butchered in comparison. This cut is clearly the one Ridley Scott wanted and this is the cut he should damn well have had. Somehow the world becomes more real, character relationships more measured and make much more sense. Little details. The movie feels rooted, the characters more complex. Balian goes from somewhat of a cypher to someone clearly broken down, a real breathing flesh and blood guy who I felt deeply for. Things that I half-surmised from the TC are clear here. and I thought the cuts really did Orlando's performance a disservice: when we first see him, he is a happy man watching his pregnant wife but his face morphs into the really depressed man sitting in the cell and the difference is startling. He is almost comatose, his awaking gradual. Finding out that the Priest is his half-brother changes so much, as well, as well as the petty indignities and barbs (so real in their interaction) that he jabs at Balian. Viewed in such a light, Balian's murder of the Priest is the final straw snapping and makes so much more sense. Oh, and it's indicated that Balian knows some engineering thus making his skills at the seige near the end not come out of nowhere. This is the movie that should have been and it's pissing me the hell off the studio hacked it.
Talking about crazy folks, our small but hard-wanking fandom made Fandom Wank again. Ahhhh, Battlestar Galactica, how do I love thee and the crazy you bring? See here.
Oh, and I finally watched Doctor Who ep "The Doctor Dances" and so much love. I adore the sexy, bisexual, snarky Captain Jack and when I thought he might have to die? Not a happy camper. And Rose and Nine dancing? I am in heaven. Eeeeeee!
As a hopeless geek that I am, I am going to be spending my birthday evening watching Fanaa with Lord and Master (heeee. He hates it when I call him that :P) as well as
aliterati and katranna. Yay. And tomorrow L&M and I are going down to Key West as his birthday present. Of course, our flight leaves at 6am so we shall see how awake I'll be, but I am all giddy! And speaking of Bollywood,
katranna posted a great post about gender norms in Bollywood: basically her thoughts on Paheli (with pictures) and how Bollywood is in some ways more equal than Hollywood because if it objectifies women, it objectifies men. Check it out.In other news, I started watching the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven, and even though I am only half an hour in, it's amazing what a difference this cut makes (after all, theatrical cut is only 70% of this one). I liked the TC just fine, but after watching this I am mad at the studio hacks who are responsible for the cuts that makes TC look butchered in comparison. This cut is clearly the one Ridley Scott wanted and this is the cut he should damn well have had. Somehow the world becomes more real, character relationships more measured and make much more sense. Little details. The movie feels rooted, the characters more complex. Balian goes from somewhat of a cypher to someone clearly broken down, a real breathing flesh and blood guy who I felt deeply for. Things that I half-surmised from the TC are clear here. and I thought the cuts really did Orlando's performance a disservice: when we first see him, he is a happy man watching his pregnant wife but his face morphs into the really depressed man sitting in the cell and the difference is startling. He is almost comatose, his awaking gradual. Finding out that the Priest is his half-brother changes so much, as well, as well as the petty indignities and barbs (so real in their interaction) that he jabs at Balian. Viewed in such a light, Balian's murder of the Priest is the final straw snapping and makes so much more sense. Oh, and it's indicated that Balian knows some engineering thus making his skills at the seige near the end not come out of nowhere. This is the movie that should have been and it's pissing me the hell off the studio hacked it.
Talking about crazy folks, our small but hard-wanking fandom made Fandom Wank again. Ahhhh, Battlestar Galactica, how do I love thee and the crazy you bring? See here.
Oh, and I finally watched Doctor Who ep "The Doctor Dances" and so much love. I adore the sexy, bisexual, snarky Captain Jack and when I thought he might have to die? Not a happy camper. And Rose and Nine dancing? I am in heaven. Eeeeeee!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 05:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 05:18 pm (UTC)Ooooh, a Backup icon! Love!
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Date: 2006-05-26 05:18 pm (UTC)I can't wait to get the DC. What irriates me about what they did to KoH is the fact that Scott is a great director in the epic style. The editors did him, the actors and the movie in general a disservice by tampering with what he wanted. Scott is rarely frivolous with his scenes and editing him heavily makes it choppy. There were glimmers of wonderful in Orlando's performance and want to see what it was really supposed to be like. Poor Orlando is a good actor, just not a box office draw in the movies he's cast in, something I don't really blame on him so much as the movies themselves. KoH could have been his Gladiator, but for some reason this movie just didn't draw anyone. Best performance Orlando has had and best he's looked and most people didn't see it.
If you can't tell, I'm a frustrated Orlando fan. I'm not a raving fangirl for him, but I do recognize that he has talent that he's not really getting appreciated for.
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Date: 2006-05-26 05:28 pm (UTC)I agree so much about KoH. You could tell Scott was frustrated with the TC: he did a little intro to the movie and he was very vell-spoken but it was clear this was the cut he wanted badly and that taking out the character stuff made him really unhappy.
And that was so frustrating. I know the studio was nervous of having a movie that is over 3 hours long, but Scott has so much experience and talent, it was clear he knew what he was doing. The whole business is immensely frustrating.
Best performance Orlando has had and best he's looked and most people didn't see it.
I agree. I don't think he is the best actor ever to have lived, but he is good and I hope he keeps on making movies.
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Date: 2006-05-26 05:24 pm (UTC)And wheeeee, Fanaah! And KANK trailer!
And yes, gotta love the objectifying of men.
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Date: 2006-05-26 05:30 pm (UTC)I hope the KANK trailer will be there, as the theater we are going to doesn't have trailers half the time which is a bit annoying. Oh well, I have plans to see Fanaa for a second time if I love it in a different theater so if I don't catch it tonight I'll catch it later.
And I am all about the objectifying :)
Happy Birthday!
Date: 2006-05-26 05:27 pm (UTC)I share the love on "The Doctor Dances," and thanks for the info on "Kingdom of Heaven" director's cut. Will have to look for that. I liked the movie, and wouldn't mind seeing it a third time.
Re: Happy Birthday!
Date: 2006-05-26 05:31 pm (UTC)And The Doctor Dances is just brilliant brilliant brilliant beyond words. "Go to your room!" Heeeee.
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Date: 2006-05-26 05:48 pm (UTC)Have fun on your trip and I hope you have a great day!
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Date: 2006-05-26 05:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 05:59 pm (UTC)And I am, if all goes well seeing Fanaa tomorrow. XDD I hope you have a blast and like it :D
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Date: 2006-05-26 06:09 pm (UTC)Have fun at FANAA!!!!!!!
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Date: 2006-05-26 06:00 pm (UTC)I never saw KoH (why not? I don't know, I love Gladiator...) but now I shall have to find the "proper" version.
The BSG wank is just baaaaaad. That fic was scary. I was kinda sad it was bahleeted because I wanted to go flail in horror at it (even if that's against F_W policy).
Captain Jack = Win. Did you see last week's? He and Nine are so cheeky!
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Date: 2006-05-26 06:11 pm (UTC)Yeah, if you watch KoH (which I recommend), do get the Director's Cut.
Captain Jack = Win. Did you see last week's? He and Nine are so cheeky!
Oh YES. I haven't seen last week's yet (but it's taped!)
And yeah, the BSG wank makes my eyes bleed...
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Date: 2006-05-26 06:02 pm (UTC)Captain Jack is just all kinds of awesome, isn't he?
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Date: 2006-05-26 07:16 pm (UTC)And yes he is. Ahhhhh, Jack...
This show is so good to the fangirls :)
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Date: 2006-05-26 06:08 pm (UTC)And thanks for the link to the Paheli post, I'll check it out.
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Date: 2006-05-26 07:16 pm (UTC)And I absolutely adore your icon!
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Date: 2006-05-26 06:18 pm (UTC)That fic was just... Whoa. What was even more disturbing, though, is that the poor girl(?) who wrote just didn't get why everyone was so upset by it.
And I'm still so behind on my Doctor Who viewing. Maybe since it's a longish weekend, we can get caught up. I keep hearing so much about Jack, and I even have at least one vid downloaded (by
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Date: 2006-05-26 07:16 pm (UTC)Yeah, I "love" that the girl didn't see what the fuss was about and was all "but nobody talks about merits of my fic." Because there weren't any.
But yeah, KoH is well worth seeking out...
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Date: 2006-05-26 06:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 07:14 pm (UTC)And KoH DC is really very very good, and I am not even an hour in. I really wish I could have seen this version in the theaters...
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Date: 2006-05-26 07:13 pm (UTC)and best wishes.
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Date: 2006-05-26 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 07:58 pm (UTC)And I spent the entire time in the cinema watching Kingdom of Heaven thinking 'I bet this is a great film when it's properly cut.' I might have to get the DVD.
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Date: 2006-05-26 08:03 pm (UTC)And yes, I like the better pace of this one and I can't believe someone thought it was a great idea to cut this down. Ugh.
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Date: 2006-05-26 08:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 08:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 08:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-27 06:01 am (UTC)And thanks!
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Date: 2006-05-27 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-27 06:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-27 12:57 am (UTC)And I'm really tempted to order the Director's Cut of KoH from the States, since the Region 2 version won't come out until next Autumn :p.
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Date: 2006-05-27 06:03 am (UTC)And the DC us great!
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Date: 2006-05-27 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-27 06:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-27 06:30 am (UTC)Hope it was a brilliant day!
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Date: 2006-05-27 06:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-29 02:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-30 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-31 05:17 pm (UTC)I saw the KOH Director's Cut at the mall and my soul craved it. I love the movie, and imagine I would love the extra hour or so even more.
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Date: 2006-05-31 06:18 pm (UTC)And yeah, the DC is great!