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10 minutes of plot and 80 minutes of people kicking each other in front of flashing lights so you can't see who's kicking whom.
(OK, I didn't time it with a stopwatch but that's what it felt like).
This was a British Library crime reprint that I purchased on a recent visit. It's apparently "considered to be one of [the author's] finest works" according to the blurb on the back, and got a glowing review from Dorothy L. Sayers on initial publication.
My reaction, having read it, was that there's a reason Sayers, and Christie, and Freeman Wills Crofts were bestsellers, whereas Anthony Gilbert wasn't. ( Don't think there are any major spoilers, but just in case... )
My girlfriend recently came into possession of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game' (latest super duper revised edition!) and we've spent a few evenings struggling through the example quest.
On the London New Year Fireworks
Jan. 1st, 2022 11:55 amNow welcome folks, I've got a thing to say
About the fireworks show that saw in New Year's Day.
The lights were all right, and the fireworks hot —
Not the bloke though whose verse introduced the lot.
I'm not any sort of expert on rap,
But his scansion was poor and his rhymes were unfortunate.
It's not a thing that gives me a good deal of hope,
Seems verse has declined since the great days of Pope.
In fact now I happen to think it all through,
It's sunk even lower than McGonagall too.
There's a lot of work needed for 2023
To be the greatest New Year show in the Galaxy.
About the fireworks show that saw in New Year's Day.
The lights were all right, and the fireworks hot —
Not the bloke though whose verse introduced the lot.
I'm not any sort of expert on rap,
But his scansion was poor and his rhymes were unfortunate.
It's not a thing that gives me a good deal of hope,
Seems verse has declined since the great days of Pope.
In fact now I happen to think it all through,
It's sunk even lower than McGonagall too.
There's a lot of work needed for 2023
To be the greatest New Year show in the Galaxy.
Thoughts: The Moonstone (2016)
Nov. 4th, 2016 09:32 pmThe BBC broadcast an adaptation of The Moonstone this week. Before I watched it, I wasn't sure why they felt the need to; the 1996 version seemed perfectly adequate to me. Now, having watched it... I'm of pretty much the same opinion.
This one was longer (almost twice as long) but still didn't reintroduce all the elements that were cut in the 1996 version. It strayed rather further from the text (for example, giving Lady Verinder a deathbed scene with Rachel; very Victorian-novel, but not in the book or the 1996 version) and felt a little padded here and there. Perhaps because they weren't able to realise Rosanna's death on screen, there was instead an interpolated scene with Franklin Blake nearly drowning that went on for ages and advanced the plot not one iota.
As to the cast... well, they weren't bad, but a lot of them weren't on the level of the 1996 version. Which, given the 1996 version had the likes of Antony Sher, Peter Vaughan, Lesley Sharp, Greg Wise and Keeley Hawes, perhaps isn't such a surprise.
(I haven't seen the 1972 version, but looking on IMDB I see that the wicked Colonel was played by Colin Baker. And that there was a 1959 version where he was played by none other than Barry Letts, but that's probably long been consigned to the flames).
Mummy on the Orient Express
Oct. 11th, 2014 09:57 pmI can hardly wait.— me, 26 June 2010.
Well, it's happened, And I wasn't disappointed.
ETA: ( Spoiler )
This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/104333.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
Mummy on the Orient Express
Oct. 11th, 2014 09:57 pmI can hardly wait.— me, 26 June 2010.
Well, it's happened, And I wasn't disappointed.
ETA: ( Spoiler )
'Kill the Moon'
Oct. 4th, 2014 10:02 pmIt was preceded by a trailer for Casualty. Standard stuff, vehicle crash with no sound and a woman's voice singing. Except I'm positive that at one point, the words she was singing were "Oooooh Naaaaasty".
Regarding the episode proper: ( spoilers )
This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/103864.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
'Kill the Moon'
Oct. 4th, 2014 10:02 pmIt was preceded by a trailer for Casualty. Standard stuff, vehicle crash with no sound and a woman's voice singing. Except I'm positive that at one point, the words she was singing were "Oooooh Naaaaasty".
Regarding the episode proper: ( spoilers )
Anniversary Specials reaction post
Nov. 24th, 2013 12:04 amI was rewatching Silver Nemesis the other day. Strange to think episode 1's now closer in time to An Unearthly Child than the present.
Anyway, this constitutes a bundled reaction post to various of the anniversary programmes, in my usual hail-of-bullets style.
( An Adventure In Space And Time ) ( The Day Of The Doctor ) ( After-Show Party ) ( The Five-Ish Doctors )Also, today my copy of The Enemy of the World came. Yay!
This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/78369.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
Anniversary Specials reaction post
Nov. 24th, 2013 12:04 amI was rewatching Silver Nemesis the other day. Strange to think episode 1's now closer in time to An Unearthly Child than the present.
Anyway, this constitutes a bundled reaction post to various of the anniversary programmes, in my usual hail-of-bullets style.
( An Adventure In Space And Time ) ( The Day Of The Doctor ) ( After-Show Party ) ( The Five-Ish Doctors )Also, today my copy of The Enemy of the World came. Yay!
The Name of the Doctor: Clara
May. 18th, 2013 08:03 pmI just watched The Name of the Doctor. And had some thoughts relating to Clara.
( Spoilers )
This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/67933.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/67933.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
The Name of the Doctor: Clara
May. 18th, 2013 08:03 pmI just watched The Name of the Doctor. And had some thoughts relating to Clara.
( Spoilers )
Big Finish: Zoe Trilogy
Apr. 9th, 2013 11:09 pmWhen Big Finish were having their sale of Zoe-centric Companion Chronicles (Echoes of Grey, The Memory Cheats and The Uncertainty Principle) a few weeks ago, I bought them, and I've been listening to them driving to and from work.
( Overall thoughts (spoiler-lite) )Below this point, spoilers for each CC.
( Echoes of Grey ) ( The Memory Cheats ) ( The Uncertainty Principle )This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/65791.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
Big Finish: Zoe Trilogy
Apr. 9th, 2013 11:09 pmWhen Big Finish were having their sale of Zoe-centric Companion Chronicles (Echoes of Grey, The Memory Cheats and The Uncertainty Principle) a few weeks ago, I bought them, and I've been listening to them driving to and from work.
( Overall thoughts (spoiler-lite) )Below this point, spoilers for each CC.
( Echoes of Grey ) ( The Memory Cheats ) ( The Uncertainty Principle )Christmas wishes, and 'Snowmen' reaction
Dec. 25th, 2012 07:59 pmMerry Christmas, flist. Hope you all have/had a great day.
The automated Dreamwidth crosspost seems to have failed; I don't know whether it'll subsequently retry, but until it does or I manually repost it, you can find my first reactions to The Snowmen here (major spoilers, so don't click the link if you haven't watched the episode).
The automated Dreamwidth crosspost seems to have failed; I don't know whether it'll subsequently retry, but until it does or I manually repost it, you can find my first reactions to The Snowmen here (major spoilers, so don't click the link if you haven't watched the episode).
Christmas wishes, and 'Snowmen' reaction
Dec. 25th, 2012 07:53 pmMerry Christmas, flist. Hope you all have/had a great day.
First thoughts on The Snowmen are below the cut. ( Major spoilers )
I think my favourite new series companion departure story is still Doomsday. With this one, I got the feeling...
( Disjointed thoughts and spoilers )
( Disjointed thoughts and spoilers )
The Power Of Three
Sep. 22nd, 2012 08:14 pmThat seemed awfully familiar in some ways...
( Spoilers for The Power Of Three. )
This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/49620.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
This entry was originally posted at http://john-amend-all.dreamwidth.org/49620.html. Feel free to comment there or here.
The Power Of Three
Sep. 22nd, 2012 08:14 pmThat seemed awfully familiar in some ways...
( Spoilers for The Power Of Three. )
