Riding through the Glen … OK, Romford … !

OK, I’ve got to confess, here’s where I tell you what I was up to, last night.

Or I should say, Allison, I, and Allison’s niece, Squeaky Sophie, were up to, last night …

Which sounds odd, now I put it that way, doesn’t it … ?

What we actually did was head into Romford to see a movie.

And, as you’ve possibly guessed, we actually ended up in Romford’s Vue cinema, to see the latest offering from director, Ridley Scott, and actor, Russell Crowe.

Robin Hood.

°°°°°

Actually, just as a side point, here, one of the nightclubs owned and operated by Ronnie and Reggie Kray was called The Double R.

LORD knows why that’s springs to mind … !!

°°°°°

Now, I’ve got admit, I’m something of a long time fan of Ridley’s.

You’d possibly not think so, would you … ?

So, when Allison told me she was planning to take Squeaky to see Robin Hood, and asked if I’d like to totter along, I happily said yes.

After all, the last Scott/Crowe collaboration was a bit of a biggy.

Now, Gladiator was an impressive piece of work.

Not my favourite of his, but nonetheless, still impressive*.

Robin Hood, on the other hand …

Hmmm …

Hmmm …

I’m thinking that Robin Hood, isn’t in quite the same league as Gladiator.

But then very few things are.

On the other hand …

Robin Hood sees Crowe as the eponymous hero returning from the Crusades quite literally at the head of Richard Cœur de Leon’s army.

And, as a result of Richard’s death, and an attempt to help Robert Locksley, who was ambushed by the traitorous Godfrey — Mark Strong, at his villainous best — Russell Crowe, as Robin Longstride, has to take Sir Robin Loxley’s ancestral sword home to his father, Sir Walter Loxleyº.

Which is where thing’s get …

Interesting …

To say the least … !!

Now, I’ll leave the plot summery to IMDb, they tend to do these things a touch better than I do.

But as a movie … ?

Robin Hood’s a good film. It’s not necessarily Ridley Scott or Russell Crowe’s best movie.

But it is entertainingª.

And as an attempt to try to do a historical retake on the story, it’s a better attempt than the Antoine Fuqua cut of King Arthur.

Cast List

Actor    Character

Russell Crowe Robin Longstride

Cate Blanchett Marion Loxley

Max von Sydow Sir Walter Loxley

William Hurt William Marshal

Mark Strong Godfrey

Oscar Isaac Prince John

Danny Huston King Richard The Lionheart

Eileen Atkins Eleanor of Aquitaine

Mark Addy Friar Tuck

Matthew Macfadyen Sheriff of Nottingham

Kevin Durand Little John

Scott Grimes Will Scarlet

Alan Doyle Allan A’Dayle

Douglas Hodge Sir Robert Loxley

Léa Seydoux Isabella of Angoulême

* I actually personally believe that Bladerunner was the better of the three movies. But there you go: Gladiator was the one that bagged the Oscars …

º Ably and sympathetically played by Max Von Sydow.

ª You know, I’ve also got to add that, while I’ve not seen the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, I know that both Allison and Squeaky Sophie have. Both felt that, while the Scott/Crowe version wasn’t bad, they both preferred — action and feel-wise — the former.

War games …

You know, there’s times when the scheduling really is a pain in the bum!

It really is!

I’ve just got home, and am happily watching what’s looking like an interesting episode of Merlin.

And kicking myself I didn’t know that Virgin were showing the 1983 teen-thriller, WarGames.

Don’t you just HATE that when it happens?

Arrgghh!

Doomsday: The Hot Zone …

Oh, now hold on …

Wait a minute …

Now here’s a film worth the money!!!

Me and Adrian managed to catch the Neil Marshall directed Doomsday, tonight, and my word: it’s definitely worth the money.

Especially if you happen to like Mad Max/Escape from New York style post-apocalyptic films, or took to either of Neil Marshall’s earlier efforts, Dog Soldiers and The Descent; the former of which I’ve seen, and happen to think is very British, and great fun!

Gory, but great fun.

~≈Â≈~

Who Watches The Watchmen … ?

9th March, 2009

Well, I was, tonight, along with my two kid sisters, Anna and Ruth.

I’ve got to say “Thank You”, there, by the way; – that was me birthday treat, for this year.

And I’ll admit to being impressed … Ish.

Now, as my long term readers may have gathered, I’m usually red hot about hot movie adaptations of novels – graphic or otherwise – being as close as possible to the source material, whilst making the – hopefully minimal – changes and cuts needed to make a workable film.

In one sense, I think Zack Snyder’s take on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s text succeeded; – what’s on screen is justified by what’s in the original source material.

Including the changed ending.

Although that isn’t what’s in the original graphic novel, it does match “Who Watches The Watchmen” in intent; unlike Ridley Scott’s film version of the Thomas Harris novel, Hannibal.

Or that’s my thinking, anyway.

I do know any really radical changes would have caused an absolute uproar.

But it’s also where “Watchmen” does suffer a bit; – Mr Snyder’s a fan of the original graphic novel and made a very commendable effort to get as much on screen as possible.

Which means it does drag, a bit.

Hence the ‘impressed-ish’ comment I opened with.

But fans won’t be disappointed, I think, particularly with the very strong ensemble cast: Jackie Earle Haley’s performance as Rorschach stood out.

It’s not a match for the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, in Dark Knight.

But it did catch my attention.

And a bloody good performance.

It’s just a shame that there isn’t an Oscar available for best Ensemble cast, though; – this, I think, would deserve a nomination.

I don’t think it would get it; – genre movies generally don’t.

But it’d be nice to see it happen.   I’m just happy the Peter Jackson cut of “The Lord of The Rings” was rather blessed, in that regard.   Saying that, the Tolkien books have been around for just shy of six decades.   That, along with Jackson’s superb work in making the films, gives the  “Lord of the Rings” series a lot of respectability.

Back to the “Watchmen”, though.

Let’s mention the soundtrack, shall we?   Briefly?   Because it’s absolute rock solid stuff.

Which is what caught me about the opening titles, I’ll admit; – a scene-setting, potted history of the Watchmen universes history, set to Bob Dylan’s The Times, They Are A Changin’.

Actually, I think Bob Dylan’ll earn a bob or two, from it; – they used  the Hendrix version of All Along The Watchtower, as as well.   As Dylan wrote it …

Talking of timing, by the way, Zack Snyder must’ve seen “Apocalypse Now”; – there’s a very well timed use of Ride of the Valkryries.   I don’t think Francis Ford Coppola had Doctor Manhattan in mind, but …

But, anyway …

I’m pleased to have seen Watchmen.

I am.

It’s a tough job, turning such a complex graphic novel into a film.   Snyder’s done a workmanlike job of it, though.   It could’ve been better paced, I think, but that’s countered by the simple fact that what’s on screen is justifiable by what’s in the book.   It’s a very dark, murky graphic novel, turned into an equally dark, murky film.   One that won’t necessarily appeal to to your average 18 year goth kid, I think.   Plenty of them, there, last night …

And it won’t be for the squeamish, I think — if anything, the movie’s* a touch more graphic than the graphic novel — but it’s a good, dark, complicated flick, that you’ve got to concentrate on, to keep up with.   Read the book, on this one, folks; – you will need it.

* The sequence with Rorscharch in gaol are somewhat more over the top than the original.   And while both the film and the book aren’t exactly lovefestª’s, they both make the link between costumes and bonking perfectly clear.   You’ve got to wonder about Alan Moore’s lovelife, sometimes …

ª And both Anna and Ruth agreed a certain blue person had treated a certain other character rather badly.   Anna’s word’s?  “Well, he could’ve put a ring on her finger …!”.   I swear, she’s starting to sound more like Gran, every day …