Next week my blog is hosting Tricia Stuart Shiu ’s Moa whirlwind tour. Stay tuned for more information.
I was motivated to write this entry today following the news that GoT screenwriter Bryan Cogman has left Twitter. He explains that this is due to negative backlash on some of the creative decisions made by the team. I can respect Mr. Cogman's decision and am sorry that the feedback he received was phrased in a negative and hurtful way. As a fan of both book and TV adaptation, I would like to share my thoughts. One of George R.R. Martin's strengths as a writer is in his characterization. The multiple point of view structure of the novels allows him to populate his world with characters as varied as a young tomboy, a young Queen coming to grips with her newfound power and a smart dwarf who wears his armour in his mind and for us to get to know and love them. Each of these characters has a well thought out story arc with its own emotional beats, and following these characters on their respective journeys is one of the pleasures of reading A Song of Ice and Fire. HBO has brought together a fantastic cast and crew to bring these characters to life, and it has been a…
I was motivated to write this entry today following the news that GoT screenwriter Bryan Cogman has left Twitter. He explains that this is due to negative backlash on some of the creative decisions made by the team. I can respect Mr. Cogman's decision and am sorry that the feedback he received was phrased in a negative and hurtful way. As a fan of both book and TV adaptation, I would like to share my thoughts. One of George R.R. Martin's strengths as a writer is in his characterization. The multiple point of view structure of the novels allows him to populate his world with characters as varied as a young tomboy, a young Queen coming to grips with her newfound power and a smart dwarf who wears his armour in his mind and for us to get to know and love them. Each of these characters has a well thought out story arc with its own emotional beats, and following these characters on their respective journeys is one of the pleasures of reading A Song of Ice and Fire. HBO has brought together a fantastic cast and crew to bring these characters to life, and it has been a…
Evelynne and Ruth’s Great Escape to Australia A few years ago I had the opportunity to live and work in Australia as part of the Working Holiday Visa program for UK citizens. My friend, Ruth, travelled out with me and before I started job hunting we took a three-week trip around Australia. We had a package deal with Greyhound Coaches and the IHYA youth hostel chain, and this is the story of our adventure. Here is a map with out route marked: Thursday 6th June: Arrived Sydney Naturally, we were pretty bushed after the flight from Singapore, and of course, we couldn't check into the hostel when we arrived at 8am. They did at least let us shower to freshen up! Most of that day was spent by my dragging Ruth around to sort out some of the practical things I needed to do for my year in Oz, although we did have a good breakfast at J's on George St – worth checking out if you're down Sydney way. When we got into our room eventually, Ruth decided to have a nap while I tried to track down the illusive tax office. Found the Opera House quite easily and…
Evelynne and Ruth’s Great Escape to Australia A few years ago I had the opportunity to live and work in Australia as part of the Working Holiday Visa program for UK citizens. My friend, Ruth, travelled out with me and before I started job hunting we took a three-week trip around Australia. We had a package deal with Greyhound Coaches and the IHYA youth hostel chain, and this is the story of our adventure. Here is a map with out route marked: Thursday 6th June: Arrived Sydney Naturally, we were pretty bushed after the flight from Singapore, and of course, we couldn't check into the hostel when we arrived at 8am. They did at least let us shower to freshen up! Most of that day was spent by my dragging Ruth around to sort out some of the practical things I needed to do for my year in Oz, although we did have a good breakfast at J's on George St – worth checking out if you're down Sydney way. When we got into our room eventually, Ruth decided to have a nap while I tried to track down the illusive tax office. Found the Opera House quite easily and…
So, the BAFTA awards have just been handed out (as an aside, can we PLEASE have Stephen Fry to host the Oscars? A Stephen Fry/Helen Mirren partnership would be excellent) so here is my take on who will receive the golden statuettes on February 26th. Best Actor: with a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA under his belt, it looks like this category is Dujardin's to lose for his role in The Artist. Having seen the movie I agree that his performance is stunning. At this point, George Clooney is probably his closest contender; his performance in The Descendants is apparently also excellent. Brit Gary Oldman's turn in Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy is likely an outside chance at best. Best Actress: based on previous awards and nominations, this category is a close run race between Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady and Viola Davis for The Help. Both actresses gave wonderful performances and I would be happy to see either win. Personally though I'm rooting for Streep just because of her "17 times the bridesmaid never the bride" luck when it comes to awards. Best Supporting Actor: two words: Christopher Plummer. Best Supporting Actress: for the Oscars, Bérénice Béjo is nominated…
So, the BAFTA awards have just been handed out (as an aside, can we PLEASE have Stephen Fry to host the Oscars? A Stephen Fry/Helen Mirren partnership would be excellent) so here is my take on who will receive the golden statuettes on February 26th. Best Actor: with a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA under his belt, it looks like this category is Dujardin's to lose for his role in The Artist. Having seen the movie I agree that his performance is stunning. At this point, George Clooney is probably his closest contender; his performance in The Descendants is apparently also excellent. Brit Gary Oldman's turn in Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy is likely an outside chance at best. Best Actress: based on previous awards and nominations, this category is a close run race between Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady and Viola Davis for The Help. Both actresses gave wonderful performances and I would be happy to see either win. Personally though I'm rooting for Streep just because of her "17 times the bridesmaid never the bride" luck when it comes to awards. Best Supporting Actor: two words: Christopher Plummer. Best Supporting Actress: for the Oscars, Bérénice Béjo is nominated…
Over the last few days I have watched three very different productions of Sherlock Holmes; an episode of the 1980s Granada television series starring Jeremy Brett, the modern day BBC production starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr's return to the role in the movie Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. All of these are excellent in their own way, but are very, very different from each other. Of the three, the Jeremy Brett version is the closest to the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle conception of the consulting detective. Granada Television set out to make a series that was faithful to the source material, and many consider Brett to be the definitive Holmes of his generation. The series captured very well Holmes' brilliant intellect and mercurial nature. The BBC production is very different; updated and set in the modern era, it has a very different vibe to it, but it still captures Holmes' lightning quick mind and ascorbic personality. Brilliantly played by Cumberbatch, you can almost see the wheels clicking round in his mind as he works through the mystery. More so than the Brett production it places a strong emphasis on the relationship between Holmes and Watson, played by…
Over the last few days I have watched three very different productions of Sherlock Holmes; an episode of the 1980s Granada television series starring Jeremy Brett, the modern day BBC production starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr's return to the role in the movie Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. All of these are excellent in their own way, but are very, very different from each other. Of the three, the Jeremy Brett version is the closest to the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle conception of the consulting detective. Granada Television set out to make a series that was faithful to the source material, and many consider Brett to be the definitive Holmes of his generation. The series captured very well Holmes' brilliant intellect and mercurial nature. The BBC production is very different; updated and set in the modern era, it has a very different vibe to it, but it still captures Holmes' lightning quick mind and ascorbic personality. Brilliantly played by Cumberbatch, you can almost see the wheels clicking round in his mind as he works through the mystery. More so than the Brett production it places a strong emphasis on the relationship between Holmes and Watson, played by…
Today I went out to the cinema despite the freezing cold to see this movie. Technically, it was excellent, with some superb performances, Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch both giving standout performances. Of course, it helped that all the main leads are very easy on the eye. However, as a woman, I was shocked by how darned chauvinistic it was. There was barely a single female character who wasn't a) simple arm candy for the main characters b) a glorified tealady c) an adulteress or d) a damsel in distress the rescue of whom is held out as a reward for one of the main male characters The only positive female character , a smart secretary who seemed to know what was what (who got maybe 10 minutes' screen time) was portrayed as less than traditionally attractive, and was forcibly put out to pasture (retired) very early on. Sadly, I fear that's not too far from the truth of life in the 1970s British intelligence service. It's been a while since I read John Le Carré's novel on which the movie is based, so I can't recall exactly if it's as chauvinistic. When speaking with friends they asked me what…