I finally found a film I hate more than The Craft

And it's name is 'The Patriot'. It was on so I watched it since liked it so much. And thanks for the recommendation, 'cause I had a lot of fun being dreadfully mean about it to my friends.

I thought it couldn't be as bad as it's reputation suggests. Actually, it was worse.

Now I will overlook that fact that you could tell that Tavington was a bad, bad man because he had a cut glass accent. I will overlook the fact that the dreadful dramatic music was truely dreadful. I will overlook the oversentimentalisation of the whole conflict.

Most of these I will overlook because there were some very good performances that were being hampered by a dreadful script and worse direction. Plus, Tcheky Karyo was in it and the dude who played Billings in one of my favourite 'You Know, that guy's. So it wasn't all bad.

The one thing I won't overlook is the way they made Cornwallis look. In real life he was actually rather against the British policies in America, and while yes, he did send out a subordinate with his sword rather than give it up himself, entirely out of shame at being beaten, I don't see anything wrong with it.

And I actually felt rather sorry for Tavington. Because think about it, he had no money and no name so he had to join the army. And then to do something for king and country, he does things that are so bad that he can't go back home. Poor boy.

And yes, he bad, naughty wicked man. But then again, he did nothing that Martens didn't do. But we're not supposed to be mentioning that.

And gah at the symbolism anvils dropping all around.

This one really should have been marked 'not for international consumption'.

The Big Read

Apparently the Patriot is like marmite, you either like it or hate it. Which ever is cool.

Slight spoiler

But the scene where Mel Gibson takes out a squad of the redcoats still annoys me. Not because his infant sons are using guns but because I refuse to believe that two kiddiewinks and one grown man can take out a squad of well trained soldiers.

The only time I could believe in one man taking out a squad is when Alan Breck Stuart does it in 'Kidnapped'. Because he could.

Which brings me to the Big Read. The BBC are holding this vote to see the most popular book ever written and I'm trying to decide on one to vote for.

'Cause I like Kidnapped, but I like The Three Musketeers more. (Yes, my childhood reading was mainly made up of swashbucklers)

Then you've got Dune which is just incredible. Or 'Maurice' which burns with feeling.

Or 'Stark' which is probably still the best book Ben Elton has ever written. And it has Zimmerman.

Have football on the brain

Really, I had a wierd-ass dream last night involving my Mother and I deciding that Johann Mjalby of Celtic looked a lot like a young Rutger Hauer. Well he does, but I don't need my unconcious saying it.

So I was going to post some but sadly photos of Celtic players are rarer than hen's teeth. So instead of that, I post pictures of Luis Figo, who I've started to like ever since the Nike advert.

And while we're on things I really shouldn't like but I do, I back the Mack.

http://www.fifa.com/events/playergala/index_E_2001.html Luis in suit.

http://www.realmadrid.es/web_realmadrid/mmedia/000/000/004/445.jpg

And celebrating a goal

http://www.realmadrid.es/web_realmadrid/mmedia/000/000/004/446.jpg

Or asking for a penalty. This is the look of lost that I like.