redfiona99

It continues to be difficult to find films that are bad but have good, memorable scenes

I mean the Hammer Hound of the Baskervilles

The case for the prosecution:

(Some spoilers)

Hammer, how did you get this so wrong?

You're Hammer, you can make good-looking films (and did, everything else was wrong, but it looked sumptuous). On the acting side you had Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee (and Andre Morrell who is horribly underrated). And you were adapting "Hound of the Baskervilles", which is a classic for a reason.

Yet, this was terrible.

It's probably because they changed the murderer, the motive, the weapon (the hound remains but there are additions) and the characters of pretty much every named character, including Frankland, who becomes a Bishop.

Holmes becomes a bully and a boor - they had Peter Cushing who would have been perfect and did this to him!!! (When they give Cushing actually Sherlock Holmes things to do he is perfect - he's my second favourite Holmes due to those few scenes. My favourite is Ian Richardson - I can go on about the fact that he is perfect, even if his Holmes films are not.)

The scene itself:

Full film is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY_hD1Ptn7Y The scene I wish to discuss is 53.55 - 58.19 (arachnid and arthropod warning).


Why the scene is so good:

Even while it highlights the "change in character, plot and motive" problem, it's just the most charming character bit in the middle of nowhere. It helps that Miles Malleson is "befuddled curate" made flesh (he is as Revered Chasuble in The Importance of Being Ernest, the proper version), and it's a scene where Holmes isn't just being mean.

Saw a Holmes I hadn't seen before (yes, yes, I have a problem), called "A Study In Terror" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059764/), with John Neville as Holmes and Donald Houston as Watson. Not particularly good, with the dialogue letting it down. It does however explain where Moffat/Gattis got the "Mummy" thing from. I knew it wasn't from the books, and quite often they've pinched things from films. Robert Morley played Mycroft in this and him vs Sherlock was brilliant in the film.

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Doctor Who

( Unexpected guest star squee )

Moto GP

It's been a been a bit of a weepie weekend. I foolishly watched the San Marino Grand Prix, and, well I, like everyone else, miss Marco Simoncelli. And I'm so pleased for Gresini and Alvaro Bautista, and I know he won't get the ride next year but please Gresini Honda, please consider Alvaro.

On lighter matters, I seriously become convinced that Jorge Lorenzo is a Bond villain. In between Spies's bad luck, and Pedrosa's terrible luck, there's only been one winner. And Spies's luck is apparently catching, and poor Karel Abrahms caught it. Two bike failures, and the kind of failure that leaves brake fluid on your tyres at that. He looked so down-hearted afterwards.

Pedrosa has also had bad luck but his pre-dates Ben Spies's. Honda are going to go spare, because even if Hector Barbera had yet another crash, it was their fault that he was anywhere in the Barbera zone to begin with.

Valentino Rossi is adorable. But that doesn't really need to be said.

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Question - I need a US equivalent for "jury-rigged". Any suggestions? Or will jury-rigged do?

So, on Tuesday, I ended up watching TNA. This is because, and this is a damning statement about the state of British TV, it was the least bad thing on. (In BBC2's defence, Stephen Hendry losing is not their fault)

( Spoilers )

I've just seen the Jeremy Brett version of 'The Final Problem'. Wibble!!
Then, of course, they stuck closely to the story and the proper final words.

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The Prometheus trailer looks awesome. And terrifying. I am really annoyed that I won't be able to watch it but it will not be worth 20 years of nightmates, which is what I'll get if I do watch it. (And no, sadly, I'm not exaggerating. I really don't do horror movies)

Dark Knight Rises - I think they must have listened to the complaints because I was watching the trailer (the football stadium one) and they've really cleaned up Bane's voice. I can hear what he's saying now.

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Avengers report coming this weekend. I have many opinions.

Loving the 'Kill Bob' episode of Human Target, if only for exasperated Winston.

( Spoilers )

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I meant to mention it a couple of weeks ago, but Human Target also won for the fight set to 'La Donna Mobile' in Imbroglio.

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I have been having a chronically bad week. So, it starts on Monday, when my pans finally became unusable by humans. Basically, a couple of years ago a housemate decided to do me a favour by cleaning my non-stick pans for me. With wire wool Now, the friend was trying to be helpful, so I couldn't yell at him, but the damage was permenant. My bigger pan has been out of action for about a month, and I've been making do with the smaller one. With it gone, I'm all out of pan, which given that pasta is my favourite thing, is difficult.

As I urgently needed a pan, I bought some online using Sainsbury's because they have a click and collect service, which I thought would mean that I could just walk down to the local store and pick it up.

Thought is the operative word.

Despite assuring me that it would probably be in on the same day if I ordered before two, it's now been 2 days and nothing. So I could have ordered it from Argos and it would have been here. I am not best pleased.

On top of that the RL friend I mentioned last time I was having a whinge is being a right dickhead. He has issues with quantum physics. Not the usual ones of it being brain-breakingly complicated, but he just objects to dark matter because it's apparently too wishy-washy and all the attempts to find it aren't creative enough. He has issues with the scientific method, see also, not creative enough. Apparently, we're concentrating too much on the specifics and not enough on the generalities. A pox on art history students who think they understand science.

I think it should be taken as a sign of my attempts at maturity that I haven't told him to just fuck off. Admittedly, instead of that I'm just going to ignore him for a couple of days. He's one of those idiots who thinks he can brow-beat people into agreeing. And he's probably right with most people because very few people actually want an argument. Unfortunately, he's yet to realise that I know he enjoys arguing and that I know the correct way to deal with it is 'yeah, whatever' and then ignoring him. Years of dealing with my uncle mean that I have malicious agreement down to an artform.

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I'm not watching Final Resolution just to see Morgan and Crimson keep/lose (oh please let them keep it) the tag titles.

The problem is it clashes with a Holmes I've never seen. No, I don't have a problem, it's not like I collect Holmes in any way.

( Final Resolution Spoilers )

( The Holmes which is called 'Hands of A Murderer' )

'Hands Of A Murderer' must go down as a distinctly bad Holmes.

Unfortunately, it is being followed by 'The Master Blackmailer' which is a rather good Jeremy Brett Holmes that also features Nickolas Grace, with a slightly less ridiculous accent.

Sky's Treasure Island looks like it will at least be expensively made. And have Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver, Rupert Penry-Jones as Squire Trelawny and what looks like Philip Glenister as Captain Smollett.

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Book Meme - Day 23 - A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven't

Gormenghast. Rather annoyingly, this is the same answer I would have given 10-ish years ago when I first started this LJ. I always get stuck at the same point, just after Keda is recruited to be Titus's nurse. It's a shame, because what I've read I've liked, particularly Fuschia. I <3 Fuschia. But it's all so densely written.

( The Other Days )

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Update: Things I now have include saucepans. I can have pasta again. Life is good.

I still have to tidy the flat before Christmas, mind.

Also for those that paid attention to my post about Hollyoaks, Brendan is indeed about to get his revenge using the most cruel methods possible. Also, in the title sequence, he gets the Gambit card shot. Really Hollyoaks, you're writing things for me again, aren't you.

A couple of weekends ago, I watched Broken Holmes (http://www.brokenholmes.co.uk/), a Sherlock Holmes parody.

Now, before I comment upon it, I have to admit to a mild conflict of interest, because I know the man playing Holmes and his little sister is a good friend of mine.

Even without that, it would still have my recommendation because it's very funny, and disturbingly accurate. Imagine the most recent Sherlock Holmes but with the subtext being text, and taken to its logical conclusion. It's set after "The Empty House", and years of putting up with each other has started to wear on the 'great detective' and his collegue.

My favourite bit had to be Fido (comment shall remain unexplained for fear of spoilers) but I liked how they did the villaness and Lestrade.

If it happens to be showing anywhere in your vicinity, go along.

Firstly, ganked from pyroyale

you are darkorchid #9932CC

Your dominant hues are blue and magenta. You're the one who goes to all the parties but doesn't quite fit in at every one... you know what you want, but are afraid of what the world might think of it. You're a little different and that's okay with them, and if you're smart it's okay with you too. Your saturation level is higher than average - You know what you want, but sometimes know not to tell everyone. You value accomplishments and know you can get the job done, so don't be afraid to run out and make things happen. Your outlook on life is brighter than most people's. You like the idea of influencing things for the better and find hope in situations where others might give up. You're not exactly a bouncy sunshine but things in your world generally look up.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Secondly, I'm not sure I want to read Holmes and Watson fic for the new Holmes film because I live with a fear that they will get it wrong. Because part of the charm is that, to quote Jude Law, they have a horribly co-dependent relationship, and either too fluffy or too dark would ruin it.

I also fear Adler or Mary bashing.

However, if anyone had any links to Holmes/Adler fic that they'd care to pass on? ;)

I hope nwhyte got to the UK safely, not just because it's a pain in the neck not being where you want to be at Christmas, but because I'd love to know if he's as boggled as I am over one of the bonus rounds on University Challenge.

Other than that, also on a TV tip, I am very annoyed that the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures have been shunted off on to More4. No, Channel 4, and the rest of the broadcasters, you don't get to abdicate your responsibilities like that. Am I more cheesed off than I might otherwise be because it's a biology year and it's on a topic I am very interested in [botany], yes, but really, given the state of science education in the UK, we need all the help we can get to get children interested in it, and this year's, so far, has been so very good.

On a tv making me happy tip, I get a new Poirot on for Christmas, An Appointment With Death, the Ustinov version of which was one of the first Poirot's I saw. It also features Mark Gattiss, John Hannah and Tim Curry. I am watching it, even if it clashes with Dr. Who. My little grey cells require it.

There's also the Tennant version of Hamlet, which I am still iffy about, except Gregory Doran is the director and I loved Coriolanus when I watched, so I'm booked on Boxing Day as well, or the video is, anyway, as Mother dearest is videoing it for me.

I don't collect Hamlets in any way (whistles) but he's going to have to go some to beat Kenneth Branagh, who is still my favourite.

I also don't collect Holmeses, and was therefore in no way embarrassingly excited by seeing a Holmes I hadn't seen before, when I saw Murder By Decree (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079592/) last night. Christopher Plummer's Holmes was a little too soft but he made a good fist of it, and I'm mildly in love with James Mason's Watson, because he got it that it's not that Watson is not clever, it's just in comparison to Holmes.

The story itself wasn't up to much, but the atmosphere was very good.

1) Housemates are cinema snobs. Not film snobs but cinema snobs. A new cinema has just opened in the centre of town, and it apparently has comfier chairs (they're definitely better set out than in most cinemas). Very few people go, and I find it a little lacking in atmosphere, compared to the grubby but very lively Odeon we also have (which is also nearer, although slightly more expensive). The Showcase in town does have the advantage of being a Showcase and I do most definitely prefer it to the Odeon, but if I'm bothering to go watch something at the cinema I like having an audience. There's a reason why all my favourite 'going to the cinema' stories feature the audience.

2) Watched Transporter 3 two days ago, and there's plenty of shirtless Statham action. And less unclothed girl action, leading to housemately complaint that girls were getting more out of this film that guys (as though that's a terrible crime). I pointed out that there's still cars and explosions and fight scenes for the menfolk. Counter-complaint was that I liked those things too. Counter-riposte - I know, it's a fun film for me.

3) How would one explain the appeal of Paul Bettany to ones straight, male housemates? I got as far as charming, witty and intelligent, and hot, but they pointed out that that is not really the best explanation.

4) I've seen the new Holmes trailer (RDJ version of Holmes). Well, I'll probably still go and watch it, but mostly because Mark Strong is playing the bad guy. I'm still trying to figure out what accent RDJ was failing miserably at. I couldn't quite place why it didn't work for me, until Luke called up last night, moaning about something else, and then said it was vulgar. Which I don't think is quite right either, but it comes close to why I didn't like it. Also, dear film-makers, if you give me a few minutes I'll find the quote where Holmes abjures all female company because they have icky girly cooties (and no, it's not any less childish than that).

There are apparently two Sherlock Holmes films coming out in the near future. I should be excited, except I can't work up anything but dread for them.

One features Sascha Baron Cohen as our favourite consulting detective, which I'd be fine with if I didn't think it was going to be a spoof because he'd make a wonderful Holmes if he played it straight. He's got the height, the intelligence, and I'm sure he'd be brilliant (and I don't even like his work). But ... hmmm ... spoofage. I don't mind pastiches and spoofs done with love (such as Without a Clue and whatever the Billy Wilder one is called), but I'm dubious.

The other one has Robert Downey jr as Holmes, which, again, pretty neat casting (Twig, if you read this, is he any good at accents?). Intensity, intelligence, charm are all covered. But Guy Ritchie is directing and I'm not so sure how well he does outside of his comfort zone.

I'll still probably end up watching them both, but still...