Harry Potter Pt II Review

I went to see the final Harry Potter film a month after it came out in theatres. I was just not up for going immediately or seeing all the films in order -- motherhood has taken its toll on my energy. Plus, it was nice to wait and go with friends to the film. So I wanted to list the pros and cons of the last film.

CONS:

I don't know if I can limit myself to SEVEN...I will try.

7. Too much soul baby: The Voldy soul baby thing under the seat was gross. Way gross. Didn't need that much screen time. Three seconds would be enough.

6. The Malfoys WALK AWAY: I can't even believe Steve Kloves wrote that $#*%. Seriously. The Malfoys would not walk away. Especially after the AWKWARD HUG of the century. And Voldy would NEVER HUG anybody. Fist bump? Maybe. Wand slap? Certainly. Hug? NEVER. WTF. (Though it certainly made sense with Harry-hugging-flying duel. Oh wait, no, that made NO SENSE AT ALL. Maybe Ralph Finnes was in a hugging mood that day. If so, then I should have been on set.)

5. Giant wave: Um, Steve Kloves, I know you are not a Ron/Hermione fan, but the giant wave of water right before they kiss? You don't have to OVER emphasize the sexual element -- subtle is good. Too Freudian for my taste. Just have them kiss and then give more time to Ariadne's story.

4. Students EVERYWHERE during the last battle: So, all students march around in neat little rows (a la Madeline books) and yet there are hundreds of them during the last battle all running around and screaming. What happened to the mass evacuation of students by McGonagoll? And WTF her sending out the Slytherins? Made NO sense. Also: why destroy the Quidditch pitch?

3. After fighting their way through Gringotts, riding on the back of a dragon, and then jumping in a frigid lake, Hermione pulls out...the hand-sanitizer? I know they had to cram a lot into the film, but with no explanation, I had to make up my own. That dragon wasn't in the cleanest of underground banks.

2. Where was Crabbe? And why was he replaced with Blaise Zambini? And WHY was Goyle the one who set the fiendfyre? WHY? WHY? WHY?!?!? Oh, drug issues (see here).

1. WTF: HARRY FIX YOUR @^#$^@& WAND!?!?!?!?! I did NOT like that part. Could you tell? Harry was supposed to use the elder wand to repair his broken wand with Fawkes feather in it. Now what is he going to use? Draco's wand? That is just SICK.

PROS:

7. They showed people dying/dead: I know that sounds harsh and I was really surprised Heyman gave this the OK, but I am glad they showed just how EVIL Voldy was and how high the stakes were. He was like Hitler but with a snake-like face and a wand. And Goyle falling into the fire. WOW. Oh and goblin death by fire equally shocking. Lavender Brown munched on by Fenrir. All very real and captured the sense that no one was safe.

6. Ron & Hermione's kiss: believable. Good job guys. Neville's little bit about finding Luna was sweet. Glad Ginny said "I know".

5. Neville was a BA: I wish he had been the BAMF he was in the novel, but making him a BA was just as good. I liked his speech to Voldy, and the mockery with it -- it was good. A little weak, but better than nothing.

4. "Harry, if we die because of them, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" "NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!" Hurray for greatest Weasley lines EVER! And I started crying when Ron was sobbing over Fred. And Tonks and Lupin. I also liked how Molly had a bit of hesitation with the wand duel, as if she can't believe what she stepped into and hopes she doesn't die in the process, and then overcomes her fear to off Bellatrix.

3. Little Snape was PERFECT: He was darling. I liked him. Botoxed-slightly older Snape was not so good. Snape's death scene was good. Not as I imagined it entirely, but completely brutal and in keeping with Volemort's character. Glad Voldy didn't hug him.

2. Oh yeah, Michael Gambon can act: Forgot about that. He was quite good when he isn't screaming intensely at Harry. Oh yeah, and WARWICK DAVIS is a AMAZING. MAN CAN ACT. And, John Hurt, Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson...the list goes on and on. Glad all the actors found time to come in for a day to make an appearance. AND HURRAY FOR CIARAN HINDS!!! I call him Inspector Lindley because he looks like Inspector Lindley, but he isn't, but either way he is AWESOME and I am so glad he was in the movie (he was Aberforth). And hurray for high-happy imperius cursed goblins. Love those guys. (Oh, and the Grey Lady was in Nanny McPhee. It was bugging me during the last quarter of it and then right before I went to bed I remembered where I had seen her.)

And before the top pro, I want to mention how NOT FAIR it is to moms & dads who watch this film. The whole time I thought baby Harry looked like Nina. Then I got sad about how I might die and leave Nina behind and she is just this little baby. And would I be brave like Lily? Or would I hug Voldy? And then all those kids lying dead? Not cool. I kept thinking about all their parents. Makes me teary eyed just thinking about it.

1. YAY DRAGON! Best part of the movie, hands down. Love that dragon. Would want one if it would promise not to eat me. I thought Griphooks treatment of it was believable and Hermione's aversion excellent. LOVE THAT SCENE. The whole movie could have been that scene (extended) and I would have been happy.

Even better than the dragon was this:

No, not that kid from Twilight. YAY MIKAEL BLOMKVIST!!!! He is AMAZING!!!

And a MUPPET MOVIE!!! YAY!!!!

I AM SO THERE!!!

And I had most of the theatre scared because I LAUGHED SO HARD AT THE PREVIEW FOR THIS:

I might just have to see it at the Crest for the heck of it. I am sure it will be terrible. I will pay $11 to see the final Harry Potter film, but not for dancing penguins. Got my standards, you know.

Emma - both book and new adaptation

I was listening to NPR one afternoon and a piece on blogging started. I snorted when the commentator said that blogs must "be kept up daily - it is a duty".

Duty my left foot - this is my first entry of 2010!

I am finding facebook a welcome way to keep up with friends and their thoughts/ideas. Still, I want to try to keep up with my blogging habit in some way and decided to re-read Emma (by Jane Austen) and give a critque.

To start, my first encounters with Emma were through film - "Clueless", "Emma" with Gwenth Paltrow, and "Emma" with Kate Beckensale. I liked the films - I found it a funny and well done plot. The character of Emma was so entirely stupid, she was charming.

When I began reading Emma, however, I found it less appealing. Unlike the other Jane Austen novels, there is more dialog. It almost reads like a script - two characters get a chapter and converse. Typical of Jane Austen, there is little description - one must create the setting and her language gives your mind ideas of a characters expression/posture.

The dialog itself would not be unappealing if it were not for characters like Miss Bates. Anytime she begins to speak it is best to skip ahead to where the quotes end. Jane Austen no doubt choose to "let" Miss Bates talk instead of perpetually saying that Miss Bates "went on and on about a topic that no one found particularly intersting and that she did not illumine so that it might be interesting."

I do feel for Miss Bates however - I fear I can be just as verbose and boring. My own mother said of my blog that "she could not read that much."

Then along came the new series on PBS. The first night I found a bit interesting - it gave a lot of unnecessary backstory. The backstory however brought up a lot of interesting character parallels. I never once considered that Emma, Frank Churchill, and Jane Fairfax grew up motherless. What that says of the rest of the novel, I do not know, but it was interesting that the new visual adapation made me ponder this fact.

The second night was slightly better - the story speed up, Emma (played by Rommola Garai) continued to charm. But I still was not totally engrossed.

The last night of the series just plain made me mad! There were additional scenes, conversations that never took place - it was sloppy. Not as bad as the recent version of Persuasion where Anne Elliot was a marathon runner at the end, but pretty darn close. I don't think Jane Fairfax and Emma Woodhouse would ever have a heart to heart about Frank's behavior - but there it was, bold as brass.

It stunk to high heaven.

And I was not sure what to make of Mr. Knightly and Emma looking at the white cliffs of Dover as they headed out on their honeymoon. It was odd.

I will say this about all adaptions of Emma - whoever they get to play Mrs. Elton is always DEAD ON. Perhaps because her character is such a, well, character, it is easy to portray. But even the costuming for her in the adaption was perfect - too much lace, ribbon, and ruffles. They even had her on a donkey. Priceless.

But a well played Mrs. Elton does not a good adapation of Emma make and I would suggest skipping it if you have not already.

A New Year...

...and I guess it is finally time for a new post.

I just spent the past *hour* on itunes looking for songs.

Seriously - I can't get enough music. And I just got the new Squirrel Nut Zippers album for Christmas (Bedlam Ballroom). It is very good - little salsa style in there. Lots of fun to dance to in the kitchen while cooking.

I am also finding...that I like Amy Winehouse. Seriously - girl has a voice. I just might have to buy one of her songs.

And, I am also liking another version of "The First Cut is the Deepest". I have the Cat Stevens, but this other one I found is more interesting. I do not like the Sheryl Crow version.

And I finished watching Tess of the D'ubervilles. GO TO PBS NOW AND VIEW IT!!!

So good...I mean totally watered down, but REALLY good.

It did, however, make me scream not so polite things at the screen. One example would be when I yelled "HIT HIM AGAIN!". El hubbster told me to take a chill pill. And also when the hubbster asked for a description of Alec D'uberville (because he wondered in half way through and got into it and wanted to know more)
and I explained

***warning - my explanation is quite explicit. The faint of heart should look for the next set of ****'s *****

that he was a man who deserved "to be headbutted and then have his balls cut off."

I was told that my description was quite crass. Good thing I didn't mention how he should then be decapitated and his head shoved on a spike with the detached genitalia shoved in his corpsey mouth.

:| What?

Fine - I am being crass. Please forgive me. (though I refuse to edit this post - Alec D'uberville at least got his comeuppance).


********end explicit**************

And I saw "Doubt" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".

:|

I had snow days - what else was I supposed to do!

Doubt was alright - I liked the cast a lot. Meryl Streep should be in every movie - she is AMAZING. And Amy Adams is made of awesome. So is Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I like how they let the movie be just like the play - it has a wonderful ending and it is true to the title.

The CC of BB was made of lame. First of all - I did NOT go to see the movie because of BP. No...see this post for why.

I went to see it because I love Cate Blanchet. Is she not gorgeous? And she can ACT! She made the film.

Otherwise it was just like Forrest Gump if FG was born old.

And I saw Quantum of Solace. It was alright - a bit of loose ties to be tied. Bond is...em. Well, Daniel Craig and Ralph Finnes are my only blond-blue-eyed crushes. *blushes*

Other wise QoS was lame. Daniel Craig was not at ALL.

So, I am also amused by the amount of fan fiction writing I have done - which is none! I need to work on getting it out of my system because I just have all these stories playing around in my head.

Which brings up something I have read - the LAST book in the Princess Diaries Series.

:(

I know - the LAST ONE!

I really like Princess Mia. I don't think I like her decisions in this book, but I really like her. And I am glad that it ended well. The lack of detail in one scene made me want to write PD fan fic! But I refuse since it would be like Ransom of My Heart, the romantic novel Princess Mia "writes".

Yes I read it.

:|

I read it and am affirmed the romance novels are NOT my favorite.

One thing about the last book I adored is how Princess Mia made out in a horse drawn carriage -- that was super cute (I am trying not to give away spoilers in case peeps reading this want to read it).

Oh, I saw Kill Bill (1 and 2). I like Quentin Tarantino - I do. But I don't like the violence...and the misogyny that is trying to disguise itself as feminism. I am disturbed that most females in his move are psycho, physically violent, and extraordinarily beautiful. It just isn't real life.

And as I try to separate the film from the violence, I find what is at the heart of movies I love.

I love interesting characters. I love REALLY quirky characters.

I like unusual plot lines where it is almost predictable what will happen, but then it takes a twist that leads to a more satisfactory ending.

I like stories that are true to the human experience. And I love little details that become vital at the end ('cause I pay attention to little details, but speak in generalities -- basically if I had to give a detailed account it would be TOO detailed).

So, Tarantino appeals to me in the plot. The characters - meh. But his plots are AMAZING!

Wow - this has been a random post - lots of reviews. I would love to hear others opinions in the comments!

5 Random Things

In no particular order:

1. Harry, A History - This was a really nice look back at the past ten years of the Harry Potter fandom. I especially liked hearing Jo Rowling's point of view. Melissa Anelli, of Leaky fame, did an excellent job with this book. If you would like to borrow the book, let me know.

One thing that intrigued was a comment JKR made about Dumbledore losing Grindelwald, his former object of affection.

She explained that he just turned inward and remained isolated and academic the rest of this life. "Does that mean he as a one-hundred-fifty-year-old virgin? I don't know," she said softly, peering into her coffee cup as though he held an answer.

When I read this passage, the Sev/Lily fangirl in me quickly jumped to conclusions. Could Dumbledore's experience be similar to Snape's? It would seem possible given what we know of Snape from the books - especially since Dumbledore agrees to meet with Snape after Snape passed info onto Voldy...perhaps he saw in Snape a similar need to protect the one he loved?

Hmmm...I will have to think more about this. I would LOVE to ask JKR about how Lily and Snape felt AFTER they parted ways in fifth year towards each other. I can write my own conclusions, but I would love to know what she envisioned.

2. Lord of the Rings Directors Cut (a.k.a. "Deluxe Precious Edition")

Me wants it.

I borrowed the set of three DVDs from an HP meetup friend (super cool and generous). I am THOROUGHLY enjoying it - it has the full film, with effects and music added in, behind the scenes look at how the whole film came together, and commentaries by everyone involved (well, I didn't see the key grip's commentaries, but that is ok - really!).

There were many more songs in the original. Which is kinda cool because they are WAY shorter than in the book.

Small confession - I skipped the songs when reading the series. WHAT! They were a weensy bit boring to me...

Also, El Hubarino (LG) started watching it with me and I have to pause it every 20 minutes or so to explain the plot.

Maybe if he watches it a third time through, he will get the connections.

Then again, he did see it in the theatre the first time and could not remember if Frodo lives.

:|

Seriously - he asked me yesterday if Frodo lives -and he has seen these movies before!!!

The one thing the hubbster won't watch with me is all of the "Making of" features. I LOVE THESE - they make me want to become a movie craftsperson! I can paint things, and link plastic chain mail, and...hold a cord, or something.

3. Which brings be to TEACHING - I do love it despite above sentences. Teaching is never boring and you get better over time.

I applied to Seattle University, am accepted, and will soon begin studies to earn my professional certification (which is the same thing as a licence). It will take me a year and half to complete.

:|

So, I will be at my job for another year...I hope...

I mean...I hope I don't get the boot.

My principal seems ok with me lately, despite my goals meeting which ended ok, but I still had to call the hubbster in tears over it.

:(

Still, things are going ok NOW, and I have to focus on that.

4. I am making Christmas gifts - which is a lot of fun. My embroidered tea towels are getting MUCH better. I would post them here, but some of you might be getting them as gifts and I want them to be a surprise.

They are fun to make and the crocheted bags are coming along nicely too.

That is all - oh wait.

This just in -

5. Obama reads Twilight with his daughters.

Ew. Twilight is a piece of poo. Seriously - I have read excerpts because that is all I could stomach. In the words of Smegol, "It burns us!".

I am disappointed - but I guess nobody is perfect!

Pallisers Part 6 - Mr. Finn Goes to London

"Everytime we say good bye...I cry a little..."

Yep - it is the end of "Can You Forgive Her" and the beginning of "Phinneas Finn". It ended well.

I still don't see how Alice is the hero, Kate, except she prevents Glencora from running away/chasing after Burgo. But, since Glencora does stay with Plantagenet, she falls in love (and he falls in love) and they have babies - so I guess Alice had a hand in it.

And Alice gets a man too - Mr. Grey finally showed some real spunk when he proposes. He ain't milk - he's gin :)

Plantagenet also SMILES in this part, a first for him. Very pleased that he could show emotion when he learns his first child is to be born.

The one thing I will credit Trollope with, as well as the series creators, is a smooth transition from Glencora and Plantagenet as protagonists to Phinneas Finn, an Irish ladies' man (bow-chicka...ok,ok, not appropriate...).

Phinneas seems alright - comes to London with big ideas and a lot of spirit. Let's hope it lasts.

The DVD set is sectioned into three parts: red discs, blue discs, green discs. I just have one more disc to go to finish the red ones, and I think I will do one more review of that (so a review of parts 7 & 8).

Then I will do a review of the blue and green discs separately. As much as I love writing all these little reviews, it is a bit much to review every disc or part, so I think just a review of the eight episodes would be good.

So, the next post will also have Phinneas Finn spoilers, so if you haven't read it yet, you might not want to read it (I will tag it).

Kate, you know I am talking to you :)

Overall, I didn't think I would like this series, but it is highly fascinating. The hubbster is always drawn in when I have it on.

But I have a feeling that the plot of the series has been very streamlined from the plot of the book. I own a book called "What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Played" that gives an account of life in Victorian England overall - the politics, laws, and money system are discussed in detail (unlike the Victorian Home which is an equally fascinating book, but only describes the home life). I wanted to re-read parts of the book because of all the politics and seasons in the Palliser series.

When I looked up "Can You Forgive Her" in the index and examined the passages, 30% of the time the book mentions characters that were not in the series. So I am sure Trollope's books are much richer and detailed than the DVDs, but some how I think I will watch this series and not read the books.

Unless there are other Trollope books that folks recommend.

The Pallisers Part 5 - Oh No You Didn' George!!!

George Vavasor is a jerkface and a half. If I had to list the jerkfaces in the series so far in order of jerkfaciness, it would be:

George Vavasor
Duke (old dude with really bad advice)
Burgo "Fratboy" Fitzgerald
John Grey
Plantagenet Palliser

George smacked Alice around!!! What the heck!!! And he was still shacked up with Jane!!! And he comes at John Grey with a whip!!!

!!!

I really like the actor though - he plays the rouge very well...and Alice (as a character) is coming up the ranks in my opinion. She is pretty level headed and I always appreciate that in people (see above remarks - I am WAY passionate).

Oh, and about the Grey and George fight scene - first of all I love that Mr. Scooby (that's what I cal him - the Dodo guy) spilled the beans without knowing he spilled the beans. And the fight scene was REALLY scary (yes, I am easily scared) but the one thing it lacked was good fight scene music. Every fight scene should have really good music.

And I was yelling at the TV during that time: "SHUT UP! OH MY GORSH MR. SCOOBS SHUT UP!!!" (when Mr. S was spilling beans)

My husband, who had wandered into the room to see what I was yelling at, says : "You really like making it interactive, don't you?"

Well, yes - yes I do!

And TEE HEE, my husband has not watched it from the start, but I suggested we watch part 5 last night and he said "I would rather watch something else more interesting."

:|

I said "Fine - you don't have to watch it with me."

So he wanders off and comes back to find me yelling at the TV - then hears the words "Chancellor of the Exchequer" (I so cannot spell it, but I know it is a funky English word). That was all the hook he needed and he sat down and watched the whole rest of the episode with me.

Why would "Chancellor of the Exchequer" be a hook word for him? Well, we watched the Amazing Mrs. Prtichard (which was a pretty amazing series - and short with only 6 episodes) and we now know how the British Parliamentary system works. Granted, it was a bit different during the Victorian Era, but still very similar. Anyhow, I think he felt he would not understand anything (IE it was a "Soap Opera"), but he caught CoE and he got that part.

Why is it that boys need politics to be interested in a drama? It is like in War and Peace - a PERFECT novel, except for all the war and philosophy of history ramblings. Except, most men see it the other way - PERFECT novel except for all the bits where Sonya and Natasha bore them to death.

Anyhow, before I got off on that tangent, I was talking about jerkfaces.

Another part where I was yelling at the TV is when the Duke went to Palliser's uncle (the old dude who is also a Duke) to discuss Palliser's rejection of the CoE seat. I was SOOOOooo mad because the DUKE IS THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS MISERY!!! If Palliser and Glencora had married people they loved, then Palliser could become the great politician he is meant to be because his wife would have understood and supported his choice. Shoot - ALICE gets it! But NOOOOOooooooo the old dude has to have things his way and everyone is miserable.

Well, George caused his own misery, so I guess I cannot place ALL the misery of the world on the old dude, but still - WHAT A JERKFACE! If someone does not tell the Duke this to his face by the end of the series, I will be VERY disappointed.

But the scene I like the best was the opening scene where Glencora flat out tells Plantagenet that she cannot love him.

:(((

I felt the actress did a really fine job with portraying the misery Glencora is feeling - that Glencora is still a little girl who has no parents, who still needs to sow her wild oats, who cannot put her feelings aside for duty. I completely empathize which is why I am scared of becoming a parent.

But that is a whole 'nother can of worms, so let's move on to the cold demeanor of the actor who plays Palliser. Does this guy know how to smile? The actor has one expression and it is driving me NUTS. I know Palliser is serious and very virtuous, but I am sure he can give some sense of what he is feeling inside on the outside.

But, again, perhaps that is the character.

Onward to the final episode in the "Can You Forgive Her?" section.

Pallisers Parts 3 and 4...

...nothing interesting to note here...just kidding! The series just got immensely interesting and I have to pace myself because I have other things to do.

I figured out Moocher Fratboy's name (finally): Burgo Fitzgerald.

Seriously - who names their kid "Burgo"?

Anyhow, he has made several attempts to abduct Glencora, but she had evaded him. Thankfully - though he did get a kiss (or two) in at the ball.

I say "thankfully" 'cause Burgo "Fratboy Moocher" Fitzgerald has been getting AWFULLY friendly with his own aunt. What is going on with all these people getting too cozy with their familias? Why can't they just stick to the time honored family tradition of talking behind each other's backs instead of getting all physically affectionate? Burgo is just weird :|

Glencora knows that she is weak and it makes me appreciate her character more. The actress also well represented the struggle her character has with some pretty fine acting. So, I guess I *must* like Glencora.

But Alice I am now worried about - especially after Kate's comment that she is the hero. Alice needs to get a spine and toss off George and Mr. Grey! George is now the moocher and Mr. Grey is interferring with the whole business (via Alice's sneaky father).

The scariest part of this disc was when Mr. Grey is giving the money to Alice's father to give to the bank for George (it's complicated, no?) and he says:

*super creepy eyebrow raise* "It won't be a debt...if she marries me...if she'll still have me..." *fade to black*

I do not think I am able to capture the creepiness of it all, but MR. GREY GET A CLUE!!! You're milk (that is BORING) and unless you show some real passion, Alice ain't yours!

There was a rather passionate make out scene with Alice and George that had me rooting for some bodice ripping - but Alice puts the kiabosh on it :( But then again, she is...a hero? I guess I will have to see.

Some of the extras are pretty cool - I am really liking George's policitcal partner. He reminds me of the Dodo from Alice in Wonderland.

Pallisers Part II...or How It Got VERY Interesting...

So, here goes my second post of the summer...I watched part II of the Pallisers while I stitched up a baby blanket today (pictures coming soon).

It was MUCH better - well...it totally bit for Plantagenet and Glencora.

She TOTALLY zoned out during the wedding - BWAAAAAAHHH...idiot.

Seriously, the guy she liked before (no clue what his name is, so I will call him fratboy moocher) is a LOSER...he's not even that cute (in the movie). He is living off (from what I understand) Cousin Alice's cousin, George.

Might I add here that I am SOOOOOOOOoooooo glad it is illegal to marry your cousin. It is the same problem with polygamy - too many names. Imagine if your Aunt was also your father's second wife (I saw this on Oprah) - your cousin would also be your brother or sister. Ew.

And if you had to marry your cousin, then your cousin would also be your husband or wife. TOO MANY NAMES!!!

Cousin Alice (Glencora's cousin) was once engaged to George Vavasor!!! (Alice's cousin is George - that is George Adam St. George Vavasor, not to be confused with his father George Michael St. George Vavasor...I read the glossary, so I should know...)

And she broke it off because George had some action on the side. And now she's torn because she is engaged to some total bore (Mr. Gray - she knows she doesn't love him). George knows it (it = Mr. Gray is boring and Alice knows he is boring) and is trying to seduce her. He makes a HILARIOUS scene in this part.

He compares himself to whiskey...

AHHHHAAAAHHHAAAA!!!!

And Mr. Gray to milk!

I guess they don't do vodka in England, 'cause Alice could have a nice white Russian if she played her cards right...

Moving along.

Glencora and Plantagenet make a tour of the Continent and she "runs" into her former lover at the fencing school while he is all tight-trousered and masked.

But Plantagenet reigns her in before she starts throwing herself at him again...she just gets to drool a little before her new husband is at her side. She is SOOO obvious - didn't she have some lessons on how to subtlety ogle guys?

George and Fratboy moocher are in cahoots to take Glencora off the path of virtue - George because he is a rake and Fratboy because he desires Glencora. In his words "I used to be able to touch her and have her melt in my hands."

Ew - do guys really talk like this? I don't think my hubby even in his courtin' days thought like this.

But then what do I know?

And I MAKE A PREDICTION: George is financing this whole operation, but the novel is called "Can You Forgive Her?" so I predict that Glencora gets seduced, runs off with moocher fratboy, does not get any of her inheritance, fratboy drops her, and she goes running back to Plantanget and HE FORGIVES her.

His uncle, in his part, says that Glencora should be allowed her dalliances, but only in the shrubbery and not on the drawing room floor.

Because he has experience with rug burns - seriously, how does...where does he...you know he has some nerve giving his advice to both Glencora and Plantagenet (he received it in part I) because it will only lead to ruin.


Overall impression:

I think all of the actors are quite good, but the style is somewhat stiff and theatrical. I think the only reason I pay attention to the character of George is because he is the only one that seems real. The others seem so...two-dimensional. Glencora is a bit melodramatic, but I think that is her character.

So...on ward to the rest...of the 11 discs..

D@mn and Blast! - The Palliser's Part One Review

I TOLD myself I would write a post every day of the summer holiday and it has all come to naught.

I was so very busy procrastinating from cleaning my classroom that I did not get to write any posts. I did post comments on other folks' blogs, but no writing on my own.

So, here I go...

The Palliser's - I think that is how you spell it.

I received this DVD set from Kate who received it from her mother-in-law. Kate likes Trollope and I had heard things from Mr. Franks (tutor extraordinaire at St. John's).

I thought it would be a COMEDY.

My first clue that this series would NOT live up to that expectation was on the back of the disc case- a word,in a small font in the upper corner: "Drama".

My second clue was the small booklet that comes with the 12 disc set. It contains an overview, history, and glossary of characters.

No comedy I know of contains its own glossary.

Nor is it 12 discs long.

Well, I have never read any of the books, so I just decided to go for it. What the hay!

The first six parts correspond to the novel "Can You Forgive Her?" (yes, I know books get underlined, but I can't underline in this particular program, so I went with quotes).

Disc 1 - Part I: Everyone is SOOOOOOOO happy. Plantagenet Palliser has his nerd love; Glencora has her own passionate love affair.

Then some old women and Plantagenet's uncle get cross and want them to marry each other.

It would be like asking me to marry...a football dude (I am the ultra-nerdy Plantagenet in this scenario and football dude = ultra-hottie Glencora).

With some careful scheming, all goes according to the evil old people's plans - former lovers are driven off and Glencora and Plantagenet find themselves stuck.

The whole series is set up like a play - there are definite sets and (for the time period) some technologically advanced outdoor scenes. The set designs and layout make me grateful for the realism that is demanded by American cinema and television series - and grateful that the British have adapted this style as well (I refer to recent BBC productions). While nowadays television series still have sets, one never feels like a well-placed banana peel could bring the whole illusion down.

But I digress.


One of the better scenes of part I is when Glencora goes to her cousin Alice after she has decided to marry Plantagenet "Decimal Dude" Palliser and says (in my words) "Look - I did what you said! I don't love him! Now my life is over! OVER!!! Thanks a lot @^#*$!". The actress is a little spacey (well, I think that is just Glencora's character), but really pulls off the emotion well.


Then the BEST scene follows where Glencora and old ladies and Plantagenet and his old-and-rather-morally-dubious-rich uncle meet in a field. IT IS LIKE A DUEL - beautifully set up really if you think about the characters and their wills. It is an actual field, not a painted backdrop and there is this tension as the two parties meet together - just REALLY well done.

I would totally have run off with my nerd-lover rather than marry some football/fratboy like character. Fortunately, I did not have to choose. I got my nerd-boy.

Glencora and Plantagenet - not so much.

And I really FEEL for them in that scene. It is a duel of wills, of who might cave first and say "NOOOOOOOOooooooooo - I don't want to marry you".

But they do agree to it in a show of perverse duty. It is a lovely and a REAL punch way to end the first part. You, the audience, are now sucked in - what will happen next? Will she marry him? Will he marry her? Will they fall in love??? See, as most people well know, interesting stories are never about happy people - there must always be a conflict! (And for some reason middle school students don't really GET this idea, which is odd because they have so little power,so you would think they would be all about conflict with their little dramas and tantrums - but they don't...and perhaps it is better that way because they might rise up in rebellion)

And this brings me to the problem of arranged marriages. I listen to this podcast on Ancient Faith Radio ('cause I'm Orthodox like that) and one of the podcasts was about finding the right marriage partner. I listened because I am married, have single friends, and thought it might be an interesting interview.

The gentleman interviewed did have some interesting ideas about finding a spouse, some that I feel come naturally when you think logically about the person you love. It is not easy by any means to think logically about someone you are physically and mentally attracted to, but at some point it must be done.

One thing this guy said that I did NOT agree with is that arranged marriages are a good idea. He advocated that those who have known you the longest would ultimately know what is best for you and that is why your parents should select one's marriage partner.


I think Glencora and Plantagenet would have something to say about that...even Elizabeth Bennett would have something to say! Imagine if her marriage prospects had been ONLY left up to Mr. Bennett...she would not have gotten a husband at all!

While it is true that one's parents and guardians do know one probably better than one knows herself, it is also true that their motivations and vision of a potential partner might be blinded by their own desires (see above Pallisers/evil old peeps).

I see it ALL the time in my line of work (education). Parents pile onto their own child their past dreams and hopes and get frustrated or upset when their child achieves standard below their own. This situation, I find, usually occurs when there is some sort of deficiency in the parents' lives. For example, that mother who MURDERED a cheerleader so her daughter could make the squad. Or this dad at my school who always chooses inappropriate talent show music for this band he has created around his son - the dad has gone so far as to make up BUMPER STICKERS for this band...they are in sixth grade!!!

No one benefits from a parent's skewed vision of their child's abilities - a parent can encourage, but it is selfish to demand a goal for a kid that the kid did not select herself.

So, imagine if such a parent were in charge of finding a spouse for her child - poor Glencora and Plantagenet! They each had such guardians and were not happy.

But we the audience get CONFLICT and hopefully some good story telling!