Perhaps appropriately, Eon Productions announced Daniel Craig as the new James Bond the same week we watched one of the most iconic of the original series, <em>You Only Live Twice</em>, at Movie Night. It's a good film, but oddly, I found myself liking this one a lot less than I used to. Its overlong by at least ten minutes. A baffling scene where Number 11 decides to kill Bond after all by blowing up a plane wasnt necessary, and neither were all those scenes in the ninja training school, or the agonizingly long wedding scene.
Everything else was just wonderfully fun, and I do love that freaking fantastic volcano set. I also love the way Donald Pleasance plays Blofeld totally against the villain stereotype, just not caring whatsoever about being Bonds archenemy and treating him as a tedious irritation.
Not many people seem to know that the screenplay for <em>You Only Live Twice</em> was by Roald Dahl, better known as the author of <u>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</u> and <u>James and the Giant Peach</u>. Charles Grey, whod take the part of Blofeld a couple of years later also has a small part. He never did, however, go on to play Doc Hopper in <em>The Muppet Movie</em>. That was some other Charles.
Note to Daniel Craigs producers and writers: Little Nelly is amazingly cool. Invisible cars are not.
I notice that Craig is the second actor, after <em>Doctor Who</em>s Christopher Eccleston, from the 1990s British miniseries <em>Our Friends in the North</em> to take a high-profile legacy role in the last year. I have always heard that <em>Our Friends</em> was amazing, and many TV critics rank it among the best drama productions of its decade. Maybe Ecclestons and Craigs success will get the darn thing released in the US, as Ive always been curious to see it.
This is another big, big football weekend, but for once the Bulldogs are not in the forefront of my mind. Itll be a great game, mind you. Vandy started the season very strong and has crumbled at the weight of expectations, but going 4-0 at the start of the season was no fluke; they have a good deal of talent and hopes this season. Im sure well win, but not by thirty points like we did last year.
Naw, the big one is at Notre Dame this weekend. The Fighting Irish look to be the last, best hope for somebody, anybody, finally beating the Trojans, whose second-half attack has been absolutely overpowering so far. But Notre Dames actually got the talent to take this one, and damn, I hope they do.
Still some good games to watch in the SEC, of course. Alabama and Ole Miss have a long and fun rivalry, and thats on CBS at noon, followed by the critical Florida-LSU game. I hate the Gators <em>all</em> the time, of course, but they need a couple more losses in that column, especially since theyre the only realistic thing keeping Georgia from winning the East. Suffice it to say that the main thing I want to do on the 29th is take my boy to the Taco Stand to watch the Cocktail Party. And go to the costume party in Affens ifn I can get a sitter. Dammit, why cant that be a noon game to make my day a little easier, huh?
Were having dinner with my parents tonight, which should keep me from shopping. Since were taking Big Red to Nashville for maximum comfort, Ill need the money for gas!
Rebecca wrote to say that she's finally got some antibiotics. Thank goodness; I've been worried. And, apparently, really stupid shmoopy again. Neal was making fun of me last night.
Wonderfully fun reading at Salon from writer Steve Almond, who's been dealing with an uppity blogger named Marc Sarvas. Boy, this is funny.
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2005/10/13/blog/
I hope everybody has a great weekend! Stay out of trouble, now.
Everything else was just wonderfully fun, and I do love that freaking fantastic volcano set. I also love the way Donald Pleasance plays Blofeld totally against the villain stereotype, just not caring whatsoever about being Bonds archenemy and treating him as a tedious irritation.
Not many people seem to know that the screenplay for <em>You Only Live Twice</em> was by Roald Dahl, better known as the author of <u>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</u> and <u>James and the Giant Peach</u>. Charles Grey, whod take the part of Blofeld a couple of years later also has a small part. He never did, however, go on to play Doc Hopper in <em>The Muppet Movie</em>. That was some other Charles.
Note to Daniel Craigs producers and writers: Little Nelly is amazingly cool. Invisible cars are not.
I notice that Craig is the second actor, after <em>Doctor Who</em>s Christopher Eccleston, from the 1990s British miniseries <em>Our Friends in the North</em> to take a high-profile legacy role in the last year. I have always heard that <em>Our Friends</em> was amazing, and many TV critics rank it among the best drama productions of its decade. Maybe Ecclestons and Craigs success will get the darn thing released in the US, as Ive always been curious to see it.
This is another big, big football weekend, but for once the Bulldogs are not in the forefront of my mind. Itll be a great game, mind you. Vandy started the season very strong and has crumbled at the weight of expectations, but going 4-0 at the start of the season was no fluke; they have a good deal of talent and hopes this season. Im sure well win, but not by thirty points like we did last year.
Naw, the big one is at Notre Dame this weekend. The Fighting Irish look to be the last, best hope for somebody, anybody, finally beating the Trojans, whose second-half attack has been absolutely overpowering so far. But Notre Dames actually got the talent to take this one, and damn, I hope they do.
Still some good games to watch in the SEC, of course. Alabama and Ole Miss have a long and fun rivalry, and thats on CBS at noon, followed by the critical Florida-LSU game. I hate the Gators <em>all</em> the time, of course, but they need a couple more losses in that column, especially since theyre the only realistic thing keeping Georgia from winning the East. Suffice it to say that the main thing I want to do on the 29th is take my boy to the Taco Stand to watch the Cocktail Party. And go to the costume party in Affens ifn I can get a sitter. Dammit, why cant that be a noon game to make my day a little easier, huh?
Were having dinner with my parents tonight, which should keep me from shopping. Since were taking Big Red to Nashville for maximum comfort, Ill need the money for gas!
Rebecca wrote to say that she's finally got some antibiotics. Thank goodness; I've been worried. And, apparently, really stupid shmoopy again. Neal was making fun of me last night.
Wonderfully fun reading at Salon from writer Steve Almond, who's been dealing with an uppity blogger named Marc Sarvas. Boy, this is funny.
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2005/10/13/blog/
I hope everybody has a great weekend! Stay out of trouble, now.