tilly_stratford | Oh blargh (Reply)

Well, at least the worst part is over. Now I'm merely in ZOMG SO MUCH PAIN and have constant nausea. Mostly I'm just exhausted, though think that's because I've only eaten two slices of bread the last two days, and a few spoons of micro'd porridge.

I attempted to attend school today. Very bad idea. Not only had I such stomach cramps I was writhing in my chair, but I had bouts of such intolerable nausea I was afraid I'd never reach the Ladies in time if worse came to worse.

I think the highlight was when my professor raised his voice and asked me, "Tilde, can you see what I'm writing from over there?" (I was sitting close to the door, several meters from the rest of the group) and while I tightened my vocal chords planning to say something like "Not all of it, but as long as you read out what you're writing I'm good", what came out was rather something like "Vluuurghh."

So I've been lying in bed, watching musicals and just now The wicker man. The original of course. I've not yet seen the Cage remake, and I hope I'll never will, because as far as I know it doesn't have any of the factors that makes the original a great movie, such as A) Edward Woodward. Love him. B) Christopher Lee in a kilt. C) Cute British traditions. C) Dirty songs - I especially like the scene with Lee singing the song about the tinker when Woodward comes in and throws a fucking rotten hare at him. And D) Edward Woodward being seduced throught a fucking wall. It's awesome, I tell you.

Oh dear God, Guppy is Owen! You strange Torchwood-watching freaks, why didn't you tell me Owen is Guppy from Bleak house? Not that I'll start watching because of that, I just stick the the highlights, like Jack kissing Jack and Jack kissing Spike. But aww, cute, creepy Guppy.

I've listened to The stones of Venice now, and it's SO BAD but at the same time it's SO MUCH FUN. I'm as puzzled as you are.

I mean, most awkward lines in history, spliced with the most hammy actors they could find. I cringe several times per episode. "They're dragging us to the DEEEEEPTHS!" "NOOOO! IT CANNOT BEEEEEE!"

Also, the plot is action filled and fun, but doesn't exactly make sense. This is way into the future, and they cannot believe in extraterrestrial life? The Count Orcino was thrilled to bits when the people worshipped her when she was alive but hates it when she's dead? Where did "Estella"'s corpse come from if she didn't die? Surely someone must have been buried in that tomb for the cultists to worship? If not, how did they get hold of the jewels? And Miss Lavish saying things like, "If you go down there there'll be worse bloodshed this night" and there fucking well isn't.

And the Doctor is a bit of a git in this, isn't he? Like when he's shouting "I tried to tell them" and it's a very Doctorish thing to say, but you fucking well didn't, Doctor. You were the one who told them all about the casket and that they should go down there. And the end when he tells Charley with a straight face that he'll never abandon her and we all know he will. That's what the Doctor does, even before School reunion. "You're my best friend"? At the moment, Doctor. At the moment.

Anyway, don't be fooled by my crass critiques, I quite enjoyed it. India Fisher is brilliant as Charley in this, and the only one who seem to work well throught the awkward scripts (though personally I would be a little bit more pissed off after I found out someone drugged me).

Furthermore, Mark Gatiss has the most amazing voice! It's so sonorous, I still can't quite believe that little author man has such a powerful voice. Wow.

And the plot, I mean, it's all a good deal of fun. Decieved lovers, curses, underground cults, a Venice carnival, amphibious gondoleers. What's not to love?

Also, there are some quite good lines in the thing, I have to admit. I liked Miss Lavish's fantasies of sinking into the lagoon so "a monstrous fish" could make it its home. And the Doctor going, "Let's travel in style; let's raise a glass as we steam down the Canal. And before the world ends, it turns completely upside down." while the band strikes up a swing-like number and you just think "YES! This is Doctor who like it should be."

Ooh, and (what I'd like to think is) nods to the Tom Baker seasons! First, him going "She must have been - what do you call it? Very beautiful." It's absolutely perfect, it's so the Doctor, and reminds me of Tom Baker and his "You're a very beautiful woman. Probably." and the gondoleering (that's a word, right?) and him getting the hang of it and wishing to spend his life there - quite like Tom Baker punting with Romana. Although that was never broadcast, was it?

Now excuse me, I feel suddenly very ill again.