March 13, 2011

Second Rave Review from AU for RA + Game of Thrones Photo Preview + Poll:Jane Eyre or South Riding? + AU Strike Back Review + Early Start to Wearing o' the Green



Yet another rave review from AU(again with thanks to richardarmitagenet.com) for Strike Back.  Believe we could not agree more heartily with this one.  RA's stellar performance finally receives the glowing terms with which Sir Peter Jackson apparently also agreed, when he decided to entrust Richard with THE HOBBIT's Thorin...


Dec 2010 - Past post of the Day:

Thanks to richardarmitagenet.com for providing the following AU review of Strike Back.  The writer is obviously our kind of woman;)  She noticed...





Last week's Cats excitement triggered a discussion that brought forth a trained dancer who wished she could challenge a special someone to a tango - that is, if it wasn't for the lack of a terra firma dancefloor.  Perhaps the following vid of Donny Osmond & his team dancing the tango will help Laura envision herself with the partner of her dreams...


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See poll about the movie 'Jane Eyre' and the TV drama 'South Riding.'  The latter will start May 1 in US on Masterpiece Theatre...



              

Ep 1 of Game of Thrones will air Apr 17.  After reviewing the production's twitter photo gallery, IMO the most eye candy worthy items will be the beautiful wolves (lifesize rather than the humungous direwolves described in the novel--pleasantly surprised that they didn't use special effects for them) and the  imaginatively-designed costumes.  Several sets look spectacular as well...


direwolf cubs,,,ahhhh...could they be any cuter..

9 comments:

laura said...

I've been kind of avoiding the whole Game of Thrones thread, because I don't have cable, so I won't be able to see it, unless it goes to Netflix. But now I'm seeing those gorgeous husky/wolves and wishing I could watch!! I love good animal actors. They add so much to a movie. (and they give me good ideas for things to teach my dog!)

Ricrar said...

Hey there Laura:) You must have ESP - I've just added Donny Osmond's team tango from Dancin' w/Stars - with you in mind. Was going to make it his argentine tango but the music and performance wasn't nearly as sultry as this one. You can close your eyes & imagine yourself and you know who *wink* on the dancefloor together.

As for Game of Thrones, I'm certain someone will promptly upload huge excerpts to youtube shortly after each ep. Believe it's 10 - no doubt it will be available at Netflix after the last. The artists handsome illustrations make most of the men look hotter than they actually are...haha...are we spoiled in that department or what?;)

Laura said...

Ahhh, the hours and HOURS of practice that we'd have to put in... such a sacrifice... but I'd do it. It'd be tough, I know... but for you, RiCrAr, I'd do it!!

(but seriously, BonJovi???? and the TANGO???? who thought of THAT one?)

(ps. thank you for this. I am going to have SUCH sweet dreams tonight!!!)

Sue said...

RiCrAr,

Love the notice about "Beware of the Dog" (and cat!). I've seen a sign similar to this but saying "Beware of the Kids". Now that really does scare the heck out of me! (Give me dogs and cats any day, but kids ahhhh......run for the hills!)

Not sure that the USA will enjoy something like South Riding, especially in relation to Mr. Huggins. I like the fact that it shows how the poor had to live in the 1940's. Jane Eyre (although I loved all that stuff in my teens)is too stiff upper lip, not really how things were, obviously because the writer had no experience of how the poor had to manage and live (earning a crust as a governess doesn't really count). These days I like stories to tell it how it really is and be realistic. I loved South Riding, but things like Heart Beat (set in the 60's/50's is just as good - if not better).

I suppose now Richard has finally broken into films he will be too hoity-toity to appear in TV programmes again (only joking, hopefully he will still appear on the small screen from time-to-time)

Ricrar said...

Laura & Sue, See yesterday's RA pic in latest post. He attended the charity cricket match in NZ for quake relief. BUT..what a shock..the gorgeous beard has disappeared. Hmmmm...what are they up to with the Thorin look? Will he wear prosthetics afterall? Hope not:(

Why did Sir Ian say the dwarves will look essentially themselves if they'll actually wear full artificial beards...and wigs..ugh?

Laura--knew you'd be willing to make the sacrifice for the cause. Surprised me as well to hear Bon Jovi famous song used as tango music. Worked quite well though, didn't it.

Sue--isn't South Riding the tv show you mentioned that features Peter Firth in one of the roles? I noticed the lead female role in SR is played by the same actress who was Mr Higgins mortally ill daughter in N&S. Is it the same person?

Richard on TV again?...didn't he appear to leave doors open for that possibility? For instance, he didn't want Lucas North to die a violent death, so writers seemed to cooperate by being very ambiguous about whether the troubled agent lived or died in final Spooks9 frames.

Laura said...

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see the beard gone for the NZ Benefit. I don't like the full scruff. Just a little for me, please!

I'm still trying to reconcile BonJovi and the Tango. It worked, which surprised me, but my brain kept saying, "Really? HOW is this working???"

I don't think Richard will leave TV completely - he seems to enjoy all aspects of his work. I think the only thing that might cause him to leave one medium for another would be time. He's said, repeatedly, that he enjoys TV, but he'd like to do stage as well. And now with movies - he's a big guy, but I don't think he could cover ALL of those venues at once!! We may see him less concentrated in one place, but I think we'll continue to see his work develop in all three (four. I forgot audio work) media.

Ricrar said...

Could you tell if it was the original Bon Jovi recording, Laura...it sounds like his voice, doesn't it? It must be the same beat used for classical tangos. Modern aspect gave it an edge. Believe the only other entertainer who could look sexier doing that dance is Richard -- Donny was hot. A long-time married man with 5 children knows how to project heat with his partner:)

We're still wondering what RA's plans might be for his Hobbit break this year. Perhaps he's scheduled to do more filming for SB2..here's hoping he does--more of Richard's John Porter the better.

Sue said...

RiCrAr,

I don't think it was the same actress playing Mr. Higgin's daughter and the lead actress in SR. South Riding is the series I mentioned to you earlier though. I hope they do a follow on series to it.

I loved the full beard personally, but it did age him. Perhaps the director doesn't want too many of the dwarves to have beards. I think Aiden Turner will still have a beard and his long hair, but he would look too similar to Richard if they both had long hair and a beard as well. I notice Richard's hair is still short, so maybe a wig? James Nesbitt is clean shaven so I'm assuming some of the dwarves will be clean shaven, so maybe Richard will be the inbetweenie and have a bit of stubble?

I'm sure Richard will return to TV, but two years out of the limelight may mean that it's unlikely he'll return to Strike Back or Spooks, especially as the filming for the Hobbit was delayed. That is surely going to create a headache for actors trying to schedule their other acting responsibilities. I.e. James Nesbitt is starring in a new series called Monroe on the telly. If it's a success (although I'm not all that keen on it myself) they will want him to do another series. Taking two years out, will make it difficult for everyone, not just Richard.

Ricrar said...

That surprises me Sue that it's not the same actress in South Riding who played Higgins dau in N&S. There's such a striking resemblance between them, isn't there.

Full fake beard, heavy stubble?? who knows..they're keeping our curiosity 'up for grabs.' At least we can be certain Thorin wears a full wig - no way the director would envision RA's modern short cut for middle earth's swashbuckling hero.