Nov 06 2007

Stardust

Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.usDir: Matthew Vaughn
Writ: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn based on book by Neil Gaiman

  • Charlie Cox … Tristan
  • Ian McKellen … Narrator (voice)
  • David Kelly … Guard
  • Kate Magowan … Slave Girl / Una
  • Sienna Miller … Victoria
  • Peter O’Toole … King
  • Mark Strong … Septimus
  • Jason Flemyng … Primus
  • Rupert Everett … Secundus
  • David Walliams … Sextus
  • Michelle Pfeiffer … Lamia
  • Claire Danes … Yvaine
  • Robert De Niro … Captain Shakespeare

I read this book a while ago and really enjoyed it, so I wasn’t too sure if I’d enjoy the film. You know the way they always change stuff. But I try to pretend that it is a brand new story and not based on any book, course that doesn’t always work, but I do try.

Anyway, I’m happy to report that Stardust is just a lovely film. It is the story of a young man who goes on a quest into the faerie world to bring back a star in order to prove his love. Only across “the wall” he finds that the star is actually a woman, and that there are others looking to find her, and for slightly more nefarious reasons.

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Tags: 8 Stars, awww, based on book, Charlies Cox, charming, Claire Danes, david Kelly, David Williams, enchanting, faerie, ghosts, Ian McKellen, Jane Goldman, Kate magowan, Mark Strong, Matthew Vaughn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Neil Gaiman, Peter O'Toole, pirates, Ricky Gervais, Robert de Niro, romance, Rupert Everett, sff, Sienna Miller, star, Stardust

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May 31 2007

TT #19

Published by Fence under Weekly memes

On account of the fact that pirates are cool, and that I really enjoyed POTC: AWE I give you this week’s Thursday Thirteen:
13 items of piratey goodness.

Yes, the product of a google image search, but still, look pirates! Garrrrr.

  1. Pirate flags. They’re so cool. This one was flown by Calico Jack
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  2. Calico Jack, aka Captain Jack Rackham, had an affair withAnne Bonny.
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  3. Course, Bonny wasn’t the only female Irish pirate. The most famous is probably Gráinne Ní Mháille known as Grace O’Malley in English, also known as Granuaile or Gráinne Mhaol.
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    Thats her meeting with the ebil English Queen Elizabeth.
  4. And Elizabeth had pirates of her own, only they were able to rob legally because they had letter of marque. Her most favourite “privateer” was probably Francis Drake.
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  5. Samuel Bellamy lasted only a year as a pirate, but became much famed for his mercy. His crew called themselves Robin Hood’s Band
  6. Such mercy wasn’t always usual among pirates. The more famous are remembered for their reigns of terror. Like Edward Teach who may be slightly better known as Blackbeard
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  7. Blackbeard was said to have had Captain James Hook as his bosun.
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  8. But one of the most popular fictional pirates has to be Robert Louis Stevenson’s Long John Silver, what with his crutch and his parrot. One of the most famous pirates who never was
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  9. Course nowadays, Capt Jack Sparrow is probably more famous than Long John Silver.
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    And sure who doesn’t love Witty Jack?
  10. Well I suppose maybe Captain Barbossa might not love him. And I’m guessing Davy Jones might not be a fan either.
  11. And then there are also pirate songs. Like Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest which was used in Treasure Island.
  12. Of course POTC also has pirate songs. First there was Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me, and the latest one has Hoist the colors.
  13. And don’t forget every September 19th to Talk like a pirate. Oh, and that everyone’s favourite pirate is probably Steve The Pirate. Garrrrrr

Others joining in:

  • Busy
  • SciFiChick
  • Too Many Lies
  • Fond of Snape
  • Stephanie’s Confessions of a Book-a-holic
  • Nota Bene
  • The Urban Recluse

    • Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

    The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

    Tags: pirates, T13

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    May 31 2007

    Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

    Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

    Dir: Gore Verbinksi
    Writ: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio

    • Johnny Depp … Jack Sparrow
    • Geoffrey Rush … Barbossa
    • Orlando Bloom … Will Turner
    • Keira Knightley … Elizabeth Swann
    • Jack Davenport … Norrington
    • Bill Nighy … Davy Jones
    • Mackenzie Crook … Ragetti
    • Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd … ‘Bootstrap’ Bill Turner
    • Naomie Harris … Tia Dalma
    • Chow Yun-Fat … Captain Sao Feng
    • Keith Richards … Captain Teague

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    Surprisingly I liked this. I loved the first, but was bored during the second, so I wasn’t expecting great things from the third in the series. Maybe this was the reason I liked it, low expectations and all, but whatever the cause I’m glad.

    It isn’t as good as the first; I don’t think I’d be bothered to rewatch it. Maybe if it showed up on telly, or I wanted to waste three hours, but I wouldn’t be pushed either way. Still it more than did its job of entertaining me throughout the film. And earned a few laughs as well. So thumbs up I think.

    And then there is the whole look and feel of the film. It is fab. Honestly. I loved Davy Jones’ locker, and the hallucinations of Jack Sparrows. Fantastic. Surreal and trippy, but wonderful.

    That being said, there were bits I didn’t like, but then again what film is perfect. Especially if it has Keira Knightly in it? I’m not a fan, but she did okay, nothing to complain about[1] I feel kinda the same about Orlando Bloom, I’m not a huge fan, but he did the job, although he really wasn’t in it all that much, despite being a principle character.

    Yes, there is too much going on, and plots that go nowhere, and senselessness, but it doesn’t really matter. Jack is cool. Pirates are piratey. So it is all good.

    Yo, ho, haul together,
    hoist the Colors high…
    Heave ho, thieves and beggars,
    never say we die.

    And while I’m here; the opening was a bit dark wasn’t it? I mean, the hangings of huge numbers of people, including children, but cunningly filmed so it only got a 12s rating.

    IMDb | Stainless Steel Droppings | BlogCritics | Done Waiting |

    Linknotes:
    1. apart from her being so skinny, my god a sword is fatter than her, but whatever ↩
    Tags: battles, Bill Nighy, Chow Yun-Fat, Geoffrey Rush, ghosts, Gore Verbinksi, Jack Davenport, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Keith Richards, Mackenzie CrookStellan Skarsgård, marine warfare, Naomie Harris, ocean, Orlando Bloom, pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, POTC, sea, sff, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio

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    Jul 23 2006

    Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

    Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

    Dir: Gore Verbinski
    Writ: Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beatti & Jay Wolpert

    • Johnny Depp - Jack Sparrow
    • Orlando Bloom - Will Turner
    • Keira Knightley - Elizabeth Swann
    • Jack Davenport - Norrington
    • Bill Nighy - Davy Jones

    Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.usTook me long enough, but I finally managed to catch POTC2, and despite loving the first one I have to say that this just isn’t that great. Yes it has wonderful bits of Jack Sparrow-ness, but overall it is too long and too silly to really entertain.

    Of course it does suffer because the story doesn’t end with this film, you’ve got to wait til film three before we have a resolution, but that isn’t the main problem. No, the problem is that there isn’t enough story to fill the 150 minutes of screen time. It is as though they wanted to put in all these “cool pirate bits” and then had to invent reasons to have them. They don’t serve the plot and so aren’t needed, and only make the film drag.

    Still, there is plenty to entertain. Obviously Jack Sparrow is as entertaining as ever. And then there is Bill Nighy’s Davy Jones and his ickness. Keira Knightly I could do without however.

    All in all, good in places but too long. Although the conversation over the pronunciation of Kraken was simply superb.

    IMDb | Official Site | SSD | Samizdisandat | PixelSurgeon

    Tags: 4 Stars, action, Bill Nighy, Gore Verbinksi, historical fiction, Jack Davenport, Jay Wolpert, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, overlong, pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, plotless, POTC, silly, Stuart Beatti, Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio

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    Sep 18 2005

    True as the North Star

    Published by Fence under Ramblings, Weekly memes

    I may be jumping the gun a little, but at least this way you may get some practice in. Tomorrow (Monday the 19th) is Talk Like A Pirate Day. And in honour of this day I direct you to wavs and mp3s from Dodgeball, but you are only allowed listen to Steve the Pirate’s quotes.

    Also it is Week 137

      and she says:

    1. Less filling::
    2. Glue::
    3. Surprise me::
    4. Model::
    5. Fee::
    6. Microphone::
    7. Choices::
    8. To the bone::
    9. Run!::
    10. Appeal::

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    Tags: pirates, Talk like a pirate

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