vivdunstan

I started watching this film while Martin was away, and only finished it the other night.

I enjoyed it, but it felt like too little story over stretched. It tells the life of young Tolkien, from young boy, through school and university, experiences in the Great War, and a little after. It just felt too much like a series of vignettes, with things often under-explored that could have merited further depth.

A particular strength was in the portrayal of Tolkien's closest group of school friends, and their TCBS or "Tea Club and Barrovian Society". This carries through to their war experiences, and was very moving in places. I was also impressed by the actors playing the younger versions, including a young Ty Tennant.

The romance between Tolkien and Edith is well acted by both - I was especially impressed by Lily Collins - but again it felt sketched in too faintly. And then set aside for a long period.

The guest cast is strong. I was particularly delighted to see Derek Jacobi pop up as a key university lecturer in Tolkien's story. Though again he was underused, and this story not explored sufficiently for me.

A lot of the emotional heft was in the war and its consequences, but I found the war scenes overlong, especially the frequent more artistically slow motion versions, which were clearly trying to draw analogies with later characters and scenes in Tolkien's own books. I suppose I just wasn't engaging in the way the film makers hoped the audience would. But these scenes for me padded what was already a too underdeveloped story.

This sounds really critical reading it back! I did like a lot. But it was I suppose ultimately disappointing for me. Too little, stretched too far. I can't comment on the historical accuracy, and gather from prior reading that the film takes a lot of liberties. That doesn't trouble me so much as poor writing, pacing and in places directing, that even a strong cast couldn't lift.

Rating 2.5/5. I don't usually go for half scores, but 2/5 would be too low for me, and 3/5 too high!

Among the ongoing furore re the 2023 Hugo Awards I've started entering my nominations for the 2024 awards. Though am very behind with eg movie viewing and recent novel reading. But have multiple things to nominate already. I am an attending (but probably not going in person) Glasgow Worldcon member.

Just going to post some quick thoughts, but putting them in spoiler space.

Just arrived, newly published today, the “45 years of fear” essential collection of British cult horror comic for girls, Misty. I never read this as a youngster, despite around that time watching Hammer and Amicus horror films from a young age! Oh and many Roger Corman Vincent Price ones with my dad. I really missed out re Misty!

This weekend's movie viewing for us. Fortunately under 90 minutes total time, but given how ill I am now we will still probably need to spread it over 2 nights. Martin's never read the original Terry Pratchett book. I'm not sure about the look of Maurice in this - looks too well fed! But very pleased that David Tennant reprises his role as Dangerous Beans from the BBC radio version.

Just read and greatly enjoyed this 1967 sci-fi / historical fiction book. It sees a bunch of movie makers team up with a scientist with a time machine, and go back to Viking era Orkney Islands, to fill a Viking movie, with real historical locations, and real life historical Vikings. The concept is absolutely bonkers. The execution is brilliant. I laughed so much throughout. The historian in me also adored how they played with the recorded history, and the role of historical sagas recurring through the story. It's just a blast. If you like time travelling stories with a comic twist check this one out. Utterly bonkers. I'm so glad I read it.

I still have a few books on the go to finish off, but here are two more that I've just loaded onto my Kindle. Harry Harrison's sci-fi tale of Hollywood film makers filming real Vikings in the 11th century Orkney Islands. And Michael Troughton's biography of his dad. Which I have had in print for years, bought direct from Michael, but haven't been able to read much before. Now I have it on my Kindle, so should make better progress.

Slightly Foxed issue Winter 2020 (yes I have a bit of a backlog) and Kim Newman’s short book about Hammer’s Quatermass and the Pit movie.

Managed a little accordion play this morning. I was practising the main Pirates of the Caribbean tune mainly, and posted a recording of that from today on Twitter. Then played Despacito and Lambada, and my brain ended up very light headed and everything went to pot! But really pleased with how things were going overall. Just one chord fluff in Pirates, and I was managing to keep the momentum going. It is rather a difficult tune. Much practice still needed.

I was also amused by how the sound recording wave pattern looks for my Pirates play. I'm pleased by how regular the rhythms are! Also the contrast between the leisurely harmonic opening and the highly staccato main part. I've only practised so far at the moment, with much still to learn. But good progress.

Tonight’s movie watching - and we managed all 80 minutes or so in one sitting - was the 1950 thriller So Long At The Fair starring Jean Simmons and Dirk Bogarde. I’d last seen this movie in the 1980s, catching it by chance one afternoon while flicking through television channels. It made a big impression on me, but I haven’t seen it again until tonight.

It’s set in Paris at the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the story of a disappearance, and the increasing mystery surrounding it. It’s a very well constructed thriller, directed by later frequent Hammer director Terence Fisher. The entire cast impresses. I found it as enjoyable the second time around. Martin enjoyed it too.

Rating 5/5. A really nicely done historical thriller with a superb central mystery and great cast and direction.