Watching - February 2025

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

The opening scenes and credits of this, set to Propaganda's fantastic "Abuse - Here", are probably one of my favourites ever, and after watching them I can't not finish the film. There's a number of non-sequiturs, occasional over-acting and of course plenty of teen angst but in fairness I have watched it too many times. I still love it though.

The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)

How do you film something quite so well-formed as the classic play? Well, in my opinion, not by rushing breathlessly from location to needless location, adding unnecessary fantasy and backstory sequences, or including pointless additional sub-plots (although it turns out at least one of these latter is apparently from an earlier version of the play). Nor, for that matter, by making Colin Firth sing. Still, Wilde's genius shines through all the over-dressing.

The Proposal (2009)

Nice easy viewing and (slightly) more nuanced on second viewing than I remembered from last time. I really want to have an epilogue scene though, as it felt like there were a few loose ends that could do with tidying up.

Love At First Sight (2023)

I just love this unassuming romance, it's just so sweet. I might be in danger of having watched it too many times now though.

Roxanne (1987)

My choice of film for Z and I to watch on movie night, and I thought he might enjoy the comedy in this - which he did. And I enjoyed revisiting a film I know very well.

Cars (2006)

Reading Virgin River reminded me that I hadn't seen this for ages. Time was when it was run on heavy rotation by Z so it's not like I don't know every scene, but it was still nice to see it again.

Doc Hollywood (1991)

Having just watched Cars, which has often been accused (sometimes by me) of ripping off the plot from this film, I thought Z should see this too for our film night - and also because I thought he'd enjoy it. And I don't mind watching it again either!

Serendipity (2002)

I can't believe this film is over twenty years old. Not because it looks timeless or anything and obviously the actors look younger than they do now. Actually probably what I'm saying is that I'm getting old - but that doesn't stop me loving the film as a hopelessly romantic fantasy, despite the plot being pure Mills & Boon.

A Complete Unknown (2024)

I think Bob Dylan is overrated, and not just because I'm pretty "meh" about most of his music, which is, of course, just a matter of personal taste. No, it's the mythologising that grates most, started by Dylan himself even before he was famous and perpetuated ever since by lazy journalists. So a film that takes that myth and amplifies it by adding more of its own inaccuracies in the name of "dramatic licence" was obviously going to annoy me immensely.

I was surprised to find then that I actually enjoyed the film a lot. The music is from Dylan's best period and the actors do a very impressive job of reproducing it, while the story carries you along nicely. There are one or two instances of the deathless music biopic clichés ("hey how about we just try this?" <fully formed famous song appears out of nowhere>) but none more than usual.

It's poor that Suze Rotolo's role in Dylan's life is over-simplified (and her name changed), which is problematic, and I think Joan Baez comes across very well despite the part being under-written - but then, it's not a film about Joan, although I'd watch that because I suspect it's a more interesting, albeit less dramatic story. But ultimately the film made me want to go back and listen to the music - of both Bob Dylan and Joan Baez - and so is a success from that point of view.

Reading - February 2025

Emma by Jane Austen (1815)

I found it hard to read this time without making mental comparisons with the plot of Clueless; but then again, perhaps I was distracted, because for most of it, it was the small hours of the morning and I was waiting in A&E for my name to be called (I'm fine, don't worry). Still great fun and longer than I remembered, but worth it for the denouement.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895)

Despite being set in a clearly different time, this is so wonderfully sharp and cynical that it could be the modern day. Lovely and short (it took me barely an hour to read), it sizzles with wit and is so choc-full of famous quotes you can't go a page without hitting one. A nice distraction (I was still in the hospital waiting room at this point).

Make Room for Daddy by Andrea Edwards (1990)

Every time I read this I feel like I have to apologise for the truly awful title, but this is an unpretentiously sweet and romantic story and I was moved all over again even though I know exactly what happens.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr (2007)

The plot's a fairly direct lift from Doc Hollywood (maybe via Cars), but that doesn't stop it from being a really engaging story (which it was in both of those films, so ...). There's loads in this series so I'm off to reserve the next couple!

Finding Love at Sunset Shore by Bella Osborne (2024)

A cute little romance, set in Southampton (albeit with a few made-up venues, I suspect - there's no "Sunset Shore" or even anything resembling a beach in Southampton), which carried me along nicely despite there being no doubt how it was going to end.

Welcome Back to Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand (2013)

Man and woman fall instantly in love and lust, encouraged by all their family and friends - the end. Somehow this fills a book and doesn't actually feel like a waste of time, despite the lack of development, which I think is partly down to a well-written set of supporting characters.

Mister Teacher by Jack Sheffield (2008)

The second instalment of the series sees just as many specific references to the time in which it is set shoehorned in, but the writing is settling down and the author is doing a good job of drawing out the romance element. I'm surprised it's not been made into a TV series, but it would be expensive to make. If I can find more of these I'll probably read them!

Watching - January 2025

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Ah yes, the iconic BBC production, with Colin Firth and that look. Sure, it has its faults and it's of its time; the sisters are all clearly too old, Julia Sawalha as Lydia in particular; and too many scenes are unbalanced by allowing Alison Steadman free rein to play Mrs Bennet as, essentially, a pantomime dame. Additionally, a washed out and poorly cropped transfer to DVD (and all widescreen broadcasts I've seen) does it no favours at all. Still, it never fails to charm.

Sky High (2005)

Despite being a slightly lowest common denominator choice for the family pizza-n-movie night, this provided plenty of entertainment all round. Plenty of pre-MCU knowing winks to Marvel & DC style - unexpectedly prescient - and comedy, with a wholesome Disney plot. Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it before.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Watching this adaptation directly after the previous one is very instructive. Visually, there's no competition: the film looks sumptuous and realistic, with Chatsworth standing in for Pemberley (it turns out Mr. Darcy really was that rich) while the TV series looks dated, even factoring in the poor quality versions now available. That said, compared to the detail allowed by six hour-long episodes, the film is like a speedrun through the plot, and I feel that anyone unfamiliar with the storyline would certainly miss the nuances. Nevertheless, this is probably my preferred version now, possibly just because I've over-watched the BBC version!

Abbey Road: If These Walls Could Sing (2022)

A soft-focus, nostalgic look back at the history of the legendary Abbey Road Studios, featuring interviews from a whole host of famous faces. Not really a complete history though, more a  gentle reminisce, but an enjoyable watch nevertheless.

Cool Runnings (1993)

I bought this on DVD finally and so that was an excuse to watch it again. Great fun.

Yes, Minister (series 1, 1980)

Although this looks dated - filmed in a square format, everything beige, wobbly sets and cameras, all classic BBC sitcom-on-a-budget stuff - there is unfortunately no doubt that the subject matter is completely current. Still, it's funny and watchable.

Beatles '64 (2024)

I'm not sure the world needed another Beatles documentary - but at least this was less than two hours rather then the six hour marathon that was Get Back. It does give a glimpse into the eye of the storm, which is interesting, but overall it was a bit dull.

Summer of Soul (2021)

I fancied revisiting this and the musical performances make it worthwhile. What struck me on second viewing is the points that it makes about the segregation in force - formally or otherwise - for black people in 1969, how a massive event like this made the people of Harlem feel, and what it says that it was subsequently completely ignored.

Reading - January 2025

Reach for the Stars by Michael Cragg (2023)

An interesting companion to the Boybands Forever mini-series on the BBC I watched last year, this tells the same stories and more, in more depth. However, the oral history format, consisting primarily of quotes from those who were there, makes this a disjointed read, without any real narrative flow. It also feels like a book aimed at people who already know the basic stories already, and are keen for more inside details - which it definitely provides - rather than someone wishing to learn about the "manufactured" pop groups of the late 90s and early 2000s. Nevertheless, it's an interesting book and a good reminder that there was a lot of good pop around then. Sadly, it's also a reminder that the men behind the acts - and they were nearly all men - were and are horrible, manipulative, exploitative arseholes. There isn't an artist in here that doesn't have some sort of regret or tale of unpleasant behaviour from the likes of Louis Walsh, Simon Callow or their ilk. The luckiest of them have come through the other side, but there are definitely some who were swallowed up and spat out with no thought of their welfare or future. So ultimately this was a bit depressing, particularly ending as it did on the whole Popstars/Pop Idol/X-Factor egregiousness, which in making a spectator sport of other people's misfortune and misfortune, marked a real low point in entertainment culture.

Classic Tracks by Richard Buskin (2012)

The premise here - technical interviews with the engineers on classic tracks, as opposed to hearing from the artists themselves - is really good, the pieces themselves interesting and the book nicely put together. But the book's large, coffee table format makes it a physically awkward read, and it took me a while (years, in fact) to finish it. What makes the whole thing more annoying is my discovery, literally a couple of weeks ago, that all the pieces in the book were originally published in Sound On Sound magazine (this isn't mentioned anywhere in the book) and are available for free on their website, along with nearly 100 others. Not recommended in book form, but highly recommended on the web site!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

Having watched the TV and film adaptations this month, I couldn't not go back to the original, and I'm pleased I did - a perennial favourite of mine, and I suspect it always will be.