[Craig @replies Emperor]

@jimthefish A little anecdote. I was seeing an Australian girl around 2003 (roughly) and “Love Actually” was on the TV one night and all her flatmates wanted to watch it. So I sat quietly and watched it, hated it all over again, but when it finished they all said how much they loved it.

I couldn’t contain myself and started my rant about how bad it is, how it exploits the tragedy of 9/11, then makes fun of a kid running through airport security (how can you reconcile those two parts of a story’s theme I don’t know?), and the awful, really awful, like, terrible, terrible treatment of the female characters.

The relationship managed to survive that. But then we went to Australia for Christmas to see her family. And her Mum said “I’ve rented my favourite Christmas movie for tonight”. Yes, it was “Love Actually”. My girlfriend looked at me with a “shut your face” look. So I shut my face.

We didn’t last much longer though. I’m not saying it was Curtis’ fault, there was a lot more going on, but I think he may have played a part.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@blenkinsopthebrave Totally agree. Curran is excellent. Matt Smith said last night on Twitter that Curran slept all night in the bed before the anger/depression scene to get in to character. He really is fantastic in the role, that’s why I liked his little video tweet the most.

@jimthefish I forgot about “Yesterday” which my parents made me watch and that was okay, mostly because the actors were really good. Haven’t seen “About Time”. But both seem reasonably high concept, alternate world type stories so maybe this was a “moment” for Richard Curtis.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@jimthefish Yeah, wasn’t a huge fan of Blackadder until Ben Elton joined in, then it got a lot better.

I did quite like “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, maybe because the Hugh Grant character was supposed to have been based on my boss at the time – or, at least the way Grant was told to play the character was based on my boss.

But “Notting Hill” and, especially, “Love Actually” make we want to throw things at the screen. “Love Actually” is, possibly, the most reprehensible movie I have ever seen, with its allusions to 9/11 and its treatment of women. And, yet, some people love it. I really don’t understand why at all. It enrages me. Maybe it’s just me.

I haven’t watched his other movies because of that.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@whisht And here it is.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@whisht Many thanks. Yep, you’ve got a pretty good understanding of where I’m coming from – what Scottish boy of a certain age didn’t love Claire Grogan?

Also, what a great version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. You are correct – it was number one in the UK the day I was born.

For my 40th birthday my friends managed to get an original 7 inch record of it and had it made into a clock, which now hangs proudly on my wall. I’m guessing there was a “time starting, then passing with every tick” theme to their thoughts.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@jimthefish I dunno, most of the comments tonight were a bit lacklustre, but I actually quite liked the Richard Curtis feed.

I mean, Richard Curtis’ work is not something I usually like, in fact almost dislike, but he did a great job with this episode (who knows how much Moffat reined him in?) and everything seemed to gel almost perfectly.

It was nice to find out his daughter came up with the idea of the monster in the painting, and that the whole thing is basically a love letter to his sister who loved van Gogh, and who suffered from depression before taking her own life. And that the line “No, they are tears of joy” comes from the film “Elle S’Appelle Sabine” which, again, is about someone who suffered terrible depression. One I’ll I have to search out.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Oh, and this.

Look what I got…my dad went on a secret mission to get it for my birthday. Had no idea! Best gift. #TheUltimateGinger pic.twitter.com/u1Ip1moGFe

— Karen Gillan (@karengillan) March 30, 2020

[Craig @replies Emperor]

My favourite tweet from tonight’s global viewing.

#TheUltimateGinger. 🖼 pic.twitter.com/Pugs011jOR

— Tony Curran (@TonyCurran69) March 30, 2020

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Thet seem to be coming thick and fast today.

Many thanks @toinfinityandbepond and @blenkinsopthebrave

I’ve marked them as spammers.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Hey all, at the risk of seeming needy, I thought I would let you all know that today is my 50th birthday.

And I’m spending it on my own. 🙁

We did have a whole family thing planned with my parents and my brother and his family but it all, quite rightly, had to be cancelled. Have talked on the phone though.

Then one of my friends was going to stay, but we cancelled that too.

So I’m having cake on my own today.

I am planning a 50 and a half birthday party though – if this has all blown over by then.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

And, as we were promised. A sequel.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

I love that, even though it’s not on TV, the original TV announcer is doing idents – because, why not?

[Craig @replies Emperor]

And here is Russell T Davies prequel to “Rose”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/entries/4acfd237-6eee-47b5-93bd-1c16cd065614

Tune in on your favourite streaming service at 7pm for the episode.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Here’s a trailer for tonight’s global watch-along. On Twitter: #TripofaLifetime

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Russell T Davies just posted this on Twitter:

Okay, so, PREQUEL on the BBC website at 2, then 2.30 on my instagram in a different format. What can this mean?! Rose at 7pm, then 7.45pm, ROSE: THE SEQUEL. Yes! The sequel!

I will try to keep up.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@phaseshift @jimthefish @janetteb @blenkinsopthebrave and everyone else.

I think there are more watch-alongs planned. In fact I think “Rose” is happening on Thursday” (15 year anniversary – maybe) and then shortly after “The Eleventh Hour” (10 year anniversary – maybe). I’m unsure but will check and have everything in order if it does happen.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Well, here it is.

Yes! Here it is, courtesy of @StevenWMoffat and with the help of @McIntoshNeve, my esteemed colleague Strax entreats you to #SaveTheDay and join us in our viewing of The Day of The Doctor. Today at 7pm GMT, 3pm EST and all around the world! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/ljqFWM6QRE

— Dan Starkey (@StanDarkley) March 21, 2020

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Just to let everyone know I have already marked mona chara as a spammer.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@miapatrick Thank you. Have marked them as a spammer.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

By the great comic artist Bill Sienkiewicz.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Sad to hear that the great Max von Sydow passed away. A true legend. It’s hard to think of an actor who created so many different iconic characters or was in so many iconic films and TV programmes. Even people who’ve never seen “The Seventh Seal” know his chess game with Death. People who’ve never seen “The Exorcist” know “The power of Christ compels you”. And, of course, there is Ming – which he played with just the right amount of camp. What a pitch-perfect, wide range he had.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

And apropos of nothing… I’m developing a new website for my mate Dave, the music producer, and I’ve been digging around for some of his old stuff to add content to the site.

I’d almost forgotten about this (but have a nagging doubt I may have posted it before – but who cares). In 2004 he went to Jamaica and got to make a track with the legend that is Big Youth. The track ended up great, but he brought back about six minutes of terrible quality home video and asked if I could turn it into a music video.

It kinda came out alright – I’m sort of proud of what I achieved considering I had very little to work with – but I wouldn’t watch it full screen if I were you as the resolution is awful. But, as I said, the music is good.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Just rewatched the episode and, taking a leaf out of @whist ‘s book, this came to mind. I love the words to this.

Talking Heads – Life During Wartime

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@blenkinsopthebrave @nerys

Just popping in. My brain may be fuzzy as it’s been a long day and I’ve had a couple of after dinner G&Ts. But I think he was called Yana – which stood for “You Are Not Alone” (a running theme that series).

Why that makes any sense whatever, I have no idea. But it was a great reveal.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@jimthefish All links are “No follow” so no harm done, no rankings improved. I don’t really mind.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

I didn’t know Ian McElhinney from “Game of Thrones” was going to be in this too. Bonus.

As someone who is 50 next month I kinda like that all the main guest-stars are older than me for a change!

I thought that was frenetic, but this time it probably was the right choice. If you drop into a war zone don’t expect a quiet build up or even any time to breathe. And it mostly looked great, apart from some dodgy CGI near the start with the flying cyber heads (or whatever they were called).

And the end had shades of “The Tomb of the Cybermen” (Chibnall does like to steal) so as a first part I’ll give it a thumbs up. But, as I’ve said before, I really hope they stick the landing as there is only one episode left.

And have we seen a Dalek this season?

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Hi @cedarbranchtardis

As above, this thread has now moved to the “Faces of The Doctor” topic.

Please don’t post here unless you have comments about the website or users of the website.

Many thanks.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@beemartha @missy

Hi both, no biggie but could you please move this conversation over to the “Faces of the Doctor” thread? Many thanks.

The Faces of the Doctor (2)

The “Website comments” thread is more for problems with the website or with users so I can know what to fix, or who to have a stern chat to etc., not for general Doctor chat.

Many thanks.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@toinfinityandbepond Thank you. I’ve marked them as spammer, so won’t happen again. At least from them.

As I’ve said before, I can’t stop this happening once in a while, unfortunately. It’s not automated. There’s a human behind it who has to set up an account, maybe upload a picture (as they did here), then send the message.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@whisht Dave told me that Weatherall wasn’t really a technical producer – he didn’t know what all the buttons and effects did (which is why he partnered up with the people who did know that stuff). But he said he had a really good ear and was always saying things like “We need more of this” or “Less of that”, “That has to be higher in the mix” or “Can we make it sound like this obscure record I just found” etc.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Damn, just found out Andy Weatherall died. I just saw him at a gig at New Year (perhaps one of his last). He was only 56. I think I’ve seen him DJ at least once a year since 1994 (if not more). He also worked with my music producer mate Dave as “Lords of Afford” for a while.

Anyway, as a tribute, his classic remix, which I remember dancing to like a loon at parties when it came out, when I was 21.

If you’re geeky like me, it’s a remix of this (but he only used the last 2 minutes). I like to compare and contrast to get an idea of the thought process that went into the production.

He will be sadly missed.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Hi @davros Thank you for pointing that out – my bad, I forgot to give it a category.

All fixed now.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Hi @bluesqueakpip Yes, I got an email too. Have just dealt with them. Strangely enough (or not), they had a .ru address.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@blenkinsopthebrave @jimthefish

Two of my favourite film books, strangely enough.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@blenkinsopthebrave That is true. But I really hope, if you’re gonna do a re-telling of the same story in Doctor Who, you might have watched some of the earlier takes and stolen the best ideas.

Fingers crossed for Sunday. I hope it’s really creepy and bizarre.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

As a warm-up / homework for this Sunday’s episode, you might want to check out “Gothic” from 1986. It’s maverick / bonkers director Ken Russell’s take on the night Mary Shelley conceived “Frankenstein”. It stars Gabriel Byrne as Lord Byron, Julian Sands as Percy Bysshe Shelley and Natasha Richardson as Mary. They don’t make them like this anymore.

Someone has posted the whole thing on YouTube – you can also rent it on Amazon. But here’s the crazy trailer:

[Craig @replies Emperor]

All right – Frankenstein is next.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@blenkinsopthebrave Many thanks for pointing that out – had gone completely unnoticed.

New thread is up now at:

General Open Thread – TV Shows (3)

And also available via the link on the Home page, as usual.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

This thread is now closed as it is well over its 1000 post limit. I’ve started a new one here:

General Open Thread – TV Shows (3)

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@bluesqueakpip I was taking liberties, but the astronaut was being tested on (or whatever) in Hong Kong.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Well, that was a bit topical – a virus coming out of China.

I do think I might have to re-post Tim Minchin though. Take your canvas bags to the supermarket and free the world from plastic!

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@devilishrobby I’m afraid I think you have to make a post and untick the box when you do so.

But many people have done that in the past. You know – “Just posting so I can stop getting notifications from this thread”, or words to that effect.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@juniperfish I’m delighted too. Let the theories commence.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Well, that was full of surprises! And I guess Chibnall is going all timey-wimey this season.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@peacefrog

I would never dare walk out in public with hair like the Trumpster. I mean, would anybody, even Trump? 🙂

I haven’t had hair since I was 30, which is almost 20 years ago.

On Halloween I choose hair appropriate costumes. Hence Ming The Merciless. I also do a great Clint Eastwood (cos I can grow a beard in a day), but I need a cowboy hat for that. I do a good Nosferatu too.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@peacefrog

Cool. Thanks for the clarification. Yeah, online conversations can get confusing, or misinterpreted, if we don’t make ourselves clear.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@peacefrog

Eh? I’m kinda the chief. Do you mean me? If so, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

[Craig @replies Emperor]

Well, it was an interesting year, but I think this is my tune of the year, partly because its message is “Deal Wiv It”.

It’s like The Streets over a distorted, but pretty obvious, remix of New Order’s Blue Monday – with a bit of Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer thrown in. Those are two of my favourite tunes so of course I’m gonna like it.

Is pretty cool (in a weird way – but I like weird). Mura Masa – ‘Deal Wiv It’ with slowthai:

[Craig @replies Emperor]

I was doing some tidying up this week and came across this, which is a script I wrote when I was young and dumb and first trying to break into the film biz (which kinda worked out, but only for 7 years or so). It was part of my MA in Film and Video Production (instead of a thesis we got to write a story! That’s a good course.).

So I scanned it and I’m now putting it out there for your amusement. I did sell it but it was finished around the same time as “Lock Stock” and “Reservoir Dogs” came out so no one was interested after that.

It’s a Glaswegian gangster/gang movie and I’m afraid my youth shows through – there’s the young gang member who is kinda good and, yes, there’s a tart with a heart. I apologise – but I grew up on Jimmy Cagney movies and that was what I was aspiring to.

Anyway, if you have a couple of hours to sit back and read my rude, crude and violent story I’d be interested to hear what you think.

https://www.thedoctorwhoforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/razors-edge.pdf

As this is in the pub… Cheers!

[Craig @replies Emperor]

@peacefrog @whisht

If you like Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, this is worth a quick watch – how “Maps” changed pop music.

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