Well, it wasn’t quite up there with the first two seasons of the Kevin Spacey bad boys (may his career rest in peace), but this was glorious at times. And one has to take into account it’s a BBC serial from 1990. Those were shoddy days for quality drama.
Ian Richardson has a certain … magnetism about him. He defines Machiavellian.
And it was only for this truly sincere and transcendental line from Henry V’s won-from-Agincourt bride: “All monarchy is illegitimate; you, yourself, are the son of a usurper.”
Incredible. True. Brilliant.
I’ve always said that Donnie Darko (2001) is a tad overrated, and its soundtrack a big role in the movie’s appeal. However, it is a very good motion picture, one with just the right amount of ambiguity and tension to keep it captivating all the way to the end credits. It balances so many different genres and themes, that for a first-time director its remarkable.
Imagine my horror upon accidentally watching the ‘Director’s Cut’. Verily, I was mortified. It started from the get-go, Echo & the Bunnymen’s ‘The Killing Moon’ replaced by INXS’ ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ for the iconic bike ride home. Initially, I thought I was in the throes of one of these ‘fan edits’ that do the rounds. But nah, these are conscious, completely sober adjustments made by the director. Even worse, the bloke inserts title cards before or after confusing (for some) scenes, explaining what is happening.
He can of course do whatever he wants with his own creation, but come on, man. I can’t think of a single reason why the bloke would commit this (art) crime other than boredom or an addiction to needless tinkering. Anyway, I’ll forgive him once I view the only version again.
And that’s that.
I didn’t think much of this upon a first viewing. Time, or the slew of shit since – mostly of the multiverse variety and endless remakes and reboots – has been kind to the exceptional Spider-Man 2 (2004).
Gripping action scenes with three-dimensional characters in the mix, an almost total lack of the usual highly irritating in-jokes that feel out of place, scenes with actual emotional heft, and comic strip transitions that work.
Alfred Molina should have been in more stuff after this, the next go-to über-villain.
Wanderings and ... wonderings. 