We Want It! - June 2012

[helloladies]

Because we haven't quite managed to work out a way for us to consume ALL the entertainment yet: to keep us from emerging haggard and zombie like after regular all night box set marathons, book splurges and music overload we've set up this monthly space where we can express our pure fannish glee at the fact that so many projects of awesome potential are continually being made. All of our past wants and desires can be found in the We Want It! tag.

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Films

Fast Girls

Look, look, it's a British film about female athletes working as a team and it's being released during Olympic year. OMG THIS IS HUGE!

The cast looks fantastic (and has clearly been nearly entirely harvested from people who are on the BBC's pay roll) but I'm most excited about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenora_Crichlow Lenora Crichlow's starring role. Has everyone seen 'Sugar Rush'? Everyone really needs to see 'Sugar Rush'. I know most people like her in 'Being Human' too, but I just wasn't somehow convinced by that program. Maybe I'll try again sometime soon.

Anyway, this trailer seems to promises a Brit film focused on girls doing sport and becoming friends, with bonus romance. I really don't see how I'm supposed to keep my money in my pockets around this film.

Skyfall

I'm fully aware that 'Quantum of Solace' was kind of terrible. Still, pretty committed to watching Daniel Craig in what promises to be a slick action production of a Bond story. There are only so many times a girl can rewatch Casino Royale.

'The Great Gatsby'

Judging from comments on my Twitter feed, it seems that this trailer is really turning people off and not because for some reason Leonardo Di Caprio seem to be playing this role as 'permanently sweaty' (what is this?). I understand the argument that as 'The Great Gatsby' is set in the 1920s, which is renowned for amazing music, maybe it's kind of a waste not to use 1920s music in the trailer. I absolutely understand that argument, I just don't agree. Baz Luhrmann isn't exactly known for putting out straight adaptations, so I guess I've been expecting a bit of an unconventional offering ever since it was announced that he'd be directing, but even without factoring in Luhrmann's disruptive tastes I think it's nice, in an age when retro music has become a dominant trend (and I say that as someone who does really like lots of retro music), to see the trailer for a film set in the 1920s attempting to do something different with a historical setting.

Maybe when I see the film I'll have issues with the execution. Until then I'm going to say I'm cautiously excited about this film. I mean, I'm concerned about the Tobey Maguire casting (I have been concerned about projects that involve Tobey Maguire ever since Spiderman) but otherwise everything I've seen so far makes this project sound interesting.

Les Miserables

I'm actually much more worried about the upcoming film version of Les Miserables, which seems to have been in production forever and now finally has a trailer. I've seen the stage version twice (once starring Alfie Boe last year, as my mum is a huge Les Mis fan and took me to see the anniversary run) and I am a pretty committed fan. Ana, I know you're not convinced about musicals at all, but I this is a political musical (inspired by 19th century novels so there are some problems, but still) and I think you would adore some of the songs just on their own, outside the context of the musical, because they are beautiful. Based on my own experiences, I think it's difficult to leave this show without feeling somehow changed and wanting to become a better person.

My biggest worry about this film is the casting. I'm down with Anne Hathaway now that I've heard her sing (I know, won't she be thrilled to have won my good opinion), but even though I know this is probably just paranoia talking, I do wonder why none of the rest of the cast sing in this trailer? They were probably just trying to create a clean, effective trailer, but every time I see it there's a little voice in the back of my head that wonder what they're hiding. I'm reasonably sure Crowe can pull off his role and I hear Seifried is a good singer, but Jackman as Jean Valjean is...well I think he is gorgeous, but he is going to have to pull out a special performance to make that work. Also worried about Eddie Redmayne. He is going to pull off 'Empty Chairs at Empty Tables'? REALLY?

This trailer also makes me worry about what they're going to do with the song 'Lovely Ladies'. This is a group song, sung by actresses playing prostitutes and in the musical it starts off with a swing and lots of comic content. The women play to this weird fantasy prostitute archetype that we often see in nineteenth century lit where prostitutes tend to be comically drunk, slovenly etc. Then halfway through the song switches and humanises these women by having these women show the audience just how badly they are treated, while still belting out a swinging lyric. It's very subversive, much like indie songs which throw out troubling ideas under cover of a poppy chorus. In the trailer the women appear to be a menacing presence and I am concerned. So many things get left on the editing floor and Hollywood seems most comfortable putting out a simplistic version of female sexuality.

Wait, so why have I put this in 'We Want It' again?

Oh yeah. That's why! That song will kill on screen if it's done well.

Books

'Blackout' - Mira Grant

I'm reading 'Deadline' right now, with Meghan and it is really good. I was concerned I wouldn't like it as much as the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy, 'Feed' (for reason which are too spoilery to reveal), but have been pleasantly surprised. I'm both worried and excited to see what happens in the final Newsflesh book. Ugh, I love this series. I'm going to end up planning a trilogy re-read aren't I?

'Moby Dick' – Herman Melville



I borrowed 'Moby Dick' from the library a long time ago and liked the beginning very much indeed, but just didn't have time to finish it before it needed returning. So, I went away and read other books, then somewhere along the way I got strangely intimidated by 'Moby Dick'. Surely I couldn't possibly be smart enough for this book? I know that sounds silly. I'd already proved I could understand some of the book, by starting it, but my brain said no.

I think it's time to try again with 'Moby Dick', because look how pretty this new edition is. I could finally read the big name book in one of my personal interest categories (books about sea creatures). And just by coincidence, China Mieville's new book, 'Railsea' relates to 'Moby Dick'. Not that I am influenced by the things hot, smart guys like. Nope, not at all.

TV

Grimm - Finally, I'm real excited for my Grimm disks to arrive. I know Renay loves me because she sends me TV.

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Books

Analysing Media Textsby Marie Gillespie and An Introduction to Television Studies by Jonathan Bignell

I've been watching a lot more TV than I used to in the past year or so (I wonder whose influence that is :P), and the more series I watch, the more I wish I was a better TV critic. I know about narrative, and when I write about TV series or movies that's what I focus on. But at the same time, I miss all kinds of layers and visual cues because I never really learned how to analyse images like I learned how to analyse stories and texts. I could never write about what the costumes tell us about a character like Jodie did in relation to The Hunger Games recently, for example; or anything along the lines of Aja's post on Drive and the male gaze. So I thought it would be fun to teach myself, and these books sound like a good place to start. (To clarify, I'm not implying you need this kind of training to be a good TV or film critic, but formal learning is something I personally respond to well.) If anyone has any further recommendations, I'm all ears.



Gender Shock: Exploding the Myths of Male and Female by Phyllis Burke

This book was mentioned in Whipping Girl by Julia Serano, which I'm reading at the moment, and it sounded really interesting. One more for operation Read All The Debunkings of Gender Essentialism. Here's the description from GoodReads:

In Gender Shock, Phyllis Burke explodes the many myths surrounding our rigid gender system of male and female by looking through three lenses of gender identity: behavior, appearance, and science. Analyzing the latest research in psychology, genetics, neurology, and sociology, Burke finds that gender (or behavior) is not the result of one's biological sex (the body itself) and that gender and sexuality are separate elements of the self. With common sense and compassion, Burke challenges the notion that men and women are from different planets by revealing how there are more variations within each sex than there are between the two.

The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson

I'm so glad there's going to be another posthumous release by the wonderful Eva Ibbotson. I still haven't read most of her back catalogue and am in no danger of running out of books of hers to read anytime soon, but just knowing that I will some day makes me so sad. One more book means it will take a little bit longer, and that's always good news.



My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman

Finally, there's Elinor Lipman: Jenny (whose blog I'm going to miss so much, sob) has been saying wonderful things about her, and whenever Jenny says wonderful things about an author I know I'd better listen (case in point: Hilary McKay).

Television

Angel Seasons 1-5 box set

Yes, it's happened at last: I've been sucked into the Buffyverse, and I'm planning to watch Angel and the last few seasons of Buffy following more or less this order. Part of me is really sad that Angel and Cordelia aren't going to be around Buffy and the other characters anymore (and I mean really sad. Who knew I'd get this invested in these characters?), but I guess a spin-off series about them is better than nothing.

Comments

[myfriendamy]

Ana, I know you're not convinced about musicals at all

What??? Why do so many ppl I like not like musicals? :( I mean I know it's kind of weird how they burst into song, but still...

Seyfried was pretty good in Mama Mia iirc, so I think she'll be fine. I'm looking forward to this film bc I've never been privileged enough to see the play. I do love the music, and I mostly like the story--though I've never read the full book.

and Jodie I din't know you were reading the Newsflesh books! Did I miss you reviewing Feed? I like them a lot, too, I'll be curious what you think about the last two.

I know what you mean about TV, Ana, and thanks for finding those books. I think in general that reading great meta on specific shows has helped me learn, but an actual book would be great. I think there's a lot of crossover with film, but like..I remember reading an AV Club review of a recent episode of The Killing (btw AV Club--great site for TV stuff IMO) and they were like, and this shot was great because it showed how Linden and Holder were getting into something much bigger than they were ready for...and I was like, WOW. I totally missed that! So obvs I have a lot to learn, still.

Yay for Buffy and Angel! They are two boxsets of TV I will never part with.

[nymeth]

To be fair I haven't given musicals much of a chance at all, so quite possibly this is a preconception that would change if I, you know, actually saw some :P Jodie made me really want to try Les Mis, and I'd love to see the one inspired by Roald Dahl's Matilda (it helps that Patrick Ness has been gushing about it). Not much of a chance that will happen in person any time soon, so fingers crossed for a movie or broadcast.

Thank you so much for the TV site recommendation! Reading great meta helps me too, and I've learned tons already from you and Jodie.

[bookgazing]

Ana: Yay my TV influence remains unchallenged! Although it can't be just me. I am sadly not responsible for getting you into The Gilmore Girls.

I find reading meta about specific shows really useful too as once you understand one thing (so specific) by watching an example you can match it with what you see in other programs. Like, watching The Vampire Diaries and reading quite a bit about race in that program made me really alert to the way in which cross racial friendship functions in other programs. I know there are some critical Buffy volumes around, but the only one I can remember right now is Whedonistas:http://www.amazon.com/Whedonistas-Celebration-Worlds-Whedon-Women/dp/1935234102 . When I asked for resources about the male gaze in cinema on LB I know someone left me things to look at which I have yet to explore. Brace for an occassional weird attitude to trans people if you go looking into original the male gaze theory though. Umm, Smart Pop have what look like interesting anthologies (I read part of their Vampire Diaries one and it was good):http://www.smartpopbooks.com/books/. I used to read the website a long time ago too and it was great for critical media examination. It's just way easy to lose hours of your life to that place. Any costume analysis I can do owe to the knowledge I've gathered reading places like threadbared.

Really interesting to hear about this book though, because I would love to know more proper terms relating to visual media. In another life I would have liked to take more art history and media classes, but you can only pick one degree that's not going to get you a job, right?:P

Oh and Buffy question. Do you think you might be interested in reading the recent much hyped Buffy novellas that came out once you're done (just for fun, we don't have to write anything)? I hear they're good but kind of scared to read them on my own in case they are somehow wrong...

Amy - I haven't reviewed Feed yet. I have a very long post in progress (as in it is already over 2,000 words) but it'll hopefully go up by the end of next month. Finished Deadline now though and trying to work out if I can get Blackout easily from anywhere. These books are addictive! I have plans to go back and read everyone's reviews of these books once I'm done, because this is one series I've avoided all spoilers for.

And you're right, I'd totally forgotten Sieyfried was in Mama Mia. That's the film that made me like her so much. I'm going to cross my fingers that the Les Mis film is excellent now I know you want to see it and don't have access to the play. I've never read the books either (they are huge) but my mum read them when she was studying and recommends them strongly. They're kind of Dickens in France with lots of lucky coincidence get out of jail free moments from what I can work out.

[(Anonymous)]

Argghhhh - forgotten dreamwidth log in and having OpenID fail. Peta "the Bookling" here! My response are:

Fast Girls. Loving that trailer and hurrah for Lenora Crichlow. She was absolutely fantastic in Sugar Rush (more people should see that!) and was the only reason I stayed with Being Human as long as I did.
Great Gatsby: I kind of like the trailer and I would expect nothing less of Baz. In fact I would have been horrified if he had take the authentic period route. I look forward to the adaption.
Les Mis. Love the trailer and think you're right that they wanted a clean one but would also want a bit more assurance about vocal quality. I have absolutely no concerns about Hugh as the man is a musical veteran but a few of the others... Wobbles. They better not ruin *my* musical... :)
Newsflesh. Had this on my radar for a while now. Can't make my mind up if I want to read it or not...Is it scary?
Moby Dick. I have tried, and failed, to read much of this book repeatedly. Best of luck, Jodie!
Buffyverse/Angel. I have been toying with the idea of immersing myself in all things Buffy but am still in negotiations with my husband. The sad thing is that he watched (some of) the show when it was current and I mocked him. This was before I realised that Joss can do no wrong. Perhaps I should order Season 1 on DVD and act surprised when it arrives...

In other news, I am now 1/3 through my Avatar experience and I LOVE IT SOOOO MUCH. Thank you so much for the recommendation.

[(Anonymous)]

PS - Yikes. Buffy Season 1-7 is £55!

[bookgazing]

Oh and I'll try to remember to get in touch when Les Mis is out and we can compare notes. My mother is refusing to see it, because she thinks the trailer song is 'Les Mis' lite (and I do think maybe the biggest iffy thing will be the way they're just going to have to remove some of the big notes) but I've already gathered a group of musical people together who want to see it.

Newsflesh isn't scary, at least I'm really sensitive to horror and I read parts of it at night. A lot of the plot is based around a political thriller type situation, so it's often more about people and society than zombies. I'd say it's more tense than scary, as you're constantly waiting to see if someone will turn out to have been infected.

And I'm so glad that our posts are spreading the Avatar love. I kind of got into that mindset where I thought we were the last people on the planet who hadn't seen it, but turns out there were lots of us. If you see word of the follow up (Legend of Korra) turning up in the UK be sure to let me know :D

Yay I'm super excited to have found another Sugar Rush fan! Such a good show and now I follow the two main actresses from project to project like a puppy dog. That's why I still have a plan to try harder with 'The Hour'.

[nymeth]

yay, so glad you're enjoying Avatar :D And do immerse yourself in the Buffyverse if you possibly can! I can't get the boxsets for the time being, but luckily I already owned the first few seasons and found out I can rent the rest. It's definitely something I'll want to have someday, though.

[myfriendamy]

The sad thing is that he watched (some of) the show when it was current and I mocked him.

lol this is like the story of my life. I mock things I'm sure I won't like and then suddenly I love them when I give them a real chance.

[bookgazing]

Yep, that's a familiar story. I had to take back all my thoughts on Teen Wolf after the first episode. And I'm awfully addicted to a terrible reality show called Made in Chelsea, which I was so against for so long.