tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post894860111987140361..comments2024-03-27T21:18:33.034+00:00Comments on Fabled Lands: The exercise of their power Dave Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-28609368773142582122016-10-08T17:03:35.165+01:002016-10-08T17:03:35.165+01:00If I could find the time, Yolo, I would. Maybe in ...If I could find the time, Yolo, I would. Maybe in the new year - I'm not promising, mind.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-218863915257906962016-10-07T17:45:30.278+01:002016-10-07T17:45:30.278+01:00When are you goong to release the next large forma...When are you goong to release the next large format books? Been waiting on 3+ for ages nowAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597504612594666696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-19937226280099726562016-10-07T06:37:24.384+01:002016-10-07T06:37:24.384+01:00Maybe most are now, but mine's pretty old. It...Maybe most are now, but mine's pretty old. It's combined with a VCR (which I still use).johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-38385733494571139572016-10-06T13:54:45.724+01:002016-10-06T13:54:45.724+01:00Aren't most DVD players over there multi-regio...Aren't most DVD players over there multi-region. My understanding is that a lot of players are sold as single-region but there's generally a simple hack to fix that.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-17571525915826807342016-10-06T04:00:59.753+01:002016-10-06T04:00:59.753+01:00The only reasonably priced version I could find of...The only reasonably priced version I could find of the full series was for Region 2 DVD players and I'm not moving to Europe anytime soon. Maybe you could check it out and tell me if it's good. As it understand it, the show is sort an "anti-James Bond" and the characters tend to mock Bond-stuff mercilessly.johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-26144630060642340092016-10-05T18:56:35.397+01:002016-10-05T18:56:35.397+01:00I've never heard of it, but let me know if it&...I've never heard of it, but let me know if it's any good.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-67611474726751555712016-10-05T00:05:56.598+01:002016-10-05T00:05:56.598+01:00I remember Warren Ellis had good things to say abo...I remember Warren Ellis had good things to say about a British show called "The Sandbaggers." I need to see if I cazn find it on DVD somewhere.johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-1185636578783358242016-10-04T08:50:32.415+01:002016-10-04T08:50:32.415+01:00If the character is boring and unlikeable, the wri...If the character is boring and unlikeable, the writer didn't do their job properly. For a really good spy show, try The Americans. Likeability is not what springs to mind with those characters. They are sometimes likeable, sometimes not -- complex and multilayered, but you always empathise with them.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-84777862728205306582016-10-04T04:17:33.201+01:002016-10-04T04:17:33.201+01:00Actually likeability is important to me, at least ...Actually likeability is important to me, at least in characters that I'm intended to empathise with. James Bond is such a characture that I'd never expect to like him; he's about as far from a real person as Homer Simpson.<br /><br />I've not seen 24 yet (though it is on my list for one day) but I did always enjoy Spooks, and many of the characters in that show did quite extreme acts. But they were rarely deliberately unlikeable; circumstances sometimes provoked them into extreme acts. <br /><br />I often find in fiction that writers try too hard to make someone unlikeable, without any reason for it. Just seems lazy, like a sullen teenager trying to be 'dark'.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16820212330098297211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-14566228928909449022016-10-03T13:42:59.322+01:002016-10-03T13:42:59.322+01:00I saw the first two seasons of 24. Or was it three...I saw the first two seasons of 24. Or was it three seasons? They blur into each other after a while. The first season was the best, I agree - and the first few episodes the best of those, when the concept was fresh and the writers were pulling out all the stops in order to get a full season's order from the network.<br /><br />When the early issues of Mirabilis were being serialized in 5-page chunks in the British weekly comic The DFC, I mentioned to the publisher that, inspired by 24, I had initially toyed with doing the story in real time. He was very enthusiastic about the idea, but I soon saw it wouldn't work. Each page of the comic would have to cover more than a day in the characters' lives. My current plan (1000 pages) is more realistic creatively, even if proving hard to achieve financially!Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-80525539860229643112016-10-02T19:32:51.035+01:002016-10-02T19:32:51.035+01:00Returning to topic of unlikable characters, honora...Returning to topic of unlikable characters, honorable mention should go to Jack Bauer of the show, 24. This character tortured people, uttered credible death threats and bargained with terrorists in most episodes and even moved Republicans to set government policy allowing real-life torture, er, "enhanced" interrogation. The conceit of the show was that every episode was one hour in a 24 hour day.<br /><br />During the first (and, honestly, best) season of the show there was a bit of confusion about how subsequent season of the show would work. Was there going to be an entire week of these "days" in a row? In that spirit I came up with the follow possible opening voiceover narration for an eventual Season 7. It's best read in some version of Keifer Sutherland's trademark constipated whisper.<br /><br />Right now,<br /><br />Aliens have invaded Los Angeles.<br /><br />My wife and daughter have been replaced by robot clones.<br /><br />And there's a giant spider, with the face of Richard Nixon, grinning at me from across the room...<br /><br />I'm federal agent Jack Bauer. And I've done too much speed this week. johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-66521750540627945572016-10-02T18:19:10.243+01:002016-10-02T18:19:10.243+01:00I'm a full season behind - just watched the fi...I'm a full season behind - just watched the first s4 episode introducing John Noble. I should really get online with my viewing.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-39351750425936522152016-10-02T01:12:16.629+01:002016-10-02T01:12:16.629+01:00I don't know how it affects you in Great Brita...I don't know how it affects you in Great Britain, but Elementary premieres at 9 PM Central (3 AM your local time) on CBS this coming Sunday.<br /><br />It then gets temporarily replaced next Sunday so the older woman in pantsuits and the orange-skinned little boy can argue about which of them should lead our country. johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-30755955880903264342016-10-02T00:57:02.808+01:002016-10-02T00:57:02.808+01:00That night be one factor. Figure the fact that She...That night be one factor. Figure the fact that Sherlock came first let it build its fan base faster and made Elementary look like a "copy." Also Cumberbatch and Freeman having had a lot of exposure as huge movie stars tends to create a "fame feedback loop" that helps push Sherlock higher. It's far from the first time a high quality production with lesser known leads got less viewers than a lower quality one with big stars.<br /><br />On an unrelated note, I really wish this posting section had an "edit" function because sometimes me no write words so good.johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-38644584381736824892016-09-30T23:07:20.950+01:002016-09-30T23:07:20.950+01:00I suspect that Elementary's lower ratings than...I suspect that Elementary's lower ratings than the BBC's Sherlock are attributable to Jonny Lee Miller's willingness to play the character pretty unlikeable much of the time. That's one of the reasons I like the show. His performance is far more interesting and unusual than the traditional flamboyant genius act that Cumberbatch reels out.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-21326102582802273712016-09-30T23:03:28.340+01:002016-09-30T23:03:28.340+01:00I do quite like Walt, I have to say. But that'...I do quite like Walt, I have to say. But that's probably just me.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-54117063122427188592016-09-30T19:05:51.748+01:002016-09-30T19:05:51.748+01:00It was originally broadcast in 1996 but quickly ca...It was originally broadcast in 1996 but quickly cancelled due to viewer hostility since the main character was very "unlikable." It probably paved the way for other shows featuring less-than-pristine protagonists like "Breaking Bad."johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-65554235357747739522016-09-30T08:19:45.823+01:002016-09-30T08:19:45.823+01:00That one's new to me but I'll check it out...That one's new to me but I'll check it out.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-23946139159026828542016-09-30T01:16:08.852+01:002016-09-30T01:16:08.852+01:00The whole likeability thing reminds me of an old T...The whole likeability thing reminds me of an old TV on FOX called "Profit" featuring Adrian Pasdar as a manipulative corporate shark in the title role as Jim Profit. Now I just bought that thing on Amazon.johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.com