Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing Film Review

Finally saw Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing - which was all the rage online this summer, or at least amongst the Shakespeare/Whedon fans.

First, off, this was clearly a vanity project (and in more ways than one). But to be fair, it was also a vanity project for Kenneth Brannagh, who had a bigger budget and more support, plus had to include box office stars to obtain the support. Some of which did not quite know what to do with Shakespeare. I'm wondering if Brannah shouldn't have starred in it and directed it? Because Keanu Reeves and Michael Keaton butchered Shakespeare.

Not sure what it is about Much Ado About Nothing and rich Hollywood directors...why that play in particular? May be because it is easier than some of the other ones...
I watched the Making Of - hoping to get an answer to that question - I didn't. Did get an answer to why they filmed it in black and white - to date it and as a homage to the noir films of the Jazz age. It also hid the big orange lawn-mower. Note to filmmakers who do commentaries and "Making Of" - the viewer doesn't want to know how great you all are or how much fun you had or how often you partied or what bosom buddies you've become, we don't know you and do not care...that's boring. We want to know why you chose to do certain things, like why push-ups in that scene? Why that era?

Overall? The movie is actually pretty good. The acting is better than expected. I'd have to say that in some respects, I think it worked better than Kenneth Brannagh's version (although haven't seen that one in 18 years). Nathan Fillion surprised me - his Dogberry was not only funny, but I could understand what he was saying. And Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof - not only have chemistry, but both appear to be comfortable with Shakespeare, so too was Reed Diamond and Clark Gregson, who apparently can act. Who knew? ( Read more... )

January Talking Meme - "What Music do you like, listen to, when, and do you go to gigs"

The problem with The January Talking Meme - is that you have to remember what you agreed to do and when you agreed to do it. I'm guessing that you are supposed to pre-plan and schedule this thing and not just spontaneously discuss them on the dates assigned? Which is sort of what I'm doing? Also, apparently it's a meme for people who do a lot less blogging than I do?

Anyhow, apologies, I forgot I had an assignment for Friday, thought is was for Saturday. And I thought is was on another topic, which I'm still struggling with, so procrastinated. Thought this one was for Monday. In my defense? I have a lot of crap in my brain at the moment...I'm amazed I remember half of it.

January 17 18:oursin - Music - what you like, what you listen to, when you listen to it, do you go to gigs

1. What you like/ what do you listen to? This is a harder question to answer than one might think.

Short answer: Pretty much everything, including the kitchen sink. And What I like depends largely on my mood. I might like Mozart one day, and Lady Gaga the next. Right now, I'm on a Heart kick. Dog and Butterfly is a cool song.

What I listen to...has more to do with why I listen to music, which is the one question oursin did not ask - yet governs all the others. People listen to music for different reasons - to comfort themselves, to escape for a bit, to dance, to jump, to run, to stop thinking. I listen to music to relax, to calm my brain, and to think. I used to listen for hours in my room ...to study. In college and in high school - I used music to study to. It calms me. There was one stage in which I'd use it to put me to sleep. The soundtrack - I used was Graheam Revell's movie score to The Crow. Also used Mozart and classical - which had the side-effect of putting me to sleep whenever I listened classical music. Made going to concerts tricky.

The other reason, relaxing being the main one, is to inspire a story or to dance. I like music that tells a story or music that clears my brain and calms it.

That said, there's very little music I don't like. It's actually easier to tell you what I don't like, shorter list.

( what music I don't like and what music I do like )

2.when you listen to it

This gets back to the whole Why question. I listen to calm my body and mind, and to relax, to be able to focus and think. I actually need music sometimes to do that. Not always. I rarely listen to music at home or on the train or on the way to work. I find it difficult to listen, with all the other loud noises. Also, you sort of have to pay attention.

But I do listen to it at work. All day in fact. I sort of look forward to plugging myself into my ipod/MP3 player. I work in a cubical, surrounded by conversations and people, and the only way that I can focus on my work - and block out everyone, is to listen to music. I also discovered that it calmed me. I was less likely to jump whenever a co-worker or my boss decided to wander into my cubical. It's a small cubical. When work is slow - it keeps me awake, when work is stressful, it calms me down, when work is boring - it entertains. And it blocks out those pesky conversations that I don't want to eavesdrop on, or restrain myself from responding to - then get kicked for.

Where I listen - influences what I listen to. Although weirdly not that much. I am less likely to listen to music that makes me want to dance or puts me to sleep. But sometimes I need the sleep-inducing music, like Mozart or Gershwin (love Gershwin, actually prefer Gershwin to Mozart and Beethoven...he's more lyrical and tuneful, less ponderous) - which calms me when work gets really stressful.

3. Do you go to gigs?

I'm know this will sound odd to most people reading this...and I'm probably in the minority...

Short answer: No, I don't go to gigs. Or at least not in a very long time. The last one was with ex-best friend, who loved gigs. I don't tend to like gigs. ( I know I'm in the minority on this and considered an odd duck or eccentric by more than one friend. Most of my friends adore them.) Keep in mind that this goes back to the why question - why I listen to music, either to relax or to listen to a story. Gigs don't tend to lend themselves to either one, with few exceptions.

( why I don't go to Gigs...or the long-answer )