Category Archives: films

gifts!

05 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in birthdays, books, cartoons, cats, christmas, films, food & drink, friends, video

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This year Peter and I didn’t “do” gifts, preferring to go out for a couple of nice meals during Christmas week instead, and then go to Málaga earlier this week to celebrate my upcoming 55th birthday.  But I also got some lovely surprise prezzies from friends… a third Binky book to add to my collection, two DVDs from my Amazon wishlist and a box of Christmas goodies and cat toys (the cosmic catnip banana is a hit!) from Sweden.

Tonight is the Cabalgata, a parade featuring the Three Kings and hoards of shrieking children, which I will try to avoid. But I still want to see the “mapping” Christmas light show on in the Plaza San Francisco (last night tonight). If I manage to get there I’ll take a video of it. But first some grocery shopping as it’s a bank holiday tomorrow and have been away all week. Hope I don’t get swept up in the crowds!

What did you get for Christmas?

the killing

28 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in films, language, media, spain, teaching, television

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I’ve been hearing rave reviews about this Danish tv programme for ages so when the first series (it’s now into series 2) became more reasonably-priced on Amazon I decided to go for it. Two episodes in and I’m hooked! And its especially refreshing to see actors that look like real people.

Watching it has also made me wonder why Spanish people are so averse to sub-titles. I’ve been going to sub-titled foreign films since I first found out they existed – I think I was about 16. So I don’t get it when people say it’s “too difficult” to read and watch at the same time. And I really don’t get how not hearing the actor’s real voice isn’t important to viewers.

In Portugal films and tv series are sub-titled and, as a result, most of the population has at least a smattering of English. Unlike in Spain. But I guess Peter would be out of a job if they got wise here and changed their ways. Still, I cannot abide dubbing. Can you?

Guardian review – The Killing

bedroom tv!

07 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in change, films, gadgets, home, television

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Now that it’s officially autumn – and I’ve even had to get out the duvet! – thoughts of cosying up in bed this winter with a book (or my iPhone) suddenly extended to… watching films in bed! Why had I never thought of  this before? I mean, I already had this smaller flatscreen tv and dvd player inherited from Susan when she moved back to the US.  In the old place they were set up in Nog’s “office” and occasionally got used, but since moving here they’ve been upstairs and weren’t even properly set up. The idea was that someone might want to watch a film upstairs sometime, which has never happened.

And so last night I moved it all downstairs and set it up on my somewhat rickety old bookcase next to my bed, removed one of the shelves to make room, and I love it! This is the first time in my life I’ve had a television in my bedroom – feels rather decadent. And okay, it’s not set up to the satellite service so I will only be able to watch DVDs on it, but it still seems a bit like Christmas.

Do you have a tv in your bedroom?

house and holmes

19 Sunday Jun 2011

Posted by in films, television

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So this afternoon Nog and I were escaping The Heat by staying in and rewatching this rather delightful interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, starring the fabulous Robert Downey Jr.

And during a scene in which Holmes and Watson were bickering I said to Nog – ” Hey, they sound just like House and Wilson!”

And then the penny dropped!

Is House a play on words for Holmes? Both famous for their detective work, and both with a sidekick that has the initials J.W.

What do you think?

Am I on to something? Or have a zillion other people come up with this before me and it’s a load of bollocks?

I have to say that I’m tiring a bit of House as there doesn’t seem to be much development going on there with the various characters and storylines.

On the other hand, I am waiting with baited breath for season two of the fabulous Sherlock, which is a very innovative take on the Doyle classic, taking place in modern day London (and the next season will also have Stephen Fry in it!).

I first read The Complete Sherlock Holmes when I was about 15 and, even though the stories did get a bit repititious towards the end of the two volumes, I enjoyed them very much. He’s still my favourite detective.

Who is your favourite detective?