Well, dear readers, it’s Monday, it’s another week, it’s hot as hell in Philadelphia and also Los Angeles, California, USA. Why, do you know that on Saturday it was 119 degrees in Woodland Hills? I mean it’s a disco inferno here in the San Fernando Valley. As I posted yesterday, I am now officially bored of the heat, I’m officially bored of July, and I’m officially bored of being bored. Speaking of bored, yesterday was a bittersweet day, what with the baby birds taking flight too soon from the nest and not getting further than the pool. They gave up the ghost and fell in and drowned. I found it somewhat upsetting, as they were so cute and I was so careful to have them protected in the nest. But, once they fly the coop they fly the coop and there’s nothing anyone can do – not me, not their mommy, not anyone. Aside from that event, I tried to just stay in the home environment and out of the disco inferno. I did jog fairly early, and I did write a page or two, but my friend David and I didn’t meet because he was tired and not feeling well. In fact, I believe he needs some excellent haineshisway.com vibes and xylophones, so let’s send him some. I talked to a few people, I answered a few e-mails, and sat on my couch like so much fish, trying to stay cool.
Yesterday, I watched the new Ultimate Edition DVD of From Russia With Love. These new Ultimate Bond Editions have come out in the UK, but won’t be released here before November. They are loaded with extras, but I was most interested in the transfers. Well, From Russia With Love looks the best it’s ever looked on home video, but I’m going to say that I find it less than perfect. At times it’s fantastic and at other times the fleshtones are a tiny bit pallid, which I find annoying as it’s a simple thing to fix, if anyone actually understands how this film looked when printed in IB Technicolor. It’s very sharp and the image is pretty pristine. The original mono track is not included (it may or may not be on the US editions), but the 5.1 track is okay. The film remains my second favorite Bond film, right behind Goldfinger (which I also picked up). The pace is excellent as is the direction by Terence Young. This was before the budgets got much bigger, therefore the film has a grittier low-budget look to it, which I like. The John Barry score is great, Connery IS Bond, and Robert Shaw is one dangerous blonde. I also watched four more episodes of I, Claudius. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BKius, watched I, Claudius. I’m through episode five now (if this was the US set I’d be through episode six, since on the UK set the first two episodes are combined), and I must say it’s one of the most compelling and addictive pieces of television I’ve ever seen. The writing is brilliant, the director has the sense to shoot everything simply and just let the actors play their roles and speak the wonderful dialogue. And what actors they are – Derek Jacobi is wonderful in the titular role, and Sian Phillips as Livia gives one of the best performances ever in a TV miniseries. Her character is so evil and power-hungry and manipulative that you want to just hurl things at the TV. In fact, Livia (as played by Miss Phillips) is one of the great characters – the only thing I could think of while watching it was the equally great mother character that Nancy Marchand played on The Sopranos. Well, guess what? Mr. David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, must have been a great fan of I, Claudius, because Miss Marchand’s character on The Sopranos was named – wait for it – Livia. I also think Brian Blessed is brilliant as Augustus Caesar. I, Claudius also features a really terrific opening credit sequence that I never tire of watching – it’s accompanied by a brilliant theme by composer Wilfred Josephs (really the only music featured in the show). I’ve searched to see if there’s a recording of it, but I haven’t been able to find one as of yet. In any case, thanks to all who recommended this miniseries – they don’t make ’em like this anymore. I’ll have more to say as I, BKius, continue watching I, Claudius.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I, BKius, command that we do so.
Has anyone noticed that I, BKius, keep posting these here notes late? I just haven’t felt like doing them on time since there’s been no one around to read them at midnight on account of all the July WUSSBURGERING. We really are having the July doldrums and we really are in the dog days of summer. I hate it, frankly.
Today, I must basically do lots of writing. I must write a few pages of the book, I must begin entering fixes to the short stories, and I have to update the Brain script, as I never implemented any of the changes I made during rehearsals. I also have to write at least one more song for PennyO’s show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, write, eat, drive about in my motor car and do some errands, and all that jazz. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite songs by the following folks (some composers/some lyricists) – Michel Legrand, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Andre Previn and Dory Langdon Previn. And what are your favorite versions of your favorite songs by these folks. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? Yes, we shall, because I, BKius, so decree it.