I need a Granny Weatherwax card …

[blamebrampton]

Not dead!

Currently uninjured (let us not speak of Mr B accidentally semi-dislocating my arm the other week (all better), or of the woman who tried to drive over me on the way home tonight: I know it's scary driving in gale-force winds, madam, just imagine what it's like for me riding in them with lunatics like you out there!)

VERY OVERWORKED! But in fact much less so than last month when I was UNTENABLY OVERWORKED AND LIABLE TO MURDER SOMEONE. In fact, last month was so horrible that I totally reorganised the way we do almost everything so that I would be less stressed. And accidentally saved loads of cash. Now people have been looking at me as though I am a genius. Yes. Absolutely. I was completely thinking about the company's bottom line.

But we did see films. Rush was terrific, despite factual inaccuracies and a lack of car cam. Just a few laps of juddery old helmet cam was all I asked for … But it was wonderful to see all the old drivers portrayed; JODY SCHECKTER!  And Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl were sterling.

And Thor the Dark World, which was a raft of very fine performances in a patchy film. The comedy was mostly good, the script was up and (largely) down, the action at times completely baffling – if you have laser gun thingies, why are you only using them once you close to grappling range?

But Hiddleston and Hemsworth are both so magnificently charismatic that you just don't deeply care that the film is meh. And Rene Russo is brilliant, as is Idris Elba. Kat Dennings and Natalie Portman are not well written at all, but strive to rise mightily above someone's laziness. And yet it is enjoyable. It's like Reign of Fire, in that you can mosty ignore the crap, or the first five minutes of Gladiator, when you know you are in for a rather poxy piece of nonsense in many ways, but the individual interactions Maximus has with each of his men is so convincing that you forgive much of the next two hours.

I think that fannish people will be best served with this film, as Hiddleston is champion, and Hemsworth ever so pretty, but it does make you wish that they had hired a real writer and been able to lure Kenneth Branagh back. I guessed literally every plot twist as things went on, which is not good!

November promises to be better for life, though treacle_tartlet caught me at a weak moment and I am signed up for Nanowrimo, so I may not be around then, either. I hope that the world is kinder to several of you next month, and that it remains sparkling for the remainder. You are missed! But I am going to bed before midnight, making lace, reading books, and getting some exercise every day, even if that means there is no time for more than a quick read of LJ between snatches of life and work. BIG HUGS! MWAH!

Comments

[who_la_hoop]

They filmed some of the driving scenes in Rush in the park near where I used to live - I almost want to see it just so I can spot the locations!

Thor isn't out here until Thursday. Shame it doesn't sound as good as the first one - I thought that was surprisingly the best of all the recent Marvel films so far - but I'm still looking forward to seeing it because, silly fun.

What will you write for NaNo?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think that we under-rate the first one: Branagh did a good job of directing it, and the script was simpler and more focussed on character, which made it work better. I can't help dreaming about what Branagh would have done with the battle scenes in this one. But do see it: the leads are fab and it is good fun.

And do see Rush! It was terrific! I admit to being an F1 fan, but it was good even for non-F1 people!

As to Nano: 50,000 words on my novel. Or face Raitala's ridicule and Treacle's gentle sympathy :-)

[raitala.livejournal.com]

Be warned, I am more than ready to dust down my mocking skills if you fail at Nano *looms*

This threat would have greater impact if I weren't lying in bed, struck down by noro AGAIN *whimpers*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Your poor stomach! DAMN BABY GERMS!

[ozdobe.livejournal.com]

I never find people who know about Terry Pratchett books. I just started (re-)reading Carpe Jugulum and got a strong feeling of familiarity from your title. Can't contribute to anything about Rush or Thor the Dark world. And Yes, sometimes I feel I need a card hanging around my neck so people don't consign me to the garbage bin by mistake.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I love Terry Pratchett! He is so very humane at the same time as being funny and a good novelist! I feel as though I should have an absent note from my own life sometimes.

[connorblond.livejournal.com]

I so want to watch Rush and Thor!

So - you ACCIDENTLY made money! Just thin what you could do if you would try in earnest *gg*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Fie, so life has really got you completely now, reading and crochetting andworking (out) and all that. Glad you're not injured this time, you were right in saying that right away.

(I gave up on NaNo after eight or ten years and five or six "won" novels, I wish I could stall participate in our big long meetings here but meh.)

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Hey, lovely. So nice to see you pop up - I very rarely spot you on twitter these days (aside from the very justifiable qanda commentary). Glad to hear you're getting the workload in a saner place, although I guess that's saner by a particular definition.

I had the joy of time with Treacle not that long ago - it was so lovely. Nice to hear she's using her powers for ... good?

*hugs*

[nenne.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with saving a lot of cash for the company as long as it saves you a lot of work. Go you! :-)

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

*Hearts* you for getting Daniel Brühl's name right :-)