Is a Title Really Necessary?
Since I can't afford to go to the cinema (or do anything else), I'll briefly discuss some of the latest movies I have rented or checked out of the library.
The Dawn Patrol (1938) is an above average World War I aviation movie starring Errol Flynn, David Niven, and Basil Rathbone. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in aerial dogfights, for those fought in this era were the first and the best. The aerial combat scenes are quite impressive.
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), on the other hand, has all the effects of a headache-inducing sedative. It is not that I dislike any of the actors, nor do I have anything against the director, Frank Capra, but this is no one's best work. Pass it by.
The Specials (2000) is a poor man's Mystery Men. It is far more juvenile and far less humorous, but I like some of the cast members and some of the jokes. It's O.K. to rent, but not worth buying.
I finally saw MASH (1970) from beginning to end for the first time, a movie that is worth buying (if you like that sort of thing). It is one of my father's favorite movies and I had given it to him as a present, but had not seen it myself until a few weeks ago. I'm glad I did. I think it has rewatchability.
Och, and I finally watched my DVD of 2001: A Space Odyssey (shush, Catie!) and realized that I don't think I've seen it since I was in junior high school. I might be wrong; I'm notoriously temporally impaired. I desperately wanted to see it on New Year's Eve 2000/New Year's Day 2001, when certain cinemas were planning to show the restored film. (I remember discussing that shared enthusiasm at the old Talkcity.com chatroom I used to haunt with one of my fellow regulars, AllNew.) Sadly, I missed the great event, but last week I turned off all the lights one night, closed the blinds, and watched one of the greatest movies ever made. Truly, it took my breath away. And of course, no one should have been permitted to make a sequel.
Random trivia: I learned that the brontosaurus is now more properly referred to as the apatosaurus.
Today, I finished reading Three Hearts and Three Lions, a landmark fantasy novel by Poul Anderson first published in 1953. 'Twas very entertaining. I should read some of the books he cowrote with one of my other favorite authors, Gordon R. Dickson, who wrote the Dorsai series. I saw a reference to one such collaboration of which I had never heard, Star Prince Charlie. It sounds as if it might be interesting, as long as it doesn't glorify the historical "Bonny" Prince Charlie, who was an incompetent lout and coward who cost the lives of far too many brave Highlanders. That nearly made me forget what I was discussing: Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson. One of their books I own is a humorous bit of science fiction fancifulness titled Hoka Hoka Hoka! I bought it years ago and haven't read it. Perhaps I ought to read it next... Or will I be distracted by another book? We shall see...
If only I could remember where I left that TARDIS...
Could it be here?
I'll keep posting if you keep reading. Be seeing you... :-?
