Repeat after me: There is no perfect hosting company

[rusty_halo]

I'm trying not to panic about the fact that All About Spike and SuperVegan are both down, because it's some mysterious server issue and there's nothing I can do about it.

*deep breath*

*not panicking*

*rescinding all recommendations of Cybertarp hosting company*

Also, there is a meme:

Ask My Fandom Opinion

Ask me one fandom-related question in the comments. This can be fandom specific, general, or about fandom/lj stuff/fic writing/etc. in general.

Just one question, please, but it can (and perhaps should) have sub-parts.

I probably don't have any fandom opinions that my friends don't already know, but whatever, let's see if anyone feels like asking anything.

***

I watched "Sharpe's Revenge" last night. It's hard to enjoy that one; I just spend the whole thing cringing for Jane. She's not exactly an evil person; she's young and naive and selfish, and she's had a difficult life, and she's even got some good qualities (moreso in the movies than in the books). She and Sharpe just don't mesh well, and it's not really the fault of either one. She wants class and culture and society and pretty things, and he's rough and uneducated and totally out of place in that world, and I can understand both of their POVs. So watching her just completely fuck up her life and screw herself over (and break Sharpe's heart in the process) is kind of awful, like how you get embarrassed yourself when you see someone onstage messing up. (That said, there's also an evil glee at the fact that Sharpe ends up happy with Lucille and Jane just digs herself deeper and ends up more and more miserable.)

I'm a little annoyed that the movie gave her a devious friend to sort of take the blame, but I like that in the end it acknowledged that Jane was just using her devious friend to justify what she herself wanted to do all along. And by juxtaposing Jane being unfaithful with Sharpe being faithful, we get that ultimately it's her choice and her own fault. Also, I love that Sharpe is faithful (until he finds out that Jane has really left him). jaydk is always objecting to the Sharpe series based on the fact that Sharpe cheats on Teresa, but I think that's a logical step in his character growth; he feels horrible about it and, better, he learns from it and doesn't repeat the same mistake.

But actually, the weirdest thing about this episode is that Sharpe makes up with Frederickson. I mean, on one level, I really like that. I think the saddest thing in the whole book series (aside from Teresa dying) was that Sharpe and Frederickson broke up over Lucille, and never made up. Frederickson was a really cool character, and a good friend to Sharpe, and for Sharpe to hook up with Lucille with no regard for Frederickson at all was pretty sad. I mean, Frederickson and Lucille weren't meant for each other, but Sharpe still could've shown more regard for Frederickson's feelings. Or tried harder to make up with him. So I like that in the movies they do make up, but it lacks the bittersweet quality that probably made the book a bit better.

I also watched a bit of "Extremely Dangerous." Yes, I finally caved and bought the movie. I was ambivalent at first, but I kept wanting to watch it again, and finally just decided that I needed my own copy. I'm glad I did, as it makes me very happy. The story is interesting, the characters are complex, and Sean Bean is just so damn gorgeous. I like how it takes its time and thoroughly establishes all the characters, and I enjoy that it doesn't talk down to its audience (though I wish it had captions, since a bunch of important stuff gets mumbled quickly and almost incomprehensibly). I like that Sean Bean gets to play a complex character, showing off his scary and menacing side, but also his vulnerable, sympathetic side. I liked this review very much:

In Extremely Dangerous Bean is, does, or radiates something--I don't know what--that makes it so only his presence matters.... Unbelievable though it may sound, after you've watched him for hours, even seeing him play a few bars on the piano (though I suspect a stunt pianist's hands there) or taking out his contact lenses becomes erotic. D.A. Pennebaker was right when he said that watching somebody for hours through a camera is like falling in love with them--it's impossible to resist the power of such close scrutiny.

Also, I decided to join the modern era and convert my LJ to a S2 style. Then I got bored halfway through. So it kind of looks stupid, but I'll make it pretty eventually.

Comments

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Actually, I remember reading an interview where it turns out that Bean DOES play the piano a little (contradictory to his "tough guy" movie persona ;)) and really likes Bach... Which makes *me* so happy!

And I love "Extremely Dangerous" - it's one that I like to watch over and over again, particularly because (and here's where I reveal my sadism for fictional characters), Neil Byrne's never really going to be whole again, because of what happened to his wife and daughter - particularly since, although he didn't kill them, they *were* killed because of him. (Also, I *adore* the guy who plays the minicab dispatcher - he's so awesome!)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I love the minicab dispatcher too! His scenes with Sean Bean are the best in the movie. I think I bought it in part because of him.

You're right about Neil Byrne. He's so broken; he's kind of like an avenging ghost. (It's like a mix of "The Fugitive" and "The Crow.") What is he going to do once he figures out who killed them? His life is so empty aside from that one thing that drives him. It's so sad. (Though I suppose he's got a great future hanging out with the awesome minicab dispatcher...!)

But, yeah, it's really eminently watchable. All these long lingering shots of Sean Bean, in all different outfits and various states of undress and injury, and always so angsty and hot. *sigh* Three hours and twenty minutes of Sean Bean at his best.