"The Hollow Crown: Richard II" (2012)--thoughts a week later

I've been thinking about that coffin across that marble floor off and on all week.  You know, it's not surprising to have a song from a movie stuck in your head; that's usually a tribute, something strived for.  And I'm sure there's all sorts of top lists--top lists for movie soundtracks, for movie songs, etc.  And I know they win awards for sound editing and such.  I'm also sure there's lists of favorite scenes, favorite moments, favorite lines...

What about favorite sounds?  Does that list exist somewhere?  I mean, I know people have favorite lines.  I remember playing card games in college where the winner (or was it the loser?) had to quote a line from Monty Python before we played the next game/round.

So where are the sounds?  I remember loving the TV specials of best bloopers from filming TV episodes or best/favorite commercials.  Where are the sounds?

I keep hearing that sound of the coffin scraping across that marble floor.  It's like the sound equivalent of encapsulating the whole entire play.  The King and the rights of legitimate kingship is the marble floor, and King Henry IV is not only the coffin scraping his desires across any rightful rights of kingship, but he's the one that put the coffin there.  It was his words, his actions, his doing.  And he scraped and grated and noisily trashed everything he was going for.  Brought death into what was prime.

There might be many a line or soliloquy or monologue that would summarize the entirety of Richard  II and all its themes, but my vote is for that one unforgettable sound.

"The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part I" (2012)

I like this movie.  And I like how they did this version of this play.  It sets up the contrast well for rabble-rousing Prince Hal to I-can-do-this-Dad Prince Hal, as well as the friendship he has with Falstaff.  The confrontation between King Henry and Prince Hal at court is strong.

I'm sold.

I'm afraid the only thing that bugged me was Hotspur's nose.  That's not anybody's fault.  I just had a hard time not being distracted by it.  Bad me.  To the actor's credit (Joe Armstrong), the fiery temper/hot-blood of Hotspur was done well.  The Welsh singer was pretty, but not too long of a song.  And I think Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston) did a great job with Prince Hal.  Wonderful job.

It's a win.

"Catch That Kid" (2004)

Definitely geared for a middle school or younger audience.  Aside from that, it's actually a decent movie.  The toddler has a cute voice.  For perceptive minds, there's nothing surprising about the plot, but still nice to watch it all come together.

"The Book of Esther" (2013)

This movie was edited to a G-rating style story.  So, you don't have to worry about any violent or risque' bedroom scenes if you're looking for something kid-safe.  And pretty much all the parts are there, but some of them are described instead of shown.  I'm attributing this to wishing to keep sets simple so that they could stay under budget.  The number of locations shot at is small, but I think the acting was just fine.  This story has plenty going on in it that it would be nice to see a new current one that included some of the adult parts of the story in it.  The follow your heart, follow your conscience lines seemed out of sync to me.  There was a little music included, but off hand, I don't remember much distinctive about the sound.  Overall, I'd watch it again.

"The Hollow Crown: Richard II" (2012)

Does one write "SPOILER ALERT" on Shakespeare plays?  I mean, wouldn't older historical plays kind of be an exception to that practice?  Well, if not, then take for yourself a Spoiler Alert for the presentation/effects.

I didn't find time to read the play first (which I sometimes like to do with Shakespeare plays), but that was okay this time.  David Bradley (the actor who plays Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movies) played the gardener, and Patrick Stewart played John of Gaunt.  They played up the Richard II as Christ imagery, but I don't think it was in a "he's a Christ-figure" way as much as a "he thinks he is Christ" way.  It wasn't too pushy with it, so it was easy to skim past it, most of the time; but it won't be hard to skim past if the movie were to be analyzed closely.  : /  This was my first contact with this play.  Shakespeare does do quite well with presenting the "You treat the (original) King like this, and you've got trouble on your hands."  A couple of border-line-gruesome moments--just look over you glasses to make the TV fuzzy, then they're over.  Not sure if it was intentional (aka in Shakespeare's script), but staging one the "Richard II, I've got bad news for you" scene on the beach and in the surf was interesting, especially on a bright sunny day.

The sound of the coffin at the end grating across the marble floor is memorable.  Nothing else about the sound stands out for me.  But that wood coffin on that marble floor does.  That's a moment.

"The Avengers" (2012)

Well, it was a few weeks ago when I started watching.  Then, I had to turn in.  I’m just now finishing watching.  There’s a few good humorous lines and moments.  SPOILER ALERT:  Hulk beats Loki like a rag doll.  Loki eeks out a noise.  Hulk:  (snuff) “Puny god.”    That’s one of the ones that made me laugh.  The end credit music’s very nice to listen to.  I like it.  I liked Captain America giving out the last battle plan.  You, do this.  You, do this.  and the last piece, “Hulk” (pause) “Smash.”  Simple.  Direct.  and a contrast in the length of directives.  Answered by a Hulk smile.  There were a couple of scenes I fast forwarded through, or was fine with skipping, but they were few.  Yea-Eh.  They did fine.  Sure.  Go see it.

"Courageous" (2011)

Nice, faith-filled local story.  Nobody saving the word from a blue alien that does everything perfectly except plug air vents and be nice to gal in the background.  This is a wonderful story.  Be sure to watch it with a pause button and a box of kleenexes if you don't want to miss anything.  A few light-hearted moments to break up the tension, but the tension isn't overly thick.  It's still a movie that's going to smack your emotions between the eyes, and 'cause the 4 of the main characters are cops, there's a little bit of action to it, too.  This movie pulled all together, which was nice to enjoy.  And a few well-placed French horn moments to round out the edges.  Highly recommend this movie.

"Deadliest Volcanoes" (2012)

Nova episode.  Other than the unsurprising evolutionary years-figures (it's "post-Noah's flood" in my book) and the "If this erupts, there will be mass destruction and we'll all die", the science parts were pretty interesting.  It kept my interest enough to hear what different detection technologies have  been developed.

And it was pretty cool to watch erupting volcanoes while I'm sitting in the air conditioning deep in the Midwest.

"The Phantom" (2009)

Watched most of this movie, or at least the better part of it.  I watched the beginning--slow beginning, but thorough.  Then I watched the ending.  Then I backed up and watched part of the movie that led to the climax.  Parts of it pretty gruesome.  Yeah, no thanks.  The integration of parkour into the action moves was nice.  I enjoyed that.  Still a bit gruesome for my taste.  Not that there's a lot of it, but what was done I really could've done without.  REALLY.  Sooo, overall?  eh.  And, yeah, (SPOILER ALERT) this one keeps up the pattern that superheroes aren't allowed to keep their biological parents.  And, in this one, they're not allowed to keep their foster parents either.  Hm, yeah.  And the bad guys' weapon?  TV.  okay.  Go have fun adding this to your "TV is bad" analysisalogical mix.  (Yes, I just put together that word.  I'm mostly German.)

I am now ready to watch something light and fluffy, with bright cheerful colors.