January 05, 2006

Where's Robbo?

Sorry for the light posting this week, friends. I've been crunching on a discovery deadline at work and Llama friends at the Bar know what that is like. And once I get home in the evening, I'm usually too tired for any coherent thought.

Howsomever, here are a few nuggets that might prove amusing to you:

- This evening I ran off The Madness of King George, which I haven't seen since it appeared in theatres twelve years ago. What a great movie. Great Britain in the late 18th Century is one of my favorite historical periods and this movie reenforces much of my own viewpoint, including the basic decency and intelligence of George III (despite his Hanovarian roots), the stuffy but solid loyalty of Pitt the Younger, the swinishness of the Prince of Wales and the bastard opportunistic vulturism of Charles James Fox and his squalid crew of hangers-on. My only real quibble with the film is that I think it overplays the loss-of-America angle. In addition, bear in mind that the King and his allies are the ones who, not too far in the future, take on and defeat the Corsican Tyrant. What, what?

- Speaking of movies, I finally saw Star Wars III this week. I'll agree with those who say it's the best of the recent cycle, although again I don't think that's saying very much. I'll also agree with those who say the transformation of Annikin into Darth Vader is pretty good, although I lost it when Vader, upon being informed of the death of Padme, threw his head back and yelled, "Noooooo!!!" I thought high camp was a Star Trek monopoly.

- Also speaking of movies, can anyone out there recall the name of a film about a doctor involved in some kind of intrigue during the Restoration? I've an idea Sam Neal was in it, although I'm not sure. What was its name? Was it any good?

- Well, as long as I'm on movies, I was musing today on the fact that the next movie in my Netflix qeue after The Madness of King George is South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Perhaps now you understand why I don't get much sleep: Zees way to the asylum, beetches!

- Oh, and speaking of doctors, I'm off to my physical in the morning. My doc happens to be something of a babe, which means that at least one rather hmm, ha, intimate portion of the exam could raise some very serious issues. I'll let you know how I navigate through those shoals.

- Yip! at you later!

Posted by Robert at January 5, 2006 11:24 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Robbo:

I have a suspicion that the Sam Neill movie you're thinking of might be Restoration. Mr. Neill plays King Charles II and Robert Downey, Jr., plays the doctor of which you speak. A brief look suggests that the film could go either way in terms of quality.

I'd link you, but the bloody Blacklist won't let it through.

Posted by: The Country Pundit at January 5, 2006 11:53 PM

The Country Pundit is right. "Restoration" is the film you're seeking.

Posted by: The Maximum Leader at January 5, 2006 11:59 PM

the husband received Episode III for Christmas and there's a difference between the theatrical and DVD versions during that Vader-is-born scene: I remember very clearly him shouting, "PADME" because I felt sorry for James Earl Jones having to say such a ridiculous line. They, obviously, realized how stupid it sounded and whacked it on the DVD.

I actually thought it was better on DVD than in the theater---the dialogue was too stupid for the big screen.

Posted by: Kathy at January 6, 2006 12:05 AM

I would explain the significance of that last scene in Star Wars III, and it's relation to Episodes 4,5, and 6, but I don't post here.

I post at the Jawa Report.

I shall let you wallow in your ignorance.

Posted by: Vinnie at January 6, 2006 12:22 AM

Yeah, but if you go through all six movies (as I did this past weekend) Lucas likes to use the same lines over and over, and "Nooooooo!" is one of them.

I give that Hayden kid credit for getting in that burn suit, though. We have a "making of" book with pictures, it's pretty interesting.

Posted by: GroovyVic at January 6, 2006 10:33 AM

Restoration is indeed the film. I thought it was pretty good, but I'm a big Robert Downey, Jr. fan. It was particularly interesting to see him playing the part of a talented young doctor who torpedoes his own career through a combination of wine, women, and outrageous behavior.

The part where, over time, Downey reclaimed his life involved a certain amount of wishful thinking, no doubt. Still, an interesting bit of cine a clef.

Posted by: utron at January 6, 2006 01:05 PM

Thanks. Restoration it is. I've added it to my qeue and will let you know what I think.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at January 6, 2006 01:30 PM

Robbo, I watched this (Restoration) several years ago and wasn't impressed. As I recall, it became a bit log. Meg Ryan is also in it, too.

Also, there is a, umm, "scene" fairly near the beginning that I found a bit embarrassing to watch with anyone else present. But I get red-cheeked easily when it comes to such scenes, for what it's worth.

I am a member of Netflix and so will, on your recommendation, rent The Madness of King George.

Posted by: Rae at January 7, 2006 10:53 PM