Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

Well last night my chap and I went to see the Scott Pilgrim. It's directed by Edgar Wright and it's so much fun.

Its mucho fun. It's edited in such a way that it plays almost like a dream sequence, then there is the video game references. Someone whose a gamer could probably tell you where the reference were from, I;m not a gamer so I can't. Didn't stop me enjoying the film, its a hell of a lot of fun and so slick it hurts.

Not sure what else to add. Other than go see it, its very clever and lots of fun and I need to get the soundtrack ASAP.

This is going to be an unapologetic Squee post!

I'm off to Dragon*Con on Tuesday and with the panel schedule just being released I've been trying to get my head around it.

There are so many panels that I want to go to.

This is where the problem starts; how the hell do I decide where I want to go?

There are a number of Fan tracks and so far I've seen 32 panels I'm definitely interested in going to.


I'm currently up to my eyes in paper, highlighters and a notepad to try and plan some ideas.

The thing with never having to been to an event that is quite this big is a scary prospect. I've managed to pick some panels I wouldn't mind going to and it should be fun.

I'll see you on the flipside.

Roger and Val have Just Got in

We've been watching this as it was billed as a new comedy drama featuring Dawn French and Alfred Molina.  I've been watching it and have found it to be an acquired taste so far. There are some funny moments, but its all about the characters because they really do spend all their time procrastinating and that is where the laughter comes from.

Anyhow, this last week's episode was the best one so far, there were a lot of laughs at the very human and very minor mistakes that both characters had made but then over the last few episodes that they don't have children and there are these utterly beautiful realistic awkward pauses whenever the couple talk about children.

The end of the episode was so poignant I found myself in an unexpected state of almost weepiness, which for a show I hadn't been all that into was a huge turning point.

If you haven't seen Roger and Val have Just got in, you should. Right now.

It kind of packed a similar punch as The Royle Family's Queen of Sheba special, which left me huge wracking sobs.

Its strange how so-called comedy programmes are able to do that.

Gotglue?

I was watching some Saturday morning TV and heard about the website Getglue.

Getglue is a website and an app that allows the user to 'check-in' with various pieces of media like users would with a given location in foursquare.

For me, as a large consumer of media most days, this is a nice way of tracking what exactly I have been watching. They also have stickers that you can collect and share on twitter and facebook. Though I'm trying not to spam the hell out of either.

I'm really liking the interface and as I said I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to things like this.  If any of my readers are out there and want to follow me on get glue feel free, you'll get to see what I'm watching, reading, playing and thinking about.

The Con Approcahes

I've not had a whole lot to say on the subject of TV for a little while and I think it's down to being preoccupied with preparation for Dragon*Con.

At the time of writing this there are nine days to go until I fly out and I've already got things mainly packed.  I know what I'm wearing to fly and I've gathered together my essentials for any trip books, ipod and some sweeties.

It's going to be interesting as I've only met two of the girls I'm going with before. I've interacted with everyone else online via twitter or livejournal or other places. I'm also going to find it tough because I'm a person who likes solo time, where I don't have to be 'up' and 'on'. I can manage a couple of days like this but then I start to find it wearing. I know the girls are cool people but I still get the old churny gut about meeting people for the first time.

I've been looking at the various tracks trying to plan my con, where I want to go, who I want to see. I read something about morning walks in Atlanta with a group from the con and that sounds like it could be fun.

I'm also being wracked with doubts about things, a week is a long time to be away from my chap, he is my rock and understands me better than anyone. However I'm balancing this with the fact I'm going to meet some of my heroes from the TV that I watch and meet some cool new people.

Wish me luck.

Spoilers

Want to know what I dislike more than anything else in the world?

Spoilers.

I've had people spoil me for things in the past and I find it really ruins the moment.  There are different levels of spoiler of course and as with a lot of things the spoiler continuum what might be acceptable to some people is not acceptable to others.

As with a lot of things I'm kind of ambivalent about them but what I'm going to do here is explain my rules for spoilers.

I find that the biggest no-nos for spoilers are plot related, please for the love of all that is sacred do not blurt out the critical denouement of a show, there is a special circle of hell reserved for people who do this and once the revolution comes and I am made grand high leader of all the world they will be the first to meet sticky ends.

Also you can be too precious about spoilers.  If a show is currently airing and you've had to record it or you're catching up via iplayer then you have a right to ask people not to talk about it in your hearing.  However, if you have just discovered a show and it's been off the air for a number of years then you really don't qualify for special consideration.

Then there's what constitutes a spoiler.

Some people will run from a room with hands clamped over their ears, eyes screwed closed, yelling la la la la la. So that they will not be spoiled by a trailer. Trailers are sneaky like that, they are meant to  give a taste of what's up coming and for the most part they are fine until they give the game away. Trailers should give a taste, they should tease, they should not show the big reveal. For the most part trailers are ok, until the few times they are not.  I tend to watch trailers.

I'm in two mind about casting notices it can be too much of a spoiler in some cases. If it's known that a certain actor is being cast as a specific role if that role is of iconic bad guy then it's very definitely a spoiler. As a rule for me in a sci fi show I don't want to know because I like the surprise and recognition.  However in something like Glee where the plot doesn't really matter then I'll lap up news of upcoming guests.

As far as this blog is concerned it is unlikely that I'm going to talk spoilers, but rest assured it will be well labeled so that you can avoid.

Keep buggering on.

what's a fangirl and beary good fun.

So the name of this blog is fangirl uncovered. I've not yet talked about fangirls and why I'm one of them.

I'll start by talking about fandom. Fandom is a following for a particular film, tv show, franchise or series of novels a bit like an umbrella. Under that umberella are fans of the show who basically want to celebrate how awesome their show is.  Identifying with a show; buying into it's premise and for me anyway feeling some kind of affection towards the show is all important. Fandoms are a bit like tribes although you can belong to many fandoms. You also get people right along the sanity spectrum from die hard fans who to be honest can be a little bit scary to more moderate and chilled fans who just enjoy getting invested in a tv show.

Fandom isn't all squee and biscuits, fandom also encompasses a heck of a lot of snarking about the show, generally about the writing and the direction of the show when it's going in a direction the fans don't like and generally because you can't please all of the people all of the time a show is bound to be upsetting someone somewhere.  There's also an element of snobbiness, my fandom is better than yours. But for the most part fandom is a pretty positive place and there is a great deal of creativity that goes on within it.

So what are fangirls? Literally a female within a fandom doesn't matter if you're eight or eighty. What do fangirls do? They are creative: they write fic, they make vids, they make fan art, they make graphics, they discuss themes and plot intricacies. Some fangirls (relation)ship a pairing but by no means all and within shipping it can get pretty insane. For example in the Harry Potter fandom, there are groups which ship Harry and Ginny, there a groups which ship Harry and Hermione. It doesn't stop there, there are groups which ship Snape and Harry and the list goes on.... Dean Thomas and Blaise Zabini? I'm sure there's fic out there...

I identify as fangirl because I do over obsess about some shows, films and books, you may have noticed. I write and I've dabbled in writing fic and no I'm not linking to any from here. But when I really get into a fandom what I really want to do is make a bear. No, that isn't a euphemism. I go to a build-a-bear store and I select a bear and I try and make that bear as much like the character in the show that I can.

So without further ado...

Claire bear.

From 2010-08-11

Peter Petrelli Puppy

From 2010-08-11

Lee Adama Bear

From 2010-08-11

Matt Albie Owl

From 2010-08-11

And it's great, bears are awesome. I went to a con with Lee bear and the BSG peeps there totally loved the bear, I thought that Kate Vernon was going to bear nap him. And with that in mind I've got a new fandom that is making me very happy. I am of course talking about Sherlock and I really need to make a Sherlock Bear.  I'm going to document my bear making quest so you can see just how bonkers I am.

Waxing lyrical

I've been one of the many enrapt by Sherlock. It's a frighteningly good television show and last night was the climax of three ninety minute dramas and it blew me away. Well done Mr Mark Gatiss, you slugged it for six.

What can I say it ticked all my boxes for a good night's entertainment.  There was banter, there was guy love of the most epic variety, there was puzzles and action and 'splosions and and and a nemesis. I'm not the only one who saw shades of John Simm as the master am I? Surely not.

The relationship between Sherlock and John (I still kind of want to call them Holmes and Watson) is what makes this show for me. Benedict Cumberbatch is slightly unhinged as Sherlock and reminiscent of Richard E Grant in Withnail and I. Actually the relationship between S and J has echoes of the classic film without the demands for booze.  Cumberbatch is tall and elegant and dare I say it dashing but also wonderfully lacking in some basic social skills which again makes him not unlike Sheldon from the Big Bang theory. There are the inevitable comparisons to the Doctor and yes I agree with that too only Sherlock could be living in our universe though could you imagine the crossover potential...

I have to make a confession, I've got a soft spot for Martin Freeman. Ever since he played Tim in the Office. He get's a lot of goodwill from me in anything he's in, purely because it's him. I think he makes an awesome John Watson, but there's a small irk somewhere in the back of my brain.  He's supposed to have been an army doctor and that doesn't ring true for me so I push it to the back of my brain and enjoy the cantankerous sparkage between the two of them.

Inspector Lestrade is also a poppet I missed him in the second episode, he and his team adds a nice new dimension and relationship between the dynamic duo.  Also Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson the housekeeper is sheer joy and ruthlessly steals every scene she's in.

Then there are the other characters and if you've seen the eps, you'll know who i mean, if you haven't you might have a good idea. I adore them too so very much.

I love the audacity of the writing team to give us blue balls at the climax of the three episodes.

Dear BBC,

Please recommission a new series of Sherlock ASAP.

Yours J

Sondheim revisited....

Well these two videos were really worth sharing.  Bryn Terfel absolutely owning the stage at the Royal Albert Hall singing excerpts from Sweeney Todd.





I've got three different recording of Sweeney Todd and I think hearing Bryn sing it has just become my new consumate Sweeney.  Johnny Depp is kind of timid in comparison.

Oh and while we're at it... Judi Dench showing everyone how Send in the Clowns should be sung...


Oh and because there isnt' a decent clip of this song from the prom... here's the original cast with Mandy(my name is inigo montoya) Patankin and Bernardette Peters....



and I'm spent.

In which I get a little over excited.

I've been a big fan of Sherlock these last couple of weeks. Benedict Cumberbatch and Marin Freeman are making me squee with the banter as they investigate and deduce things.

The things that made me most excited though was the fact that Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss were writing it. I've been looking forward to this show ever since I heard it was being made about eighteen months ago.

The squeeful stuff is that there's going to be a conference in the beginning of of september where Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue (his Co-Executive Producer and wife) are doing a Q&A session on Sherlock.

Sherlock Q & A details.

So the question is: are you coming?

Trubie through and through.

As you may have guessed I've got a number of obsessions. One of my longest standing fascinations has to be vampires. I was corrupted at a young age and I've kind of adored them ever since. From the artsy Francis Ford Copola's Bram Stoker's Dracula to Joss Whedon's Buffy in all it's pop-cultured glory.  I've dipped my toe into the vampire diaries and will watch at some point but really my heart has been captured by the wonderfully trashy True Blood.

True Blood as I'm sure you're aware is an adaptation of the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris and they've both become my unhealthy obsession.  I've talked about the books at length on my journall but its telly and films that rule here so the series it is.  First off you have to remember the series is based on the books and in some respects Alan Ball and his creative team play fast and loose with some of the plot elements that happen in the novels. For instance we see a physical manifestation of what Sookie is a lot earlier on in the tv series than we do in the novels. Characters change and are merged and whilst the books are great candy I actually think creatively the show has a lot to offer and adds dimensions of meaning which might not have been quite so prevalent in the novels.

What I love about the show is it is designed in the old fashioned notion of a pot boiler novel. The episodes end in a climax that begs you to devour the next episode immediately if possible.  Now, when watching this show as transmitted that means it isn't possible and I spend my week waiting for my next hit.  Which is how I'm getting by on season 3. Seasons one and two I was able to watch in gluttonous sessions where I was able to watch half a season in one sitting the show is as addictive as V (which is vampire blood as a drug).  The best thing about the show is that it is also very very funny. Admittedly it uses black humour and there's a lot of graphic sex which won't be to everyone's taste.

Squeeing about Sondheim

In the UK there are a season of classical concerts called the proms. The idea was conceived in the 1890s for the then newly built Royal Albert Hall to host a season of concerts at an affordable price so that people who couldn't ordinarily afford to come to a classical concert would be able to. That tradition continues a good one hundred and fifteen years later. Prices for seats start at £7 and if you stand they are only £5.  The proms have become an institution and each year they showcase a lot of music and the BBC broadcasts as much of it as it can between BBC2  BBC Four and the radio stations.  Last night's was a celebration of Stephen Sondheim.

Stephen Sondheim is a composer and he writes musicals, however, his musicals are a very different beast to the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein or Andrew Lloyd Webber for that matter.  His music is what some people like to call challenging and some of it isn't all that easy to listen to, he's discordant, rhythmically unpredictable, playful with music and lyrics but then he writes wonderful songs that kind of burrow into your head and heart.

Happily if you're in the UK you can catch up with this gem for the next seven days. It even involves the ORGAN.

Sondheim Prom - Iplayer

Keep an eye out for Bryn Terfyl being an amazing Sweeney Todd. He frightens the pants off me. And Dame Judi Dench showing everyone how to sing Send in the Clowns. Plus Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell doing selections from Sunday in the Park with George... I could go on and on and on.

Keep Buggering On.