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ariadnes_stringMonday afternoon, when we were still exhausted from travel, the boys and I saw The Bourne Legacy, which we enjoyed very much, though I may have to go back and see it without small squirmy persons who I have to take to the bathroom during crucial character bits.
For better or worse, we had stoked our anticipation for the movie over the summer by seeing all the other Bourne movies. I was glad, in that it let me appreciate how cleverly this movie was slotted into The Bourne Ultimatum (*makes notes for next remix*). I was less glad in that, while I didn’t mind Damon being swapped out for Renner in the slightest, I did miss Paul Greengrass’s direction. There was nothing in The Bourne Legacy to equal the amazing Waterloo Station cat-and-mouse game in Ultimatum. Also, the whole drug plot was kind of bzuh?.
Still, it was pretty fun to see JR step into the franchise. He’s so different than Matt Damon, though I did really like Damon as Bourne. But Damon has a kind of bovine quality. Emotions always seem like they’re emerging through many layers of soft tissue before they reach his face. His Bourne was kind of stoic and tragic. Renner is a much smaller and feistier mammal. I enjoyed just how pissed off he was when he found out what had been happening. His Cross had that characteristic Renner quizzicalness, like he was constantly wondering how things could possibly be so fucked up.
I kept thinking of his character in The Unusuals--Jason Walsh. I thought it was just the confluence of the Jason thing, but then I realized that it was because that was the last time I’d seen JR play a straightforward leading man part (The Hurt Locker doesn’t count*). I’m glad that his career has taken off in this way, but I’m gonna miss the kind of character work he did in The Town if he stops taking interesting parts like that.
*just have to mention that we saw the preview for the Kathryn Bigelow movie about the hunt for Bin Laden, and was excited to see it stars Joel Edgerton as a Navy SEAL.
Son #2 and I watched Grimm 2x01 and enjoyed it, though there was so much new story arc dumpage I think I might have to go back and take notes. Monroe, as usual, was the best part, with his running commentary on Nick’s maternal reunion.
I finally finished Generation Kill, both series and audiobook (with the addition of reading Wright’s 2008 afterward in the print book).
I enjoyed it all, and was glad to have the book fill in some of the more visceral details. But it left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied. I think the book’s greatest strength—its immediate relation to the events of 2003—is now something of a drawback. In 2012, I badly wanted something a bit more thoughtful and introspective about this war/war in general. Also, Wright’s endless fanboying over the awesomeness of Recon Marines (and their fanboying over themselves) started to grate. Not that they aren’t awesome, which they are, just, again, missing the introspection.
Here’s your fandom question for the day: I think my favorite character in both book at show was Espera. I have yet to see him appear in a fic. You don’t need to explain why one wouldn’t slash him with anybody. But, is it that in his irascible complexity he’s too real to fic?
I finished both seasons of The Killing and have only about 15 minutes to go in Blackout. I may have exhausted all TV dramas about corrupt mayors in extremely rainy cities. If you have any suggestions, though, please let me know!
hope everyone has a great weekend!
For better or worse, we had stoked our anticipation for the movie over the summer by seeing all the other Bourne movies. I was glad, in that it let me appreciate how cleverly this movie was slotted into The Bourne Ultimatum (*makes notes for next remix*). I was less glad in that, while I didn’t mind Damon being swapped out for Renner in the slightest, I did miss Paul Greengrass’s direction. There was nothing in The Bourne Legacy to equal the amazing Waterloo Station cat-and-mouse game in Ultimatum. Also, the whole drug plot was kind of bzuh?.
Still, it was pretty fun to see JR step into the franchise. He’s so different than Matt Damon, though I did really like Damon as Bourne. But Damon has a kind of bovine quality. Emotions always seem like they’re emerging through many layers of soft tissue before they reach his face. His Bourne was kind of stoic and tragic. Renner is a much smaller and feistier mammal. I enjoyed just how pissed off he was when he found out what had been happening. His Cross had that characteristic Renner quizzicalness, like he was constantly wondering how things could possibly be so fucked up.
I kept thinking of his character in The Unusuals--Jason Walsh. I thought it was just the confluence of the Jason thing, but then I realized that it was because that was the last time I’d seen JR play a straightforward leading man part (The Hurt Locker doesn’t count*). I’m glad that his career has taken off in this way, but I’m gonna miss the kind of character work he did in The Town if he stops taking interesting parts like that.
*just have to mention that we saw the preview for the Kathryn Bigelow movie about the hunt for Bin Laden, and was excited to see it stars Joel Edgerton as a Navy SEAL.
Son #2 and I watched Grimm 2x01 and enjoyed it, though there was so much new story arc dumpage I think I might have to go back and take notes. Monroe, as usual, was the best part, with his running commentary on Nick’s maternal reunion.
I finally finished Generation Kill, both series and audiobook (with the addition of reading Wright’s 2008 afterward in the print book).
I enjoyed it all, and was glad to have the book fill in some of the more visceral details. But it left me feeling vaguely dissatisfied. I think the book’s greatest strength—its immediate relation to the events of 2003—is now something of a drawback. In 2012, I badly wanted something a bit more thoughtful and introspective about this war/war in general. Also, Wright’s endless fanboying over the awesomeness of Recon Marines (and their fanboying over themselves) started to grate. Not that they aren’t awesome, which they are, just, again, missing the introspection.
Here’s your fandom question for the day: I think my favorite character in both book at show was Espera. I have yet to see him appear in a fic. You don’t need to explain why one wouldn’t slash him with anybody. But, is it that in his irascible complexity he’s too real to fic?
I finished both seasons of The Killing and have only about 15 minutes to go in Blackout. I may have exhausted all TV dramas about corrupt mayors in extremely rainy cities. If you have any suggestions, though, please let me know!
hope everyone has a great weekend!
