films

After the end of the LotR trilogy I felt at a bit of a loss. I first heard that Peter Jackson was making a film of LotR when I was 18. That's 4 years ago! And I've spent every year anticipating the next one. So now I just think that I'll never love a film again. I loved LotR, I'm a big fan of the book and I thought Peter Jackson made it into a film wonderfully.

In any case, here's some films that I am looking forward to.


Troy - Unfortunately the film isn't following all of the storyline of the Iliad, though obviously that isn't always possible in the film. I understand why they're beginning the story at the beginning i.e. whe Paris and Helen run off rather than in the middle of the war. However, I wish that they had included the sacrifice of Iphigenia. It may be from Euripides rather than Homer but it would be a nice way to introduce more of Agamemnon and Achilles.

BUT, the biggest mistake of the film..... not having Patroklos as Achilles' boyfriend. Of course, it is never actually said in the Iliad that he is, but it's pretty damned obvious. It's only after Patroklos' death that Achilles will fight, and he's absolutely gutted about it. I think that they're going to put alot of emphasis on a love story between Achilles and Briseis, which doesn't really exist. The only love stories should be Hector and Andromache , Achilles and Patroklos.

Despite all that, and other issues I have with it, I think Troy's gonna be good. Eric Bana and Brad Pitt are looking lush (obviously). I'm glad Eric Bana is playing Hector, he's one of my favourite heros in it. I'll also be interested to see who plays Telamonian Ajax and Odysseus, those being my other two favourites. I really hope Ajax kills himself at the end, I doubt it but I can hope. Troy needs alot of tragedy, that's what it's about.

This film really should be at least 3 films. But no one's gonna do a trilogy. It would be nice to see a renaissance of Greek tragedy but only if it's done well. Troy'll be fun, maybe not strictly correct but fun.

Kill Bill Vol 2. - Can't wait for this one. I love Vol 1, but then I love violent Japanese movies and I think Tarantino made KB really fucking cool. The next one is going to be a spaghetti western style flick and if it's as good as the previous one then we're in for a treat.

Van Hellsing - A bastardisation of Dracula... once again. But it looks like it'll be pretty funny, and all the CG in it looks great. Not much else to say about that.

I can't think of any other movies at the moment, if I do I'll stick them down.



On another note... Noam Chomsky has started writing a blog. Here's the link. Should provide some interesting reading. That guy knows a hell of alot.

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