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About BethR
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Getting medieval on media
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Website URL
https://twitter.com/elrambo
Profile Information
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Interests
medieval English literature, fantasy and science fiction, historical fiction, movies, music, travel, a unified Christian life
Previous Fields
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Occupation
university English professor
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About my avatar
Dandelion from "Sugarshock" by Whedon & Moon
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Favorite movies
Singing in the RainTo Kill a MockingbirdCasablancaGalaxy QuestBabette's Feast
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Favorite music
Steeleye Span. Bruce Springsteen. Warren Zevon.
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Favorite creative writing
William Langland, THE VISION OF PIERS PLOWMANGeoffrey Chaucer, CANTERBURY TALESJulian of Norwich, A BOOK OF SHOWINGSDorothy Dunnett, THE LYMOND CHRONICLES; THE HOUSE OF NICCOLO; KING HEREAFTERDorothy L. SayersC.S. LewisJ.R.R. TolkienPoetry: John Donne, Edward Hirsch, David Citino, Mary Oliver, Kelly Cherry
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Favorite visual art
medieval illuminations. JMW Turner. PreRaphaelites
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5,328 profile views
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Emily in Paris (Netflix). Total fluff, but fortunately only 10 episodes, each less than 30 min, so I got through it in a Saturday afternoon/evening. The fashions are nice. Lily Collins (Edith in Tolkien) is chipper, all the men are good-looking. Created by Darren Starr, it's Sex in the City-light, with more boring social-media-marketing chatter. So I guess I stuck with it to find out if Emily would learn French, and how the romances would play out. Come to think of it, though, almost every secondary character had a more interesting plotline than Emily's.
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The documentary has its flaws, undoubtedly, but it seemed to provide some useful information to those among my first-year writing students last fall who watched it as part of a unit on social media. I wonder now if any of them are reflecting on it now.
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I finally got to see Wolfwalkers, and it is another visually delightful addition to the work of this group of animators/creators. I think Ken and Aren both raise good points about the presentation of religion in the movie--Cromwell (here called only "the Lord Protector," a name that becomes more ironic as the story proceeds) was a famously dour and destructive historical figure, but as a character, he also fits easily into expected stereotypes, especially as there are no counter Christians. All the villagers are terrified of the woods/nature/wolves, except Robyn and her father. A certain actio
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The Nevers wrapped filming season 1 Nov. 15 and seems to be still on track to premiere on HBO sometime in 2021. Joss Whedon, however, will have no further involvement with the series.
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Regular CBS finally broadcast season 1, so I'm caught up with that. It's good, and Ken is right about Christine Baranski, although I would argue that Julianna Margulies' character called for a different style, but Margulies has never been an expressive actress, going back to her ER days. Ken, I think you definitely nailed this point: The Good Wife was trending in that direction by the final season.
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I wish this film had been made as a study of four complicated people in their situations, rather than a fictionalized biopic of Shirley Jackson. It sounds as if it doesn't particularly add anything to our understanding of her writings. The book it was based on might, but I still find biographical criticism the least valuable form of literary criticism.
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People are raving about this new Netflix series (7 episodes) based on Walter Tevis's 1983 novel. It is outstanding serial filmmaking, both visually, and as a troubled prodigy's bildungsroman. Excellent cast. You don't need to know anything about chess (I didn't know anything except the basic moves when I read the novel, and that's about all I know now.)
- 6 replies
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- netflix
- anya taylor-joy
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Spiritually Significant Films from Female Directors
BethR replied to kenmorefield's topic in Film Awards, Festivals, & Lists
I'm enjoying it very much, so far. Mostly Tilda Swinton narrates (not Cate Blanchett--I don't know why I always confuse those two), but also Jane Fonda, Adjoa Andoh, Sharmila Tagore, Kerry Fox, Thandie Newton and Debra Winger. I'm sure it will be available on DVD or something eventually. -
Spiritually Significant Films from Female Directors
BethR replied to kenmorefield's topic in Film Awards, Festivals, & Lists
For those in the USA, TCM will show this documentary series and 100 films by women filmmakers every Tuesday in September-December 1 (14 weeks). You can find the full schedule and more here: https://womenmakefilm.tcm.com/schedule/ It looks like a great series. My DVR is going to fill up fast. -
How interesting! I watched TWW intermittently. Martin Sheen was great as Bartlett, but I would have loved to see Sidney Poitier in the role.
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I look forward to Christian's commentary on The Good Place, which ended (intentionally) this past Spring after four seasons.
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- kristen bell
- nbc
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Rectify is on Netflix. They offer a free 30-day trial, so if you can watch 4 seasons of Rectify in that time, you can cancel before the trial is up, if you find that acceptable? The seasons are 6/10/6/8 episodes.
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This Netflix Original series (based on a manga series--I can't say how closely) has a lot of potential and some serious Buffy vibes, though it doesn't quite know whether it wants to go with "Note to self: religion freaky" (Buffy 2.9) or fully embrace the "warrior nun" ethos. The main character, Ava, provides a strong focus. The episode titles are well-chosen scripture references, suggesting some among the writers know what's what (e.g., "Psalm 46.5," "Ephesians 6:11"). The plot drags a bit after episode 1, then picks up again about halfway through, so the series probably could have been 8 epis
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May I suggest that this sentence "Wisely, he implores French New Wave (FNW) characteristics..." should read "he employs"? That is so minor, though--I found the commentary very insightful.