Someone is turning 21 today!
Jun. 20th, 2009 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sisterjuneHello everyone. So today is my 21st birthday! I know traditionally this means you go celebrate in a bar or something but I dont do bars, group get togethers or alcohol. I completely do not drink nor plan to ever start. That being said, I've spent my day lazing about, watching the dvds I bought for myself, reading some romance novels and eating ice cream cake, which my dad got for me.
Thank you to everyone who's sent me birthday wishes! I'm really grateful and happy that so many people took the time to wish me a happy birthday. It's a small gesture but I really appreciate it, especially those who took the time to make me pretty little graphics or even get me something <333 you are all wonderful people and precious friends. and enjoy this while you all can cause I aint gonna be this warm and nice all the time. and Sonya you werent late ^^, it's still the 20th in my timezone.
I also mega sorry for the late replies in my last post, I replied to everyone but I confess it took me 3 days to get around to it. I really appreciate comments, I'm always happy to know people are reading and want to chat with me. But I confess I've had alot on my mind lately, when fall semester at my college resumes a new chapter in my life is going to be starting. Because I actually have goals I'm working towards now, I'm going to have my license finally and I will HOPEFULLY have lost damn weight by then but so far not doing very well on that account, I want to blame all the wonderful delicious carbs I eat but truth be told i've been lazy on the exercising. That being said, I promise to try harder to be more prompt with my replies!
I bought Shakespeare Retold from UK amazon, and while I didnt get ahold of a region free player like I wanted I managed to watch some of the DVD on my dad's computer, since my little netbook has no cd slot. BBC basically took popular Shakesperan Plays: taming of the shrew, much ado about nothing, midsummer nights dream and macbeth. And attempts to adapt them for a modern audience while casting the characters in modern day settings and situations. It's a pretty novel idea and since it's the BBC I figure it stands a chance of being really good too.
I watched Taming of the Shrew which had Rufus Sewell and Shirley Henderson, the latter is probably best known as moaning myrtle in the potter films, although she's done quite a bit of voice over work I think, she has a very distinct voice I think even if you dont recognize her name or face you will recognize her voice. As for Rufus Sewell, OMG what a GORGEOUS man. I was totally googley eyed the whole damn time watching him, even when he ended up in fishnet tights, eyeshadow and a skirt (dont ask) he was insanely attractive. Shirley is not so pretty but she was pretty hilarious as the "Shrew". I kind of loved how they chose to adapt it, even if the performances were really over the top but I think it gave it a nice screwball comedy vibe. It was fun to me, and definitely nothing more ridiculous than your average Jdrama. I had fun watching it, and their back and forth with each other, I love watching firey or antagonistic relationships. So much more fun than fluffy romantic ones.
I think it's interesting that the BBC chose to adapt this play of the many other shakespeare plays they could have chosen. Obviously Romeo & Juliet has been done to death, and othello and a merchant of venice might be too bleak and dark. But even though Hamlet is pretty fucked up too, it's probably loads less controversial than taming of the shrew. which has alot of misogynistic sexist elements to it. Although a great thing about the play is, You can reasonably debate that alot of the stuff in the play is meant tongue in cheek. For example at the end of the play, the shrew Katherina, has a big speech which pretty much starts with "Your husband is thy lord and master..." Yikes right? Except the speech is so incredibly over the top submissive and accepting of that role, that you could argue shakespeare was using it ironicly, ie kate was being sarcastic. Usually when this play is performed in the modern age, the speech is either said with irony or the play is framed in a more fantastical way, like making into a dream for example. Which would weaken the offensive elements of the play. The BBC handled this final monologue in a way I thought was very clever. She said the speech, practically word for word, with utter sincerity. I was pretty shocked...UP until the end where she adds that he feels the same towards her and he agreed etc etc. Basically they kept the speech in, and made it mutual for both parties instead of just the wife and I thought that was interesting, cause I dont think it's ever been done that way. So I was impressed with that decision, cause they really wanted to stay true to the play but they also wanted to adapt it for a modern audience with a modern day setting.
So I think it worked out well enough. I enjoyed it, I cant wait to see what they do with the rest of the plays. Especially one of my fave Shakespeare plays "A midsummer night's dream".
Thank you to everyone who's sent me birthday wishes! I'm really grateful and happy that so many people took the time to wish me a happy birthday. It's a small gesture but I really appreciate it, especially those who took the time to make me pretty little graphics or even get me something <333 you are all wonderful people and precious friends. and enjoy this while you all can cause I aint gonna be this warm and nice all the time. and Sonya you werent late ^^, it's still the 20th in my timezone.
I also mega sorry for the late replies in my last post, I replied to everyone but I confess it took me 3 days to get around to it. I really appreciate comments, I'm always happy to know people are reading and want to chat with me. But I confess I've had alot on my mind lately, when fall semester at my college resumes a new chapter in my life is going to be starting. Because I actually have goals I'm working towards now, I'm going to have my license finally and I will HOPEFULLY have lost damn weight by then but so far not doing very well on that account, I want to blame all the wonderful delicious carbs I eat but truth be told i've been lazy on the exercising. That being said, I promise to try harder to be more prompt with my replies!
I bought Shakespeare Retold from UK amazon, and while I didnt get ahold of a region free player like I wanted I managed to watch some of the DVD on my dad's computer, since my little netbook has no cd slot. BBC basically took popular Shakesperan Plays: taming of the shrew, much ado about nothing, midsummer nights dream and macbeth. And attempts to adapt them for a modern audience while casting the characters in modern day settings and situations. It's a pretty novel idea and since it's the BBC I figure it stands a chance of being really good too.
I watched Taming of the Shrew which had Rufus Sewell and Shirley Henderson, the latter is probably best known as moaning myrtle in the potter films, although she's done quite a bit of voice over work I think, she has a very distinct voice I think even if you dont recognize her name or face you will recognize her voice. As for Rufus Sewell, OMG what a GORGEOUS man. I was totally googley eyed the whole damn time watching him, even when he ended up in fishnet tights, eyeshadow and a skirt (dont ask) he was insanely attractive. Shirley is not so pretty but she was pretty hilarious as the "Shrew". I kind of loved how they chose to adapt it, even if the performances were really over the top but I think it gave it a nice screwball comedy vibe. It was fun to me, and definitely nothing more ridiculous than your average Jdrama. I had fun watching it, and their back and forth with each other, I love watching firey or antagonistic relationships. So much more fun than fluffy romantic ones.
I think it's interesting that the BBC chose to adapt this play of the many other shakespeare plays they could have chosen. Obviously Romeo & Juliet has been done to death, and othello and a merchant of venice might be too bleak and dark. But even though Hamlet is pretty fucked up too, it's probably loads less controversial than taming of the shrew. which has alot of misogynistic sexist elements to it. Although a great thing about the play is, You can reasonably debate that alot of the stuff in the play is meant tongue in cheek. For example at the end of the play, the shrew Katherina, has a big speech which pretty much starts with "Your husband is thy lord and master..." Yikes right? Except the speech is so incredibly over the top submissive and accepting of that role, that you could argue shakespeare was using it ironicly, ie kate was being sarcastic. Usually when this play is performed in the modern age, the speech is either said with irony or the play is framed in a more fantastical way, like making into a dream for example. Which would weaken the offensive elements of the play. The BBC handled this final monologue in a way I thought was very clever. She said the speech, practically word for word, with utter sincerity. I was pretty shocked...UP until the end where she adds that he feels the same towards her and he agreed etc etc. Basically they kept the speech in, and made it mutual for both parties instead of just the wife and I thought that was interesting, cause I dont think it's ever been done that way. So I was impressed with that decision, cause they really wanted to stay true to the play but they also wanted to adapt it for a modern audience with a modern day setting.
So I think it worked out well enough. I enjoyed it, I cant wait to see what they do with the rest of the plays. Especially one of my fave Shakespeare plays "A midsummer night's dream".
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 01:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 02:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 02:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 02:40 am (UTC)EDIT (GUH STUPID ENTER)
ANYWAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 02:44 am (UTC)Oh thank you! I responded before I saw your edit XD
no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 03:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 09:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 03:53 am (UTC)[Psst. Watch Macbeth. 'Tis the best of the bunch, along with Much Ado.]
no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 09:43 pm (UTC)I'll probably watch that one next, since it has keeley and james mcavoy and it looks like it will be deliciously dark and creepy. I love what they did with the 3 witches, 3 creepy prescient garbage men. now i will never see a garbage man the same. *shudders*
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Date: 2009-06-21 04:25 am (UTC)I'm trying to lose weight too but it's so hard cos I love food. ice-cream cake yum. XDD
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Date: 2009-06-21 07:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 08:28 am (UTC)I don't drink alcohol either (i hate its taste XD).. i always try them but i usually end up hating them.. like all the wines I've tried.. tasted horribly. XD
i should be losing weight too.. *sigh* let's do our best together :)
<3
no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 12:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 03:08 pm (UTC)i'm glad you enjoyed yourself. i haven't watched anything shakespeare, except '96 R&J and that was for lit class a few years back. i love reading shakespeare, though i admittedly haven't read much. and we have the complete works of shakespeare gathering dust somewhere in a cupboard too -.-"
take care dear :)
no subject
Date: 2009-06-21 06:34 pm (UTC)"I dont do bars, group get togethers or alcohol. I completely do not drink nor plan to ever start"
Same here.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 04:20 am (UTC)sorry for the late greeting. :P