Making it viRAl

UPDATE: screencaps with corrected aspect ratio (below); looks more like RA.

[note: this video is sometimes set to “private” so may not play; check back sometime to try it again]

This video popped up on YouTube last week, and I was not going to put it up, but then Natalie put up a blog entry, Busting a Groove. Clever. Love that Nat!

I’m putting it up as well because my gut tells me it is him, and this is my part in making the video viRAl. LOL! Wonder how many of us will put it up on our sites. It is kind of fascinating. I took the liberty of making some screencaps. I feel like I’m analyzing the Zapruder film. Who was that on the grassy knoll, uh, yard? I’m not sure where to look to confirm it’s him, but the hands seem to be like his. Tell me what you think. Is it RA or not?

Follow-up post, Diggin’ Dorktastic.

Candid shots courtesy of my feeble efforts at capping.

edit: I have the video, but I never said that. ;-)

another edit (and almost four years later): since Tim Ward has released the video so publicly on Twitter, I’m going to post it with corrected aspect ratio. I made this at the time I first saw the video, and I have Elvira to thank for her insistence and education about AR and its importance. And if we’re going to view RA when he was a green lad, I’d rather not do it with him looking like a yard gnome.

April 26, 2010
Categories: Dorktastic, Fanvids, Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 26 Comments

How Does Someone Get This Gig?

Or why did I go to college? When I could have become a make-up artist and been so, so satisfied.

I’m just throwing this one in below ’cause I like it! The bicep might have something to do with it.

See more behind the scenes pictures here.

April 23, 2010
Categories: Strike Back . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 16 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 7 Fear of Punctuating

See Diary Part 6 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — a few years ago minus four or five months:

Man, trying to find something else that Richard Armitage has been in is tough. I looked at his IMDb page, and there were several things listed. I looked on Netflix, and they had North and South and that’s about it. I did see where he was in “Star Wars: Phantom Menace,” so I pulled it off the shelf and rewatched the stupid thing but with no luck. Not a fan of this movie. Only bought it because someone else in the house wanted it, and I actually watched the whole thing just to get a glimpse of a “Naboo Fighter Pilot.” I didn’t think about him wearing one of those blasted masks. Oh well.

A few days later:

I see a show called Robin Hood on YouTube, but I’m not into Robin Hood. What’s amazing is that I think there are actually more fan videos on that show than on North and South. No, I can’t go there right now. I’ve already freaked myself out watching the P&P and N&S videos.

I also found Vicar of Dibley on YouTube, but I really haven’t wanted to watch it. The title doesn’t sound appealing at all, and apparently, he’s in just a minor role. I’ve already been burned on Star Wars. Have to recover from that, and then maybe I’ll watch Vicar of Dibley. I do recognize this Dawn French from a comedy duo she’s in, but I’ve never been a huge fan of theirs. They’re funny but not that funny. Kind of crude. But then I wonder why I don’t like them very much since I like crude humor just fine. I can’t help it that I have a bit of an earthy attitude about all things including humor, but there’s just something about them that’s a bit of a turn off. Maybe it’s that they’re women and seem to try too hard. Man, I’m biased. Give those girls a break.

A day or so later:

I can’t stand it. I have to watch this Vicar of Dibley. If for no other reason than the thumbnails I saw of Richard Armitage are adorable. He doesn’t even look like the same person who was in North and South, and well, I guess he’s not. LOL! But he just looks so different, and I guess he actually smiles in this one. I mean really smiles. Not that coy little smile he had in North and South.

A little while later:

Oh Dear Lord! I was right! He is so freaking adorable! Why have I never known who this guy is?! He is awesome, and I hate the word awesome, but I’m in awe! I didn’t think he could be any more appealing. I figured it was his character in North and South, but I had to watch something else! And here I am using all of these exclamation points, and I hate exclamation points! When I see them, I think of an air headed female with a high pitched, tinny voice who can’t think beyond the moment, and she’s just irritating. Will she shut up. No wonder I was taught to use an exclamation mark no more than once a year; less if possible. So why am I continually using exclamation points when I write about Richard Armitage! No, no, no. I’ve never been that air headed female who squeals and acts giddy. Can I start now? No, no. But he is so cute, and I think I actually got high when he said, “Well, there you go.” What the hell?

An hour later:

It happened again! I’m watching, and then Richard Armitage’s character, Harry, makes a move on Geraldine. Man, that guy looks good in glasses!! And I love the name Harry! I’ve never really liked that name, but I’m diggin’ it now! And I guess I got over my fear of exclamation points. They are the only punctuation that fits! And I don’t care if I sound like a high pitched, tinny sounding air head who can’t think beyond the moment. I CAN’T think beyond this moment! It’s too good to think beyond this moment!

And Dawn French. I love her. Good on Geraldine for getting her man! I love that, and how slick a move was that for Richard Armitage to be the love interest? Wonder if Dawn French had a say in that. Bet she did. Oh, I love so many others in the cast. I’ll have to watch some more of this show whether Richard Armitage is in it or not.

A few hours later:

It’s on Netflix! But Richard Armitage isn’t listed in the cast!!! And apparently, I’m so over my fear of using exclamation points that I can easily use three at once! Even if this weren’t on Netflix, I’ve already ordered it from Amazon. Be here day after tomorrow!

So that makes $50 I’ve now spent on Richard Armitage. But even if I hadn’t bought Vicar to replace my N&S watching, I’ve at least cut down on that. Now I only watch N&S about once a week and only the scenes I love.

The next day:

ROFLOL!!!!! ROFLOL!!! I’m sick. I am sick. There was a little clip on YT from something called Comic Relief Special recommended from watching Vicar of Dibley. Geraldine and Harry are married, and they participate in celebrity wife swap with Sting and his wife. That is the funniest thing I think I’ve ever seen. Dawn French is my hero. I love her. My favorite part is when she says she’s not a teenager and then breaks down screaming before she opens the door. ROFLOL!!!! Hmmm. I’ve watched that clip maybe five times now, and I know the timing of it exactly, and I STILL belly laugh at that part. This Dawn French is a genius. Must rewatch some of her comedy duo stuff.

That weekend:

Well, the family watched Vicar of Dibley with me, and they could not stop laughing, and they LOVE Dawn French. SO thought the show was hilarious, and he and I have belly laughed repeatedly at the Comic Relief clip. It was so good to watch something with the family that had Richard Armitage in it and they liked it! Made me feel less like a kid with a flashlight under the covers. SO did ask who the tall guy was, and I said he was from another show called North and South. To which he said, “You mean the DVD you got from Amazon?” I didn’t think he noticed that. He’s more alert about those things than I realized. He always surprises me because he never seems to notice details and yet he always does. Why do I always think he’s oblivious. He’s never been oblivious. I wonder if he’s noticed my new love of the exclamation point.

See Diary Part 8 here.

Screencaps courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.com

April 23, 2010
Categories: SO, Vicar of Dibley . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 2 Comments

Tangent: Shouldn’t We Be Talking About Earth Day?

NO! LOL!

Earth Day has become a political statement, and maybe it always was. Since this blog is not political, we will not be talking about such things as Earth Day. But it does raise a point about RA.

I’m so glad I don’t know his political views. Thank you, Richard Armitage, wherever you are, that you don’t throw your views out there for your fans to process. Since I would think about your views and then wonder where they came from besides deciding whether to embrace or reject them, it would be one more thing I’d have to hassle with. So thanks again for making my life a little less of a hassle. ;-)

Screencap courtesy of ariane179254 on LJ (I think).

April 22, 2010
Categories: Tangents . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

Is This a 60s Film Classic?

Okay, I’ve read way too many of these RA interviews. Now I’m nitpicking everything this guy says. Phew. Must get a life. But I had to ask myself that question when I read this article:

Spooks actor Richard Armitage is set to return to the theatre after a hiatus of almost a decade, with plans for the performer to appear in a new production of Restoration comedy The Rover.

Armitage, who started his career in theatre, made his last major appearance on stage in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2000/1 production of The Duchess of Malfi at the Barbican.

He subsequently took part in a rehearsed reading of a new play presented by the Operating Theatre Company in 2002, but has spent the last eight years focused on television.

Armitage is now hoping to make a return to the theatre and he told The Stage he was particularly keen to do some comedy, because his most recent roles have seen him appear in action-based TV dramas, such as Spooks and Robin Hood. His latest is the Sky One series Strike Back, which is based on Chris Ryan’s book.

Read the rest of the article here and read more about The Rover here.

If you don’t understand my question, then read the Vulpes Libris interview. Even if you don’t care about understanding my question, then just read that interview for a real treat.

Here’s my gratuitous picture of the day. I think it has a 60s look.

Photo courtesy RichardArmitageNet.com

April 22, 2010
Categories: Interviews . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

More PHWOAR! Still Indulging My FanGurl

Not sure how long I need to indulge my fangurl, but I hope you all can bear up while I’m at it. :D

A couple of years ago I was surfing around YouTube and discovered the little gem below. It’s another Romana55 video, and yes, it has some SNARFU*, but I don’t care, well, I guess I care some or I wouldn’t even mention that. Dang that Elvira. ;-) Anyway, I howled with laughter at this — when I wasn’t saying PHWOAR! (I hope Romana55 doesn’t hate me for my commentary on her vids. I really do love them!)

Seldom do I read comments on videos much less all of them. I did on this one and have been waiting at least a year and a half to talk about one of the commenters. Her name is Dana888dana. Have no clue who she is, but her comments are a must read.

Dana888dana OH – MY – GOSH! Where has this sexy piece of man been? Where have I been not to have known who he is? He just oozes charisma and sensuality especially with those bedroom eyes! What a pleasure it is to view this video; thanks for the joy ride! Zowee!

This above so completely nails how I felt when I first started watching RA and especially when I first started watching Robin Hood. Wow was my general feeling, but Zowee is better.

As if that comment isn’t just absolute perfection, she comes with this one, which sadly, I doubt any men will ever read, but oh, she is so right!

Dana888dana This is a perfect example of what true sexuality is–he is not the handsomest man I’ve ever seen but it is what he brings out from inside of him – that true catnip for women that we can’t resist! Men listen up! This is what women find sexy!!!!!!!! But I could never be married to someone as hot as him; too many women would want him. . . .

(emphasis mine)

Out of the park, Dana!!

*SNARFU=Strict Norms of Aspect Ratio Fouled Up (or something to that effect)

April 20, 2010
Categories: Fanvids, PHWOAR! . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 11 Comments

It’s Even Changing the Way I Speak

I knew I was changing, but it was obvious when I said the “word” phwoar. I didn’t even know it was a word until a couple of years ago. The first time I said it, someone in the family made a point to turn his head towards me and stare at me as if to say, “Do I know you?” To which I mentally replied, “Yeah, you know me, but maybe I don’t know myself anymore.”

What all of you don’t know is that I don’t use much onomatopoeia when I speak much less when I write (does anyone except comic book writers?), and certainly don’t use it to describe something that is extremely appealing. But maybe I ought to because it felt good to say phwoar, which is properly said PHWOAR!

A few years ago I took a self-defense class for women. If you have never taken something like that, I highly recommend it. I was prompted by a friend to do it and went only because of the prodding. I figured the instructors would just remind me of things I already knew but probably needed to hear again. Wrong. It was taught by a husband and wife who had been military and were now police. Both had black belts in some martial art, and when they told us that, I thought, “Oh yeah, great. Like you two are living in the real word where people like me can’t do squat.” But again, I was wrong. They taught me a technique of imagining myself in a bad situation and then mentally using the practical things they had taught. Part of this was to practice yelling STOP! They said studies had shown that women had a hard time raising their voices to strangers even someone who scares or surprises them. It’s part of our genteel gene I guess. Aren’t we special? Thankfully they stayed on us about yelling STOP! Half of one class was spent just doing that. Man, that was some easy money for them. Well, I haven’t been attacked, but I have been threatened, and when the time came I was able to yell STOP! and the very suspicious person fled.

That day I yelled STOP! and really needed to was a kind of epiphany that forever altered my world. It gave me power I really wasn’t sure I possessed until the moment of crisis. Saying PHWOAR! had the same effect on me. It was the passionate me, my inner PHWOAR, which I had buried for so long, rushing to the surface. My SO, who was the only one around at the time and the object of my PHWOAR!, said, “What was that? I like it.”

I hope you can do a little PHWOAR! today. At least get in touch with your inner PHWOAR! See how good I am to all of you; continuing to be of public service. ;)

Of course that’s far from the only word I’ve learned and now love. I’ve started a list, RA Lexicon, and you can add your own. Enjoy!

Oh, oh, oh, I can’t believe I almost forgot to put up the image that made me PHWOAR! (at least in my head) the first time. Actually I was watching the scene it’s in, and thought PHWOAR! when he turned around.

Screencap courtesy of RobinHood2006.com

April 20, 2010
Categories: Inner PHWOAR!, PHWOAR!, Robin Hood, SO . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 12 Comments

And I Was Going to Take Mondays Off!!


But I can’t stand it; there’s too much to talk about, and this is the place for me to get it all out of my system. At least that was my original intent. Now? Oh, heck no!

Oh, God love him! Is he something else or what? Is he a bit of a writer and/or director in the making? Or maybe a lot of actors do this, and I’ve just never been aware of it? I don’t know, and really, I don’t care. This below is one reason I’ve got a thing for RA! I feast on this stuff. LOL!

Strike Back: Richard Armitage on John Porter

He’s an action hero, I suppose – But I’ve tried to make him as un-action hero like as possible because that’s an easy role to play and we’ve all seen the hero running out of a burning building carrying a child. I’ve tried to inject this character with something else that’s unique to his experience.

He’s SAS when the story starts and he has a wife and daughter. He’s been through the ranks and I’d describe him as a kind of killing machine who’s discovered quite a serious flaw whereby compassion kicks in and he allows his heart to rule his head. I think he has a conflict between operating within the theatre of war and then returning home to his family.

Preparing for the role…
I try to create a biography for every character I play. In the book, but not in the script, Porter has a problem with alcohol, so I’ve used that much earlier in his life. I wanted Porter’s father to be military, and this period of delinquency comes from Porter being absent when his father died. So his route into the military was to do with atonement for his father’s death and honouring his memory.

Read the rest here

More talk about this here. Definitely Ridiculous Squeeitude!!!

And I bow to tyme4t for totally calling it with her analysis of the trailers.

Screencap courtesy of Sky1

April 19, 2010
Categories: Interviews, Strike Back . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

No, It’s Not Just You or Me Can Like Action Flicks Too

I thought I could rationalize! But it seems others are raising the bar.

“Maybe it’s just me, but I really don’t see SB as the typical “action” movie – and no RA is not clouding my judgement. I haven’t read the book yet (on my list – gotta get through “The Pillars of the Earth” first) but I would be interested in watching SB even if RA was not in it – the politics, the moral dilemma, the facing one’s past are all interesting to me – and a few sexy scenes and the occasional kicking in of doors is good too! And when you think of it, many of these same themes appear in period dramas/books as well…
Maybe I’m just being fooled by the trailers – heaven knows that happens all the time – but I just wish I had a chance to see SB when it airs in the UK…now where did I put “Pillars”…”tyme4t’s comment on “What makes a bunch of prissy period drama lovers become action fans?”

I must keep up!

She makes some good points. Period dramas and action flicks do have something in common, and I can name it in one word: romance. It’s the romance that we all love. I’m including the men. It’s romantic to them for some guy to kick ass whether it be a foreign enemy or one at home. But it doesn’t really matter if the enemy is personified as long as some guy is conquering something including something in his past. I don’t care how macho or seemingly mild mannered the man is, they all seem to love this, and a lot of women love it too. I know I love to see someone overcome something or someone (bad guy or problem guy). Really love it when it’s a good guy making things right even if it’s not all tied up in a pretty package at the end. It’s usually better if it’s not all tied up in a pretty package.

But I think most of us also love a good chess game even if it’s not on the chess board. That is fascinating, and what tyme4t was probably getting at with politics, moral dilemmas, etc. There’s an air of romance about catching someone before they catch you and especially if you’re having to deal with your baggage while doing it. Actually, that’s only romantic in a book or a movie. In real life it can be a bitch to deal with baggage while you’re trying to do something significant. I think that’s one reason it’s romanticized in books ’cause maybe we can fantasize that it’s romantic when we’re going through it. I would venture to say that all those SAS are turned on by the same thing — the romance of what they’re doing, the romance of the chase, and there doesn’t always have to be a girl involved. When it’s not about country of course. Whatever the case, I don’t think it’s all about patriotism.

Just for grins I did a search on Chris Ryan and the word ‘romance’. I actually came up with something. He wrote a romance novel. LOL! It’s under the pseudonym Molly Jackson (isn’t Chris Ryan a pseudonym?). Maybe that’s old news for some of you, but I got a chuckle out of it. I don’t know if the book is was worth a flip. It didn’t seem to have many reviews. But something motivated him to write that book, and I don’t think it was money. He’s too well established in his genre to venture out just to make money. No, it was something else. Not sure anything he’s said publicly would shed light on the reason, but it would be interesting to know his reasons (more useless crap for me to remember). All I know right now is if Chris Ryan wrote a romance novel, it’s not a far stretch to imagine him watching some period dramas. Yep, he’s one of us. I’ll claim him. :D

After reading up on Chris Ryan, I feel like he’s a buddy. We share similar tastes in drama, and on a much lesser note, two of his creations have featured RA. So I have to put up his picture.

April 18, 2010
Categories: Interviews, Strike Back . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 31 Comments

Tangent — So the Brits Want to Compete

Well, come on in the water is fine!

JohnPorter_jumping_in_water_StrikeBack

In the “Strike Back” Premiere clip, Andrew Lincoln and Andy Harries, the producer, talked about Strike Back competing with America’s offerings. That’s great! I LOVE competition. It usually (not always but usually) gets the cream to rise to the top. Love it; can’t say enough good about it.

Given that, I can think of a really good way for the Brits to compete with us Yanks, and I’ll be glad to help them. If they could figure out how to get the shows to us more quickly, then I can assure I would do my part by watching many times in order to help their ad revenue or however it is they make their money. I’ll even tell lots of people about the shows! Could we just have access to Sky Player? As it is, I buy the stuff as soon as I can, and sometimes (I hate to admit it) I cheat and look at it before I can buy it. But I always buy these things I’ve looked at through other means than traditional broadcasts or dvds. It would be great to do it another way. Aren’t we in a global economy? What’s the hang up?!

I will probably rant more about this later.

I hope someone is listening.

Oh, I guess I can’t make this a complete tangent, since I want to comment on how RA has really put himself outside his comfort zone. Doesn’t he dislike going in the water? That’s really going in the water! Or is that a stuntman? On another note, how interesting that I know all of this useless crap.

Screencap courtesy of RichardArmitagenet.Com

April 17, 2010
Categories: Interviews, Strike Back, Tangents . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 14 Comments

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