Diary of an RA Fan — Part 3 Glorious Summer!

See Diary Part 2 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — a few years ago minus several more days:

Watching the first episode of North and South. The musical score is great. Must get the cd. The guy with the pointy ears shows up quite a few scenes into it, and this is not going to be staid stuff like other period dramas I’ve seen where the characters barely move even their faces unless it’s to overact. This has some knuckles. Yea! But what a contrived scene to create angst between him and his so obvious love interest, Miss Hale. And Miss Hale, I don’t know if I can ever like her. Pretty haughty and stiff. Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. So I still don’t get the fascination with this show. I”ll have to finish at least this episode to have some understanding.

Several minutes later:

Wow

About four hours later:

What just happened? I hate period dramas. Don’t I? I can’t believe it; I love another one. I’m shaking my head because now I adore the fan videos. It’s scary how much I adore them. How old am I? Never mind. Have to watch North and South again to make I sure I didn’t dream some of it. But one thing I’m sure of is I’m so sorry I thought Richard Armitage (yep, that’s his name) had pointy ears and a weird head. I love his ears and his head and his nose and especially his jawline and probably pretty much everything else of him I saw.

But it’s the voice. I was taken with it from the moment he said, “I believe your daughter and I have already met.” It makes me catch my breath it’s so beautiful. It’s like a perfect piece of music. Must put North and South on my iPod, and if I could figure out how to get some of those fan videos on my iPod, I’d be set.

RichardArmitage_ John_ Thornton_North_South

Oh, and Margaret totally redeemed herself. I love how she saved Mr. Thornton! And yes, he saved her too. So much to think about! But he needed someone to really believe in him besides momma. It’s all good now, and I really did feel for Margaret when her parents died but not enough to like her if she rejected Mr. Thornton. Thankfully, she wasn’t that stupid.

I need to slap myself and put this DVD away, so I can get something done. But then I have to give it back to Mimi! I don’t suppose I could find it on the discount table at WalMart. They usually have lots of obscure stuff with bad looking covers. No, they never have anything that’s worth a flip. Good thing I’ve kept up my Amazon Prime Membership. I can have this baby here overnight for hardly anything. Amazon will freak; this is the first video/DVD I’ve ever ordered from them.

See Diary Part 4 here.

April 11, 2010
Categories: North and South . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 9 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan – Part 2 I Am Determined to Prove a Villain

See Diary Part 1 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — a few years ago minus a couple of days:

I’ve really been enjoying the P&P videos on YouTube, and I hate to admit I like the P&P 2005 videos better than the ones of 1995. I DID NOT like the 2005 version of the movie. Oh, it had beautiful cinematography and music, and I thought Mr. Darcy was divine (love him as Tom in Spooks), but the script sucks. Sucks a big one. How can anyone really tell what the story is about?! Then there’s Kiera Knightley whose Lizzie IS NOT Lizzie. This movie is just a bunch of beautiful images strung together to some good music — an extended fan video? Well, that’s the format that suits it best, and I really love the fan videos, but the movie does suck. I guess I’ve become a purist about my one period drama. Who woulda thunk.

Oh, and I saw some fan video recommendations for that mini-series Mimi loaned me. Haven’t watched any of them ’cause it just looks dumb, and the guy’s ears are pointy and his head is kind of weird. My shallowness is reaching new levels of meanness, but hey, this isn’t for broadcast, so what does it matter.

I am curious though why there are SO MANY videos of this show and especially the “station scene.” Maybe I’ll break down and watch a little bit to see what all the fuss is about. Probably going to be disappointed like I usually am. I really need to do something with that DVD and get it back to Mimi. She keeps asking for it, so I need to do something!

Diary Part 3 here.

April 10, 2010
Categories: North and South . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 2 Comments

Puddle of Goo or Don’t Tell Me the Moon is Shining…

Wow, so many fan videos and not enough time. I would say that chocolate has been replaced, but I’m not a chocolate lover. Maybe now I know what all of you chocolate lovers get out of it. I know I get a bit of a high watching these things. Is that how it works with chocolate? If so, then I’m sorry I missed out all these years.

Getting inebriated does reduce me to a puddle of goo — inside. On the outside no one would ever know. I’ve managed to keep the addiction tamped down enough that no one knows except all of you. :D

But onto more lofty matters. Why does it reduce me to a puddle of goo? That’s the question I haven’t wanted to answer but have been desperate to answer. I am normally very, very sane. I can give you sane 6 days a week and a double dose on Sunday. Many people who know me actually depend on me being the most sane one in the room. So is it sanity to like fan videos this much? And in particular RA’s fan videos?

Initial rationalization:

The videos appeal to the artist in me. I love all things aesthetic. Truly. So I adore the artistry of the “vidders.” Well, they’re not all equal vidders; some are more equal than others. But even the ones that have the strict norms of aspect ratio fouled up (SNARFU), I love as well. I get it. I get their intent, and even if it’s not their intent, there’s enough there for me to perceive my own. Isn’t that what art is about? Perceiving intent and/or imbuing it with our own? Whatever the case, the intent comes through clear and loud (if no one else is at home with me). I can suspend my normally hyper-sensitive eyes to appreciate that “Guy” or “Lucas” or “John” is on the job — swaggering for my edification. Oh, wait, this was supposed to be a rationalization.

I really do appreciate the artistry of those vidders who have an eye for detail. Chief among those in my mind is someone named Angela. If you have not been around the RA Fandom for very long, you might not know who she is. Hang around for a bit and you’ll find out and will be better for it.

She is an artist. Bold as that statement is, I mean it. I’ve wondered many times what she does for a living. If it’s not something to do with art, what a shame. Some of her attention to detail is stunning, and I appreciate it no matter who is in the video. That’s when I knew she was an artist — I could disregard that RA was the object. That’s saying something since it’s obviously very hard for me to disregard RA as the object. LOL! But seriously, she does show the glint on the glass.

I didn’t intend this post as a paean to Angela’s ability, but I’m running with it and she deserves it. So maybe I’m not rationalizing?

And since I’m talking about her work, here’s one of her little masterpieces (SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN Robin Hood Season 3):

April 9, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Fanvids, Robin Hood, Vidders to Watch . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

You Intervention

I was inspired to do this blog from a video done by DelicateBlossom. It’s called 4 Minutes (unfortunately the sound is now muted on YouTube[see update below]). I watched the video a long time ago but had forgotten exactly how it went. So I downloaded a copy and was stunned by how well it describes the obsession! Especially starting around 1:32. LOL! Oh, yeah, that’s it exactly!

Definitely puts a grin on my face.

So if you need a grin:

DelicateBlossom, you do great work!

Note to everyone else:

Since this video is not embedded from YouTube, DelicateBlossom’s hit count will not go up. So could you go over there and watch some of her wonderful videos to compensate for this one not counting? And if she has a problem with me putting this here, she is certainly free to let me know, and I’ll do something else. But I hope all of you flood her account with lots of hits so she won’t have a problem. :D

Update as of 5-1-10:

DelicateBlossom did get back to me and has now pointed me to a copy of the video I can embed.

April 8, 2010
Categories: Fanvids, PHWOAR! . Tags: , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 10 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 1 Winter of My Discontent

Entry — a few years ago:

Man, Mimi keeps bugging me about that blasted mini-series.  And it’s a period drama. No thanks.  I’m doing good to like Pride and Prejudice.  My attention span can’t handle a period drama.  I have to follow the language so closely; it’s just too much work, and the people are stilted.  But I have to admit sometimes I feel smarter just pretending to watch.

What can equal P&P?!  Shock of shocks, I adore it and Colin Firth and the proposal scene and the lake scene and of course Lizzie and her father and her silly mother and even Mr. Collins.  I love them all!   About the only thing I don’t like is the ending, but it’s not horrible.  It’s just, well, it doesn’t quite satisfy.  I guess that’s period drama — all that restrained passion that just, well, stays restrained. It doesn’t really matter.  If P&P had a more satisfying ending, it would be an 11.  Thank you, Mimi for turning me onto Colin Firth.

“North and South” just sounds lame, and the only thing worse than period drama is Civil War period drama. Blech. But  Mimi keeps telling me, “It’s English not American! You’re gonna love it!”  Thank God it has nothing to do with that schlock Patrick Swayze was in.  I’d put a bullet in my head before enduring something that awful again, and yeah, I can be a sucker for an English accent.  But then there’s the bland DVD cover.  I hate to be shallow, but the “stars” of this piece look like the same yawners as in all the other period dramas except for P&P.

Phew. Sometime this week I have to break down and watch so Mimi will quit bugging me. I love Mimi but I need to figure out how to watch maybe only an hour so I can say I started but something came up. Oh, I just need to confess I don’t do period drama even if it does make me sound less intelligent.

Diary Part 2 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

edit: to be clear, I love many of the books which are used to make period dramas. I’m just not always crazy about their translation to the screen.

April 5, 2010
Categories: North and South . Tags: , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

RAFrenzy — Richard Armitage Addiction

I can finally admit I am an RA Addict, and I have created this place for me and my fellow “sufferers.”

If you are reading this, I suspect you are thinking  I am a nut or you totally get it because you are a nut too.

If you are not like me, you might want to move on to spare yourself the head shaking and misplaced pity.

If you are like I am, you have never been afflicted with anything remotely like being a fan of the actor Richard Armitage (not to ever be confused with this guy). You have never been a fangirl of anyone and barely knew there was the word  “fangirl.”   But lately you are becoming self-conscious about this obsession and cannot stop wondering if you really have gone nuts.  If you are also like me, you say to yourself, “If I have, can I become more insane, please?” LOL!

Am I serious?  I hope not, but then I’m not sure.  This exercise may prove I really am insane.

Stay tuned for when I take rationalizing to new heights.

Also, please bear with me as I muddle around WordPress to figure out the bells and whistles.  So far I only have a few bells and definitely no whistles.  That may change daily.

edit: I have been at this for two and a half years, and if you’re shocked anyone could talk about Richard Armitage (a still fairly unknown actor) that much, I think you’re normal. I’m shocked too. :D But psssst, I’m not the only one who does this. Check out the ‘Addict List’.

April 5, 2010
Categories: Fandom . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 14 Comments

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