Richard Armitage Into the Storm — Spoilers

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Oh you thought I was still talking about his swirling around in the Twitterverse? No, a few tweets hardly qualify as a storm. A nice summer rain? Yeah. However, his followers have certainly created a vortex. What exactly that means I’m sure we’ll eventually know. :D

In the meantime, I have a little something to say about Richard’s performance in his latest movie (I already said something about everyone else here). A few minutes after watching the movie, I was bursting with thoughts to express. A veritable flood, and then the turbulence in my mind subsided, and I knew what I wanted to talk about. Not the accent, not the everyman hero, not the vice principal who looked like no vice principal I had ever seen, not the near miss with the meteorologist. No, none of that. I wanted to address a very pivotal point in the movie — the escape from the school.

I happen to know a little something about driving a school bus in adverse conditions (don’t ask me what ’cause I might explain), so when I saw Richard driving (okay, maybe he wasn’t driving. He just looked like he was, or maybe he really was. I would love to know.), my mind came alive, and I couldn’t help but think a little something extra could have been done to aid in frustrating the twister. But what?! Then the answer came to me. It’s the answer to everything. And it can totally be done in a school bus. Go here, and take your time. I’ll wait.

What did I tell you?! Can you see it? The beauty of it is indescribable, so I’ll spare you. Oh hell, watch it again, and this time “be the bus.”

Dear Richard,

If you ever find yourself in a school bus scene again, please call me. I know all sorts of maneuvers. I can drive a school bus in and out of anything except maybe a flock of sheep. Not the stuff dreams are made of. ;p

Sheep are tough especially if they’re going the same direction as the bus. But if they’re going the opposite direction, it is fun to observe.

Call me. ;-)

Signed,

One of your crazy fans who really can drive in some hairy stuff; think whiteout at 10,000 ft.

P.S. I’ll be buying the DVD for further study. :D

P.P.S. Beverly Farr has some thoughts on the movie as well.

I cannot believe it’s time for school to start again! I ask myself every year why I’m still driving, but I love it. The kids really are so much fun to observe. Of course I have to get my bluff in on them during the first few weeks of school. After that, everything is great. One of my favorite experiences with my kids, and this happens a few times a year:

note: I am going to write a serious post about my impressions of Richard in this movie but not yet.

edit: more from Beverly

On the Elasticity of Sequels

When considering the Roger Ebert quote* about The Hobbit sequels:

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you may ask, “How does Peter Jackson do that? How can he stretch these things out? What pray tell could the cast be doing for so long?!”

I was wondering myself, and then @nancyjohnson1 reminded me. Dumb me. I should have realized how they could chase the hat for two movies! It’s the answer to everything!

*Fake like this post.

edit: I promise I’ll get serious. My next post will be serious with a vengeance!

There and Gone Again

Looking backward. Isn’t that what today is about? I guess it’s infected me because the subject I’m about to broach was not something I was going to revisit. However, recent reports I’ve read and new thoughts I’ve had compel this post. :D

I’ve run through a range of musings about The Hobbit premiere in New York. One of my first thoughts was New York is too cool to get excited about a movie premiere. This is a matter of pride for New Yorkers. They love to let you know they make barely a flicker of an eye when the famous pass by them. After countless trips to New York and living there one summer, I can attest to the sheer numbers of celebrities strolling around the streets and making the ho hum attitude understandable. But another thought was remembering the fanfare I’ve seen there. “Ticker tape” parades so huge the surreal feeling takes days if not weeks to go away. When these people throw a party, they know how to throw a party!

Outside at The Hobbit premiere was like a meeting. No party atmosphere but the distinct feeling it was all business. I could almost hear the marching orders repeating themselves in the heads of some of the cast who came to the fans lined on the street, “If you greet the fans, make it short. Don’t linger. Get it done and get inside the theater. And for God’s sake watch the cars coming down the street behind you!” Yep, the normal traffic flow was not completely blocked but rather interspersed with the celebrities’ cars stopping in front of the Ziegfield Theater which made it a dicey affair for the cast to be on the street. Then there were the thugs (TheQueen has another name for them) trying to get autographs to hawk on eBay. Since I had effected the New York cool, I wasn’t too worried about them even if they could have easily pushed me down on the barricade and busted my kneecaps. No problem. I was there to see Richard Armitage blast it! and after my deal with the thugs, no sweat (picture the optimist who was put in a room full of horseshit. :D)

But I’ve been wondering if the sober feeling from many of the cast was actually the ominous thought of combating traffic and facing the New York thugs. Something has to explain the wary looks I saw from some of them. Their demeanor was certainly a far cry from the cheerfulness in Wellington, Tokyo and London. It makes me wonder if this is the norm for New York premieres. I’ve never been to a movie premiere in New York. Never been to a movie premiere, so I really don’t know. I had only seen two live streaming until this one.

But despite all of that, I must give thanks to someone for a very enjoyable part of my premiere experience:

Dear Andy Serkis,

Man, I love you! Thank you for injecting some party atmosphere into the affair known as The Hobbit Premiere NYC. Thank you for the time you spent with the fans lined on the street. You almost single handedly made me forget the feeling of a business arrangement.

And I have a suggestion for your colleagues at next year’s premiere to make them feel secure about dealing with the fans, the thugs and might help with dodging traffic. I’m passing this along now so they have a whole year to practice.

Signed,
One of Richard’s crazy fans who thought your wife was also lovely. :)

P.S. I watched Distant Voices, Still Lives the the other day. Wow.

And a big thank you to @nancyjohnson1 for holding a place for TheQueen and me since yours truly had to run errands until about 45 minutes before the premiere. Phew!

Watch someone take all of this seriously. Yes, I’m talking to the action fans. This subject isn’t about a cure for cancer nor a solution to world strife, so it is not serious. LOL!