Posted by Ed Kiser on April 03, 2006 at 05:01:48 from 64.12.116.6 user Kisered.
In Reply to: Plea for Tarboard help RE: a "face" only a mother could love posted by Lyn on April 03, 2006 at 03:27:12:
As for the two DVD presentations of CC and BS, I have to agree with Lyn. At least when watching HARRY POTTER, I get to select ENGLISH SUBTITLES so I can understand what is being said, as there are times the English English seems to fade to black in my mind and I miss what was intended to be said.
The actors in these CC and BS shows are just so, so, well, childish, as to make it look like some sort of junior High production. And the Music - egad it makes me feel like this is intended only for kindergarten age audiences. Wish there was a way to just turn off that insipid music.
But the great thing about these, as Lyn pointed out, it at least gives me a chance to SEE the geography of the Norfolk Broads, to help reinforce the images the words of Ransome put into my mind. It really was neat to watch them actually going under the low bridge at Potter.
Perhaps one bit of reality is the surprise as to just how NARROW those water ways were. To have a yacht race on such a narrow water way is asking for trouble. So much of the twins' effort to catch up with the Teasel just got left out - for them to show up on a motorcycle in a side car no less - with no explanation how they got that far.
Perhaps one thing missing from the DVD is that there is no MAP of where things are happening. At least when reading the books, there is a map there and it really helps to show the where and what is happening.
So delighted with seeing the geography, but boo-hiss about that bunch of amateur actors. The only realistic bunch were the Hullabaloos - and they seemed quite appropriate for their roles.
Better to watch without the sound. Gets rid of that icky icky music, and I wasn't understanding what they were saying anyway. Besides, I kinda know the story, but that has little to do with what the movie is showing anyway.
Wonder what Ransome's reaction to these productions were, if he was around to see them. I have heard he was not pleased with the SA movie either.
Sorry that American Ears just need quite a bit of training to accept the sounds of English English and to realize that it really does make sense once one gets the ability to translate it into meaningful speech. But then, I'm sure the reverse problem is also the case, as just how well one from East End of London can understand Brooklyn speech, or Southern part of Georgia. Besides people from those two parts of the USA don't understand each other all that well either. But then, that is the fun part of language, trying to figure out why people talk the way they do, and try to understand each other. It is mutual understanding that is the eventual goal for those on both sides of the great Pond to achieve. Perhaps that is one of the goals that Ransome fans can strive to reach, as we help each other out with the mysteries of language, our common language.
The Ransome book I would love to see made into a movie would be WDMTGTS. Could be a bit tricky to get that stormy waters bit done properly without losing an actor. Wonder how well the harbor of Flushing could be represented to show the between-the-wars situation there.
But for goodness sake, get some proper music!
Ed Kiser, South Florida