I decided to take Monty over to Milton Country Park this morning on three mistaken beliefs - one that it wouldn't be muddy, one that Monty would be happy trotting around and one that Park Run is on Saturday... So it was busy and muddy and Monty stopped every few feet and tried to get me to get the hoops out but it was pretty in the sunshine. Rachel has taken herself back off to university (sensibly leaving early while the roads are quiet) and the remaining three of us are consoling ourselves with a trip to the cinema to see '12 years a slave'. Great reviews so I hope it's good. I want to see The Railway Man (well I want to see Colin Firth) but the reviews suggest that it gets boring so I'm playing safe (hopefully).
Three good things
1. Rachel arrived back safely.
2. I didn't quite chop my finger off making marmalade thanks to my finger nail (I hope you can make marmalade in two stages because I'm going to watch a film before I put the sugar in...)
3. I met two old colleagues on my walk (not together) and it was lovely to see both.
I have read brilliant reveiws on the salve one but apparently it is very gruelling to watch, will be very interested to see what you make of it & if a wimp like me can cope. I am off to see The Railway Man on Wednesday so will swap reviews. I am almost halfway into the book but they mess about with the story at lot at the end...we shall see.
Great squabbling ducks, they really mean business.
@happypat oh heck I haven't actually read the reviews - just the stars & that Mark Kermode days you should watch it!! And I could only get seats near the front... Very interested to hear what you think of Railway.
Ha, we couldn't face the anguish of 12 years and chose the railwayman instead !
the young @colin Firth' was exvellent too. More than good enough film. Les never met his Uncle Frank .. One of those taken at Singapore who died building that line .
it made it unbearably poignant thinking of him in the heat while his sisters and Mother just never saw him again.
let me know what you thought of 12 Yeas.. undoubtedly deemed the better film.
Fabulous capture of the in-flight altercation!
Glad Rachel made it back to school safe and sound. Enjoy the movie! And I'm glad you didn't cut off the tip of your finger. Knives and I don't get along well. :)
@happypat@hamble@june@suesmith@dh@jgpittenger@malc 12 Years a Slave - brilliant acting and directing but a brutal portrayal (the reality of course) which was indeed difficult to watch - the whole row had hands over faces at several points. It's an incredible story and he was an amazing man. Really demonstrates the north-south divide with some very decent white men to counteract the general theme! Very interesting as well having recently seen The Butler and of course there are still injustices wrought against people for the colour of their skin....
@happypat@hamble@june@suesmith@dh@jgpittenger@malc The other thing that had me thinking was a comparison with 'The Help'. To some extent the slave owners were victims of their upbringing - they were taught that appalling behaviour was acceptable from being babies. But the debate was already raging at the time of this film - Britain had already had various abolition acts as had the northern states so they should all have been examining their consciences. In 'The Help' they'd had another hundred years or so to learn better and yet were actually going backwards so behaviour cannot just be excused by upbringing and lack of education. We have to be thankful of the people through history who stood up for change.
@judithg Very interesting, the critics loved this film so I think I might steel myself & go & see it....with my hands over my eyes too no doubt. Indeed the way of life in those days but still no excuse to be brutal. How could one human being do such harm to another....they must just have despised those slaves. I am in the middle of reading The Railway Man & the brutality there too by those Japanese armies are just horrific ....I think I am in for a rough time on Wednesday too. Thank s for the review Judith ...I was wondering if you were cringing in your seat last night....wonder what Adam thought of it!!
@happypat He found it fascinating too - some of the most uncomfortable parts are when the owners are being 'nice' (you'll see which bits) and we had some discussions about what they were trying to achieve. He also says that the level of violent racism that appears on Twitter and Askfm and such sites is atrocious and needs to be dealt with - he's stopped looking at a lot of stuff because it's so bad.
aplogies for the delay . this wek been a bit manic but I really appreciated your reviews of 12 years
so far i'vre compromised and by ordering the book onto my kidle .
I didn't find the eraileayman boring , but I'm old and slow too. Les never knew his mother's brother Frank because to too died on that railway .
after all these years the film really brought home the his suffering and his family's grief.I silently found my eyes wet.
January 19th, 2014
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Great squabbling ducks, they really mean business.
the young @colin Firth' was exvellent too. More than good enough film. Les never met his Uncle Frank .. One of those taken at Singapore who died building that line .
it made it unbearably poignant thinking of him in the heat while his sisters and Mother just never saw him again.
let me know what you thought of 12 Yeas.. undoubtedly deemed the better film.
Glad Rachel made it back to school safe and sound. Enjoy the movie! And I'm glad you didn't cut off the tip of your finger. Knives and I don't get along well. :)
so far i'vre compromised and by ordering the book onto my kidle .
I didn't find the eraileayman boring , but I'm old and slow too. Les never knew his mother's brother Frank because to too died on that railway .
after all these years the film really brought home the his suffering and his family's grief.I silently found my eyes wet.