The Castle Captures Me

[chelseagirl]

Yup, I've got such the fab social life that I am catching up on LJ on a Friday night. Actually, I'm enjoying the downtime. Next week I have to meet with about 20 students, so the catching of breath while the husband is at work is kinda nice. Tomorrow we're invited to the opening of a new club -- in the Bronx. I will experience the long schlepp home that misskittytalks experiences on a regular basis, but in reverse.

So I am in the middle of about five books, including Trollope for the dissertation, Rousseau for teaching, books on Lewis Carroll's photography ditto, Patrick O'Brian's wonderful HMS Surprise, and a T.C. Boyle for a reading group. And yet . . .

I picked up *I Capture the Castle* for $2 outside of a used bookstore yesterday and I cheated on all my other books! It was so much fun. Exactly that sort of Englishness that can so charm me from time to time (and which my English husband would probably sneer at -- particularly as the heroine unwisely fails to fall in love with the beautiful working class boy who loves her *and* behaves unselfishly for her happiness). The sense of living in a beautiful but rundown, drafty, falling-apart place was captured so wonderfully, and no I'm not thinking about the water damage in our bathroom that the building may get around to fixing some year, no, not at all . . .

Then, since the movie was on Movies on Demand, I watched it. Really a nice rendition, and improved the ending slightly (by having her happiness less definitely tied up to Simon's returning to her, although how could he not when she's so adorable?). On the other hand, I am now firmly convinced that Marc Blucas cannot act a jot and that it had nothing whatever to do with Riley being a limited character. This was like Riley Finn without demon hunting in 1930s England. Henry Thomas has grown up nicely and the beautiful working class boy is just a sight to behold. And I so love the clothes of that era. I feel so comparatively style-less.

Comments

[luis-mw.livejournal.com]

What was it Spike called him - "Captain Cardboard"

says it all

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming it was the character.

Apparently not.

Captured by the Castle

[jadegirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved that book! The ending came as a complete shock to me, everything seemed so light and siry, and *surely* things would all work out in the end, and then...whump. Now I'm a bit more interested ins eeing the movie - I was awfully leery at first.

Re: Captured by the Castle

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I know. I expected she'd either win Simon's heart or end up with Stephen -- and actually I was rooting for Stephen, though I figured it would be Simon. The "i love you i love you" after she turned Simon down was wrenching, wasn't it?

I had a much more positive feeling from the end of the movie. She writes, "I have loved. I will love."

Obviously lots of really good bits were left out, but overall having literally finished the book the same day, I was pleased!

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Oh, my goodness! I ADORE I Capture the Castle (which has one of the best opening lines in fiction - "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink." Hee!) but I always, always wanted her some years in the future to decide that Stephen was the one for her after all. Because in many, many ways Simon very much annoyed me. And I always have a soft spot for beautiful blond boys anyway ;) (Plus, I like the guy who played in the film muchly - he was teh Hot.) Romola Garai was lovely in the movie - definitely someone to watch for - and Rose Byrne (I think that's her name, anyway) who played the sister is going to be Briseis in "Troy", so that'll be interesting!

As for Blucas, I actually thought he was pretty good in the role of Neil - he didn't have to show much depth or anything, just stand around and look kind of stolid! (It's funny that of all the "Buffy" actors, I'd say he's actually gotten the best post-"Buffy" parts - a role in a John Sayles film and "I Capture the Castle" beats out "Scooby Two" and whatever that horror movie Boreanaz was in, or James Marsters oddly non-existent "Venetian Heat" or even "American Pie" which, though commercially successful, certainly isn't "classy." Hee! Who'da thunk?)

And I join you in a toast to our lack of social lives - truth of the matter is that I'm always freaking exhausted on Friday evening and I just want to veg out. Have just finished Book XIII of the "Aubreyad" and am taking a bit of a break (a few hours) before embarking on Book XIV. I'm so glad you like HMS Surprise!

Ooh, and one final thing - they were filming a movie with Jennifer Connelly and Dougray Scott right outside the windows of my gym. So today's workout was accompanied by much drooling over the pretty Scotsman (I figure YOU'LL know who he is, although the heathen wimmins at my gym had no idea - and were surprised that I'd recognized him. Hee!)

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

:-) Stephen was so lovely and so willing to sacrifice for her -- I totally lost my heart in both book and film. I have developed a big thing for British working class boys, anyway. ;-)

Speaking of lack of social lives, though, linaerys and I still want to get together with you for a seanfest. Thursdays and Fridays are best for me. Thursdays come complete with husband (better for sharpesnarking, not necessarily so good for sighing and squeeing), Fridays he's almost always working. Sad but it is the best tip night!

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Well, I think a Friday evening might be better for me (as much as I'd love to hear your husband snark, I think it's probably best I don't watch Nekkid-Sean-in-a-Hottub the very first time I meet him!! ;)) just because then I don't have to watch the clock as much seeing as I don't have to go to work the next day! Whee!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

That could work! What's your next month like?

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'm free this week or next, but after that, things should be fine ... My gym is going to be open on Saturdays starting in May, which means I won't have to work out on Friday evenings, which means I can start social engagements a good bit earlier than I have been doing!!

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I sent both of you an email about this.

Weird question -- I seem to remember you work downtown. You don't happen to belong to the Whitehall St. Health & Racket club, do you? I used to belong there years ago (hmm when *I* lived in Brooklyn) and I remember it was closed on Saturdays.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Heh! No, but it is right across the street from my office. And they did offer everyone in my office reduced price memberships - two weeks after I joined another gym. Argh!

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, I am now firmly convinced that Marc Blucas cannot act a jot and that it had nothing whatever to do with Riley being a limited character.

NOW you're convinced. I could tell from black and white photos that the kid had nothing to bhring to the table. No abilities, no charisma, nothing. Riley may have been a limited character but which came first - the chicken or the egg. They may very well have intended him to be more interesting in a Captain America kinda way but then they realized that silk purse was unattainable with the sow's ear they had.

Did I just use the sow's ear metaphor? Dear Lord! I am becoming my dad.

[chelseagirl.livejournal.com]

I'm the sappy type who always gives the benefit of the doubt until I"ve seen someone in a second role, no matter how lame they seem in the first. This was just . . . egregious.

Interestingly, the other person who responded to this part of the comment pointed out that he's getting better roles (or at least small roles in better films) than many of the other ex-Buffy actors. I think that points out the underwhelming things they've all gone on to, though, rather than any strength in him.

[ajinamoto.livejournal.com]

Okay, why did I miss this post? It must have come up when I was peevishly offline.

I was going to post about how, after being forced to watch Buffy reruns while drinking my morning coffee, how cute Marc Blucas was.

Well... okay, I stopped wearing my glasses to watch tv, but still.

CALLUM KEITH RENNIE IS MY OBSESSION....

Okay, now that I've cleared that up. Just wanted you to know that while I find others attractive, my heart belongs to the Canadian.