Video – Page 4 – John Soanes

On The Other Hand, I May Just Be Relieved That The Oft-Suggested Mel Gibson Version Didn’t Materialise

On 27/07/2009

In Link, TV, Uncategorized, Video, Writing

It’s been a bit of a frenzied few days in terms of pop culture news, what with the San Diego Comic-Con taking place, but I think one of the more interesting items that’s floated out has been the trailer for the AMC/ITV remake of The Prisoner, starring Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel.

Here, have a look:

It appears more obviously action-oriented than the original version, but it looks as if they’ve genuinely tried just not to lean on the goodwill people might have towards the McGoohan version, but instead to come up with a story in its own right. I mean, I’m far from certain there’s any kind of burning need to redo the show in the first place, but at least there seems to be have been some effort put into this one (yes, The Avengers film, I’m looking at you).

Actually, thinking about it, there was an interview with Bill Gallagher, the writer of the new version in the Writers’ Guild GB magazine, UK Writer, a couple of months ago – and lo and behold, it’s online here. It does seem to show he took it seriously, which is reassuring.

Anyway, it could be awful, but for the moment, I’m cautiously optimistic. Given ITV’s current financial troubles, lord only knows when it’ll air here in the UK (it’s a USA-UK co-production), but on the basis of the trailer, I’ll probably give it a go.

A tip of the hat to Dan Owen, whose excellent blog Dan’s Media Digest was where I found this video. His original posting of it can be seen here – and while you’re there, have a look around. He’s a very good writer, and there are many things there to enjoy.

He’s Back… And You Never Even Noticed He Was Gone

By John

On 25/07/2009

In India, Link, Personal, Pictures, Travel, Uncategorized, Video, Wedding

Well, the ongoing updates here should have meant that you didn’t even know I was on holiday – that’s a professional level of service, I know – but I have been, and now I’m back.

Where was I, you ask? I’m glad you asked…

That’s right, Mrs Soanes and I went on a rather belated honeymoon to India. I’ll post more pictures, and some simply gripping travellers’ tales, over the next few days.

In the meantime, you may have seen about the longest total solar eclipse of the sun this century which took place this week. We were there, and it was awe-inspiring; our view of it, over the Ganges in Varanasi, was as you can see at about 0’29” in this BBC video:

Because, y’know, nothing says ‘romantic honeymoon’ better than the sun turning black and darkness cloaking the face of the earth.

Oh My Goodness Me

By John

On 03/04/2009

In Fish In A Barrel, Uncategorized, Video

Perhaps a long time after everyone else in the world, I only found this today, but I have to share.

Don’t be fooled by the opening bit, it’s not just the Shat sitting and ‘singing’… well, not alone, anyway.

He brings friends.

Remarkable, I think you’ll agree.

A Little Night Music

By John

On 23/03/2009

In Link, Music, Uncategorized, Video

I nicked this from Kevin Lehane’s blog (hi, Kevin, hope you don’t mind); a great song, performed across national borders…

Stand By Me from David Johnson on Vimeo.

Good, innit? Go on, play it again. You know you wanna.

Two Lessons For Monday Morning: Should Take About 20 Minutes In Total

By John

On 09/03/2009

In Comics, Link, Uncategorized, Video

Firstly, here’s a little animated video which explains the Credit Crunch in terms that all of us can understand (it’s just over 11 minutes):

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

And secondly and more culturally, one of Alan Moore’s most acclaimed Swamp Thing stories, The Anatomy Lesson, is available as a free and entirely legit download from DC Comics if you click here. That should take you about ten minutes to read, and hopefully sheds some light on why he’s so respected as a writer (not to diminish the art by Steve Bissette and John Totleben, of course; they’re both perfectly suited to the material, with the layout and linework is, even twenty-odd years on, very impressive. Though for some reason, the colouring in this freebie version is rather heavy on the yellow, when Tatjana Wood’s original colours are more green-centric, for obvious reasons).

It’s just after 9am on Monday, but I’ve already given you pressies, you lucky folks. Let’s hope the rest of the week is this shiny and smiley, eh?

No Somersault, So No Need To Slow This One Down And Try To Spot The Stand-In

By John

On 26/02/2009

In BBC, Uncategorized, Video

Forget the so-called ‘irony’ of John Sergeant dancing badly on Strictly Come Dancing (it actually looked like he felt it was beneath him to try to improve), this is a comedy dance routine.

Respect to Mr Webb for making the effort. And filling out the outfit in such a frank fashion.

Dead Man Talking

By John

On 08/02/2009

In Link, Uncategorized, Video

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the work of the late comedian Bill Hicks, I urge you to search his stuff out; it’s arguably been elevated to an over-high level because he died prematurely, but he often makes very good political or philosophical points (which frequently still ring true today), and some very good jokes.

For those of you who know of his work and career and rate him very highly, as I do and I know Mr Peel does (and for the record we did so before his untimely demise; neither of us is overkeen on leaping onto wagons full of band), then you’ll know that in 1993, less than a year before his death, Mr Hicks performed on The David Letterman Show. His segment went down well with the audience, but was cut before broadcast because… well, it appears that Letterman and others at the network were concerned that some of the jokes about pro-life groups would offend, especially as just such a group was advertising in one of the show’s commercial breaks.

Hicks was very upset about this, as he’d considered Letterman a friend, and being bounced at short notice for a routine which had been approved in advance annoyed him a lot. I’m summarising here, of course – for a very thorough report, written at the time, see John Lahr’s New Yorker article here.

Anyway, in a pretty surprising and unexpected turn of events, last week Letterman not only aired the never-before-seen material, but also invited Mary Hicks, Bill’s mother, onto the show, and talked about it with her. And, perhaps most importantly, he apologised for the decision and the upset it might have caused. It’s easy to question his motives, but whether they’re pure or not, Letterman’s apology appeared to be accepted by Mrs Hicks, and of course comedy fans get to see this notoriously unseen material. So, assuming my techie skills are up to the job, in three chunks, here’s the show in question (I recommend watching parts 1 and 2 for context, but if you can’t wait, the ‘lost’ stand-up routine is in part 3):

As I say, it’s easy to question Letterman’s motives for doing this, but Mrs Hicks accepted his apology, and so it seems inappropriate for others to be angry on her behalf; it’s insulting to her judgment to do so, really. The ‘lost routine’ is nothing that I haven’t seen or heard elsewhere on one of his live films or CDs, but it’s interesting to see an item which caused such a fuss at the time, and in all honesty I never thought it would be aired, so it’s an unexpected treat.

Which, of course, I wanted to share with you lovely folks.