It wasn't a loud episode, it wasn't really an "umph"er, but did it have to be? I do agree that it wasn't, say, Season 3's opener which I thought was a lot of ACTION ACTION ACTION and really moved and was great... but that's ok! It way more than made up for it in other ways. The comedy factor was way way up and if this is the tone that will be carried throughout the season, I'll be a very happy camper. You can tell that this season, we're handling a far more experienced performer in the form of Catherine Tate and that pleases me a great deal
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She's approachably lovely like much of the cast of "Torchwood" I think. I think I said that in the car once on the way back from work too. Heh.
At any rate, I quite agree. She's got loads of charisma so even though she's not 'perfect' the way Martha is, I actually find her far more captivating.
Yay! It's nice to hear that (personally, I've just met too many people who didn't like "The Runaway Bride" and the character of Donna so it cheers me to hear it when someone does like her). Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the matter!
Really? I rather like her, mostly because she's a companion more to my style: intellectually capable coupled with skills. I generally think that she's not well-written and that her character really didn't go anywhere in Season 3, which is disappointing. And ditto with her stint in *Torchwood*.
I keep hoping that she'll not be made a permanent position in any of the three shows, but will be constantly referenced and possibly guest-star in a couple of them. Transform her into the New Who equivalent of the Brigadier (a character that I really loved from Classic Who).
The best thing about Tate is, she's not only a comedic talent, she's a terrific actress. Which makes MY heart leap with joy! XD
And pfft, why worry about what Donna-critics have to say? You enjoyed the episode, that's the most important thing. :) And I defy anyone to look at Tate in that episode and tell me that she isn't a beautiful woman, despite - *gasp!* - not being thin as a rake.
She is. She really, really is. From the beginning I was all "Oo, she's like Sarah Jane! I LIKE THIS!" and her character carried me through all of that. When she is with her grandad, I completely connected with the emotions she felt about the Doctor (and I'm not the empathetic type, so that surprised me). She hit the right tone for the character, definitely a continuation from the ending of "The Runaway Bride", but seen a little more of the world and found it interesting but not fully satisfying. She does give Donna quite a bit of depth and that really is enjoyable.
And you're definitely right, I shouldn't let the Donna-critics get to me. I try hard not to let folks generally harsh my squee. Heh. She is so pretty throughout the entire episode and I'm looking forward to seeing more! Is it next week yet? Hee hee!
I enjoyed this much more than I expected to considering how bad the early buzz was. Catherine Tate was terrific, and the little Adipose were kind of cute. (I really want the knitted one they showed in the Confidential.) I totally wasn't expecting Rose to show up -- I knew from spoilers and the trailers that she was in some episodes, but hadn't heard anything about her being in the first one!
By the way, if you liked Donna's granddad, you really should see Bernard Cribbins in other things. I recognized him from his stints on The Avengers -- he's in "The Girl From A.U.N.T.I.E." and "Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) - But There Were These Two Fellers ... ." He is so funny in both.
The image of Rose was totally shocking because like you, I didn't expect her in the first episode, but when Donna started talking to her that's the first person that jumped into my mind seeing the back of her head. I did think she looked a bit... empty? Not sad, and she didn't look like she was looking for someone. Just... she looked empty to me.
Yes, I was very happy to see folks from The Avengers in other things and wow, it's sort of strange to see how he's aged from being Mr. Arkwright. Hee!
I interpreted that empty look as "damn, I bet he was here, and I missed him again." Unless, of course, she's not really Rose but rather Evil Emotionless Sontaran Space Clone Rose, or something like that, and she looks empty because she's missed her target.
I think this just shows my love/hate relationship with Rose. I have a hard time connecting and reading her character. Didn't like her on my initial watching of Season 1; it took a long time for me to warm up to her. However, on a second watching of "Father's Day", I totally fell for her and was really rather devastated at the end of Season 2. I still have a hard time reading her emotions, though. I don't think it's Billie Piper because I have complete love for her performances in Ruby in the Smoke and Secret Diary of a Call Girl and her wonderfully bubbly turn in Much Ado About Nothing, so I really think it's Rose (well, as played by Billie Piper).
It's not my personal favorite Miyazaki film (that honor is reserved for *Porco Rosso (Crimson Pig)*); it's sort of on the same level as *Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke)* and *Spirited Away* in enjoyment for me. It does an amazing job of portraying children, though. They were SO realistic, so much more than any other animated film about children that I've seen. There's a joy to the film, and to other Miyazaki films, that so many others lack.
It's one of my goals in life to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum.
I have to confess that my great love for My Neighbor Totoro comes in large part from repeated viewings -- I've seen it at least half a dozen times because it's one of my kids' favorites, as opposed to, say, Spirited Away, which kind of freaked them out. In fact, my daughter, who's 8, still won't watch it.
Yeah, Spirited Away is really for an older child. Or an adult. It's got a child in it, but it really has more adult themes. Ditto Princess Mononoke.
One of the best bits in My Neighbor Totoro (oh, that's weird... I really think of it as Tonari no Totoro because that's what my partner and I always call it, so calling it by the translation is a bit strange...) is when the older girl goes to collect the acorns in the beginning and walks on her knees. I remember seeing it and instantly being transported to my own childhood when I would do JUST THAT. That was brilliant. The realistic depiction transported me into my deep, buried memories and it was awesome.
I'm not sure what other Miyazaki films you and your kids have seen, but a daughter of 8 could really like Laputa and Kiki's Delivery Service(and Porco Rosso). Whisper of the Heart isn't done by Miyazaki, but is done by Studio Ghibli and I really enjoyed it.
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as for me, i'm still waiting for it to download...(ten minutes left and counting)
Donna's hair in the promo pics looks AWESOME. FTW. :D
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At any rate, I quite agree. She's got loads of charisma so even though she's not 'perfect' the way Martha is, I actually find her far more captivating.
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I keep hoping that she'll not be made a permanent position in any of the three shows, but will be constantly referenced and possibly guest-star in a couple of them. Transform her into the New Who equivalent of the Brigadier (a character that I really loved from Classic Who).
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And pfft, why worry about what Donna-critics have to say? You enjoyed the episode, that's the most important thing. :) And I defy anyone to look at Tate in that episode and tell me that she isn't a beautiful woman, despite - *gasp!* - not being thin as a rake.
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And you're definitely right, I shouldn't let the Donna-critics get to me. I try hard not to let folks generally harsh my squee. Heh. She is so pretty throughout the entire episode and I'm looking forward to seeing more! Is it next week yet? Hee hee!
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By the way, if you liked Donna's granddad, you really should see Bernard Cribbins in other things. I recognized him from his stints on The Avengers -- he's in "The Girl From A.U.N.T.I.E." and "Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) - But There Were These Two Fellers ... ." He is so funny in both.
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Yes, I was very happy to see folks from The Avengers in other things and wow, it's sort of strange to see how he's aged from being Mr. Arkwright. Hee!
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I think this just shows my love/hate relationship with Rose. I have a hard time connecting and reading her character. Didn't like her on my initial watching of Season 1; it took a long time for me to warm up to her. However, on a second watching of "Father's Day", I totally fell for her and was really rather devastated at the end of Season 2. I still have a hard time reading her emotions, though. I don't think it's Billie Piper because I have complete love for her performances in Ruby in the Smoke and Secret Diary of a Call Girl and her wonderfully bubbly turn in Much Ado About Nothing, so I really think it's Rose (well, as played by Billie Piper).
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It's one of my goals in life to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum.
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One of the best bits in My Neighbor Totoro (oh, that's weird... I really think of it as Tonari no Totoro because that's what my partner and I always call it, so calling it by the translation is a bit strange...) is when the older girl goes to collect the acorns in the beginning and walks on her knees. I remember seeing it and instantly being transported to my own childhood when I would do JUST THAT. That was brilliant. The realistic depiction transported me into my deep, buried memories and it was awesome.
I'm not sure what other Miyazaki films you and your kids have seen, but a daughter of 8 could really like Laputa and Kiki's Delivery Service(and Porco Rosso). Whisper of the Heart isn't done by Miyazaki, but is done by Studio Ghibli and I really enjoyed it.
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