Surf Digby

I'm so glad someone else has pointed out the Earthsea comparison, because it was one of the first things that sprung to mind when I watched the first film (I've not read any of the books, and apart from the first, I've only seen a bit of the one where he turns into a fish). When I watched the first film, I got an almost feeling of deja vu, because it was just a shopping list of ideas from other fantasy books/films. I'd already read The Hobbit, The Worst Witch, and the Earthsea trilogy (as it was at the time), some Discworld, etc. and so it offered nothing. My younger sister - who only likes things before they become popular - insisted that it wasn't derivative, but that Rowling was "re-interpreting classic fantasy themes for a new audience". Considering she regards Rowling as some sort of Goddess, but she also puts herself out as being the most inclusive person ever, I'd be curious as to what her thoughts on this are, but that means I'd have to endure a conversation with her.

I'd love it even more if he just signed up a load of fitness influencers, thinking that all they need to provide is the physique, and he'll use his genius to turn them into another Hogan and Warrior. And instead we get the worst wrestling promotion ever, with a bunch of "megastars" that can't handle even a light wrestling schedule, and every rejected Attitude era idea getting blasted all over it.

Sorted.

Stoke?

Apart from the last 20 minutes or so, when there was actually a bit of drama, I thought it was one of the dullest films I've seen in a long time. Far too long, and far too much of nothing really happening.

For the benefit of any Flat Earthers reading, can you confirm whether or not that gravity stuff is real?

There's now a version of The Tempest where Ariel is a robot. It's bad enough that she's the subservient to the Patriarchy in the form of Morbius Prospero, but now she's literally dehumanised too. I'm predicting riots.

Don't ever change, UKFF. Don't ever change.

Whoa, now. Washing behind your ears has always been part of washing your face. Did your grandmother never check that you'd done it?

To this day. I've never met or spoke to anyone that gave a fuck about Wendy Carlos being trans, or responded with anything other than mild curiosity when they found out.

I absolutely adore Brion James. He's one of those faces that instantly makes a film more enjoyable the moment he appears, like Lance Henriksen or Richard Lynch.

The chap that's shitting himself when stood on the mesh?

The roof dome of the Royal Albert Hall isn't actually attached to the rest of the building. It's just sat on top, kept in place by its own 600 ton weight.

Today I learned that Rob Bottin, the special effects God that created The Thing, was the drummer in the cantina band in Star Wars: A New Hope.