(no subject)

Since succumbing to Netflix, we've watched a couple movies that I was curious about. Turns out they were good rental choices, because I wouldn't watch either again.

The first was Where Angels Fear to Tread. A Merchant-Ivory-like film, it was adapted from a Forster novel like Room With a View but by someone else. Given its pedigree and cast (Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham-Carter, Judy Davis) I was interested. Meh. The acting was generally good and the Italian countryside was gorgeous. However, none of the characters are consistently likeable; one man is charming, yet a cheating, controlling cad. Only Judy Davis' character is hateful throughout... but nobody is worth really rooting for. The shocking revelation at the end seemed to come out of nowhere and felt shoehorned in; maybe it was telegraphed better in the book.

Last night we watched Flushed Away. I've been a huge Aardman fan ever since The Wrong Trousers. This was mildly amusing, but not compelling enough to watch a second time. The musical slugs were one of the best parts of the film, although Sir Ian McKellen was faboo as the over-the-top toad villain. Bottom line? I'd rather watch their new TV series starring Shaun the sheep.

What I'm reading: John Meaney, To Hold Infinity