The Gallifrey Film Society Presents....

As many of you will now know, Michael O'Hare passed on Friday. I just want to put the following up as tribute:



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In other news - I'm writing - but the end of the story keeps running away from me. I'm also watching as many movies as I can as well. I can recommend Looper to one and all. It's not perfect but it's quite something.

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On the matter of Doctor Who (knew there was something else I wanted to speak about!) it was good. This season hasn't lit a fire under me, I would think it fair to say that since The Doctor's Wife, I haven't really been as invested as I have been in the past. Will have to see what the second half of the season brings.

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Okay - that's me. I have to find somewhere to sit and bash out some more of this gargantuan story. Consider this fair warning - there will be whining!

I'm going to play fast and loose with this. I should have posted this days ago but I'm doing it now instead.

Of my two choices, one maybe unknown to some; the other will surprise absolutely *no one*.

Guess which ones which;)

( Day 04 - Your favorite show ever. Featuring theme tunes from series. )

- Ma famillie are watching a Man From UNCLE movie on TCM. Me? I've been finishing off a beta for a Gibbs/Ducky story (NCIS). Make of that if you will.
Sibling Unit Four has been all o.O over it all. I'm thinking that the 'cultural' differences between now and then have something to do with it....

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- Still on an NCIS kick... I have three episodes to watch and a bad case of the flailing panics over tomorrow night's episode. If someone would be so kind as to leave a message after the beep to tell me how it all plays out I will be most grateful.
There are four main characters that should not be written out or otherwise debased else I am outta there!

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*steps daintily down off the soap box*

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I haven't spoken about Matt Smith being cast as Eleven because... what's there to really say?

I'm reserving judgment until I see him in costume as 'Eleven' and then perhaps, maybe I'll say something then. I wish I could say more right now but I won't. Karma might not bite me on the arse that way!

Though if Eleven snogs Jack Harkness - he'll get a free pass from me. Shallow Monster is Shallow!

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As pimped by settiai. b5_revisited - hearts_blood, I expect you to sign up for this!

Starting with 'The Gathering' and going right through to 'The Lost Tales'. One episiode of Babylon 5 per week. With threads for those new to the show and those who are not new.

Honestly - if you've never watched B5 and want to start - here's a good a start as any other. You Will Not Regret It. It may well break your heart (it did mine) but will be a good thing. Trust me! Think The West Wing in Space and you have the 'Last Best Hope for Peace'.

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picspammy - a community for picspams. Current challenge - favourite characters. Of note, the following:

Top Ten reccurring characters (who were in less than 30 episodes and never in the main credits of) 'The West Wing'
Yes, no 7 has me wanting to mainline Seasons 2 and most of 3 - even though I know that it's going to end with me getting badly hurt.

For wiccagirl24 - a picspam of Sara Sidle of CSI

And for everyone who loves Doctor Who A Nine picspam. Gods, how I *still* miss Nine.

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Oh and I've started the new 2009 Movies list. My 'challenge' is to watch 50 new (to me) movies in 2009. This is going to be messy as I can just about manage 50 movies (with about 5-10 of those being re-watches) in a year.

Please feel free to point and laugh.

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And that, ladies and gentlebeings, is that. Anything I should know about?

You know that saying 'If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all'? - Yeah... my explaination for the recent radio silence at this end.

Anyhoo - stuff that I have found as of late that I wanted to highlight/squee/burble over...

Roundtable of possible 'Oscar' nommed writers. I highlight this as the two writers in the middle of the shot are J.Michael Straczynski who wrote the current Clint Eastwood movie The Changeling' and more importantly to this monster - creator of the mighty, mighty Babylon 5. The guy standing behind JMS is Andrew Stanton, one of the main braaaains currently powering Pixar; he directed and wrote both Finding Nemo and Wall.e.
Two guys who have created some of the most amazing stories in pop culture - seeing them together like this makes me incredibly happy in a very nerdy way... and I don't care who knows it!


Addendum to the above. Went to see Easy Virtue last night. Good, not as good as Stephan Elliot's first major movie (but what is as good as The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert?). Walked past a poster for Clint Eastwood's latest, The Changeling. Yes, I did pause to admire the writer's credit!
Isn't it nice to see a damn good writer break out of the 'geek' fold into the mainstream? *beams*


Still on the movie theme... Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991) to be re-released as a 3D film. This? makes me incredibly happy. It's one of my all time favourite films. So that will be a trip into London to see at the BFI Imax!


Pre-production notes from the 1960's for 'Doctor Who' Haven't read this properly but no TARDIS?! One to catch up on.


Finally - I *know* I am in a minority (so let's agree to disagree) here but... John Sergeant quitting 'Strictly Come Dancing' can only be a good thing. I know many found him funny but when you tune in for the dancing and you see him dance... it's enough to make you cringe with embarrassment.

On a fannish note? I now know why some people have stormy break-ups with their shows. Not funny, not funny at all.


Still on the subject of Saturday night telly. Last week's Merlin was hewn from utter awesomeness was it not? The scene between Arthur and Uther was just beautifully played out... and I'm sure that the *thing* that Merlin disposed of at the end will not stay that way... y/y?


One, final, thing. If you get ncis_newsletter on your flist, you'd have seen this. If not - New York Times talking up 'NCIS' (subscription maybe required to read). Very good article and very amusing to see them (and other articles) 'justify' why the show is still successful in it's sixth season on the air.


There will be more NCIS waffle in my next post. I have epsiodes to squee over and I also have 'spoilers' to call as well (and fail miserably on). There may be fic too. Then again....


Hope all are well.

JMS on the future of 'Babylon 5' - "The only thing I would be interested in doing regarding Babylon 5 from this point on is a full-featured, big-budget feature film.

It's that or nothing".

As much as it pains me to say it - as Babylon 5 still stands as possibly my all time favourite TV show evar - I agree with what JMS says.

JMS is going from strength to strength - he's working with A-List directors and he's busier than he's ever been. If it means that one day, he returns to our last, best hope for peace to tell more stories, then I'll gladly watch them.

If not... Babylon 5 had four seasons (and one finale) of utter awesomeness and one quite good season (due to a distinct lack of Ivanova) that was a lot better than most TV shows in their prime. It's a lot more than what most series ever get in their entire existences so...

I have nothing but thanks and respect for the man... I wish there had been moar Marcus mind;)

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I'm on a bit of a clear up at present. This includes cutting down on the flist. I've mainly cut folks/comms who are either dormant or are talking about interests that are different to mine or I just scroll past their posts when reading my flist...

As with most break ups - it's me not you, please don't take it personal.

Just so everyone knows, there is a permanent defriending amnesty around here - so knock yourself out if you're so inclined.

Thing that made me go SQUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! last night:
HONKING great SPOILERS for Season 3 Doctor Who but.... Verrry much in the happy place!


Thing that makes me leery of reading the NCIS episode reviews next Wednesday:
Read the guest star call sheet I have still to read a review from anyone who actually likes that character. Oh and could my fellow 'gaters just keep an eye out? No reason other than he might end up on Ducky's table;) And yes, the Gibbs/Abby shipper side of me (oh shush!) did a little dance of happy at a certain comment:D

In related, ratings news - this makes for interesting reading. While everyone might rave about shows like Ugly Betty, Heroes, and 24 to name just three... NCIS tramples in their entrails;), ratings wise.


Thing that made me want to run and hide under the desk today:
Doing a talk in the main lecture theatre in front of about 60 odd students. My limit is about 20! It could have been worse - when I got in there there was over 100 of them. Terrified just about covers it;)


(Story)Thing that broke me in a 'good' way:
Five Alien Customs Susan Ivanova Wishes She Didn't Have To Know About (And One She Didn't Expect To)(Babylon 5) by leyenn (found via girlgerms_news)
Item II tore my heart out of my chest and gave it back to me with a smile.

from the burn bag at Bethesda by two_weevils.
I adore 'SWAK' for reasons both sensible and shallow. This is a perfect tag.

Thing meme!
Gakked from workerb
Name a topic, subject, category, whatever, in the comments, and I'll post my top 5 things in that category/subject/topic. Anything goes!

( Where Becky witters on about favourite characters and shows )

As a cookie - which y'all need after reading that 'little' lot... I am hoping that I will be able to post new fic soon. It's been beta'ed - just awaiting the all clear:D Until then, it's back to the Sam Gen story I'm writing for a ficathon *flails*. It's like Nanny Ogg spelling 'banana'. It's started, but where it ends is another matter ENTIRELY!

First up - a 'public service announcement'

After July 7th's horrific bombings where 55 people died, the whole issue of contacting next of kin came to the fore. In order to make the work of the emergency services easier, East Anglian Ambulance Trust came up with a very easy and ingenious solution.

I.C.E.

It stands for In Case of Emergency - you type it into your mobile/cellphone's phonebook, along with the phone number of your next of kin, so that when that (gods forbid!) you should have an accident, the emergency services know who to contact. There is a hoohaa over here about some malicious @ssholes using the whole idea to spread a virus (another contender for Shepherd Book's 'Special Hell') but I think it's a damn good idea and urge everyone to use it.

Go here for more details http://www.icecontact.com/ - even to my overseas friends... you know it makes sense!

Secondly - it looks like the Americans might finally be getting new 'Doctor Who' at long bloody last!!! According to a report on Scifi.com (which can be read here: http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?id=31691) it looks as if the show will be airing on BBC America. I'd take certain parts of the article with a pinch of salt (not too large mind - David Tennant is a HUGE fan!) as nowt has been said about any budget cuts etc (errr why?! It's been renewed for another two series?!)... but let me take a brief moment to feel a tiny bit smug that there is at least one hit show that we Brits get before the Americans do!:D

Will keep y'all posted on that one!

Now for the nonsense... A weird theory for you to mull over or tear apart as necessary. I have a kiss of death when it comes to favourite characters in TV shows. S'true!
Anyone I really like either ends up dead or buggered off to who knows where!

For example...
Marcus Cole ('died' giving his life force so that Susan might live) - Babylon 5... Ditto Susan Ivanova (they were the ship that broke my heart - I can never ship again!;))

Daniel Jackson, Janet Fraiser and Jacob Carter to name three from Stargate SG-1 (though I practice the religion of Denile where that show is concerned... ask me how!:))

Rommie from Andromeda falls (technically!) under the curse... though she did have a good reason as avatars can't have babies and she did come back, so I've been told. And soon she'll be joining the SG-1 band.

The only person who has survived the curse so far is the lovely Captain Jack (yes... that's him in my LJ icon... cute doesn't even cover it!;)) but then if you've seen the final episode of Doctor Who (how cool was that? M/M snog on a Saturday tea time - AND NO ONE GAVE A FRAK!) you will know that... he kinda *did* fall to the curse...

So I am holding out little to no hope for Lee 'Apollo' Adama (BSG) Doctor Carson Beckett (SG- Atlantis) and Doctor Simon Tam (Firefly)... I'm cursed... CURSED!!