Beau Peep Notice Board

Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Tom on February 06, 2010, 08:19:13 PM

Title: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tom on February 06, 2010, 08:19:13 PM
According to the calendar, 6th February is Tranquil's Bathday.

I would have missed this as it is showing as an upcoming event on the index page.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Roger Kettle on February 06, 2010, 09:10:33 PM
It IS Tarks' birthday and we forgot! Shame on us.
Happy 51st, mate, and I'm desperately sorry that your team was knocked out of the cup today. Fnar!
Hope you and Sam had a great day.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Vulture on February 06, 2010, 10:23:25 PM
Happy Birthday, Tarks. I hope you had a grand day!
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Bilthehut on February 06, 2010, 10:39:49 PM
Happy Birthday Tarks, and commiserations over that match.  There's always next year.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tom on February 06, 2010, 11:30:01 PM
Yes, happy birthday, Tarks... it is still today after all!  :)
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Diamond Lil on February 06, 2010, 11:31:23 PM
Phew..just made it in time..happy birthday and many happy returns
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Jack on February 06, 2010, 11:42:04 PM
Happy Birthday!
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Diane CBPFC on February 06, 2010, 11:51:26 PM
Happy Birthday TTIII - I was so worried about Roger in the tunnel that I forgot about the calendar.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 12:16:15 AM
Why, thanks, everybody! I am, as ever, deeply touched.

I've had an excellent day, the highlight being a trip to the moving pictures auditorium to see the latest epic yarn from Mr James Cameron, 'Avatar', in three dimensional cinematography. I admit it was not my immediate choice, and I was not expecting to wholly enjoy it from the little pre-publicity I had encountered prior to today's visit. But in truth, it was the dog's testicles, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it as yet. An absolutely stunning production, well worth one's pennies.

Which is more than I can say about today's Scottish Cup encounter between my own jaded St Johnstone and Roger's lucky-to-have-caught-their-opponents-three-days-after-a-hard-slog-match-at-Hampden-in-heavy-conditions-during-the-other-cup-semi-final-which-Saints-incidentally-disposed-of-The-Arabs-in-the-quarter-final-Fnar-right-back-at-you Dundee United. The better team won on the day by all accounts, although what the Liverpool score had to do with it is beyond me.

Anyway, thanks again - it's an indescribable joy to be 51.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Bilthehut on February 07, 2010, 12:20:42 AM
Sounds like a good day, Tarks.

Seen Avatar twice now (in 2D and then 3D).  I second your comment.

P.s.  Commiserations about the game. 
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Malc on February 07, 2010, 12:35:48 AM
I hate all this birthday stuff, but *sigh* all right, happy birthday.

On a different note, I must admit I have been using the bottom scroll bar to knock your baby self's picture against the sides.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 12:48:26 AM
You're all heart, Malc. Well apart from that little gooey bit that's seeping onto the floor.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Joan on February 07, 2010, 01:01:35 AM
Ooops! Missed out by 58 mins - belated Happy Birthday, TT!  That'll learn me to go to Beau Peep last on my morning catch-ups. Bit late today as well.

Glad to hear you had a good one. Sorry about the football result, though, but it probably gave Roger a bit of a boost while he was confined to barracks.   ;)
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Diane CBPFC on February 07, 2010, 03:05:19 AM
I took the kids to see Avatar in West Edmonton Mall's IMAX theatre. It was great - the story was crap - but the show was great. My two youngest (10, 15) got a bit sea sick with the 3D - but I was fine and was able to eat an Indian supper in front of them right after (which turned out to be a parenting mistake).
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 07:46:51 PM
the story was crap

I kept hearing this before seeing it, Diane, and it formed most of my preconceived apprehension. But I actually thoroughly enjoyed it, predictable as the outcome may have been. I thought the initial premise was excellent, and underlying messages were spot on. But then I don't get out much.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Roger Kettle on February 07, 2010, 08:07:42 PM
I may have mentioned this before but the last time I went to the cinema, I took my mother to see the newly-released Crocodile Dundee. It wasn't in 3D.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 09:01:48 PM
So why never since? Did she not buy you popcorn?  ???
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Vulture on February 07, 2010, 09:34:10 PM
I may have mentioned this before but the last time I went to the cinema, I took my mother to see the newly-released Crocodile Dundee. It wasn't in 3D.

I don't know if I can beat you on that, Roger. The last time I went to the cinema, it was to see the newley-released Full Monte..
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Vulture on February 07, 2010, 09:36:38 PM
I may have mentioned this before but the last time I went to the cinema, I took my mother to see the newly-released Crocodile Dundee. It wasn't in 3D.

I don't know if I can beat you on that, Roger. The last time I went to the cinema, it was to see the newley-released Full Monte..
Nope, I can't. Crocodile Dundee about 1986-ish - Full Monte, 1996-ish!
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Jack on February 07, 2010, 10:00:08 PM
I haven't seen it, but isn't Avatar's story just Pocahontas?

(spoilers for Avatar below, if you're bothered)

(http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/epic-fail-avatar-plot-fail.jpg)
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 10:15:21 PM
You got a problem with Pocahontas, Jack?
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Bilthehut on February 07, 2010, 10:36:39 PM
I haven't seen it, but isn't Avatar's story just Pocahontas?

(spoilers for Avatar below, if you're bothered)

(http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/epic-fail-avatar-plot-fail.jpg)

NO!!  And I thought Pandora was real.  Neytiri was hot, for a blue skinned, tailed 9 foot alien.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Jack on February 07, 2010, 10:47:25 PM
You got a problem with Pocahontas, Jack?

Only when it's coloured in blue and passed off as original  ;)

But as I say, I haven't seen it, so you're in a better position than me to say if it's basically just the same story.

And "unobtainium"? Seriously?
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 11:12:47 PM
Can't actually say, Jack - I've never seen (or read) Pocahontas. But I'm sure there are enough differences to make even a reworking of a classic entertaining. I've seen many different versions of 'A Christmas Carol', for instance, including present day parodies, and enjoyed most of them. Avatar may be based on a classic tale (I honestly don't know), but as a masterpiece of 21st century story-telling, it stands on its own, and is one of the best I have seen. 

As for Unobtainium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtainium), it's not as daft as it sounds.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: lucy on February 07, 2010, 11:23:59 PM


BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY  TARKS :D
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Jack on February 07, 2010, 11:27:47 PM
I've seen many different versions of 'A Christmas Carol', for instance

The Muppet one is by far and away the best.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 11:34:00 PM


BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY  TARKS :D
Thank you, Lucy! Do take Peepsie to see Avatar - you'll love it. Buy popcorn - large box!
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Tarquin Thunderthighs lll on February 07, 2010, 11:35:21 PM
I've seen many different versions of 'A Christmas Carol', for instance

The Muppet one is by far and away the best.

You won't hear any argument from me on that score, Jack. I wore out the video, and now have the DVD.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Jack on February 07, 2010, 11:59:07 PM
Same here.

Plus, the DVD lets you play the songs in Norwegian and the like! And they're still brilliant!

Not to mention Michael Caine as Scrooge, and playing it absolutely straight, is an inspired piece of casting.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Diane CBPFC on February 08, 2010, 01:29:43 AM
That is my must-see xmas video.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: The Peepmaster on February 08, 2010, 01:56:01 AM
Happy Birthday, Tarquil.
Title: Re: Tranquil's Bathday
Post by: Malc on February 08, 2010, 02:11:47 AM
The Avatar/Pocahontas connection is valid, of course, the story was never the film's strong point, just as we already knew the plot ending of Titanic. Writing is often not about the arrival, or even about what happens during the journey, it's HOW you tell it, and that separates the good writers from bad.

Cameron comes closest to being the Disney of our times. Disney often took a punt on his projects, as he did with Snow White, the first animated feature. He had already gone way over his budget with the film only 3/4 made when he brought his financial backers to a theatre to watch slices of storyboard, line tests, rushes and finished footage spliced together to show how it would look when it was finished. The businessmen were so knocked out they voted with their pockets and advanced Disney the money to finish the film.

Most if not all filmakers have studied Disney, just as they studied Chaplin, Kubrick and Hitchcock, not because of his directional skills, but because of his immense talent for telling the same story again and again and making it look different.

Disney's template was always:
Lone hero (often orphan/displaced royalty) banished to wilderness.
Meets kooky band of followers.
Learns about the 'important' things in life, falls in love,
Faces life-threatening situation, survives,
Returns home to defeat super-villain, reclaim birthright.

Use that template for just about every Disney movie from Snow White to Jungle Book, Little Mermaid, Lion King, whatever and you can see that Cameron was less worried about coming up with original plots than putting a 'sure thing' storyline out there, and re-hashing a Disney plot was the quickest way to get that problem solved.