TV Review: The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part 1 (2012)

The Hollow Crown: Henry IV Part 1 (2012) co-written and directed by Richard Eyre based on Shakespeare's play

In 2012, England hosted the Summer Olympics. The BBC decided to have a "Cultural Olypiad" which included a series of William Shakespeare's historical play. In the first series, they presented Richard II, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, and Henry V.

The aging Henry IV (Jeremy Irons) is beset by hardships. Henry Hotspur, son of the Duke of Northumberland, is angry that the king would not pay a ransom for his brother-in-law. The situation grows out of hand, i.e. Hotspur and some Welsh nobles take arms in rebellion. A closer hardship is Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston) who is living a rather dissolute life with his companion Falstaff and others. They play pranks on each other. Falstaff is older, fatter, and drunker, so he usually gets the short end of the stick. Their good times end when the king summons Prince Hal to battle against the uprising. Hal and his friends do the right thing and go to war.

This movie is less colorful and less resonant than the first film, Richard II. The story here is slow. A lot of time is spent with Hal and Falstaff playing tricks and having barroom banter. Maybe out of respect for Shakespeare the movie makers didn't want to cut anything out, but I thought the story would be better served with less. Hiddleston is a charming scoundrel and makes the turn to a more serious person believable. Jeremy Irons is good as the king but he definitely is a secondary character to Prince Hal, despite the title.

The production is also very dark visually. The royal court mostly wears black and takes place in grey, underlit rooms. The pub where Hal and Falstaff hang out shows the typical medieval grunginess and poor lighting. Even the battle at the end takes place on a snow-covered battlefield, leaving a rather bleak appearance.

A good, not great, movie.

Book Review: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and the Great Lakes Avengers by D. Slott et al.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and the Great Lakes Avengers written by Dan Slott, Fabian Nicieza, Alex Zalben, Steve Ditko, and various artists

This book is a compilation of various adventures for Squirrel Girl, mostly involving the Great Lakes Avengers. The Great Lakes Avengers is a team of super-powered people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They aren't officially affiliated with the Avengers. They decide to name themselves as Avengers to get more name recognition and respect. The only problem is their powers are a bit lame--Mr. Immortal can't die but otherwise has no powers; Flatman is paper thin and is acknowledged as a Mr. Fantastic rip-off; Doorman is a living portal but can only transport himself or others into the next room; Dinah Saur is a female flying dinosaur humanoid; Big Bertha is a supermodel who can add mass at will to make herself huge. Their lameness is used for comedy. They hardly ever win any battle (except when Squirrel Girl joins because she is, as the title says, unbeatable). There is a serious story about the end of the world (because that's where the big drama in comics comes from, right?) but the GLA's role is mostly comic and tragic. Members die in every issue, which is a running gag for the comic. The humor isn't as dark as Kick-Ass and the message isn't as cynical as Watchmen but it's in the neighborhood. The tone is the big difference. The GLA are depicted as a fun bunch of screw-ups.

The book contains a very charming story with the Thing, who has a minor team-up with Squirrel Girl but mostly it's the story of his Bar Mitzvah and the party, with a great big superhero poker tournament. In another couple of stories, Deadpool fights with and eventually joins the GLA, which doesn't work out well for anyone (Squirrel Girl keeps calling Deadpool, "you evil, evil man!"). In addition to making fun of the GLA, readers get the Deadpool humor too (self-aware and a bit crass, if you haven't read any Deadpool stories or seen the movie). I laughed but felt guilty afterwards, just like the Deadpool movie.

The best story is with the Thing. The other stories depend a lot on your sense of humor. I enjoyed them but do not think they are great. And they don't have enough Squirrel Girl, if you ask me.

Howard County Fair 2016, Part 2

More from the Howard County Fair (check yesterpost for Part 1)...

We did enjoy yummy snacks throughout the day at the Howard County Fair. My daughter's first request was cotton candy, which we bought near the entrance.

One of many snack concessions

No, you can't have any

Crafting a disguise

My wife was eager for funnel cake though my daughter was suspicious. She claimed she'd never eaten it before but we must have at some point. I know I've had plenty in the past couple of years.

Funnel cake!

A reluctant sampler

We did some things that were less fun for the kids. We visited the various animals on display and in competition.

Cows!

Sheep!

A cute sheep

We went into the home crafts building where more competition grade stuff was on display. The kids were pretty bored so we only stayed a little while.

Home canned foods!

Quilts!

Flower arrangements!

Another building had booths from various companies and community organizations. The children were a bit bored here until we came upon Pope Francis!

A variety of home improvement companies looking for some sales

My daughter with the pope

All of us with the pope!

We had a fun day at the fair but hope next year for some cooler weather!

Howard County Fair 2016, Part 1

One hot and sweaty day, we decided it was a good idea to visit the Howard County Fair. To be fair about the fair, the weather was fairly hot and humid for the whole week. We had no way of avoiding heat and sweat, other than by riding cool rides. But more about that later. After two years of going to Cub Scout Day Camp, we are veterans of driving to the county fair grounds. The trip was a breeze as was getting into the fair.

Howard County Fair entrance

Right inside the entrance was a taste of classic farming life in Howard County. We came, we saw, we pumped water.

Classic farm equipment

Trying out the old water pump

Further inside the fairgrounds was a display of more modern equipment!

New farm equipment

The kids were more interested in two things--food and rides. That day was one dollar ride day. Each ticket cost $1 and each ride required one ticket so it was easy to manage things. Their first ride was the Typhoon which sent them spinning around in a lateral circle.

Strapped in

Typhoon at near maximum intensity

The next ride was too scary for my daughter, so I had to ride the Fireball with my son. We went around in a circle (again) but this time we were upside-down for a good part of the time. We loved it.

Excited for the ride

The loop!

Next he went by himself on the drop tower, which was not as harrowing as the Fireball but enough to make my daughter refrain.

Strapped in again!

Reaching new heights

Wanting a more sedate ride, we went to the Yoyo Swings where both children enjoyed a cool breeze on the hot day.

Swings!

Ready to launch

Later in the day, the kids went through the Hofbrahaus, a German-themed fun house more about running through challenges than about Germany.

Hofbrahaus

More challenging was the Pirate Ship, which also involved a lot of climbing. The rope bridges and the final big slide were big hits with my children.

Left half of pirate adventures

Right half of pirate adventures

Their final ride was the Himalaya, a fast-spinning coaster that just about finished them off.

Himalaya

We saw the fairground classics, ferris wheel and carousel, but the kids were not interested.

Standard fare at the fair

We did enjoy yummy snacks throughout the day. But more on that in the next post!

Summertime Athletics

My daughter went to gymnastics camp for a week. By the end she was tired, happy, and full of new skills:



We are looking into possible gym classes during the school year!

While in Florida, my eldest son and daughter tried out the neighbor's bb gun. Granny crafted a home-made target. Setting up a makeshift shooting range was as easy as pie.

Setting up the target at a good distance

My son had a some practice with the Cub Scouts so he made some fun shots from the prone position.

Taking aim

The target wasn't too far

Got a bullseye

He gave my daughter some pointers too. She was not as sure with the rifle so we moved the target closer. She was able to get a few nice hits in.

Girl with a gun!

I hope I didn't hurt you target!

My son kept on borrowing the bb gun and a few days later had almost all bullseyes.

Target from July 26

Close-up of bullseye--3 in the ring, 1 on the ring

And, of course, we did a lot of dancing...

Book Review: Pretty Deadly Vol. 1 by K. S. DeConnick et al.

Pretty Deadly Volume 1: The Shrike script by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art and cover by Emma Rios, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by Clayton Cowles

Kelly Sue DeConnick crafts a new myth set in the American Old West! A young girl in a vulture cloak and an old blind man wander from town to town as storytellers. Their main story is about the Mason Man and Beauty, who get married. Mason Man is jealous and locks Beauty in a tower. Death eventually comes to take Beauty but is enchanted with her and she has a child by him before she dies. Death raises the child as Ginny, a reaper of vengeance who may be called by anyone in need.

The girl and the blind man have a run-in with Johnny, who gives the girl something before they flee the town. Later, a woman comes after Johnny looking for a journal. He doesn't have it so she shoots him. The chase is on, though people are not necessarily who they appear to be (hint, the myth is truer than true, no surprise there).

The story takes its time setting up characters. The story slowly reveals of how everyone is related to everyone else and who has what roles in the Mason Man/Beauty story. As a mature Western it is a bit bloody in the violence and has some nudity and sex. Just because it is mythological in character does not mean it is meant for children! I found it engaging and am looking forward to more.

TV Review: The Hollow Crown: Richard II (2012)

The Hollow Crown: Richard II (2012) co-written and directed by Rupert Goold based on Shakespeare's play

In 2012, England hosted the Summer Olympics. The BBC decided to have a "Cultural Olypiad" which included a series of William Shakespeare's historical play. In the first series, they presented Richard II, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, and Henry V.

Shakespeare's Richard II is a vainglorious and somewhat effeminate king from the late 1300s. As played masterfully by Ben Whishaw, Richard is at first sight like those ethereal, otherworldly Jesuses seen in various religious epics from Hollywood's 1950s and 1960s. He's fair skinned, skinny, soft, and doesn't quite make eye contact. He's a bit above it all, almost as if he is in love with his own kingliness. He has to settle a dispute between Henry Bolingbroke (Rory Kinnear) and the Earl of Mowbray. Henry has accused the earl of treason and has challenged him to duel to defend his claim. Richard doesn't want bloodshed on English soil, so he banishes them both, though Bolingbroke only for a few years while Mowbray may never return. The unsatisfactoriness of the arrangement is worsened when Richard visits Bolingbroke's father, John of Gaunt (Patrick Stewart), on his deathbed. After John is dead, Richard seizes all of his assets (i.e. the inheritance of Bolingbroke) to finance a war in Ireland. Richard has already taxed the rich and poor alike to finance his wars, so he is not exactly popular in England. While Richard goes to Ireland, Bolingbroke returns ostensibly to recover his lost inheritance. He quickly sweeps many nobles to his side and threatens to take the throne from Richard, making himself Henry IV. Henry's revenge on Richard and his supporters is swift and almost merciless.

I am completely unfamiliar with Richard II's story, so I can't comment on the historical accuracy. But dramatically the story is quite excellent. Richard at first seems ethereal and kind-hearted but his flawed ambition is soon revealed. He retains his sense of self-importance all the way to the end. At first he's annoying and easy to root against; as his fortunes turn sour he becomes more pathetic and sympathetic. The transition is partly to do with the writing (it is Shakespeare, after all) but also with the acting. Whishaw (who I have only seen as Q in the recent Bond flicks) gives a spell-binding performance. The rest of the cast performs admirably too.

The contrast between Richard and Henry is interesting as well. Richard is soft and weak but has a sense of his own authority and importance as the king. Henry is hard and strong with a respect for the king if not full trust in him. Richard's sumptuous living shows a detachment from others. Henry appears mostly in his armor and travel clothes. Even as king, his wardrobe is still simple and reminiscent of his battlewear. The two men have some respect for each other, but for both of them that respect gives way to harsh ambition with some devastating consequences.

This TV movie has very high production values. The locations look as good as any theatrical release and the buildings' interiors and exteriors look authentically medieval. The camera work is decidedly unstagey, with some interesting and meaningful shots that a theatrical audience could never see (at one point the crown is handed between the two men and the point of view if from beneath, so the screen shows Richard II framed by the crown then Henry; it's hard to describe but amazing to see).

Highly recommended!

The next play is Henry IV Part 1 with Jeremy Irons as King Henry and Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal. I will definitely watch that!