erastes

1, It's impossible to watch it without seeing "Maskerade" by Pratchett.

2. To my poor ears, of the songs are dreadful, except when they emulate G&S, and then the lyrics suck. Cacophony doesn't do it justice.

3. Where's Granny & Gytha?

Went to see "Slumdog Millionaire" last night. Yes! Film Night! It's the first FN since my birthday when we went to see Bond. First I was ill, then Canaries Chick was ill, then it was Christmas, then my car died... Anyway, the film was WONDERFUL, although it hardly needs my squeeage for any justification. If you can't get to see it, then don't miss the DVD. I would have probably enjoyed the DVD too as some of the dialogue was a bit tricky to hear, it was just about all filmed "In the action" with a steady cam and it didn't catch everything that was said, plus of course, some words was in the native tongue although the parts of the film where this is constant--especially the parts of the boys' childhood, it's pretty all subtitled, but done well, dynamic subtitling, like in Heroes.

The only performance I didn't think much of was that of the actor playing the lead character as a grown man, he was completely gormless, but perhaps he was supposed to be, I don't know. The slums were hideous, and it made me feel ill more than once--which I suppose is a good thing. It's just appalling that in this day and age people live like that, the scope of the slums just beggar the imagination. Anyway, highly recommended. Hope it wins lots of Oscars.

I have lots of lovely books from the library: Sabriel, Lirien by Garth Nix, the two next Temeraire stories, (yes I know I said I wasn't going to read 'em but I was lacking in ideas of what to get), Anasasi Boys by Gaiman (am determined to plough on with Gaiman if it kills me). Am not very impressed with Sabriel so far, but Gehayi assures me that Sabriel isn't the Mary Sue that she's appearing to me at the moment.