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Sunday, February 08, 2015

We watched this movie today

and it was good. YKWIA had read the book (and I read parts of it). I knew who the murderer was as a result from the get-go, but I didn't actually know the ending (which was apparently different to some degree anyway). Daniel Radcliffe was believable as Ig, and he does a decent American accent, which escapes many Brits (although Australians and New Zealanders tend to have an easier time for some reason. It must be the broader vowels they have.)

Warning: Tangent ahead--
I'm still not sure why Hollywood seems to shy away from casting blond actors for characters who are supposed to be blond (Lee in this movie, for example, but I give you Oliver Queen/Green Arrow from 'Arrow', Captain America and Aquaman from the movies, the younger Charles Xavier from the X-Men movie franchise, etc.) It really bugs YKWIA, and will send him into a discussion I've heard many times.. Even if the actor is naturally darker in hair, they can do wonders with dye. At least The Hunger Games did it right--Jennifer Lawrence, who is blonde, was made brunette for her part, and Josh Hutcherson, who has dark hair, was made blond. Or for 'Sherlock', Benedict Cumberbatch, who has auburn hair naturally goes darker for that role. But for the most part, at best actors might have dark blond hair, bordering on light brown. In fact the only TV or movie characters these days who come to mind who are as blond as the corresponding book character are Alexander Skarsgård's Eric Northman from 'True Blood' (based on the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series of books)--and he's Swedish--and it looks to me like his was made blonder for the role, and maybe Chris Hemsworth as Thor, where again, I think they lightened his a bit. So they do sometimes, but other times they just chuck out the character description entirely, it seems.

I know really blond men are in the minority (many more were no doubt blond when young, but their hair often darkens over time, like Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio). So maybe they need to go to Scandinavia (or Minnesota) for more actors. Or go for the hair dye. I mean, we know there aren't nearly as many actresses who are actually blonde who look it, surely. Why is it okay for women to dye their hair, but not men? But even though there are a lot more dark-headed actors, I'm sure there are blond actors out there who can truly act--but Hollywood seems to just go with names they think will draw in crowds, regardless of looks or for that matter, talent. Anyway, it would be nice if casting directors would consider the physical description of a character that is already fleshed out in a book before casting--especially ones that have been established for decades. If it isn't clear, that's one thing. Not all characters are amply described. And there is often some leeway, just as colour-blind casting is sometimes quite appropriate. But someone like Jason Momoa, just doesn't do it for me as Aquaman, or Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen (Green Arrow), and it just makes YKWIA go off. Of course, he would also keep a continuity manual enforced on shows for all sorts of things. Don't get him started on the inconsistencies of various ages of people throughout the X-Men movies, even when taken independently from the comics, for example. :)
End tangent.

But I digress. Here is a trailer for Horns. I wasn't sure I would like it, but actually, it was quite good, with a mystery blended with odd happenings.

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