Turk Thrust

[Turk Thrust]

1 7 4 2

[Turk Thrust]

Hostility is the reason given by Doug on the DVDs but whether it`s true or not…

The fact that Brittas ended and Chris felt it went on for too long probably was a contributing factor to him returning to Dwarf.

[Turk Thrust]

> Danny comes across as one of those guys who thinks he?s funny when he rarely is

Nice description. :-)

Agree that Danny and Norman seem to get on very well.

[Turk Thrust]

Are you serious???

[Turk Thrust]

They`re not text tracks.

[Turk Thrust]

> She?s the redeeming feature of this show for me.

I would completely disagree as I think she is the worst thing in it but there we are.

The show itself is patchy but the last couple of episodes have been very good and when it focuses on Lee and Tim it is at its best. They have an obvious chemistry together and good comedy timing as you would expect (even if their acting ability is otherwise limited in the extreme).

I hope that the ratings pick up a bit and the show continues because it is one of the best comedies around right now imo.

[Turk Thrust]

Craig should be thankful. He was obviously perfectly cast as Lister but he has no acting range at all and if he doesn`t like the attention that being in a primetime soap brings then he could obviously have tried turning down a job for once.

[Turk Thrust]

Relieved at that news.

To have included Chloe and not Norman would have been madness and as she was only hired to try to get funding for the movie it makes sense to jettison her now.

[Turk Thrust]

3

[Turk Thrust]

Yeah, they devoted a reasonable amount of time to the first series.

[Turk Thrust]

Enjoyable enough in a throwaway way but not something I find myself wanting to watch again and not the sort of thing I’d be that keen for them to repeat.

Agree that the Kochanski stuff is awful but the rest could have been much worse than it eventually turned out.

[Turk Thrust]

In the spirit of talking about what we would like to see, I would hope to see just the 5 main characters and not Ace, Hollister, Kochanski, the Dibbley family etc. 2 episodes is not that much time so I hope that they are both driven by the main characters and the plot rather than bringing on characters for cameos unless they are integral to the plot.

I also hope that the characters’ ages are referred to and that they are allowed to grow old fairly gracefully. I also pray that the characters actually feel authentic.

The main thing that I’d like though is to not feel like I’ve watched The Legacy of Red Dwarf after the eps have finished. But if the best material from the movie script is used then that shouldn’t happen if it’s as good as has been suggested.

[Turk Thrust]

> Dismissing the whole of any work seems simplistic to me. You never see VIII-haters talking at length about the impressive imagination on display in those series, of things being done right. Likewise, the faction of Bond fans who dismiss the whole of Moonraker for its admitted idiocy are choosing to overlook a myriad good qualities – not the least of which is how well the film gets Bond into a credible space-based setting.

I respectfully disagree that you don’t ever see people rationally talking about the merits of those 2 series. Quite often, including in this thread, people mention good jokes, ideas, episodes etc. from the last 2 series. If some people feel that the bad outweighs the good though then obviously comments about the negative aspects will be mentioned more.

Similarly with Bond, many people are able to talk about the plusses and minuses of the Moore era. Particularly the hardcore fans I find.

> For me ?Things the new Dwarf should avoid? is a negative way to go about celebrating your franchise of choice. And in such a small group it can?t help but lean towards existing biases that we?re all kinda aware of already. It comes with a vague agenda – to complain.

But then posters could, and probably would, just make the same comments in different clothes. For example, instead of talking about not making the mistakes of VII and VIII they would talk about getting back to the heights of the first 6 series.

Also, as previously mentioned, it is inevitable that talk of new Dwarf will mention old series and as Doug only wrote VII and VIII without Rob then those are the 2 most relevant series to talk about.

> I like my fandom more positive – ?What would you LIKE to see??

The nature of these boards is to talk about negative things quite often though isn’t it. For example, in the thread that you started the other day you expended 90% of your time talking about how much Ricky Gervais sucks and much less time praising British cinema. That’s the way it goes.

[Turk Thrust]

I think that as Series VII and VIII are the only series to have been written by Doug without Rob, it’s only natural that people would be worried about perceived errors being replicated in the new eps.

Personally I hope that the 2 new eps have a much stronger script editor as I think Series VIII had some good gags in it but also some terrible ideas and lots of unnecessary lines.

Ideally I would cut Kochanski altogether but if she is included then I hope Doug makes her into a more well rounded character rather than just a stereotypical male image of what a woman is.

I hope also that there is a return to more subtlety and pathos too. Doug said in one of the DVD interviews that maybe it was a shame that that had been lost so there seems a chance it will return.

[Turk Thrust]

I would have to agree that the reaction to this sort of comment is way over the top. If Gervais thinks that few good British films are made then it’s a valid opinion. People are entitled to them even if others don’t agree.

Also, lots of people clearly dislike him as a person but it still can’t be denied that the vast majority of projects that he has worked on, including the new film which he is now promoting, have been immensely popular with both fans and critics. Those people’s opinions are again valid.

I also do wonder why some people who claim to hate him so much seem to intentionally seek out every piece of work he does. Bizarre.

[Turk Thrust]

> Anyway, whatever the reasons behind it all, it has to be great news and probably not the best time to start bickering.

Amen to that. Hopefully people can put their toys back in the pram and just concentrate on discussing things which are more important.

Personally I hope that, if the ep does come about, Doug doesn’t think beyond this and just puts everything into it. By that I mean that I hope that any good jokes from the movie script which can be lifted will be and that the ep won’t be seen as a way of putting Dwarf in the shop window for future projects.

I also pray that it won’t be a ‘best of’ episode with repeated catchphrases and appearances by Ace, the Dibbley family etc.

[Turk Thrust]

> I have nothing against Grogan, but it does puzzle me that anyone would consider her a superior actress to Chloe.

To be fair, Clare does have a much more impressive CV imo. In the show though I agree it’s because she had less to do and she appeared in better series that her version of the character is generally more popular.

> Doug would be the first to admit that he didn?t write Kochanski very well, especially in VII.

But Doug has also said that Chloe played the character much more uptight and unlikeable than was written which is hardly a ringing endorsement.

> But, that said, I do think Chloe is a better actress than Clare. As evidence, I present the following two lines of dialogue :
?That doesn?t excuse my other four senses!?
and
?Don?t worry about us, GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!?

The line, “We’re not friends any more.” immediately springs to mind.

[Turk Thrust]

I watched this purely due to Chris’s involvement and it was amiable enough I guess. Chris’s role wasn’t particularly challenging but he was competent in what little he had to do. Obviously he puts other things before his career nowadays which is fair enough but from a fan’s point of view it’s a little disappointing.

[Turk Thrust]

Can’t really add much else except to reiterate how excellent the DVDs were and are and that it will be tough for GNP to keep up that standard on any future releases.

[Turk Thrust]

Yeah, I thought that this ep was stronger than the last couple of weeks. One or two duff sketches but a good success rate nevertheless.

[Turk Thrust]

I actually thought it was pretty poor in comparison with the rest of the series. A typical mid-series dip in quality I guess but it’s a shame as I thought the first couple of eps of this series were excellent.

[Turk Thrust]

> Huh?? People die in Brittas and the humour is ?dark?, but it?s only very occasionally played for the drama of the situation.

Yeah, I don’t really see any genuine drama in Brittas at all. It was a good, but not great, show until the last couple of series but several of the characters are one dimensional and trying anything truly dramatic would have been a mistake.

[Turk Thrust]

> Why do we still have Sir Digby Chicken Caesar, who I never liked?

It seems like they’ve completely run out of ideas for him and this weeks sketch was desperately unfunny.

[Turk Thrust]

> Now THAT is funny.

It seriously isn’t.

[Turk Thrust]

I actually thought that it was the weakest episode so far this series. Too many sketches went on far too long and the one with the robot was the worst offender.

[Turk Thrust]

> It really DOESN?T make any sense when the trailer is better than the movie, but that is so often the case.

Doesn’t it? It makes a lot of sense I think. If you can just pick the funniest or most dramatic moments and cram them into a short space of time then it stands a decent chance of impressing.

[Turk Thrust]

I think the ‘Brylcreem’ gag is one of the best in Series VIII.

Unfortunately it’s followed up with the explanation which insults the intelligence of anyone watching.

[Turk Thrust]

> Bloody hell, I?ve just stumbled across ITV1 showing a new impov series, using ITV ?faces? acting in scenes where everyone else has had the script. ?Thank God You?re Here?, it?s called. The format?s actually quite neat. Not as edgy as C4 or whatever, but Paul Merton?s hosting and I?ve hit a half-dozen decent laughs?

The format is fine I agree but the general consensus is that the Australian version is much, much better. There are some laughs there but not enough over an hour I think and some of the guests that they’ve chosen are poor (though bizarrely Fern Britton has been the best so far). Paul Merton also seems to be struggling.

[Turk Thrust]

I watched a little of the Slattery/McShane show and I found them to be as they were on WLIIA. By that I mean that they’re certainly not to my taste. I really dislike McShane’s delivery and they both seem far too pleased with themselves.

[Turk Thrust]

> Better than the early days of Paul Merton, Stephen Fry, Josie Lawrence, Sandi Toksvig, Mike McShane and the amazing Tony Slattery? Really? Cripes!

Well Merton and Fry could be very good no doubt. I think that the makers realised how important Mochrie and Stiles were though and that’s why they appeared in nearly every show together during one period. When you see them opposite Slattery, Lawrence, McShane etc. they really wipe the floor with them imo.

[Turk Thrust]

> Which begs the question: Who, of today?s performers, would you put on a new edition of WLIIA?

They could try it with a lot of the same people who are on Mock the Week I guess. Really though I think it was Mochrie and Stiles who made WLIIA. When I watch the repeats, it’s those two who consistently make me laugh while the others rarely do.

[Turk Thrust]

I decided to drag this thread up again as the DVD is released on Friday. Also, I noticed that Chris Barrie will be helping to promote it in some way.

[Turk Thrust]

Personally I don’t think that TV is any better or worse than it has ever been before.

I think part of the reason why people feel it’s worse is due to romanticizing the past. For example, people talk about how there aren’t any great comedies like Python, Morecambe and Wise, Two Ronnies etc. any more. Nobody ever mentions things like Russ Abbot, Hale and Pace, Little and Large, Cannon and Ball etc. which all ran for ever too though. Are current shows really worse than those on the whole?

Also, people are far more picky over what they watch now. There are hundreds of channels and lots more other stuff that people can do to entertain themselves so people won’t just watch ‘anything’ like they used to.

[Turk Thrust]

> The strange thing is Dwarfin? USA is probably better because the pilot footage isn?t present, a bit like watching Lost In La Mancha. Of course I would love to have seen both pilots on DVD, but the documentary itself does a really nice job of registering everyone?s opinions, having Doug and Robert talk the production side, before relishing in Craig Charles? bitterness.

And Danny’s bitterness of course.

I think the Dwarfin’ USA doc is as good as it could have been but I would love to see a doc which covers the situation from more than just Doug’s and Robert’s perspective. The chances of that happening are probably zero I know but Rob and all of the Americans involved would bring a whole new slant to things and why the show wasn’t a success I’m sure.

[Turk Thrust]

> How old do we reckon he is? He trolls like a 14 year old and pontificates like a 40 year old.

But there was nothing in this thread that merited your response to it. Obviously everybody (or certainly me anyway) writes stupid things on the boards from time to time but in this thread it’s only you who has done that and not him. If you don’t like the way that somebody writes then why drag yourself down to their level or below?

In answer to the question, I think that the Series 8 doc is possibly my least favourite. Not really because of how it was made or anything but just because I disagree so strongly with some of the comments that are made. ‘A Ben Hur of Dwarves’ for example.

In some ways I think that the remastered doc is the best one because it covers things so succinctly. The other 7 series docs are all excellent as well though.

[Turk Thrust]

I think you’re right about the Dark Ages DVD only being released in America. It pops up on ebay from time to time.

I agree that The Strangerers didn’t really work as a nine part series but I don’t think just shortening it would have solved many problems. They should have made Sarah Alexander’s and Mark Heap’s characters much more prominent I think to give the show some reality. To have constant strangeness was never going to be sustainable.

[Turk Thrust]

> No, she wasn?t Japanese. I said she was hot, remember.

Apologies. I misinterpreted what you wrote. My Mistake.

> Yep, that?s it, I?m offended. Again.

I’m not sure why. It’s hardly a revelation that lots of Japanese women have a fetish for Western men. Not all by a long way but lots. Similarly plenty of Western men have a thing for Asian babes. Hardly groundbreaking stuff.

[Turk Thrust]

> I went to high school with a kid who took Japanese and college and did great at it?despite the fact he was a big fat idiot slob loser. Also, he ended up dating a girl far hotter than anyone else in my circle of friends ever got. And he?s still with her to this day.

You mean a Western man found a hot Japanese girlfriend? Hardly a challenge.

[Turk Thrust]

> Yeah, in all seriousness, I?m aware that I?m going to find it INCREDIBLY difficult. And if I ever want to become even vaguely competent at the simple stuff, it?s going to take masses of time and effort.

I think that if you work at it then you should be able to learn to speak it to a reasonable standard without ‘that’ much trouble. Once you get into the swing of it, it’s quite easy to pronounce Japanese words because there are only 5 vowel sounds. Pronouncing English is probably more difficult.

Also, if you ever do visit Japan then people will appreciate you speaking any Japanese and respond politely.

[Turk Thrust]

N is The Monkees
http://www.monkees.net/default.htm

[Turk Thrust]

N looks very like The Monkees to me.

[Turk Thrust]

> Thousands

You’re probably right. I do agree though that the writing was just as big a problem as the casting. I guess that as soon as Alison Graham described the episode as being very special, it was almost a guarantee that it would be average at best.

[Turk Thrust]

> I didn?t see any reason for it to be Kylie cast (aside from the star cachet? which appears to have worked if you look at the overnights) as opposed to someone with more in the way of recent acting experience.

Well exactly. Kylie is a likeable person but she really isn’t massively talented. There are hundreds of actresses who have more ability than her and could have played the role better. Hiring one of them would have improved the show but could have damaged the ratings.

[Turk Thrust]

Geoffrey Palmer was excellent as always (and underused as already mentioned) but that was the best thing about it. They should try hiring actors based on their suitability for the role rather than on their fame (Kylie) or their being talked about as the next big thing (Russell Tovey).

[Turk Thrust]

> People are saying LOTR is a step back from Brain Dead?

I don’t think that anyone was saying that. It was The Frighteners that was described like that.

[Turk Thrust]

> Aye, and it?s his best film too. Bar none.

Better than Heavenly Creatures? Or Braindead? Not in my opinion. I thought it was a massive backward step.

[Turk Thrust]

Thanks for the info.

[Turk Thrust]

> You forgot the seven minutes of ?violence? removed with the careful use of a blunt razor blade and some gaffer tape.

Which violence was cut and who was involved in it?

Am about to start writing a uni dissertation about Bond and this could be useful to mention so would appreciate any help on the subject.

[Turk Thrust]

British people enjoy moaning though don’t they. If they’d been polled 20 years ago then they probably would have said much the same thing.

I agree that there isn’t a classic mainstream sitcom at the moment but I guess that’s because a lot of the top comedy writers don’t want to make that type of show anymore.

[Turk Thrust]

http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=539

[Author]

Replies