"Some modern travellers still pretend to find Acephalous people in America."
Ephraim Chambers, Cyclopædia; or, an universal dictionary of arts and sciences, 1753
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Thankfully, Netflix says I'm only 23 percent similar . . . . . . to the person who claims the Pang Brother's 2006 film Re-Cycle is "THE most EMO movie EVER" as if that were a good thing. The film, though, is THE most SOMETHING movie EVER, but I'm not sure what. The list could include: THE most BIZARRE film about the unintended consequences of writer's block EVER THE most IMPRESSIVE film by twin brothers who, according to Wikipedia, "are in a relationship and rumored to be engaged" EVER THE most LIKELY FIRST film to equate throwing away a sheet of paper with aborting a fetus EVER THE most UNNECESSARILY SUBTITLED film EVER THE most OSTENSIBLY APOLITICAL Asian horror film to take its cues from the American conservative movement EVER As I said: THE most SOMETHING movie EVER. I'll start with the minor complaints and work my way forward: THE most IMPRESSIVE film by twin brothers who, according to Wikipedia, "are in a relationship and rumored to be engaged" EVER Either those two are a little too close, or Wikipedia entries sometimes need editing. THE most UNNECESSARILY SUBTITLED film EVER Unless you're being intentionally thick, as Scott McCloud is in the (center) panel from DESTROY!!! below, there is absolutely no reason for subtitles to be duo-specific: If I can see that the aborted fetus of the protagonist, Tsui Ting-Yin, is screaming and hear its banshee-keening, there is no need to have a subtitle inform me that [TSUI TING-YIN'S ABORTED FETUS IS TELLING ITS WOULD-HAVE-BEEN MOTHER HOW IT FEELS ABOUT BEING ABORTED VIA A HIGH-PITCHED SHRIEK THAT WILL LIKELY CAUSE TINNITUS]. To prove this point, I will continue reviewing the movie in the manner of its subtitles. THE most BIZARRE film about the unintended consequences of writer's block EVER THE most LIKELY FIRST film to equate throwing away a sheet of paper with aborting a fetus EVER & THE most OSTENSIBLY APOLITICAL Asian horror film to take its cues from the American conservative movement EVER
The genetic (linguistic) connection between the US Southern and North English accents would have to make it easier than, say, a New York or Valley Girl sound.
That said, van Dyke does have a lot to answer for. I do better English accents.
Posted by: Ahistoricality | Wednesday, 26 August 2009 at 01:38 PM
I think "Deep South" is the go-to accent for the Brits when they're portraying American Christian nutcases. But seriously though, how is Spooks like Leverage? The obvious comparison to me is that Spooks is like 24 if the writers were very clever but also hated the audience just a bit.
Posted by: Paul | Wednesday, 26 August 2009 at 02:04 PM
That's probably why Brits don't get American race politics. To them, with their Ken Burns addled minds, there is no black or white, only sepia.
Posted by: Joseph Kugelmass | Wednesday, 26 August 2009 at 03:21 PM
I am watching Spooks via Netflix streaming right now and attest that at least through the middle of the third season it's nothing like Leverage. I endorse Paul's assessment; it's like 24, but more clever, less over the top, and slightly hateful. I'm getting weirded out with how the individual characters get their most challenging and dramatic episodes immediately before they leave the show. Also, I think Tom Quinn would have had better luck in love if once, just once, he'd said something like "For fuck's sake! I really wanted to see you, I wanted it much more than what I was actually doing! BUT I WAS STOPPING AN ASSAULT ON A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. I HAD to miss our date. I know it's difficult but you cannot, as a rational adult, blame me for this. I will buy you flowers. Surely you can understand."
Posted by: medrawt | Wednesday, 26 August 2009 at 06:48 PM
I've been sicker than I've been in years this past week---as you might could tell by the "quality" of my voice in that clip---but I've half-drafted a post on the Spooks/Leverage connection that I'll have up as soon as I finish marking this stack of Research Reports.
Posted by: SEK | Friday, 28 August 2009 at 02:59 PM
That was you?
Get well soon!
Posted by: Ahistoricality | Friday, 28 August 2009 at 09:57 PM
My wife had been in LA that day, got home after I'd gone to bed (about 7 p.m.), and when I talked to her about it, she asked me where I got that clip . . . so yes, good thing I'm teaching online right now, as I've been without a real voice for much more than a minute at a time for the better part of a week now.
Posted by: SEK | Friday, 28 August 2009 at 10:04 PM
As an Englishman I'd like to take this opportunity to say: arv owlways du-pain-ded upon the carndness arv stray-njers.
Posted by: Adam Roberts | Monday, 31 August 2009 at 02:36 PM