Movies and TV

This page is always under construction

Movies, Flicks and Films

As films and are the best areas for getting images, writing rude comments or praising your favourite stars, I've decided that they warrant a page to themselves! Isn't that nice of me (OK, you can pay up now BBC, Paramount, C4 etc.)! This isn't meant to be an area for critiques on the latest shows or films, merely and introduction to my somewhat strange taste in all things moving image!
Much of the information/websites have been gathered from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) website - a fount of information about films, TV series, actors, directors, various crew, filming locations, goofs, trivia etc. Well worth a visit! For the seriously movie-mad (or just plain mad) among you, try the Internet Movie Questionnaire site and have a laugh at some of the answers, or either seriously worry about the state of some people's mental health when they completed it - fascinating!

Apparently the first film I was taken to see (aged 3) was Dumbo. I don't remember much about it - partially because of my age, and probably also because I fell asleep during it. I still haven't seen it since. I didn't get much of chance to go to many films when younger as I lived out of town and needed a kind parent to take me to the cinema, so I didn't really catch up on my viewing until I was sent off to boarding school, when were allowed to visit the cinema occasionally. I now virtually live in the cinema! I loved the cinema in St Andrews - The New Picture House (actually built in the 1920s). Double seats at the back, and still allows smoking in one section of the balcony! Unfortunately, the double seats were removed during renovations in the late 1980s, but the atmosphere of the place is really great - very different from modern multiplexes where watching a film has been taken into the spotless medical realm - no soul to it (although the drinks holders are handy!).
Anyway, here's an introduction to some of my favourite films, with some useful links for you to dig further if you're interested - most of the links are the official sites, with occasional additional suggestions for places to go, in the case of films like Titanic, I've just linked to the Yahoo! results page 'cause there are just too many fan pages out there.. I know I've missed some out, but I'll probably get around to expanding this section as time goes by.........

Past Tense
Everyone seems to have a favourite 'old' film - how old it is depends upon your age - and when asked I usually say my favourite film is Ben Hur (1959). You know, the one with Charlton Heston that won 11 Oscars and had the chariot racing scene in it. I do love this film, and keep rewatching it, but there are others I love too - I have a soft spot for It's A Wonderful Life (like a lot of other people), but I haven't seen Citizen Kane ('sacrilege!' I hear you cry - sorry, but I have no inclination to at the moment - maybe some day though). They don't seem to make 'epic' films nowadays - unless you call Titanic epic - I just call it titanically long - the old epics at least had a plot.
I'm also very fond of Dr Zhivago - wasn't Omar Sharif really handsome as the young man??! Mind you, knowing that the snow scenes were filmed in Spain and that the snow/ice on the summer house scenes was actually wax does kind of change your point of view of those scenes. I also love the music - I'm still trying to get my fingers around the piano music for Lara's Theme - maybe some day. Omar Sharif also made an impact in Lawrence of Arabia - that long ride out of the desert was brilliant. A long film, but interesting, even for the bits of Lawrence's life that were omitted.
I have a tendency to go for historical films, so I love things like Spartacus and The Vikings (not that I have a thing about Kirk Douglas!). Not quite so serious are Errol Flynn swashbuckling films like the Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood etc., or the Stewart Granger equivalents like Scaramouche. Pure escapism, but, Oh! what fun! In the historical vein, Braveheart deserves a mention - if only to point out that however good a movie it is, there are so many glaringly obvious historical errors in it that I can never sit back and enjoy watching it. Mel Gibson's hopeless accent doesn't help either - especially when he's surrounded by Scots actors.
Deathstar
On a more recent note, Star Wars I suppose comes into this category, although not really 'old'. I think just about everyone in the known Universe must have seen this trilogy by now (whether the old version or the new 'Special Editions'). I have nothing against the new editions, I just don't like some of the additions, or some of the things that have been lost - like the Ewoks' victory tune on the Stormtrooper helmets at the end of Return of the Jedi. The music has been changed, and now doesn't seem to fit the 'drumming'. You also seem to have lost some of the sort of naiveté that permeated the original Star Wars film - it almost seems too slick now!
As a bridge to the next section, the FX 'fest' that is Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace has to be mentioned. Not a bad film -but not a brilliant one. It is obviously setting up the storylines for the next instalments of the trilogy, so it doesn't really go anywhere - other than introducing Anakin as a small boy, and the best 'bad' guy yet - Darth Maul. Shame George Lucas had to kill off the two best characters in the film -even if he did do it in style - and also ending the involvement of one of my favourite actors into the bargain (unless he returns as one of those Jedi glowing ghost things?).

Present Tense
Although this area may look a little short, I've archived my old reviews. If you really have to go read them, they are HERE!
On to more topical things - if you can call late second century Rome topical. Well, you can if it involves Russell Crowe glowering at Joaquin Phoenix, and a few tigers just to juice it a up a little.

I have to admit to obsessive/compulsive behaviour with Gladiator. Obsessed - I've seen it 4 times and the soundtrack lives on my CD player. Compulsive? - Russell Crowe is compusive to watch, because he can act - what a refreshing change from some of the Hollywood stars - and he ain't bad looking either! The storyline plot is dead simple, the film doesn't catch you that way, it is just beautifully shot (well, the real bits are - I think the computer operators were having an off day in the CGI department), and choreographed. It has its slow moments, but the big arena fight scene is at least as good as Ben Hur's chariot race. Definitely one for the video/DVD collection - a future epic possibly?
OK, a bit more modern in some ways (it is set in the present-ish), but old in the sense that the film has been around for a while. Entrapment isn't really that good a film in many ways, it's just a good, harmless heist film, with a couple of twists. I suppose the main reasons I enjoy it is because Sean Connery is in it (not necessarily always a good indicator though), and he does seem to be enjoying himself enormously.

Also because there is always something about seeing a place you know well on the big screen - especially one that is visited by relatively few people. Sean's castle in Scotland in the film is actually Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull - some of the best pictures are from the ferry as you approach the island - must have caused a bit of a headache during filming! There is also a current archaeological dig underwater right beneath the castle (link to my history page)
There seems to have been a rush on Elizabethan films recently - fortunately good ones. Elizabeth takes an interesting alternative look at the first few years of Elizabeth's reign, as she was trying establish herself. All right, so there are the usual liberties with historical truth (though there are also some good, accurate points too), but it isn't the usual stuffy version - these people were human after all!
Shakespeare in Love was a good deal less serious, and it's (metaphorical) tongue was firmly placed in its cheek the whole way through. Loads of 'in' jokes, and generally very well observed, if a bit of an unlikely storyline - who cares, it was good fun to watch! I also think Joseph Fiennes and Geoffrey Rush seem to have cornered the market in hose and doublet for the moment - they are both in both films.
I suppose I shall just have to mention the 'new' James Bond film - The World is Not Enough. The title comes from the Bond family motto (as revealed in On her Majesty's Secret Service), but, as is so often the case with these films, bears absolutely no resemblance to what is actually in the film itself. A good set-up pre-title sequence (unfortunately the omitted to actually blow up the Millennium Dome, but nobody's perfect) sets up the story for the following film. Unfortunately it seems to go downhill from there. Denise Richards is a waste of space as far as I'm concerned - possibly the most unconvincing scientist since Dr Holly Goodhead. I also hope John Cleese smartens up his act if he is called back - at the moment he is no replacement for the late Desmond Llewellyn as Q. Maybe that will come, but I'd rather it was Graham Chapman. PC Hamish MacBeth isn't much good as the baddy either - Robert Carlye probably had fun doing it, but he doesn't convince - possibly as bad as Jonathan Pryce. All in all - I prefer Tomorrow Never Dies, but it isn't as bad as some of the others.

Television
This is where the common ground diverges - unless you live in the British Isles of course! Some of these shows are (or have been) available in other countries, but if you've never heard of them, I apologize! Of course, a goodly proportion of them are American anyway...........
'Cult' shows
I suppose this covers all the shows that no-one would admit to watching unless you put them in the 'cult' department! As far as I'm concerned this includes things like Hercules, Xena, Highlander, Seaquest, La Femme Nikita etc. All of which I love watching. There is only one major drawback to this. Either they are on Channel 5 - for which my reception stinks! - or the channel that does show them has stopped showing new episodes and seems to be on an eternal time loop of repeats (Hint hint ITV - please show the newer episodes of Highlander!)
Some cult shows are better than others, and two of the best are Red Dwarf (Yahoo listing of sites) and Monty Python. Both cringingly funny and unique, plus MP is about 30 - yet still keeps making me laugh. My favourite MP film is Life of Brian - it has too many good bits to comment upon them all, but I love the graffiti scene, and the 'What have the Romans ever done for us?' bits. No doubt you have your own favourites! I mustn't forget Blackadder (webring site) either - all of them! What a way to learn history - oh, and don't forget the turnip for Baldrick!
I must add Due South to this setion too. Apparantly the US stations cancelled it because it didn't fit into their programming subject headings. It's not really a 'cop' show and it isn't really a sitcom either. It's more than that - for a start it sends itself up nearly every week. Unfortunatly it is now finished, although there will probably be repeats around for a while, so I will miss Diefenbacker terribly.
DRAMA
If there is one thing British TV is good at producing, it is drama - especially if it's in costume! Pride & Prejudice introduced a lot of people to Jane Austen (including me!) and was brilliant - I think she was a screen writer in waiting and had a wonderful sense of humour! Some of my favourite recent drama series' include Cadfael and Sharpe.

Sir Derek Jacobi as Cadfael
Seeing one of the bastions of British theatre (Sir Derek Jacobi) solving mediaeval mysteries in a monk's outfit is a sheer delight - I do hope they keep on producing them for a while as I always look forward to seeing them (he's also in Gladiator!).

Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe
I fell in love with the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell a long time ago, and reread them many times. When I found out there was a TV series of the books I was ecstatic - and have remained so since I can gaze at one of my favourite actors (Sean Bean) for a whole two hours whilst watching them! Apparently Bernard Cornwell enjoyed Sean Bean's portrayal of his character so much, he wrote Sharpe's Battle specifically with Sean in mind! I also enjoyed the 1970/80s series of Poldark (IMDb listing) - whatever happened to Robin Ellis I wonder? - and the 1983 version of Jane Eyre (IMDb listing) with Timothy Dalton in it. If nothing else they increase my collection of books as I go out and buy them after enjoying the programmes!
One of my favourite American drama series has to be ER (Yahoo listing of sites) - along with half the rest of the world! Wonderful collection of characters and it just doesn't seem to stop!
Two more recent drama series have appeared on British TV. Hornblower follows the early career of C.S.Forester's hero. It stars Ioan Gruffud (who may be more familiar as Fifth Officer Lowe in Titanic - the one in the boat that comes back), and expands on one or two of the incidents in Midshipman Hornblower's life. So far there are only four films to this series, but here's hoping there will be more. The Scarlet Pimpernel (IMDb listing) is great fun. Although it doesn't follow the books closely (which is probably just as well as they're not that good!), they expand upon the basic story of Sir Percy Blakeney & Co. Richard E. Grant seems to be having great fun as Percy, and Martin Shaw is just gorgeous as his arch-enemy Chauvelin (why do those guys always seem to get even better looking as they get older??). They've only made 3 films so far - and I sincerely hope they make more.
Oldies but goodies
This is where I now show my age! I love The Professionals. Maybe it just reminds me of growing up, and it is sincerely dated in parts (like running around in Ford Capris!), but there is just something great fun about it all - oh and Martin Shaw when he was a bit younger too! There is supposed to be an updated version being produced, but it does seem to be a bit of an on again off again proposal, so don't hold your breath, but I'd love to see it for one!
I vaguely remembered the part of an old programme to do with photographs, and tracked it down to Sapphire and Steel. A very strange collection of programmes about time travelling 'cops' I suppose is the best way to describe it. Exceedingly creepy and slightly scary in parts, it doesn't really fit into any category, but makes good drama.

The Merry Men of Sherwood in Series' 2 & 3 of Robin of Sherwood
On a completely different tack, I simply adore the Robin of Sherwood series of the 1980s. I like the various films too (Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner - sort of - and Patrick Bergin versions), but the TV series was great fun. Michael Praed played Robin in the first series and was replaced by Jason Connery for the next two series'. Nikolas Grace plays a wonderfully silly Sheriff, aided and abetted by the sincerely inept Sir Guy of Gisbourne, played by Mark Addie. My favourite character was Nasir (Mark Ryan), perhaps because, although he said very little, he was great with his paired swords!
MISCELLANEOUS
This section covers the odds and ends parts of TV. As you may have gathered (if you've perused the rest of this site), I love history. Channel 4 have a brilliant archaeology programme called Time Team. Basically they take a team of professional archaeologists - add a front man - in this case Tony Robinson (yes, Baldrick's in there too!) who so happens to be an archaeology nut too!

Tony Robinson
They then find a site (suggested by the public or professional archaeologists) and spend three days investigating it to the best of their abilities by geophysics, digging, building history and perusal of historical archives. Sounds boring, and one or two sites can be, but is really interesting as it moves all over the British Isles, covers all sorts of sites topographically, geographically and chronologically, and usually manages to find something interesting to day about everything. It has been known to go overseas too and has investigated sites in the US and the Mediterranean. There is usually also some sort of archaeological reconstruction going on too - whether its building a log boat, flint knapping or cooking a mediaeval feast.
Along similar lines, I also enjoy documentary programmes such as Horizon or QED which investigate science or other related subjects of interest to the public. Some of them are fascinating - others are just weird! Once a year, just after Christmas, the Royal Institution hosts a series of lectures for children - the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These have been running since the days of Michael Faraday (in the same lecture theatre too!), but, more recently, have been broadcast. They may be for children, but they are great fun as there are lots of demonstrations to keep everyone amused - some of which usually involve an explosion or too. A very non-painful and enjoyable way to learn.
One programme which has been an institution on the BBC for many years is Mastermind. A very simple format for a 'quiz' show, but shows you just how much useless information one person can accumulate through the years and on very diverse and weird subjects. I will miss this - even though I couldn't answer most of the questions! Similar quiz programmes include 15-1 on Channel 4 (again, lots of usuless bits of information), and University Challenge - the British version of the American College Bowl. Two university teams answer some really obscure questions, or they might just be about the latest chart hit or book!

Well, there you go. Maybe I just have a thing about men and swords, but there does seem to be an awful lot of them about in that list, no doubt a pshrink would have something to say about that! If you've made it this far through the list I congratulate you as it's taken me long enough to make it this far through the list as well!

All About Me Books Galore! Babylon 5 History Odds and Ends Funnies

	*Movies, Flicks and Films*
	As films and are the best areas for getting images, writing rude comments or praising your favourite stars, I've decided that they warrant a page to themselves! Isn't that nice of me (OK, you can pay up now BBC, Paramount, C4 etc.)! This isn't meant to be an area for critiques on the latest shows or films, merely and introduction to my somewhat strange taste in all things moving image! Much of the information/websites have been gathered from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) website - a fount of information about films, TV series, actors, directors, various crew, filming locations, goofs, trivia etc. Well worth a visit! For the seriously movie-mad (or just plain mad) among you, try the Internet Movie Questionnaire site and have a laugh at some of the answers, or either seriously worry about the state of some people's mental health when they completed it - fascinating! Apparently the first film I was taken to see (aged 3) was Dumbo. I don't remember much about it - partially because of my age, and probably also because I fell asleep during it. I still haven't seen it since. I didn't get much of chance to go to many films when younger as I lived out of town and needed a kind parent to take me to the cinema, so I didn't really catch up on my viewing until I was sent off to boarding school, when were allowed to visit the cinema occasionally. I now virtually live in the cinema! I loved the cinema in St Andrews - The New Picture House (actually built in the 1920s). Double seats at the back, and still allows smoking in one section of the balcony! Unfortunately, the double seats were removed during renovations in the late 1980s, but the atmosphere of the place is really great - very different from modern multiplexes where watching a film has been taken into the spotless medical realm - no soul to it (although the drinks holders are handy!). Anyway, here's an introduction to some of my favourite films, with some useful links for you to dig further if you're interested - most of the links are the official sites, with occasional additional suggestions for places to go, in the case of films like Titanic, I've just linked to the Yahoo! results page 'cause there are just too many fan pages out there.. I know I've missed some out, but I'll probably get around to expanding this section as time goes by.........
	Past Tense Everyone seems to have a favourite 'old' film - how old it is depends upon your age - and when asked I usually say my favourite film is Ben Hur (1959). You know, the one with Charlton Heston that won 11 Oscars and had the chariot racing scene in it. I do love this film, and keep rewatching it, but there are others I love too - I have a soft spot for It's A Wonderful Life (like a lot of other people), but I haven't seen Citizen Kane ('sacrilege!' I hear you cry - sorry, but I have no inclination to at the moment - maybe some day though). They don't seem to make 'epic' films nowadays - unless you call Titanic epic - I just call it titanically long - the old epics at least had a plot. I'm also very fond of Dr Zhivago - wasn't Omar Sharif really handsome as the young man??! Mind you, knowing that the snow scenes were filmed in Spain and that the snow/ice on the summer house scenes was actually wax does kind of change your point of view of those scenes. I also love the music - I'm still trying to get my fingers around the piano music for Lara's Theme - maybe some day. Omar Sharif also made an impact in Lawrence of Arabia - that long ride out of the desert was brilliant. A long film, but interesting, even for the bits of Lawrence's life that were omitted. I have a tendency to go for historical films, so I love things like Spartacus and The Vikings (not that I have a thing about Kirk Douglas!). Not quite so serious are Errol Flynn swashbuckling films like the Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood etc., or the Stewart Granger equivalents like Scaramouche. Pure escapism, but, Oh! what fun! In the historical vein, Braveheart deserves a mention - if only to point out that however good a movie it is, there are so many glaringly obvious historical errors in it that I can never sit back and enjoy watching it. Mel Gibson's hopeless accent doesn't help either - especially when he's surrounded by Scots actors. On a more recent note, Star Wars I suppose comes into this category, although not really 'old'. I think just about everyone in the known Universe must have seen this trilogy by now (whether the old version or the new 'Special Editions'). I have nothing against the new editions, I just don't like some of the additions, or some of the things that have been lost - like the Ewoks' victory tune on the Stormtrooper helmets at the end of Return of the Jedi. The music has been changed, and now doesn't seem to fit the 'drumming'. You also seem to have lost some of the sort of naiveté that permeated the original Star Wars film - it almost seems too slick now! As a bridge to the next section, the FX 'fest' that is Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace has to be mentioned. Not a bad film -but not a brilliant one. It is obviously setting up the storylines for the next instalments of the trilogy, so it doesn't really go anywhere - other than introducing Anakin as a small boy, and the best 'bad' guy yet - Darth Maul. Shame George Lucas had to kill off the two best characters in the film -even if he did do it in style - and also ending the involvement of one of my favourite actors into the bargain (unless he returns as one of those Jedi glowing ghost things?).
	Present Tense Although this area may look a little short, I've archived my old reviews. If you really have to go read them, they are HERE! On to more topical things - if you can call late second century Rome topical. Well, you can if it involves Russell Crowe glowering at Joaquin Phoenix, and a few tigers just to juice it a up a little. I have to admit to obsessive/compulsive behaviour with Gladiator. Obsessed - I've seen it 4 times and the soundtrack lives on my CD player. Compulsive? - Russell Crowe is compusive to watch, because he can act - what a refreshing change from some of the Hollywood stars - and he ain't bad looking either! The storyline plot is dead simple, the film doesn't catch you that way, it is just beautifully shot (well, the real bits are - I think the computer operators were having an off day in the CGI department), and choreographed. It has its slow moments, but the big arena fight scene is at least as good as Ben Hur's chariot race. Definitely one for the video/DVD collection - a future epic possibly? OK, a bit more modern in some ways (it is set in the present-ish), but old in the sense that the film has been around for a while. Entrapment isn't really that good a film in many ways, it's just a good, harmless heist film, with a couple of twists. I suppose the main reasons I enjoy it is because Sean Connery is in it (not necessarily always a good indicator though), and he does seem to be enjoying himself enormously. Also because there is always something about seeing a place you know well on the big screen - especially one that is visited by relatively few people. Sean's castle in Scotland in the film is actually Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull - some of the best pictures are from the ferry as you approach the island - must have caused a bit of a headache during filming! There is also a current archaeological dig underwater right beneath the castle (link to my history page) There seems to have been a rush on Elizabethan films recently - fortunately good ones. Elizabeth takes an interesting alternative look at the first few years of Elizabeth's reign, as she was trying establish herself. All right, so there are the usual liberties with historical truth (though there are also some good, accurate points too), but it isn't the usual stuffy version - these people were human after all! Shakespeare in Love was a good deal less serious, and it's (metaphorical) tongue was firmly placed in its cheek the whole way through. Loads of 'in' jokes, and generally very well observed, if a bit of an unlikely storyline - who cares, it was good fun to watch! I also think Joseph Fiennes and Geoffrey Rush seem to have cornered the market in hose and doublet for the moment - they are both in both films. I suppose I shall just have to mention the 'new' James Bond film - The World is Not Enough. The title comes from the Bond family motto (as revealed in On her Majesty's Secret Service), but, as is so often the case with these films, bears absolutely no resemblance to what is actually in the film itself. A good set-up pre-title sequence (unfortunately the omitted to actually blow up the Millennium Dome, but nobody's perfect) sets up the story for the following film. Unfortunately it seems to go downhill from there. Denise Richards is a waste of space as far as I'm concerned - possibly the most unconvincing scientist since Dr Holly Goodhead. I also hope John Cleese smartens up his act if he is called back - at the moment he is no replacement for the late Desmond Llewellyn as Q. Maybe that will come, but I'd rather it was Graham Chapman. PC Hamish MacBeth isn't much good as the baddy either - Robert Carlye probably had fun doing it, but he doesn't convince - possibly as bad as Jonathan Pryce. All in all - I prefer Tomorrow Never Dies, but it isn't as bad as some of the others.
	Television This is where the common ground diverges - unless you live in the British Isles of course! Some of these shows are (or have been) available in other countries, but if you've never heard of them, I apologize! Of course, a goodly proportion of them are American anyway........... 'Cult' shows I suppose this covers all the shows that no-one would admit to watching unless you put them in the 'cult' department! As far as I'm concerned this includes things like Hercules, Xena, Highlander, Seaquest, La Femme Nikita etc. All of which I love watching. There is only one major drawback to this. Either they are on Channel 5 - for which my reception stinks! - or the channel that does show them has stopped showing new episodes and seems to be on an eternal time loop of repeats (Hint hint ITV - please show the newer episodes of Highlander!) Some cult shows are better than others, and two of the best are Red Dwarf (Yahoo listing of sites) and Monty Python. Both cringingly funny and unique, plus MP is about 30 - yet still keeps making me laugh. My favourite MP film is Life of Brian - it has too many good bits to comment upon them all, but I love the graffiti scene, and the 'What have the Romans ever done for us?' bits. No doubt you have your own favourites! I mustn't forget Blackadder (webring site) either - all of them! What a way to learn history - oh, and don't forget the turnip for Baldrick! I must add Due South to this setion too. Apparantly the US stations cancelled it because it didn't fit into their programming subject headings. It's not really a 'cop' show and it isn't really a sitcom either. It's more than that - for a start it sends itself up nearly every week. Unfortunatly it is now finished, although there will probably be repeats around for a while, so I will miss Diefenbacker terribly. DRAMA If there is one thing British TV is good at producing, it is drama - especially if it's in costume! Pride & Prejudice introduced a lot of people to Jane Austen (including me!) and was brilliant - I think she was a screen writer in waiting and had a wonderful sense of humour! Some of my favourite recent drama series' include Cadfael and Sharpe. Sir Derek Jacobi as Cadfael Seeing one of the bastions of British theatre (Sir Derek Jacobi) solving mediaeval mysteries in a monk's outfit is a sheer delight - I do hope they keep on producing them for a while as I always look forward to seeing them (he's also in Gladiator!). Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe I fell in love with the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell a long time ago, and reread them many times. When I found out there was a TV series of the books I was ecstatic - and have remained so since I can gaze at one of my favourite actors (Sean Bean) for a whole two hours whilst watching them! Apparently Bernard Cornwell enjoyed Sean Bean's portrayal of his character so much, he wrote Sharpe's Battle specifically with Sean in mind! I also enjoyed the 1970/80s series of Poldark (IMDb listing) - whatever happened to Robin Ellis I wonder? - and the 1983 version of Jane Eyre (IMDb listing) with Timothy Dalton in it. If nothing else they increase my collection of books as I go out and buy them after enjoying the programmes! One of my favourite American drama series has to be ER (Yahoo listing of sites) - along with half the rest of the world! Wonderful collection of characters and it just doesn't seem to stop! Two more recent drama series have appeared on British TV. Hornblower follows the early career of C.S.Forester's hero. It stars Ioan Gruffud (who may be more familiar as Fifth Officer Lowe in Titanic - the one in the boat that comes back), and expands on one or two of the incidents in Midshipman Hornblower's life. So far there are only four films to this series, but here's hoping there will be more. The Scarlet Pimpernel (IMDb listing) is great fun. Although it doesn't follow the books closely (which is probably just as well as they're not that good!), they expand upon the basic story of Sir Percy Blakeney & Co. Richard E. Grant seems to be having great fun as Percy, and Martin Shaw is just gorgeous as his arch-enemy Chauvelin (why do those guys always seem to get even better looking as they get older??). They've only made 3 films so far - and I sincerely hope they make more. Oldies but goodies This is where I now show my age! I love The Professionals. Maybe it just reminds me of growing up, and it is sincerely dated in parts (like running around in Ford Capris!), but there is just something great fun about it all - oh and Martin Shaw when he was a bit younger too! There is supposed to be an updated version being produced, but it does seem to be a bit of an on again off again proposal, so don't hold your breath, but I'd love to see it for one! I vaguely remembered the part of an old programme to do with photographs, and tracked it down to Sapphire and Steel. A very strange collection of programmes about time travelling 'cops' I suppose is the best way to describe it. Exceedingly creepy and slightly scary in parts, it doesn't really fit into any category, but makes good drama. The Merry Men of Sherwood in Series' 2 & 3 of Robin of Sherwood On a completely different tack, I simply adore the Robin of Sherwood series of the 1980s. I like the various films too (Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner - sort of - and Patrick Bergin versions), but the TV series was great fun. Michael Praed played Robin in the first series and was replaced by Jason Connery for the next two series'. Nikolas Grace plays a wonderfully silly Sheriff, aided and abetted by the sincerely inept Sir Guy of Gisbourne, played by Mark Addie. My favourite character was Nasir (Mark Ryan), perhaps because, although he said very little, he was great with his paired swords! MISCELLANEOUS This section covers the odds and ends parts of TV. As you may have gathered (if you've perused the rest of this site), I love history. Channel 4 have a brilliant archaeology programme called Time Team. Basically they take a team of professional archaeologists - add a front man - in this case Tony Robinson (yes, Baldrick's in there too!) who so happens to be an archaeology nut too! Tony Robinson They then find a site (suggested by the public or professional archaeologists) and spend three days investigating it to the best of their abilities by geophysics, digging, building history and perusal of historical archives. Sounds boring, and one or two sites can be, but is really interesting as it moves all over the British Isles, covers all sorts of sites topographically, geographically and chronologically, and usually manages to find something interesting to day about everything. It has been known to go overseas too and has investigated sites in the US and the Mediterranean. There is usually also some sort of archaeological reconstruction going on too - whether its building a log boat, flint knapping or cooking a mediaeval feast. Along similar lines, I also enjoy documentary programmes such as Horizon or QED which investigate science or other related subjects of interest to the public. Some of them are fascinating - others are just weird! Once a year, just after Christmas, the Royal Institution hosts a series of lectures for children - the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These have been running since the days of Michael Faraday (in the same lecture theatre too!), but, more recently, have been broadcast. They may be for children, but they are great fun as there are lots of demonstrations to keep everyone amused - some of which usually involve an explosion or too. A very non-painful and enjoyable way to learn. One programme which has been an institution on the BBC for many years is Mastermind. A very simple format for a 'quiz' show, but shows you just how much useless information one person can accumulate through the years and on very diverse and weird subjects. I will miss this - even though I couldn't answer most of the questions! Similar quiz programmes include 15-1 on Channel 4 (again, lots of usuless bits of information), and University Challenge - the British version of the American College Bowl. Two university teams answer some really obscure questions, or they might just be about the latest chart hit or book!
	Well, there you go. Maybe I just have a thing about men and swords, but there does seem to be an awful lot of them about in that list, no doubt a pshrink would have something to say about that! If you've made it this far through the list I congratulate you as it's taken me long enough to make it this far through the list as well!
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