Weird moments of concomitance
We had a day out today. We went all the way to Meadowhall (which, for those who've never been there is this huge shopping complex just outside of Sheffield) mostly so that I could buy some new shoes. We wandered around, dipping in and out of shops as one does, including Ottakars, where Robin picked up the manual for the Discworld role playing game - and then we found Waterstones.
Which was having a 'three for two' promotion.
A three for two booksale? I'm there. And I'm standing by the SF/Fantasy shelves, wondering if a special offer is a good enough reason to buy the new 'Who' books, and I look up - and there's a CD. Of the Radio 2 Documentary 'Project:Who' about the making of the new series.
A documentary hosted by Anthony Head ...
After I got over my bout of stifled hysterics, I just had to buy it. I had no idea the thing existed (It was broadcast back in March, I understand), and I'm very much looking forward to hearing it. But, I ask you - the Watcher and the Doctor on the same CD? One talking about the other? How happenstance can you get?
Meadowhall also has a Warner's Cinema village, so we went and watched 'War of the Worlds' in the afternoon:
This movie is loud. Things get thrown at you, scenes are designed to make you jump out of your seat, and Tom Cruise runs. A lot. Mostly he's running away from things, but occasionally he runs towards them, just for a change. The War machines are excellently done; they are vast tripods and they have an annoying habit of stepping on things just because they can. They also appear to have a death ray that's clothing friendly, because the people disintegrate and their clothes don't. The plot doesn't actually make sense if you study it too closely (the machines are supposed to have been buried here for thousands of years...) and it's actually very bleak (the only thing the hero can do is survive, and he doesn't do that very well), but both of those things are fairly true of the original book, so probably not a reason to complain. A bit of a rollercoaster ride, really - I think I enjoyed it, but it's not going on my must see, must have list. The George Pal version still has the edge.
Oh - and the aliens? Three limbed, and yet only two eyes? I really don't think so somehow ...