Bleak House, North & South // Yamapi/Byakkotai icons, pic

[winterspel]

N and I finished watching (well, in my case, rewatching for the 3rd time) BBC's Bleak House series this weekend. I'm really glad to say that N loved it, maybe even as much as I love it, and that he was genuinely regretful that it was over (our taste in tv is often quite different, so I am always gleeful when we both like the same thing). We'd been

Comments

[winterspel]

Oh, do, do! If you haven't seen Bleak House yet, I think you will love it. I think it was alexandral who originally described it as the Battlestar Galactica of costume dramas (she was comparing to BSG S1) and I wholeheartedly agree with her - I thought it was the best television I'd seen in 2005, and rewatching the whole thing just totally renewed my adoration for it.

[alexandral]

I am about to do impossible - I am going to watch HYD 2 episode 1 and "Byakkotai" unsubbed today. I probably can work out what happens in HYD, but I am totally lost about "Byakkotai". I wish I knew at least what is going on :D But- who cares! :D I will enjoy seeing Yamapi anyways.

I have (almost) decided to join a Korean language course, I was torn between this and Japanase language, but Korean language won after "The Snow Queen".

And your icons are lovely as always, dear! I especially love 1-3, so clear and crisp.

[winterspel]

I wish I had the time to watch HYD2 with the softsubs...I will have to wait and see when I can scrape up 2 hours for it. I think Byakkotai is very beautifully filmed so far, and I'm very happy to see the actress who played Aya's mother from 1 Litre of Tears as Yamapi's mother in the drama. Just FYI, from what little I know (which is nothing, really), Byakkotai is going to be sad. Very, very sad, if I understand correctly, and without saying anything truly spoilery.

Thanks you very much for your kinds words on the icons. I didn't spend any time on them, but I felt like it was selfish not to share when Pi is THAT pretty. :)

[baleanoptera]

No long, loving slow steady-cam pans over scenic vistas - rather the direction gave us fast jump shots and hand-held camera action that provided a wonderful sense of momentum and immediacy

This is very true. they also have a wonderful use of close-ups which I fin rather refreshing. Hmm..now I want to watch it again!
(even if I really don't have the time - as I'm catching up on Torchwood. Up to episode six now, and it's starting to become very good indeed!)

I secretly harbor the wish to change the world through North & South love. What? IT CAN BE DONE! WE CAN ALL LOVE THORNTON TOGETHER.)

Hee! I think this is a wonderful goal. I actually gave both my mother and my mother-in-law their own copy this holiday, and my mother has watched it twice. So me thinks ze plan is working!

[winterspel]

You're right, Bleak House did employ wonderful close-ups, and also good use of creative off-beat camera angles. I really loved how many of the shots were framed.

I'm really glad to hear that you are catching up on TW. It gets so much better as it goes along. I love it NOT for the MOW which I find very meh, but mostly for the character arcs and the development and the way that consequences continue to rear their ugly heads. It's one of the most pyschological dramas in terms of how it explores what their jobs actually do to the members of the team.

It's interesting how at least a few of us gave North & South to (or watched with, in the case of some) our mothers. I think it's one of those dramas to bond over. :)

[trance_angel]

I probably should be grabbing Byakkotai, but I think I'm gonna just wait for the hard-subs to come out. Since it's a historical drama, I'll have an even harder time trying to make out the dialog. I'm still not sure why I'm not as excited as I should be about it...though I still have three Yamapi dramas waiting to be watched. Hana Yori Dango 2 is really taking over me right now.

I love the picture of Yamapi, Ryo, and Uchi you posted, it's pretty. I found Yamapi adorable/cute during that phase...now he's just sexy. ♥

[winterspel]

I agree with you - while Yamapi was cute before, he's really become quite sexy now. I wonder what he will be like in another few years. :)

[shayrena]

I just got Bleak House on DVD last week and I am excited to see it. I have heard so many great things about it. If it's half as good as North and South it's still be fantastic. I also have to re-watch N&S someday soon. Spread the Thornton-Love *lol*

[winterspel]

Bleak House is really wonderful, but it's totally different from North & South in that the love story is not the focus, although there are a couple lovely love stories that run through it. It's a complex story, though, with amazing characters and acting, so I really hope you like it! :)