I bought a box set of Charlie Chan films at the weekend. I've never seen any, so I thought it would be worth a shot. The only problem is that the box is good value (£30) for six films, but if you end up not liking them, it starts looking a bit pricy.
Helena and I watched the first one. It was okay, but I was a little disappointed. The story was a bit lame. It turns out that these are a set of the later films (starring Sidney Toler and made in the mid 1940s), which aren't considered as good. However, I think we will end up getting through them, and I will keep a look out for the earlier ones.
Violence
This week I've been following the Athens riots on the news. You've probably heard about them. The police shot dead a 15-year-old youth who was part of a group who may or may not have attacked their car. This appears to have been used as a pretext for anti-establishment trouble makers to start wrecking the place.
The violence has occurred all over the country, turning streets into war zones. In Athens hundreds of shops, banks and other properties have been smashed up, burnt out, etc. As of yesterday evening, they were saying that while there were still episodes, they appeared to be easing off a bit.
Probably the least economically damaging piece of violence, but very symbolic, was the burning of the large Christmas tree in Constitution Square - this is a bit like destroying the tree in Times Square New York.
No Tree
As usual, I won't have a tree, or indeed any decorations. Bah Humbug! I did, however, rashly agree to do Bee's Christmas Exchange thing, so there will be a special "Wordless Thursday" post tomorrow.
Football
As you know, I'm not a follower of football. However it's been impossible to ignore the Cypriot Anorthosi team, who have got further in the European something-or-other-league than ever before, and have become national heros. Last night they were beaten 1-0 by the Greek Panathenaikos team, and are now out of the league. Or something.
10 comments:
FIRST
I've never seen a Charlie Chan movie but I think he was on scoobie doo one time.
Have you ever seen the movie "Murder by Death"? it's a parody of all the sleuth movies and very funny. It even stars Truman Capote.
Jean Knee:
Yes, I've got Murder by Death on DVD. It's great fun. Apparently, they originally offered Maggie Smith's role ("Dora") to Myrna Loy, who had played "Nora" in the Thin Man films, but she refused to do a parody of the role.
I don't think I've ever seen a Charlie Chan movie either.
Very sad that they would burn the tree, sadder a young man was shot dead.
I'll be participating in the gift giving as well... hey did you hang any mistletoe?
Anndi:
Yet Charlie Chan is so famous...
The events of the last 5 days are (and, sadly, continue to be) tragic.
No, no mistletoe - it would be wasted in my flat.
Been following the news about the riots in Athens. Heck they even rioted in and around the Greek embassy here in Germany. Scary
Kat:
The Germany demonstration made the TV news in Greece. I don't know if there have been any others, except for a couple in Cyprus. Hopefully sanity will be restored soon.
I remember watching a handful of Chan movies on TV when I was growing up, but I'm pretty positive that today, I'd not be able to sit still long enough to watch an entire movie. You are a trooper for the world's economy to plunk down money for these!
My cousin used to watch marathons of old movies when I was a wee one. I'd pile up in the bean bag in his room and watch with him.
I think it's awful that the streets of the world aren't safe anymore. I don't want to think of the direction it's taking by the time my grandson is a teenager.
I heard about the tragedy in Greece. :o( The news is sooo depressing.
FADKOG:
They're not the most dynamic and exciting films I've ever seen...
Catscratch:
Sadly, a lot of the violence is coming from the younger generations.
Bee:
Indeed.
Post a Comment