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Wednesday 31 December 2014
Monday 3 February 2014
Random thoughts: License to thrill
I don’t want Richard Armitage to play James Bond.I think I've made that more than clear in the past.
Would he do a wonderful job? There’s no doubt! Would it be a smart choice? Unfortunately, I don't think so.
I’m sorry if you’re a James Bond fan. I’m not. Ian Fleming’s stories are OK, but the films have never been my cup of tea. Honestly, the only really good thing about these films, is the music. James Bond theme songs really do belong to a separate genre, a unique style. I love the glamour of it, the constrained sensuality, the threatening passion beneath the surface. And although there have been some failures – Madonna’s Die Another Day still makes me cringe – most of these themes have become timeless classics. Here’s my personal top 5:
1. Sheena Easton – For Your Eyes Only (1981)
James Bond = Roger Moore
2. Tina Turner – Goldeneye (1995)
James Bond = Pierce Brosnan
3. Garbage – The World is Not Enough (1999)
James Bond = Pierce Brosnan
4. Gladys Knight – License to Kill (1989)
James Bond = Timothy Dalton
5. Adele – Skyfall (2013)
James bond = Daniel Craig
Do you agree? Disagree? Have I forgotten a fantastic gem of a song?
What’s your favourite?
What about the man himself? Who will always be James Bond to you? If I had to make a choice, it would have to be for the man with the most adorable accent: Sean Connery!
Would he do a wonderful job? There’s no doubt! Would it be a smart choice? Unfortunately, I don't think so.
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| Yes, he'd look fantastic as James Bond, I know... Still don't think it's right for him, though! Picture from Glamour magazine photoshoot January 2013 www.richardarmitagenet.com |
I’m sorry if you’re a James Bond fan. I’m not. Ian Fleming’s stories are OK, but the films have never been my cup of tea. Honestly, the only really good thing about these films, is the music. James Bond theme songs really do belong to a separate genre, a unique style. I love the glamour of it, the constrained sensuality, the threatening passion beneath the surface. And although there have been some failures – Madonna’s Die Another Day still makes me cringe – most of these themes have become timeless classics. Here’s my personal top 5:
1. Sheena Easton – For Your Eyes Only (1981)
James Bond = Roger Moore
2. Tina Turner – Goldeneye (1995)
James Bond = Pierce Brosnan
3. Garbage – The World is Not Enough (1999)
James Bond = Pierce Brosnan
4. Gladys Knight – License to Kill (1989)
James Bond = Timothy Dalton
5. Adele – Skyfall (2013)
James bond = Daniel Craig
Do you agree? Disagree? Have I forgotten a fantastic gem of a song?
What’s your favourite?
What about the man himself? Who will always be James Bond to you? If I had to make a choice, it would have to be for the man with the most adorable accent: Sean Connery!
Tuesday 7 January 2014
Random thoughts: Own it and mean it
This is how it's done. You admit that what you've done was wrong. You own it. You apologise. You mean it. You earn back the respect that you had lost.
It still seems to be beyond what most people manage to do, and that's just not right.
I was in a similar situation just before Christmas when someone who calls themselves my friend was extremely rude to me. Don't get me wrong, this was not a matter of a difference of opinion, a discussion or the exchange of harsh words. I'm used to that and I can handle that without any problem whatsoever. No. What I experienced was a public, spiteful and disrespectful attack on me as a person, with a number of F-bombs thrown in for extra spice. It was hurtful and shocking.
I didn't react and walked away, but the incident stayed in my head and almost managed to ruin my Christmas.
What's probably even worse, is that only a few hours later, this person was sending me Christmas wishes as if nothing had happened. Not even an acknowledgement of what had happened between us. Not a single attempt to make things right.
Am I overreacting? Maybe you think I am, and that's fine.
What makes me sad is that it seems to be fine for people to treat each other with so very little respect and the other person is simply expected to swallow it, not 'get emotional' and move on. Again, that's just not right.
I'm very specific when it comes to my relationships with the people in my life. My husband always says that, not counting the very few people in my life for whom I would gladly confront a fire-breathing dragon in Erebor, you are either in my top drawer or in my bottom drawer, and there's nothing in between.
Everyone starts in the top drawer, everyone has the benefit of the doubt. As long as you're in that top drawer, you could call me from god-knows-where to ask for my help at 3 o'clock in the morning and I will gladly leap out of bed to do whatever I can do for you. But I can't stand injustice, especially when it's aimed at me. Treating me unjust will land you a spot in the bottom drawer. You need to really hurt me to fall down to the bottom drawer, but it will take you a lifetime to climb back to the top. I forgive, but I rarely forget, and once you've fallen, any chance of us becoming anything even close to what would fit into my definition of friendship is out of the question. You're done. But always, the very first step of the long road home, is an apology.
Own it. Mean it. And you're on your way.
Oh, if you were wondering: my own definition of friendship is illustrated rather perfectly by this quote from A.A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh.
It still seems to be beyond what most people manage to do, and that's just not right.
I was in a similar situation just before Christmas when someone who calls themselves my friend was extremely rude to me. Don't get me wrong, this was not a matter of a difference of opinion, a discussion or the exchange of harsh words. I'm used to that and I can handle that without any problem whatsoever. No. What I experienced was a public, spiteful and disrespectful attack on me as a person, with a number of F-bombs thrown in for extra spice. It was hurtful and shocking.
I didn't react and walked away, but the incident stayed in my head and almost managed to ruin my Christmas.
What's probably even worse, is that only a few hours later, this person was sending me Christmas wishes as if nothing had happened. Not even an acknowledgement of what had happened between us. Not a single attempt to make things right.
Am I overreacting? Maybe you think I am, and that's fine.
What makes me sad is that it seems to be fine for people to treat each other with so very little respect and the other person is simply expected to swallow it, not 'get emotional' and move on. Again, that's just not right.
"...be willingly good, extra good, extra peaceful and extra forgiving..."
(Richard Armitage's message to his well-wishers, Christmas 2011)
I'm very specific when it comes to my relationships with the people in my life. My husband always says that, not counting the very few people in my life for whom I would gladly confront a fire-breathing dragon in Erebor, you are either in my top drawer or in my bottom drawer, and there's nothing in between.
Everyone starts in the top drawer, everyone has the benefit of the doubt. As long as you're in that top drawer, you could call me from god-knows-where to ask for my help at 3 o'clock in the morning and I will gladly leap out of bed to do whatever I can do for you. But I can't stand injustice, especially when it's aimed at me. Treating me unjust will land you a spot in the bottom drawer. You need to really hurt me to fall down to the bottom drawer, but it will take you a lifetime to climb back to the top. I forgive, but I rarely forget, and once you've fallen, any chance of us becoming anything even close to what would fit into my definition of friendship is out of the question. You're done. But always, the very first step of the long road home, is an apology.
Own it. Mean it. And you're on your way.
Oh, if you were wondering: my own definition of friendship is illustrated rather perfectly by this quote from A.A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh.
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”
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