Taking a shine to Sherlock

I blogged a wee while back about being pleasantly surprised by the Guy Ritchie take on Sherlock Holmes. Well, if Ritchie is successful by taking Sherlock, ramp up the homo-eroticism and chuck in bare knuckle fighting and a dash of steampunk, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss take a different, more modern slant, and comes up with a Holmes that is even more enjoyable.

The BBC’s Sherlock places the classic detective in modern London: a Holmes with his own website who loves to text, and who favours nicotine patches over pipes. Throw in a batch of ‘where do I know that face’ Brit actors and some flashy graphics and the programme has all the makings of a tedious, lazy modernisation – why come up with a new idea when you can stick a lick of paint on an old one? That it isn’t any of these things is testament to smart writing, a clear and genuine affection for the source material, and fantastic casting.

Rising stage and screen star Benedict Cumberbatch is compelling as Holmes, all gangly charm, a mixture of intellectual arrogance and almost childlike bemusement at a world he can analyse but never understand. Martin Freeman as Watson is the perfect foil – bringing his perfected deadpan comic charm but tempering it with understated steel. No bumbling sidekick he - as an Afghan war vet with an uncanny aim, he is more than a match for his new housemate. The chemistry between the two – always the foundation of any Holmes story – is peerless, and the show plays into it by letting everyone around them hint at a homo-erotic subtext which the script then deftly sidesteps. The core pair are complemented with a solid cast of Beeb favourites, including Rupert Graves, splendid as Lestrade, and Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson.

The initial story itself didn’t blow me away – it’s a BBC drama, the cabbie always did it* – but it was handled with charm and aplomb and enough energy that it was only on the second watching I thought, oh, come on. But that I sought it out for a second watch so quickly speaks volumes in itself. I never thought a pale, lanky Brit would manage to make an American movie star seem underpowered, but when it comes to Downey Jr v Cumberbatch, I know who’s the Sherlock for me.

*I suspect it’s in retribution for all those stories about taxi expenses at the Beeb. Oh, and yes, I did notice the wee dig at the Daily Mail...

Supernatural at San Diego Comic Con

I've already posted about the geeks v gaybashers at SDCC (my delight at their antics has been boosted by since finding out they were chanting 'What do we want? gay sex! When do we want it? Now!' Gotta love those geeks.) And, speaking of gay sex (kidding, Wincesters! Kidding!), of course the real reason I would have loved to be at Comic Con would of course have been to go to the Supernatural panel. Still, broken bones and restraining orders prevented me, but you can check out the news here and here (the latter including video clips - if nothing else watch the one of the panel bounding on stage... seriously, how do people at conventions not come home deaf?).

HERE BE SLIGHT SPOILERS

I must admit to being pleased by the fact that there will a Crowley/Bobby rematch; delighted that Castiel, Bobby and Grandpa Skinner will return; dubious at the 'one year later' starting point of Dean in domesticity and also worried at tales of a 'female relative' (but then, I fretted about Adam and that was fine, so I shall have faith) and enormously cheered by Jensen Ackles' attitude to vampires: "Cut this pasty, waify shit out!"

Also, you really have to wonder what's going on in this first and second pictures...

And Jared: the hair is getting almost Kanian. Scissors and a comb, people. That's all I'm saying.

(All pics from Dreadcentral.com - click here for more).

Christian Kane: that is seriously bad hair

OK, following on from my last post about my nascent obsession with Christian Kane (TV star, singer, wearer of padded body warmers and lingerie designer), my TV twin Kathryn pointed me towards this pic of him at the Leverage panel at Comic Con.

Now, I know people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones but let me say this: I have a broken hand. I literally haven't brushed my hair in two months. But, Christian, dude, my hair looks better than this. Scissors and a comb. That's all I'm saying. Scissors and a comb. Please, God, at least consider them...

Christian Kane has designs on my pants

Can you actually have a crush on someone you don't actually fancy that much? Because, seriously, I think I am becoming more than a little obsessed with Christian Kane. After finding out - MINOR SPOILER - that he manages to get his music into an episode of Leverage, by (ahem) posing as an undercover country singer (in an episode that has John 'Dukes of Hazzard and still a hottie' Schneider in it - joy!) but he also designs a line of ladies' underwear.

Yes, you read that right. He designs ladies' underwear under the name Maverix USA. You can check out a rather hilarious - if mildly spoilery - interview here, or check out the Maverix site here...

Leverage meets Doctor Who

As I've said, I'm a lover of Leverage on Bravo, and am currently enjoying the repeats being shown before the new series starts this week. They're just as much fun the second time around, especially as it gives me a chance to pick up in-jokes I missed the first time around... like the time Nate and Sophie need to get on a plane at short notice and, when Hardison asks what ID they have on them, Nate reels off "Peter Davidson... Tom Baker... Sylvester McCoy..."

A geek on the writing team, methinks?

The Force is with Obama

Thanks to SFX (check out their Comic Con coverage, much fun) for this corker: yes, you can, should you wish, purchase your own Jedi Obama figure...

Geeks v gaybashers - geeks win!

Anyone who reads this blog regularly - and that's all of you, right? Right? - will have a pretty good idea of where I stand on gay rights, - which is I fully support them, and not just those which may involve hot boys/angels getting sweaty in the back of an Impala. Wait, sorry, lost track there for a second, where was I...?

Oh, yes. Gay rights = good.

Religious homophobic nutjobs who picket the funerals of gay soldiers = evil.

Reaction of geeks when said religious homophobic nutjobs decide to turn their wrath on Comic-Con for promoting the worship of false idols (or something) = awesome.

Click here for a video of the event but I think this BSG themed number is my favourite sign...

Garden Jawas for the green fingered Jedi

I don't have a garden (well, I do, but it's communal so I don't do any actual gardening). If I did, I might break my own rule of the pointlessness of lawn ornaments* by purchasing one of these garden Jawas.

*I suspect it's a sign that I've been reading too much Pratchett that I actually paused for a moment before using 'lawn ornaments', thinking, mm, is that offensive to dwarves?

Star Wars aprons

Having a BBQ this summer? Why not don a Princess Leia or Darth Vader apron?

Han in carbonite throw

So, we've had Han in carbonite desks, soap and chocolate - so why not a throw? This exclusive from the Star Wars shop can be hung up or put on the floor... I think you just found your new favourite decoration...

Loving Leverage (part 1000)

To celebrate Leverage's return to TV next Wednesday (yay!) I thought I'd post this (also in honour of my friend Lynda, ex-chef and she of the evil hand jokes). Because one of my favourite things about Leverage is the flashbacks to, and hints about, Eliot's super shady past. This is a quote taken from when he was undercover as a chef...

Yes, it's from cafepress.

Karl Urban to be Judge Dredd?

I read in Geek Tyrant that Karl Urban (Bones from Star Trek and a massive crush of mine) is lined up to play Judge Dredd in a new movie. Now, I can't say I'm a massive fan of Judge Dredd - though I thought the Stallone film was schlocky fun - but really, a face this hot and you want to stick it in a mask for two hours? People, c'mon...!

Make your own cuddly Bantha

I love it when crafts and sci-fi come together. Except when they are making Robert Pattinson pillows, obviously. But I am rather keen on this make your own Cuddly Bantha, for the mini Tuskan Raider in your life...

Wonder Woman makeover

Despite the fact that, in my heart of hearts, to me Wonder Woman will always be the magnificent Lynda Carter with big hair and bigger pants, fighting for our rights in her satin tights, I actually kinda like the new look Wonder Woman. I also don't understand the fuss - it's not actually the first major makeover she's had, whatever the papers are saying, and comic book heroes get restyled all the time. Hate this look? There'll be another one around soon enough.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

What with the limited typing, and all, I don't really have the ability to do a proper review for Fallen, by Lauren Kate, which I finally got around to reading, having been loaned it by a generous friend ages ago. But since if I leave it much longer I'll have forgotten what it was about, I thought I'd give it a go.

A young adult novel, it's part of the whole 'angels-are-the-new-vampires' wave of a wee while back, and it wouldn't be grossly unfair to describe it as Twilight with wings instead of fangs. The basic ingredients are all there: sullen heroine mooning over mysterious, handsome stranger in a school she's new to, who acts distant and weird (there is, of course, a compelling reason they Cannot Be Together) but is also prone to superhuman feets of strength when called upon, as he inevitably is, to save her. So how much you enjoy it is probably dictated by your tolerance for these things.

Hating Twilight as much as I did, I was surprised to find myself enjoying it. The heroine Luce is less insipid than Bella, which helps, and while the prose isn't fantastic it's still better than Meyer's clunkerama. The writer does interesting things with the idea of angel mythology - the book really starts warming up when you realise that the hero Daniel, far from being some isolated celestial being surrounded by wayward humans, is actually just one of the supernatural/heavenly creatures strutting his stuff in the school. Add to that a slight Mean Girls meets S E Hinton vibe, and it actually adds up to a pretty entertaining read.

So, if you enjoyed Twilight, definitely one for you. Everyone else... well, give it a go. You might like it.

My Little Horror Pony

Geek Tyrant has an interview with Rebekah Forcier, who turns My Little Pony dolls into horror characters. And Elvis. Check it out - with more pictures - here.

Modern education sucks?

My friend R sent me this: working in the higher education sector herself, I expect she has an interest. Because, yes, you can now get your degree in vampire literature from the University of Hertforshire*! Why wasn't this available when I was at uni? I would have aced it...

*Alas, I would not have aced geography as I have no actual idea where Hertfortshire is...

Star Wars at Disney

I had no idea there were such things as Star Wars weekends at Disney studios, but these posters would tempt me... (see more at Geek Tyrant here...)

Death Star Cookie

I love this: it's a Death Star cookie! You can even get full instructions how to make it at Neatocoolville. (sorry for still short posts. Still struggle with typing...)

Twilight crazy, part zillion

There's a fantastic scene in Glee where the principal stops Tina from wearing her goth make up in the belief that the school is under threat from vampires. This stems from a bunch of badly-dressed Twi-hards declaring "Robert Pattinson is totally going to notice us after this!" and attacking a fellow student. Which reminded me of the constant stream of Twilight crazy that comes from http://www.fmylife.com/ - the latest of which is...

Today, I was chased for three blocks by a girl in a Twilight shirt because I looked a little sparkly. FML.

TaunTaun cake!

More cake! Check out these amazing pics of a TaunTaun wedding cake from sci-fi wire...

Note: quotes will return when I regain the use of both hands...

The Song Remain the Same

Well, my geeklings, in a turn of events that would be rejected by all but the most hackneyed of scriptwriters, it seems I may have, only weeks after starting physio for my wrist, broken my hand. So I am back in a cast, back on the painkillers, back feeling extremely sorry for myself and back to probably only being able to blog sporadically.

So... keep checking in, but apologies in advance for my neglect...