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Post by sgev1977 on Feb 11, 2017 15:46:28 GMT
Nice quote about the series by Tom Stoppard in a new interview: Source
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Post by igs on Feb 11, 2017 18:33:15 GMT
I still haven't watched all of Parade's End. I finally bought the DVDs a while ago but I can't get past the first episode. I remember Benedict's Downton Abbey comments causing all the hoopla, and he was certainly right, but I don't think PE is any better. The very first scene includes "OMG who's baby daddy?!" and "we shouldn't but we will!!" sex. It's just so melodramatic, and that is not a style I particularly enjoy. I have a feeling it isn't like that throughout since I've not heard many complaints about it being soapy, but it's just really hard for me to get started properly with the series.
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Post by roverpup on Feb 11, 2017 19:30:08 GMT
Well, it all depends on what kind of a demarcation you draw between what kind of story is a character study as well as being a social commentary, and what you consider "soap" material. When I watched PE I saw it as an indepth character study of Christopher Tietjens and how he came to accept love into his life, as well as a highly observant look at social and moral conditions in England among the upper-class around the era of WWI. Yes, it sets up intense moral dilemmas for the characters (Valentine is discovering how to cope with her burgeoning social awareness and her longing for the love of a man who doesn't seem to be able to express his feelings for her, and CT is burdened by his moral code which is outdated and destructive to his happiness). So it can be melodramatic. But if you surrender to the beauty of the story, the cast and the production then you can be delighted with some really intriguing viewing. It is a very emotional story and is filled with flawed characters who don't always "do the right thing" even when they think they are (which can be frustrating if you expect them to react in a more modern way of thinking). And it isn't just the main characters - there are some really lovely interplay between all the characters throughout. I just let the story flow over and through me, accepting the character for who they were and just really enjoyed the production from start to finish. I also think that, just like in real life, it takes time to know the characters, so I would certainly encourage you to stick with it a bit longer if you can, before you give up totally on it. But you may also find it just isn't your kind of story. Not everything can be made to connect with everyone. That's why there is such a variety of entertainment to choose from. :-))
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Post by sgev1977 on Feb 11, 2017 19:51:13 GMT
I have never watched DA so I don't know how melodramatic it is but I am Mexican so for me melodramatic it's much more BIGGER than PE, tho. LOL
Seriously, I remember when I read the novels, which are very experimental in style to consider typical melodrama, I found a scene in which (SPOILERS) Christopher is informed that his father probably committed suicide because the gossips around his private life very refreshing even if the situation is melodramatic in itself because I'm sure that in a Mexican soap opera he would have cried and scream like crazy because it's so unfair but his reaction is so cold: I don't want anything by him because he believe those lies about me. He is just so self-righteous and proud to show publicly any compassion or pain.
I think the greatest part of the adaptation is Stoppard language and his sense of humor. In the first episode I just love the scene with the crazy reverend played by Rufus Sewell. It's ridiculous and with vulgar jokes...in Latin! I remember some critics said that scene was very weird but it also explicitly explained the central theme of the story: self-righteous men who go completely mad after a life trying to do not just the right thing but the "correct" thing even when everyone around them are hypocriticals of the highest order.
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Post by mllemass on Feb 11, 2017 20:08:36 GMT
I still haven't watched all of Parade's End. I finally bought the DVDs a while ago but I can't get past the first episode. it's just really hard for me to get started properly with the series. That certainly wasn't my experience! I originally intended to watch the whole thing over a few days, but instead I watched it all in one sitting! I literally only got up when I had to walk over to the tv to switch to the next DVD. And when it ended five hours later (I think), I wanted to watch it all again. I remember thinking afterwards that I loved Benedict even more now, if that was possible. You don't want to miss out on something that will make you love him more! Without spoiling the plot, I can tell you that the story has a lot of things happening besides the love triangle. One of my favourite parts is the comic relief of when he enlists in the military - it's hysterically funny, and seeing Benedict reunited with the hilarious Roger Allam is an added bonus.
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Post by sgev1977 on Feb 11, 2017 23:17:46 GMT
Talking about DA, I remember that Stoppard at the time did a sarcastic comment about how he tried not to do what that series did and put very obvious historic references in his script. One reference he did and he was very proud about it was the scene in which real suffragette Mary Richardson attacked Velazquez's Rokeby Venus. It was a master stroke IMHO. Nowadays kids on Internet let their politics affect their world views in a way that they can't see any value in work of arts, science studies or even other people if they are somehow classified as "problematic". That is extremism.
Even when people consider that Valentine wasn't the most interesting character in the series, we can see her grow up in that scene before our eyes. She clearly understood that even when her politics were important she should be careful to not becoming an extremist and ending ignoring not just the beauty of the painting but her own feelings and desires.
Of course, real Mary Richardson later become a Fascist because things are not very different in the extreme left and the extreme right. All extremes look the same so we should be careful to never forget our humanity and conscience when we do politics. That was a very complex and mature message you rarely see in movies about heroic political movements from the past. Rarely they bother to show the "ugly" part of the movement.
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Post by roverpup on Feb 12, 2017 1:05:08 GMT
Even when people consider that Valentine wasn't the most interesting character in the series, we can see her grow up in that scene before our eyes. She clearly understood that even when her politics were important she should be careful to not becoming an extremist and ending ignoring not just the beauty of the painting but her own feelings and desires... That was a very complex and mature message you rarely see in movies about heroic political movements from the past. Rarely they bother to show the "ugly" part of the movement. I agree totally sgev. I always feel that the character of Valentine gets short shrift when people are discussing PE. She is often shunted off into some corner to be dissed because she is perceived to be only symbolic of the romantic side of people. But I see her as one of the most mature, thoughtful people in the series, who grows (along with Christopher) the most in the film. Someone who is steadfast in her love and very determined and yet also someone who stands up for what she feels that is right (she is a person at the school who approaches the lives of the pupils with realistic humanity instead of spouting stagnant social "truisms"). She becomes a more measured person in her life and balanced in a way that seems real (she doesn't stomp around being a petulant know-it-all with her mother, but she will not cave into her mother's pressure to not be with CT). She tempers her passions with practicality and is more ready to face the changing world as a result. The scene between her and Christopher beside the injured horse on the hillside is a beautiful one filled with unspoken but still electric attraction and a strong connection that bonds them together immediately. I love that Chrissy's thoughts travel back to that scene when he recalls her as he is struggling to maintain his sanity in the trenches - pure, intense and with a distinctly ethereally spiritual quality to it. It is my favourite scene of the entire series. :-))
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Post by sgev1977 on Feb 12, 2017 2:02:58 GMT
To be fair, the other two much more flawed characters played by relatively young but more mature experienced actors are much more interesting than her. She also had fewer scenes, I think. I suspect some of her scenes were left out by the editor and director.
I recently bought Stoppard scripts but I haven't read them yet.
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Post by mllemass on Jul 28, 2017 14:24:21 GMT
A new (new to me) interview about Parade's End!
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Post by roverpup on Jul 28, 2017 15:24:06 GMT
Thank you so much for this interview! I have not seen it before either.
It's great to see him talk about PE. I loved that series and him in it!
:-))
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