From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V2 #217 Reply-To: chakram-refugees@smoe.org Sender: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk chakram-refugees-digest Wednesday, August 7 2002 Volume 02 : Number 217 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [chakram-refugees] <> [cr ] [chakram-refugees] Friend in Need - Directors Cut on TV4 [cr > [cr ] RE: [chakram-refugees] UPDATE -- pivotal eps list ["Ann Reddecliffe" > [cr ] RE: [chakram-refugees] <> ["Ann Reddecliffe" ] Re: [chakram-refugees] <> [IfeRae@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend in Need - Directors Cut on TV4 ["Xena Torre] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 20:58:17 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] <> On Tuesday 06 August 2002 05:10, cande@sunlink.net wrote: > # > # > # > # > # > # > # > > > This is an enjoyable episode. It introduces Eli whom I always liked. I > kind of wish he remained the street magician instead become the prophit of > peace but more about that later when The Way is reviewed. I quite liked Eli as the street musician. I'm afraid I acquired an instant dislike to him when he became a messenger of God, and the more Jesus-like he became the more I disliked him. (Probably just my prejudices showing ;) I am, by instinct, pacifistic, but I just thought his 'Way of Peace' was absurd and unworkable. > Impressive make-up award goes to the extemely ugly dogs that chase Xena and > Eli through the bazar. I wonder how tough it is to make-up dogs. Probably depends how tough the dogs are ;) > > This had one the bets fights of series and the ironic thing is that it is > between Xena and Gabrielle. (snip) Curiously enough, and unlike every other violent disagreement between the two, this one didn't seem to raise a storm of protest from the fans. Why was that? > Anyway that's it for this week. Next week I'll be in Cherry Hill so you > all have a vaction from my ramblings. We'll miss 'em. Promise to start again when you get back from Cherry Hill! cr ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 23:31:44 +1200 From: cr Subject: [chakram-refugees] Friend in Need - Directors Cut on TV4 Spoilers for **Friend in Need** Part 1 (Oh yeah, and those who don't like it please just skip this post, OK?) s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s Well yes, it really is part 1 of the Director's Cut that TV4 just screened! Much to my surprise and delight, I might add. I was *not* expecting that! Presumably, since Oxygen got the original DC to screen, all the other 'overseas' versions distributed since must have been upgraded too. And TV4 don't seem to have cut *anything* so far as I can see. They've come a long way from when they cut Callisto shoving her sword into her stomach in A Necessary Evil. I'm impressed all over again with the work that went into this episode. I should be used to it by now, I've just spent the last week transcribing the commentary to the DVD, but I was so busy just trying to hear the words and get them down, I wasn't taking much note of the meaning except as necessary to make sense of the transcript. But now, watching the episode through, it's struck me just how good everyone was in it. And I must specially mention Michelle Ang as Akemi. She's a lovely little actress and did a beautiful job, I think. One tiny detail that always struck me as odd - when Akemi appears dancing in the mask in front of her father, the background behind her is a orange-coloured painting of a landscape. Then as she attacks Yodoshi, Xena cuts through the background from behind, and bluish lights go up outside revealing that its just a thin cloth material and there's a courtyard behind it. What's with that? Why the change in lighting just 'cos Xena hacks her way through it? I can't follow that. cr ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 21:28:09 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] <> On Tuesday 06 August 2002 07:34, cande@sunlink.net wrote: > cr wrote > > > I really don't care for it, but it has its good > > moments. Most of them comic, actually. (And when I say the best > > moments > > in an ep are comic ones, it's really in trouble! ;-) > > > G: "It's beautiful-- don't you think?" > > X: "Yeah, in that yucky, `I'm-in-paradise' > > kind of way." > > > > Good ol' Xena, always the cynic! > > > > And the other moment that cracked me up was the > > one you mentioned - Garr's > > 'Your clothes, *sir* ' to a naked Xena. > > Yes I have to agree I really liked the comic moments and there quit a few. > I think the comedy made this a more enjoyable episode than the drama. But > after watching the FIN commentary I did become more aware the visual style > of the episode so that too made the episode more enjoyable. > > > "Jeremy Roberts is one of my favourite > > > supporting actors, and very good at > > getting into character. Who would have > > recognised the creepy Aidan as the > > flaky assassin Thersites (Fistful of Dinars) or > > the devilish Xerxos (Be Deviled)." > > Yes he was very good as Xeros and I wish they had made Aiden as interesting > as Xeros. > > > > Smith is excellent as Garr- the loopy soldier > > > > who is wiser than he seems. > > > > Was he a bit mentally defective? > > No I don't thin he was mentally defective as such. I think the strain of > trying to stay out of Aiden's clutches made him a bit loopy and also to > keep his humanity he had embace a type on insanity. Oddly enough this > actor also appeared in A Few Dinars More also - I don't know if that was > coincidence or if he is friends with Jeremy Roberts. 'A Few Dinars More' - was that an episode? (Sorry you lost me there). I doubt if Merv Smith is particularly a friend of Jeremy Roberts, simply because Jeremy Roberts is (I think?) based in the US, and Merv is a New Zealand radio personality and actor from way back. (He also appeared as the priest in Forgiven - 'You are forgiven for past misdeeds. Go now and do good.') > > Oh, and there was another of those occurrences > > of The Vision... three of > > them, IIRC. Adjusted, as always, to suit the > > episode. > > It also the first time we clearly see the mendhi on Gabrielle _ I could > have sworen it was the first time it was shown but I guess it always was > there on her palms but only really blurry. I looked at every vision to see > it there because I lost in a trivia game because of it. I'm still stubbon > enough to think it was added to the vision after the Indian arc - absurd I > know but who says I can't be aburd. > > CherylA Well, of course the crucifixion scene must have been filmed right at the start of the season so the Vision could appear in Sin Trade. Long before Gabrielle got her mendhi of course. Were TPTB looking so far ahead they could include the mendhi in it? Next question - was The Vision the same as the 'actual' crucifixion? Or did they re-shoot it for Ides? I guess I should drag out the tapes and check, but I'm waiting to tape FIN Part 1 in a few minutes... yep, Xena on NZ TV is nearing its end. cr ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 11:38:54 +0100 From: "Ann Reddecliffe" Subject: RE: [chakram-refugees] UPDATE -- pivotal eps list And The Way has still not been shown in Britain. It is out on video and DVD, but neither Sky One, nor Channel 5 have shown it. Ann At 09:11 pm 4/08/2002 -0700, Sharon wrote: >Someone just included why they chose each ep and that will be a big help >when I make up the lists for those that haven't seen some of the episodes. >Goodness -- some people haven't seen all the eps?! ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 00:04:00 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] <> On Tuesday 06 August 2002 07:34, cande@sunlink.net wrote: > > Yes I have to agree I really liked the comic moments and there quit a few. > I think the comedy made this a more enjoyable episode than the drama. But > after watching the FIN commentary I did become more aware the visual style > of the episode so that too made the episode more enjoyable. I've noticed (having just spent the last week transcribing the commentary) that many of the comments made are equally applicable to other episodes of XWP, not just Friend in Need. I guess though that Rob's directorial comments would apply to Paradise Found more than most episodes since that was one that he directed himself, IIRC. cr P.S. My apologies to all for forgetting to snip properly in my previous reply. ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 12:02:15 +0100 From: "Ann Reddecliffe" Subject: RE: [chakram-refugees] <> On Tuesday 06 August 2002 05:10, cande@sunlink.net wrote: > # > # > # > # > # > # > # > > This had one the bets fights of series and the ironic thing is that it is > between Xena and Gabrielle. (snip) Curiously enough, and unlike every other violent disagreement between the two, this one didn't seem to raise a storm of protest from the fans. Why was that?>> I think a lot of people didn't see it as a fight between Xena and Gabrielle, but a fight between Xena and Tartaka FOR Gabrielle. Xena was fighting to get Gabrielle back. Tartaka found Xena a threat and wanted her out of the way. It showed how much Tartaka had taken over Gabrielle's body by that point. ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 14:13:39 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] <> In a message dated 8/5/2002 12:10:56 PM Central Daylight Time, cande@sunlink.net writes: > # > # > # > # > # > # > # > > > This is an enjoyable episode.>> Oooo, yes, one of my favorites. It introduces Eli whom I always liked. I > kind > of wish he remained the street magician instead become the prophit of peace > but more about that later when The Way is reviewed.>> Now that you mention it, Eli's origins did get kind of obscured quite quickly. I soon forgot that he'd been somewhat of a trickster and cowardly. I do now wish they'd spent a bit more time on his street magician aspect, even if to connect with the mystical powers he apparently had. What about him made him *the* one to entrust with his later role? > > This is a nice colorful episode. Gabrielle gets possessed by the evil > spirit > Tenaka. I remember being very surprised at ROC in this episode. She seemed > to really enjoy playing the sexy demon and she was impressive beating the > crap > out of Xena. ROC kick boxing skills used well. I always though ROC did her > demons well - it must have been nice change for her play evil and she always > seemed to relish it.>> I *loved* ROC as Takata. That snake dance will always be one of my most memorable of her. (The soundtrack is great too.) I laughed, wondering as you did, whether ROC got some perverse pleasure out of finally getting to pummel, lick (literally and figuratively), impale, toss, and otherwise get payback for all the torments Gab had to endure. > > The episode was well done. There is a nice scene where Gabrielle-Tenaka > manipulates Xena by breaking down into tears - Xena is such a sucker for a > weepy Gabby that it is kind of touching. >> What I really liked about the fourth season is how much Xena had to react to Gabs for a change, as opposed to the other way around. It certainly created new acting opportunities for Lucy. That scene you mention is a perfect example. Xena wants Gabs to find herself, yet is now in the difficult position of having to question a person who is Gabs, but isn't. How does Xena show support for her friend, while at the same time acting on her suspicions that her friend has been inhabited? Fascinating exchanges between the two during this ep. >I liked the fact that Tenaka possession seemed to be slow - > with Gabrielle disappearing little by little - we see at first that she is > stunned by the crowds adoration of her and then you see acceptance, then > pride > and finally we see the vanity of the demon emerge. It was guadual enough > that > the audience did wonder how much was Gabrielle's own desire for recognition > emerging or if it was something more sinister.>> Yes, another great point. Reminded me of Paradise Found, in once again using perfectly normal and innocent desires as a basis for exploring their extremes - -- just as we often got to see with Xena's desire to be independent and defend her kinspeople go haywire. > This had one the bets fights of series and the ironic thing is that it is > between Xena and Gabrielle. I loved Gabrielle's face lick - its shockingly > sexual and cruel at the same time. Xena's determination to kill Gabrielle to > save her from the demon is surprising but very much in character for Xena. > You know that she has to do it but also know that it will destroy her - it > makes for a nice dramatic moment.>> I wondered whether Xena hoped her "no bluff" approach would encourage Takata to come out on her own. However, it did seem that Xena was indeed ready to kill Takata/ Gabs if there was no hope of getting Gabs back and getting rid of Takata. Then you have the lovely scene as > Gabrielle > recovers from the possession cradled by Xena and clutching Eli's hand in > gratitude. >> I can recall only a few times when Xena expressed such deep, open thanks to someone -- the other one I recall being when Ares saved Gabrielle in season 5. But Xena's warm farewell to Eli definitely portrayed to me that he had made a friend for life with his decision to come back and help. > > Anyway that's it for this week. Next week I'll be in Cherry Hill so you all > have a vaction from my ramblings. Anyone else going to Cherry Hill?>> How thoughtful of you! I won't be in Cherry Hill, but I'll be on a retreat for that week. I'm unsubbing then, so I'm glad I won't be missing your reports while I'm gone. Have a good time! - -- Ife ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2002 11:46:44 -0700 From: "Xena Torres" Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend in Need - Directors Cut on TV4 >(Oh yeah, and those who don't like it please just skip this post, OK?) > >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s >s > >One tiny detail that always struck me as odd - when Akemi appears >dancing >in the mask in front of her father, the background behind her >is a >orange-coloured painting of a landscape. Then as she attacks >Yodoshi, >Xena cuts through the background from behind, and bluish >lights go up >outside revealing that its just a thin cloth material and >there's a >courtyard behind it. What's with that? Why the change in >lighting just >'cos Xena hacks her way through it? Dramatic effect. :) Seriously? Um...maybe by slicing it the fabric moves and so the lights hitting it change angles and such. Best answer I can give you! ;) BATTLE ON XENA! Xena Torres: Warrior Writer _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V2 #217 **************************************