From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V4 #165 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 Thursday, June 24 2004 Volume 04 : Number 165 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] Sin Trade [cr ] RE: [chakram-refugees] Sin Trade ["Xena Torres" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 00:37:45 +1200 From: cr Subject: [chakram-refugees] Sin Trade I was just watching Sin Trade (on my new DVD set) and noticing again what a magnificent (double) episode it is. As if you didn't all know what I think ;) Everything about it - the scenery, the dialogue, the score, the acting - was excellent. 'Scusi if I rabbit on about some favourite moments.... Right at the start, Hades walking through the battlefield (in pouring rain!) with some catchy heavy-metal drums and guitar music in the background (I thought it was almost too musical, but it was irresistible) - intercut with brief shots of Xena riding hell-for-leather down the stream. Notice the way T J Scott kept the camera moving all the time, focussed on Hades but with objects and flames passing across the field of view - gives a very active but rather unsettling feel to the shot. And a kind of hidden-camera documentary feeling with it. Oh yes, "I'm not interested in your _workload_, Hades!" I had to laugh at that. And of course, the rain in the 'Deer River' scene. I suppose by now everyone knows that Lucy was going through a tough time mentally, but it makes for a magnificent look of desperation. I found the interview with the cameraman fasicinating, specially his comments on the rain and how rarely it shows up on camera unless it's really heavy (I've noticed that in stills that I've taken - unless you can get splashes in puddles or the like, even torrential rain looks like nothing much in the photo). And the background soundtrack (in this scene and right through the episode) of spooky-sounding echoing strings that gives a haunting, remote feel to the scene. Really, this is the ep LoDuca should have got an Emmy for. Not best music or best songs, but best soundtrack. That compelling rhythmic drumming when Xena was in the cave - remarkably catchy but remarkably hard to remember afterwards. It's similar but not quite the same as the drumming at the start of Episode 2 when Alti's conjuring up her lost souls around her fire. The fight with Alti's men when Xena finds the young dead Amazon - I really like her moves. I must have seen her in similar fights before but this one impressed me with how gracefully it was choreographed. Maybe I just notice it more because it's uninterrupted by cuts to Gabby whacking people with her staff. And it was cool the way Xena shook her hands at them (putting a hex on them?) as they approached. Alti, looking evil as only Alti could, with a sort of brooding menace. Claire was perfect for the part. The Ewokazons snapping up the dazed thug that Xena left lying around - "Look what we got". I usually hate teens in movies, they're so juvenile, but these were young adults - still with a bit of youthful enthusiasm, which made them very engaging. Top marks to the writers and actors. The Land of the Dead - in early winter. What a bleak spot! They were lucky to get enough clear weather to film Cyane on her rock with Ruapehu behind her. By the way, does anyone else get a strange coruscating effect on the snow behind Xena and the Young Dead Amazon as they walk uphill towards the camera? Another great line - "Cyane? You met her?" "I killed her". Oh I love this show! Nice touches - - when Xena looks like waking up OTERE (voice-over) Her spirit's with the dead. YAKUT I say we send her body there too. ... and Yakut gives a sidelong look at Otere before she goes to spear Xena with her own sword. These Amazons may be young but they're not squeamish. Excellent acting by these two. - - the sudden lurch Xena gave in the Land of the Dead - caused by the Ewokazons bumping her when they moved her. Xena looks puzzled as she tries to figure out what happened - nice acting by LL. - - Xena wakes up, Yakut is holding Xena's sword but Otere puts her arm out to restrain her, Xena kicks her sword neatly out of Yakut's hand, catches it and sheathes it in one nice flowing movement, and the Ewokazons all go "ooh" - and Yakut promptly picks up her axe and holds that at the ready. There's just so much good stuff in this ep, and the by-play between Otere and Yakut is a delight to watch. - - all throught his ep, if you watch Yakut, she's distrustful of Xena, watching her and keeping a tight grip on her axe. The battle on the dunes, I must say Alti's warrior thugs weren't up to much, the Ewokazons seemed to beat them up quite easily. Xena kicked the first warrior off his horse and gets a puzzled look on her face, as if to say 'that was too easy'. The Berserker was certainly no gentleman - always ready to hit a man (or woman) when she's down. Xena looks so cool in her fur coat (all except the little Bambi antlers, which are regrettably cute). Question for people - does the West Coast black sand (which varies from black to grey to light fawn depending on the angle of the sun and the cloud cover) add to or detract from scenes like these? I think, on this particular occasion, the Ewokazons in their light brown furs stand out particularly well against the black sand and maybe look more colourful because of it. Oh gosh, it's half past midnight. Last time I looked it was 11.30. Doesn't time fly when you're watching the best ep of Xena? OK, I'll do Part 2 next post. 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: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 08:33:48 -0700 From: "Xena Torres" Subject: RE: [chakram-refugees] Sin Trade >Notice the way T J Scott kept the camera moving all the time, I know you don't like Gab, but I hope that doesn't extend to Renee. Watch/listen to her commentary for "Deja Vu" as she refers to TJ a lot, since he was the director she was shadowing. She did make a comment about how TJ does indeed always like to have things moving, whether it's the actors or the characters. >And a kind of hidden-camera documentary feeling with it. Ooooh! You're RIGHT! TJ rocks. I've always been a big fan of his directing. And his wife rules in this ep too! (go Vicky, go Vicky!) >Really, this is the ep LoDuca should have got an Emmy for. Not best music >or best songs, but >best soundtrack. Wasn't he nominated? I'm pretty sure. Yeah, yeah, Xena was nominated for songs for "The Bitter Suite" and then for soundtracks for AITST and "Fallen Angel" which he took the emmy home for. Yes, Sin Trade and Debt are some of my fav musical wise, and it ticks me off that very little of the fine music from this eps made it onto the soundtracks. Three from Sin and I think two or three from Debt (I REALLY want that song that played in "The Debt" during the Xena/Lao Ma bottle scene. Oooh, creepy.) >And it was cool the way Xena shook her hands at them (putting a hex on >them?) as they >approached. That always has, and still, confused me. She was doing that hand thing over the Young Woman's body, so I don't think it was a negative thing to the thugs, but I have NO idea. I wish the featurette had touched on it. >Alti, looking evil as only Alti could, with a sort of brooding menace. >Claire was perfect for the part. YEAH CLAIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alti is never as good as she was the first time (as much as I love her in BTL and TBTB) >These Amazons may be young but they're not squeamish. Excellent acting by >these two. I LOVED Kate Elliot in this ep. I also really enjoyed her in TBTB. But I gotta wonder why her acting was weak in "Lifeblood" and downright SUCKED on "Cleopatra 2525." Lily, YIKES! >nice acting by LL. Lucy rocked this ep! You GO GRRL! >and the Ewokazons all go "ooh" - ROTFLMAO! I LOVE that! I laughed SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hard when I saw that! Still do. >Xena looks so cool in her fur coat (all except the little Bambi antlers, >which are regrettably cute). Well, now we know the antlers house her soul according to the featurette. But yes, her alters made her look 'cute.' I think because her antlers were really high on her head and straight up, while Alti's were more to the side. Also, Xena's outfit was a LOT lighter than Alti's which made the antlers stand out more too. Cause Alti's antlers DON'T look cute! ;) >Question for people - does the West Coast black sand (which varies from >black >to grey to light fawn depending on the angle of the sun and the cloud >cover) >add to or detract from scenes like these? I have ALWAYS LOVED the look of the black sand. So original looking. NZ is the perfect backdrop. But, yes, it was especially nice for this ep, and cheers to TJ for noticing and giving those nice wide shots, which are pretty rare for Xena fight scenes. >Doesn't time fly when you're watching the best ep of Xena? You know, you can write the longest reviews you want. We all know that you love these eps the most not because of their quality, but because there is no Gabs. ;) :D BATTLE ON XENA! Xena Torres: Warrior Writer http://www.geocities.com/bitchofrome "And most importantly, I've learned that the heart can betray, but the sword never lies." - Eve "Heart of Darkness" _________________________________________________________________ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines ========================================================= 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 V4 #165 **************************************