A Visit

 

A very dear friend of mine died around Christmastime.  She was a truly special lovely person and I feel the sadness every time something brings her to mind.

Last night I had a dream in which we were at a backyard bbq, sitting next to each other at a table, and enjoying the day.  Then I realized that she was dead and her being there couldn't be real.  

Then I was lucky enough to think that it didn't matter, to just accept the moment and appreciate this bit of time with her.  I was so happy. 

That feeling was still with me when I woke up.

Movie: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

 

Action and effects aside what I want to say about this movie has to do with the characters.

Raiders of the Lost Ark was a wonderful movie. Fresh, new, bright, charming. I rewatched it recently and it has held up well.  The match between Karen Allen and Harrison Ford was brilliant - they made a great screen team.

Temple of Doom was also really good.  Kate Capshaw was great.  Karen Allen was missing but Capshaw was a strong enough performer to carry us along.

The Last Crusade.  The match here was between Ford and Sean Connery.  Alison Doody wasn't given much to work with and didn't have much of a chance against the chemistry between Ford and Connery, not to mention Denholm Elliott.   

The Cyrstal Skull.  Lots of familiar action here, not a great plot. Even Cate Blanchett, while fun, wasn't exactly riveting.  But Karen Allen was back and the Indy-Marian chemistry saved the film.  We had missed her in the two previous films without necessarily even being aware of it.

The Dial of Destiny.  Films 2,3 and 4 had references to bits of business in the films that came before them but this film was just too full of them.  Lots and lots of action.  Lots and lots.  Lots.  Some of the quiet in-between scenes were quite effective.  I like Phoebe Waller-Bridge but there was a lack of chemistry between her and Ford.  I've read that Karen Allen was ready to do this film but somehow "they" decided not to use her except for a small bit at the end.  What a mistake.  It was so satisfying seeing Marian and Indy together at the end of Crystal Skull.  All that energy was there to use in this film and someone decided to squander it.  The couple of minutes of Indy and Marian at the very end was the highlight of the whole film.  By not teaming them for the film a huge opportunity was lost.

Dubbing and Subtitles

 

I almost always have subtitles turned on when I watch things.  I find I miss dialogue - people talk too quickly, they mumble, the soundtrack is too loud, they have an accent I'm not competent at interpreting, and of course I'm old and my hearing is no doubt not what it was.  It's not just a matter of turning the sound up since that doesn't help with mumbling or very low voices and I don't like it too loud, nor do I want to disturb my neighbours.  (I have always had some problems with hearing people in real life, not that I can't hear the sound, but somethings I can't distinguish the words. Especially if there is background noise or other conversations going on.)

Usually if something not in English I watch with English subtitles and the original language. Sometimes the voices they use for dubbing are so totally incongruous with the actors real voice, and with the emotion shown by the original actor.  There are of course many levels of competence in dubbing and often I just try to avoid watching peoples' mouths.  

Occasionally I watch with both subtitles and dubbing in English.  With some shows it is amazing how much discrepancy there is between the two.  It can be minor but sometimes  it's like there are two entirely different versions of the dialogue.  Sometimes it's like there are two entirely different plots.