"Jeeves and the Yule-Tide Spirit" quotes

  A book gives more detailed psychoogical characteristics and on the whole a larger picture than a screen adaptation does. However, it's easier and faster to learn the whole story, especially if the book is long.

  In P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster stories there are those kinds of quick and precise portraits.

  Honoria 'had a laugh like waves breaking on a stern and rock-bound coast.' -- Nice metaphor. And in the film Honoria's laugh corresponds with this description.
  About Jeeves. 'Cold and haughty, no symp. None of the rallying-around spirit which one likes to see. As I had anticipated, the information that we were not going to Monte Carlo had got in amongst him.' -- The characteristic of the person in a certain mood and knowledge is shown in these lines.
  The description of the voice. 'This one was something in between the last Trump and a tiger calling for breakfast after being on a diet for a day or two. It was the the sort of nasty, rasping voice you hear shouting 'Fore!' when you're one of a slow foursome of reared colonels. Among the qualities it lacked were kindliness, suavity, and that sort of dove-like cooing note which makes a fellow feel he  has found a friend.' -- That's a vivid description of the feeling on meeting a friend and not a friend, through contrast. "...kindliness, suavity, and that sort of dove-like cooing note which makes a fellow feel he  has found a friend." -- That's it.

What else there is about the "Odyssey" (the 1990s series)

   There are different types of fantasy fans some are more intellectual and fry to get ti the idea and meaning, the others enjoy the story and the characters. The second type tend to become fanfiction writers, which doesn't often turn out to be talented.
   As for the "Odyssey" series, I commend season 1.
   What I found on the internet are the fan pages.
   This one comes first. http://downworld.livejournal.com/ It's pre-modreated for posting but con\mmenting is available. This LJ community leads to some more links.
   Like this LJ http://bradziegler.livejournal.com/ where the author gives his reviews of each season and also refers to another page: http://illyawoloshyn.com/. The author of the site seams to have a lot to say about the film and his ideas, which he does in detail on his blog as well. http://theodyssey1992.blogspot.ru/
   Some fans are interested in the question: what happens to the "downworld" and some fanfiction. The two versions completing the final episode of the film are as follows. http://theodyssey1992.blogspot.ru/2014/10/fan-fiction_3.html
    The second one. http://archiveofourown.org/works/24573
    Now some of my thoughts on how the "Odyssey" story should be or should have been. The fanfiction could start from the end of the first season.

On the "Odyssey" 1991-1992 Canadian TV series (season 1)

   It was in 2008 when the "Odyssey" fans including myself asked Paul Vitols (one of the scriptwriters of the first season) to write about the making of the film, which he did quite generously on his blog: http://www.paulvitols.com/the-odyssey/the-odyssey-odyssey/ (posts tagged 'the odyssey odyssey').
   I waited for a new post at the time and printed it on paper for comfortable reading. As I writer Paul Vitols gives the details and the background to the story. He tells about the choice of actors and inspirations, the collaboration of the crew up to the ready first pilot episode. (This is an engaging reading, which I recommend to all who wish to improve their language skills.) The shorter version of the "Odyssey" story is on this blog.  http://www.paulvitols.com/the-odyssey/the-odyssey-odyssey/
   In addition to this, there's another present for the fans of the fantasy adveture series: in 2013 the talk with the author was recorded, here's the audio http://www.rewatchability.com/2013/01/24/episode-75-the-odyssey/ In this sort of interview the scriptwriter himself reveals some details of creating the story https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/76984266/Episode%2075-%20THE%20ODYSSEY.mp3 from min. 17:40 to min. 31:40.

     I think the alternative ending are possible from fan fiction writers,  because  the film has neither developped nor been completed the right way,  as the original authors had been able to have it the way they saw it.

   There's one more "present" I'd like to share because I think it would be interesting for the fans. In 2008 I e-mailed to Paul Vitols asking him some questions bout the "Odyssey" and also giving some of my ideas.

Starting to read Charlotte Bronte's 'Shirley'

   I had only covered four and a half chapters when I put the book aside. But perhaps I'll continue, after having read the introduction in the Wordsworth Classics edition. The ideas are interesting, I have learned about the main story lines from the introduction. However, not all is interesting.
  The novel is very long, ,longer than 'Jan Eyre'.
  The language is good, but there are a lot of details and lingerings. Instead of watching TV series people read long books in the past. The stories don't start: you read and read, and nothing much really happens.
  But the psychological portraits are good.
  There are many characters. The first impressions are remindful of Dicken's style, the sort of humour in describing people, and partly that of L. Tolstoy's "The War and Peace" (or "The War and The World") novel.

'Král Drozdia Brada' (1984)

  'Král Drozdia Brada' (1984) is now available to watch online on youtube.

  But I have downloaded it from the Czech website. This version has two original audio tracks in Czech and Slovak. http://www.uloz.to/xXEKS4Ub/kral-drozdia-brada-cz-dabing-avi (In order to download I signed up and chose the non-premium slow download -- the window on the right).

   The two audios do not seem so very different, regarding the language

  The only Czech version is online here. https://vk.com/im?peers=12103684&sel=172395047&z=video-38813150_163280581%2Fbee53401227e765179

  The first track seems to sound more natural, more blended into the surronding backround of sounds and air.

Tolkien as a Christian writer: the Elves impress Sam

   As J.R.R.Tolkien himself was a Christian, he was trying to get across certain messages (concerning moral principles and values) to the non-believing (non-religious) world. And I think he was also sharing some of his own experience of feeling. (In a way he showed that sincere faith and religion is something natural and not remote.)

   In the famous book there can be traced some parallels and sometimes allusions to the Christian experience and some events in the Gospels. However they are just parallels and symbols (Tolkien was not preaching straightly), though indicative of sincere feelings and faith, "The Lord of the Rings" is a fantasy world of fantasy creatures and humans (people) reflecting something of reality and expressing some of the ideas and values Tolkien appreciated the most.

  In this post I am going to present and comment on the extracts from chapters 3 and 4 of the second volume, that is "The Fellowship of the Ring".

   Who are the elves in Tolkien's world? What do they mean in terms of Christian-related imagery? 

Introduction to Strider (Aragorn): "All that is gold does not glitter"

  Quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" "The Fellowship of the Ring" (book 1, volume two), chapter 10 "Strider".
   Strider says about himself:
   "I have hunted many wild and wary things and I can usually avoid being seen, if I wish."
    The following extracts, from which a reader learns about Strider's character and appeaance.
  " 'No, I don't think any harm of old Butterbur. Only he does not altogether like mysterious vagabonds of my sort.' Frodo gave him a puzzled look. 'Well, I have rather a rascally look, have I not?' said Strider with a curl of his lip and a queer gleam in his eye. 'But I hope we shall get to know one another better. ... ' "
   " ' ... You can do as you like about my reward: take me as a guide or not. But I maysay that I know all the lands between the Shire and the Misty Mountains, fo I have wandered over them for many years. I am older than I look. I might prove useful. ...' "
   Frodo got a letter from Gandalf (which had been delivered by Mr Butterbur).
  "... You can trust the landlord (Butterbur). You may meet a friend of mine on the road: a Man, lean, dark, tall, by some called Strider. He knows our business and will help you. ...
 PPS. Make sure that it is the real Strider. There are many strange men on the roads. His true name is Aragorn.
  All that is gold does not glitter,
  Not all those who wander are lost;
  The old that is strong does not wither,
  Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
  From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
  A light from the shadows shall spring,
  Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
  The crownless again shall be king. "

  Frodo and his friends had some doubts, and Strider's answer was this.
  Frodo's word were:
 '... I think one of his spies would -- well, seem fairer and feel fouler., if you understand.'
 'I see," laughed Strider. "I look foul and feel fair. Is that it? All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.'
  'Did the verses apply to you then?' asked Frodo. 'I couldn't make out what they wer about. But how did you know that they were in Gandalf's letter, if you have never seen it?'
  'I did not know,' he answered. 'But I am Aragorn, and those verses go with that name.' He drew out his sword , and they saw that the blade was indeed broken a foot below the hilt. 'Not much use is it, Sam?' said Strider. 'But the time is near when it shall be forged anew.' "