007: 5 Ways Timothy Dalton Is The Most Underrated Bond (& 5 It's George Lazenby)

Like Batman, James Bond has been portrayed by several actors across many films. There are the iconic ones like Sean Connery and Daniel Craig who played the character across a multitude of adventures. However, two actors in the history of Bond only briefly played the role and those are George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton.

RELATED: James Bond 007: Every Gun Barrell Intro, Ranked

These actors were not popular choices for the character when they debuted. However, over the years both Lazenby and Dalton received a renaissance from fans with their respective films getting more praise. The question is: who is more underrated and why?

10 Dalton: Return To Form

With the Roger Moore era, James Bond evolved to become more family-friendly with outlandish adventures. Films like The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker delved more into science fiction rather than gritty spy thrillers like Goldfinger or From Russia With Love.

Starting with The Living Daylights, James Bond was no longer a pun-tastic super spy with fancy gadgets and over the top plots. Bond was back to being a highly-skilled MI6 operative with a license to kill. Dalton portrayed Bond closer to how Sean Connery played him while still adding his own flavor.

9 Lazenby: Also A Charmer

George Lazenby did not hold a candle to Sean Connery but throughout, Lazenby is giving maximum effort to the role. Lazenby provides wit and charm throughout On Her Majesty's Secret Service. For what was his first acting role, George Lazenby could have been much worse.

This definitely comes through with his chemistry with Diana Rigg's Tracy. Lazenby also carries over the tradition of Bond having fun and surprisingly pleasant conversations with his villains. His rivalry with Blofeld in On Her Majesty's Secret Service is some of the best parts of the film despite continuity errors.

8 Dalton: Superior Action Star

Most times, Bond actors let the stuntmen do their respective jobs. However, like Mr. Daniel Craig, Timothy Dalton was not afraid to do things himself. Most of the on-screen stunts seen in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill were performed by Dalton.

RELATED: 10 Best Times When 007 Said "Bond, James Bond," Ranked

This includes the very dangerous opening action sequence in The Living Daylights. When the truck is speeding down the road with James Bond on top, that is indeed Timothy Dalton hanging on for dear life.  Lazenby also performed many of his own stunts although his Bond was less action-oriented than Dalton's.

7 Lazenby: He Only Got One Movie

When it comes to actors in a certain role, they get better as they go. For example, Sean Connery was leagues better in From Russia With Love than Dr. No, practically perfecting the character in Goldfinger. Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig also gave stronger performances as their tenures went on.

Lazenby was unfortunately not given that opportunity to grow. After conflicts with the director of On Her Majesty's Secret Service and advice saying that Bond was a dying franchise, Lazenby moved on. Many fans agree that if he had gotten even one more film, his tenure would have been more respected.

6 Dalton: Ahead Of His Time

What sets Timothy Dalton's era apart from the previous eras is that the two films were much darker, grittier, and more akin to action movies at the time. Fans of Bond originally thought that the films were too dark and way too violent.

This is especially ironic because this style of James Bond would come back with much praise in Casino Royale. Every Daniel Craig film since then has followed in the much more gritty and grounded take on the character. Craig's version was praised yet Dalton technically did it first, especially in Licence To Kill.

5 Lazenby: Better Romance

James Bond is known for his tendency to seduce multiple gorgeous women in one film. While that certainly is the case with On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Bond does find love. His romance with Tracy Draco is one of the best on-screen pairings with a Bond girl in the series.

This is also a testament to the acting abilities of Diana Rigg. Their love story which starts right from the beginning of the film is what helps in establishing Lazenby's take on Bond. This romance was actually so well done that it would affect later sequels.

4 Dalton: He Was Screwed Out Of The Role

Timothy Dalton loved the role of James Bond but he was never even the first choice. Originally, Pierce Brosnan was offered the role but lost the role due to contracts with Remington Steele. So Dalton got the role and was able to play James Bond for two films.

RELATED: James Bond: The 10 Best Cars 007 Has Driven, Ranked

Originally, Timothy Dalton was going to feature in a third film but due to legal matters and the opening in Pierce Brosnan's schedule, Dalton was replaced. This was not exactly fair to the actor has he more than likely would have made a great third film. On the plus side, Pierce Brosnan ended up being perfect to carry on the franchise.

3 Lazenby: Humanized Bond

Sean Connery is legendary as James Bond but his take on the character was very much a superhero. Nothing was capable even making Bond flinch most of the time and he was indestructible. With On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the filmmakers went back to the style of the original books.

Bond was much more human and Lazenby portrayed that well. He showed more emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, fear. George Lazenby's best example of his range is in the final scene in which his newlywed wife Tracy is killed. His heartbreak is subtle but effective in making a very tragic ending for a Bond story and if Lazenby had been given a sequel, he likely would have done well in a revenge story.

2 Dalton: Book Accurate Bond

As mentioned, Timothy Dalton adored playing James Bond even to the point of reading the original novels on the set between shooting. This is why Bond in the Dalton era is so different: he's more of a reluctant agent. Ian Fleming never wrote Bond to be quippy and constantly using one-liners.

While there are definitely elements of that in Dalton's performance; fans of the book have pointed out that not only does Dalton perform closer to the book but he also looks almost identical to how Ian Fleming describes the character.

1 Lazenby: Fans Were Unfair To Him

Fans are how movie franchises continue but that doesn't mean they are fair all the time. Back in the 1960s, the idea of replacing an actor who was iconic for a role was unheard of. That's why replacing Sean Connery as James Bond sounded like sacrilege.

As a result, fans were quick to denounce George Lazenby. Many did not even give him a chance and simply wrote him off as "not Sean Connery." This is similar to how fans always react when a new actor takes on Batman. So as a result, George Lazenby had to wait several decades before he got the appreciation that he deserved.

NEXT: 10 James Bond Video Games You Need To Play To Get Ready For Project 007

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3cuJll1
via IFTTT

Read More

How I Met Your Mother: 10 Most Perfect Song Choices Throughout The Series

While the finale somewhat tarnished its reputation, How I Met Your Mother is widely regarded as one of the best and most creative sitcoms of the 21st century. The show consistently generated acclaim for its performances, writing, creative use of time, and the unique blending of comedy and heartfelt drama.

RELATED: How I Met Your Mother: 10 Best Moments From The Final Episode Of The Show

One of the most underappreciated aspects of the show's production is its incredible soundtrack. Like Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother always had a penchant for finding little-known songs and utilizing them to absolute perfection in a certain sequence. A great song choice can go a long way in perfecting a scene.

10 This Modern Love

Season one ended in spectacular fashion. Ted "made it rain" for Robin, and Lily called off her engagement to Marshall. While Ted makes his way over to Robin's, Bloc Party's "This Modern Love" begins playing in the background.

The song is used to perfection throughout the proceeding sequence - like rising when Ted and Robin finally kiss and fading out as Ted sits on the steps with a broken Marshall. It's a great song, and it caps season one in amazing fashion.

9 Shake It Out

Florence + The Machine's "Shake It Out" plays at the end of the seventh season episode "No Pressure", and it couldn't have made for a more perfect fit. Robin admits to Ted that she doesn't love him, and while Ted puts on a brave face, he is crushed by the admission. However, he admits that Robin's admission has allowed him to finally move on.

When he emerges from the bar, the street is filled with yellow umbrellas while "Shake It Out" rises to a triumphant crescendo. It's a gorgeous symbol, and it's paired with a gorgeous song.

8 The Funeral

The season eight premiere, Farhampton, ends with Klaus explaining the concept of "lebenslangerschicksalsschatz". As he explains, Band of Horses' "The Funeral" begins playing over a montage of the characters in their private lives.

Klaus then explains to Ted that if he has to "think" about finding The One, then he hasn't actually found her. The scene then flashes forward to when Ted meets the mother, as she arrives at the Farhampton station with her yellow umbrella.

7 Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect

It's a fittingly-titled song, that's for sure. Season two's Ted Mosby: Architect is primarily concerned with Robin's feelings toward Ted. She grows paranoid about Ted's behavior and begins to suspect that he is cheating on her.

RELATED: How I Met Your Mother: Ted's 10 Shadiest Burns, Ranked

As a means to make up with Ted, Robin brings donuts to his work and reaffirms her commitment to Ted and the relationship. The Decemberists's "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" plays while Robin walks to Ted's work, and it serves as a beautiful and touching little moment.

6 Prophets

How I Met Your Mother always knew how to end a season, and the fourth season finale is no different. Marshall decides to make the literal leap across buildings while Ted decides to make a metaphorical leap into his new job as professor of architecture.

A.C. Newman's "Prophets" plays in the background as the characters leap across buildings. The song is both tonally and lyrically fitting ("One by one by one by one"), and it sends the fourth season off in style.

5 I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Season two's Arrivederci, Fiero is a rather insignificant episode of How I Met Your Mother, but it's still a ton of fun thanks to some strong writing, good jokes, a relatable storyline (finally saying goodbye to a beloved car), and a killer soundtrack.

Part of said soundtrack is The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The song plays whenever the episode flashes back to Marshall's past, as the cassette was stuck inside the Fiero and it's all that he and Ted listened to on their road trips.

4 Oxford Comma

Vampire Weekend is a widely beloved band, and their song "Oxford Comma" made its way into the fifth season opener, Definitions. The song plays during the episode's opening sequence, which displays a quick shot of Columbia University and sees Ted beginning to write "professor" on the chalkboard.

The song certainly doesn't last long, and only the first couple of guitar notes are played. But it's still utilized well - especially the jarring cut to silence as Ted realizes that he doesn't know how to spell "professor."

3 Run Off The Road

The season six premiere, Big Days, concerns Ted briefly reuniting with an old fling named Cindy. Cindy is at MacLaren's with another female, and Ted believes that this female is her roommate. As Ted goes to introduce himself, Ola Podrida's "Run Off the Road" begins playing in the background.

RELATED: Friends Meets How I Met Your Mother: 5 Couples That Would Work (& 5 That Wouldn't)

The song has a beautiful acoustic tone, and it fits the touching scene wonderfully - especially when the music rises after Ted witnesses Cindy kissing the woman. He then explains that the woman was Cindy's girlfriend, not her roommate and that they went on to adopt a child together.

2 Nice Dream

The season three finale, Miracles, opens in a somewhat intense fashion. Ted is riding in a cab when the cab is t-boned by a speeding car. All the other characters get a call from the hospital, telling them that Ted has been injured.

They all stop what they're doing and rush over to the hospital as Radiohead's melancholic Nice Dream plays in the background. It's all very morose and somewhat depressing stuff. Of course, the tone is significantly lessened when the characters finally arrive at the hospital, as Ted is perfectly fine (and is even eating a tub of jello).

1 Murder Train

Murder Train was specifically created for the show, as it's performed by Simon's inappropriately-named band The Four Skins. The song is quite terrible, but it's utilized to perfection throughout the show. It typically plays whenever the show flashes to an act of violence, such as Marshall brawling with his brother and Ted battling the goat.

Perhaps the best utilization is found in Sandcastles In the Sand, as the song plays in-universe over an Adopt-A-Puppy segment. The segment actually proved successful, as many of the in-show viewers thought that the puppies were going to be murdered, leading to many adoptions.

NEXT: 10 Most Questionable Life Choices Main Characters Made In How I Met Your Mother

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/2MCrVIu
via IFTTT

Read More

10 Most Unlikely Friendships On TV | ScreenRant

The concept of the odd and unlikely friendship is a common TV series trope. It has been seen again and again, whether it's on a sitcom, drama, police procedural, or any other genre. Sometimes, the friendship develops despite the two people having polar opposite personalities – think Sherlock and John on Sherlock. Other times, it's because the individuals come from very different backgrounds and so it seemed like they wouldn't have much in common.

RELATED: 10 Best Movie Friendships Of 2020 

They may have been forced to converse because of school or a job. Or maybe they met by accident and somehow realized they had more in common than they realized. Or maybe it's a mentor-mentee situation (think Steve and Dustin on Stranger Things). Whatever the case, the unlikely friendships are often the most interesting and memorable ones when it comes to the small screen.

10 Penny And Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

The fact that Penny became friends with any of the guys on The Big Bang Theory is a mystery since they are complete opposites: the guys are nerdy scientists while Penny is the stereotypical popular girl who probably bullied people like them when she was younger. But the unlikeliest of friendships of all was between Penny and Sheldon.

Despite their differences, it turns out that each was able to truly help the other through some of the most important moments in their life because of them. Penny helped Sheldon understand social situations and was the only person who knew how to really get through to him, while Sheldon helped make Penny a softer and more loving person who began to appreciate things she never thought she would, like comic books, Star Wars, and Star Trek.

9 Walter White And Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

Was it really a friendship? That is still up for debate. That said, Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, and Jesse Pinkman, a drug-dealing high school dropout, are about as unlikely a pair of friends as one could imagine. But the Breaking Bad duo managed to make magic together on screen.

Initially, the friendship was purely business, only because each had something to offer the other: Jessie had connections and knowledge of the underground drug world while Walter possessed the scientific knowledge to make drugs. The "friendship" grew beyond that, and they protected and cared for one another, even if it was only in their own weird ways.

8 Calvin Butler And Dave Johnson (The Neighborhood)

While this series is one of the more underrated ones of this decade, the very premise of the story is the idea of an unlikely friendship. The Johnsons, a stereotypically white, middle-class family move into a predominantly Black neighborhood and their neighbor Calvin Butler isn’t too happy about it.

RELATED: Breaking Bad: 10 Friendships That Should Have Happened (But Never Did) 

But as they get to know one another, the hard-nosed Calvin begins to warm to the quirky and corny Dave. Both buck stereotypes about race, and with their wives becoming instant friends in a heartbeat, their friendship completely transcending race, it's an inspiring show about inclusivity, acceptance, and not passing judgment.

7 Felix And Oscar (The Odd Couple)

The name says it all: this sitcom from the '70s (other iterations have followed) was all about two men who couldn't be more different from one another living together. Despite their very different outlooks on life, they learn to love one another and sort of become friends.

Both men are divorced and trying to start over. Felix is a neurotic neat freak who can't stand Oscar's fun-loving, free-spirited attitude, and his ability to make a huge mess.

6 Barney Stinson And Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother)

Under most circumstances, Barney and Ted would never be friends. Barney is an older womanizer who was all about material things and one-night stands. Ted, meanwhile, was far more laid back and desperate to find lasting love.

They did make great friends on How I Met Your Mother in that Barney was never afraid to act as Ted's wingman ("Ha-ave you met Ted?") That said, if Barney hadn't almost forced himself into the groups' lives, Ted might have simply rolled his eyes at his actions and walked away while Barney would have declared Ted a lost cause.

5 Grace Hanson And Frankie Bergstein (Grace And Frankie)

Another series with the entire premise predicated on the concept of an unlikely friendship, Grace and Frankie is about two older women of the same names who have known each other for ages but don't really like one another. Grace is the uptight, prim, and proper businesswoman while Frankie is the free-wheeling hippie.

RELATED: The 10 Best Wholesome Male Friendships From TV Sitcoms 

Of course, as the trope would dictate, circumstances lead to them having to lean on one another for support and even move in together. While their differences bring things to a head many times, eventually, they begin to appreciate what the other has to offer. In the end? They easily became roommate goals.

4 James T. Kirk & Mr. Spock (Star Trek)

Who could have ever predicted the friendship between the captain of the starship USS Enterprise and a human-Vulcan mixed heritage science and first officer? It says a lot about accepting those who are different from you, considering these two were literally of different species. Not surprisingly, their adorable friendship on Star Trek has become the thing of memes.

It's no surprise that their friendship was not only the most beloved by fans of the series, but they also complemented one another so well. Kirk was impulsive and passionate while Spock was consistently the logical thinker, always there to reign the captain back in if he went too far.

3 Daryl Dixon And Carol Peletier (The Walking Dead)

In the pre-apocalypse world, Carol, the doting battered housewife, and mother, and Daryl the low-life redneck, would never have crossed paths. And if they had done so by chance, they would never have given one another more than a passing glance.

Yet in this new world, they became fast and close friends, looking out for one another and willing to literally put their lives on the line for the other. The friendship has been so beautiful that it's no surprise a spin-off series starring the pair had already been confirmed prior to the end of The Walking Dead.

2 Daniel LaRusso And Johnny Lawrence (Cobra Kai)

What's amazing about this friendship is that it's the story of one-time arch-rivals coming together, decades later, for a common goal. Through Cobra Kai to date, Johnny and Daniel have held on to their long-time rivalry, which began back in high school. Now in their 50s, their lives couldn't have gone on more different paths: Daniel became a wealthy and successful businessman with a wife and kids while Johnny was single, living in a rented apartment, doing odd jobs, and drinking too much.

But by the end of season three, they had finally accepted that they are actually a lot more alike than they realized and come together to help one another.

1 Johnny & Moira Rose And Roland & Jocelyn Schitt (Schitt's Creek)

The fish out of water premise of this multi-Emmy-winning Canadian series that sees a once-wealthy family forced to move to a small town and interact with the average town folk, is hilarious, especially when you add Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara to the mix. One of the funniest, yet also heartwarming, aspects of Schitt's Creek is the unlikely friendships that grew between members of the Rose family and others in the town.

None is as unlikely, however, as Johnny and Moira befriending the town mayor Roland and his wife Jocelyn. At first, it was reluctantly. Johnny and Moira are used to fine wine and designer clothing and Roland and Jocelyn cheap beer and discount jeans off the rack. But left to lean on one another, they develop a mutual appreciation and affection.

NEXT: The Goonies: 10 Best Friendship Quotes 

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/39ydwGg
via IFTTT

Read More

RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Everything To Know About Veronica Green

Veronica Green is serving looks, comedy, and live performance on RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2, and the fans are loving it all. The second season of Drag Race UK is well underway, and Veronica is one of the clearest frontrunners in the series thus far. Before this UK edition of the show premiered on the BBC, most Drag Race fans thought that the queens across the pond would be all about live performance and comedy. On season 1, that general assumption turned out to be sort of true, but that's not to say that there weren't also great queens turning looks.

So far on Drag Race UK season 2, the queens are delivering plenty of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. Every single elimination has felt harsh at this point, with fans are putting into question if the right queen was sent home. Alas, the beautiful truth is that the fans simply don't want to lose any of the 12 contestants that were put in this cast. It's been a while for the fandom to have such a strong positive reaction to an entire Drag Race cast, and that proves just how special this group of girls really is.

Related: How To Watch RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 2 Online In The US & Around The World

34-year-old Veronica Green has already earned her first RuPeter badge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK after winning the "Rats: The Rusical" maxi challenge in week 2. She was clearly flying under the radar in the competition but stepped up to the challenge when it came time for her to sing live and serve full Broadway diva. Veronica is originally from Rochdale but now lives and works in London. Her drag persona came from drawing comic books as a kid and being inspired by her little sister. The queen has a background in musical theatre and is inspired by all sorts of movies and Broadway productions. However, Veronica is the first to admit that she doesn't do celebrity impersonations, so she's worried about the Snatch Game.

If Veronica Green's track record serves as an indicator, she could get very far on Drag Race UK season 2. But the series is known for deliberately messing with the final edit of each episode in order to throw off the viewers and make even diehard fans second-guess themselves, which means that anything can happen from here on out.

A lot of fans will be rooting for Veronica Green all season long, and she deserves it all! Tune in to find out what happens to this amazing group of queens next.

More: RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Everything To Know About Bimini Bon Boulash

RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 airs Thursdays at 11am PT / 2pm ET on WOW Presents Plus in the US and select territories worldwide, day-and-date with its airing on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Source: Veronica Green's Instagram

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3tbdv2H
via IFTTT

Read More

Stardew Valley Endgame Challenges For Players Who've Done Everything

Taking care of a virtual farm in Stardew Valley is a great way to relax and find an escape from the day's stresses. However, Stardew Valley has been out since 2016, and even with its regular updates, many fans have explored most of the content the game has to offer. For those looking to make Stardew Valley fresh and challenging during a new playthrough, there are ways to invent new objectives and limit resources, pushing a player to try new strategies.

While Stardew Valley's 1.5 update has recently added a good deal of new endgame content to explore, players may feel like giving themselves a new set of challenges to accomplish in order to make gameplay more rewarding, especially if they start a new save file to enjoy the 1.5 update from the beginning of the game.

Related: Stardew Valley: Is JojaMart Really Evil?

To test their financial skills, Stardew Valley players could take on a challenge to sell nothing for a full in-game year. A budget can be set in advance, as the player won't be able to make money while the challenge is going. The player can also choose how far into the game the challenge year will take place, which will affect the difficulty level. For example, if the challenge begins on a save that is several years into the game, the player will have more access to upgrades and resources. However, if the player only gives themselves a single season in a new game to prepare, this Stardew Valley challenge will be quite difficult, forcing them to be strategic on how their saved money is spent.

Players could also choose to play a game where the only way they're allowed to make money is selling artisan goods and cooked items. This challenge encourages Stardew Valley fans to convert raw materials and resources into more complex items. Players who made the majority of their money on raw crops and gemstones previously may find themselves learning how to utilize a truffle oil farm in Stardew Valley, for example, or find themselves filling their farm with sheds to store spinning wheels and cheese makers. This is a great challenge for a player who wants to create a specialized farm, like a winery or dairy farm.

Many players make their money farming high-profit Stardew Valley crops like strawberries. For those who want a particularly hard challenge, playing a game where only one pack of seeds can be purchased for each crop - and then only the seed maker can be used to make more - may create an interesting strategy experience. This type of playthrough requires players to gamble on the seed maker for the productivity of their farm. Challenges like these can help keep Stardew Valley gameplay fresh and exciting.

Next: Top 5 Farming Sim Games Releasing In 2021

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/2Mh028M
via IFTTT

Read More

Sundance Diary, Part 3: Documentaries That Don’t Despair

By BY A.O. SCOTT from NYT Movies https://ift.tt/3tjG0vl

Read More

Pentagon Halts Plan to Vaccinate the 40 Prisoners at Guantánamo Bay

By BY CAROL ROSENBERG from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3pMaqEl

Read More

Joseph Sonnabend, Early Force in Fight Against AIDS, Dies at 88

By BY KATHARINE Q. SEELYE from NYT Science https://ift.tt/36o8Ala

Read More

Do you have a Vagina?

A woman is at home when she hears someone knocking at her door. She goes to the door opens it and sees a man standing there.

He asks the lady, "Do you have a Vagina?"

She slams the door in disgust. The next morning she hears a knock at the door, its the same man and he asks the same question to the woman, "Do you have a Vagina?"

She slams the door again.

Later that night when her husband gets home she tell him what has happened for the last two days. The husband tells his wife in a loving and concerned voice, "Honey, I am taking a day off tomorrow so I can be home, just incase this guy shows up again."

The next morning they hear a knock at the door and both ran for the door. The husband whispers to the wife, "Honey, im going to hide behind the door and listen and if it is the same guy I want you to answer yes to the question because I want to a see where he's going with this."

She nods yes to her husband and opens the door. Sure enough the same fellow is standing there, he asks, "Do you have a Vagina?" "Yes I do." says the lady.

The man replies, "Good, would you mind telling your husband to leave my wife's alone and start using yours!"

submitted by /u/stevenlover333
[link] [comments]

from Jokes: Get Your Funny On! https://ift.tt/3jdXUel
via IFTTT

Read More

What do you call it when a smart person masturbates?

A stroke of genius.

submitted by /u/BIG_DICK_WHITT
[link] [comments]

from Jokes: Get Your Funny On! https://ift.tt/3amySWf
via IFTTT

Read More

The Dig True Story: What The Movie Changes About The Sutton Hoo Excavation

Netflix’s The Dig is based on the true story of the 1939 archaeological excavation at Sutton Hoo, but not everything in the movie is pulled from history; some has been changed. The excavation unearthed the monumental find of an ancient Anglo-Saxon ship burial, and The Dig tells the story of the people behind the discovery of the priceless historical artifacts in Suffolk, England. Based on a novel of the same name by John Preston, the movie dramatizes the events of the first major dig at the Sutton Hoo site.

The movie sticks to the truth with the foundations of the story, and most of the characters in The Dig movie are based on real people involved in the excavation. In 1939, Edith Pretty (played in the movie by Carey Mulligan) hired self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate the burial mounds on her land. He unearthed a find no one expected, an intact 6th-century ship burial that redefined historical knowledge of the Anglo-Saxons. As word of the find spread, Charles Phillips (Ken Stott) and his team of archaeologists took over the excavation under the urgency of the looming threat of World War II.

Related: One Night In Miami True Story: How Much is Real & What The Movie Made Up

The real-life find at Sutton Hoo was just as staggering as it appears in The Dig and attracted just as much attention from museums, archaeologists, and journalists. The ultimate fates of the characters in The Dig’s bittersweet ending are also largely unaltered. Although the courts decided the treasure belonged to Edith Pretty, she gifted the discovery to the British Museum before dying three years later, and Basil Brown remained unacknowledged in the Sutton Hoo discovery until recently. However, beyond the basics, The Dig takes creative license with the facts.

Many of the dramatic occurrences and conflicts in the film are fabrications, and certain characters are entirely fictional. Archaeology is mostly a methodical and laborious process, so the real events are spiced up with a few instances of peril, and dynamics between the characters are exaggerated for conflict. Though The Dig sheds light upon a lesser-known but important moment in history, it also changes quite a bit about the real Sutton Hoo excavation and the people involved.

Although Basil Brown is based on a real person, not everything that happened to him in the movie occurred during the real excavation. In The Dig, Brown is buried under a mound’s collapsing dirt walls early in the excavation, but this never actually happened. While wall collapses are a concern archaeologists must contend with, there’s no record that one happened at Sutton Hoo. The closest call at Sutton Hoo was worry over whether the viewing platform might collapse because of the sandy soil.

In the film, Edith Pretty brings in her cousin, Rory Lomax (Johnny Flynn), to assist at the site and take photographs of the excavation. He becomes involved in a romance with married archaeologist Peggy Piggott (Lily James) before he is called up by the Royal Air Force and departs for World War II. Not only is the romance entirely fake, but Rory Lomax never existed.

Related: Is The Alienist: Angel Of Darkness A True Story? How Much Is Real

The Sutton Hoo excavation was extensively photographed by Mercie Lack and Barbara Wagstaff, who are replaced by Lomax in the dramatization. Peggy Piggott and her husband did eventually divorce, but not for another 17 years after the Sutton Hoo excavation. There’s no indication that her marriage fell apart while she was working at the site, whether over a handsome photographer or otherwise.

The Dig’s Peggy Piggott is presented as an amateur only getting her start in archaeology at the side of her husband. In fact, by 1939, Peggy Piggott was an experienced archaeologist. In the movie, Piggott says she has not done much fieldwork, but the real archaeologist had already directed an excavation in 1937 in addition to extensive fieldwork. Like many women of the era, her contributions have been ignored (similar to The Alienist's Sara Howard based on Isabella Goodwin), and The Dig unfortunately does little to shed light on her illustrious archaeological career.

As Edith Pretty and the excavation team prepared to celebrate their success in the movie, a warplane crashed into the water nearby, a fatal accident in which they had to recover the body of the pilot. There is also no record of this happening during the excavation. During a celebratory party, Charles Phillips’ speech about the ship burial was drowned out by a warplane flying over, but there was no crash at the time. There was a plane crash in the River Deben near Sutton Hoo, but this did not happen until late in World War II. These two instances may have been combined for dramatic effect, making significant changes to the timeline of the true story.

Archaeology does not usually happen quickly, and the movie compressed the timeline to make it seem like the entire dig happened in a single season. Basil Brown actually started work at Sutton Hoo in 1938 and found some small but significant artifacts, such as ship rivets, that hinted at the treasure at the site. The movie has Brown starting work in 1939, when in real life he returned for his second season at Sutton Hoo that year. His work at the site’s other mounds was also more extensive than the movie shows, but his methodical excavation over two years was compressed to help the story flow better.

Many adaptations of true stories exaggerate conflicts between characters (just look at Mank's handling of Herman Mankiewicz and Citizen Kane), and the animosity between Basil Brown and Charles Phillips is no exception. There is some basis in fact, however. Brown was relegated to assisting on the dig after Phillips arrived, and his name was left out the exhibit of the Sutton Hoo artifacts. According to Brown’s writings, he did fight with Phillips on occasion, but they also had a respect for each other, and Phillips praised Brown’s skill in his accounts of the dig. While The Dig takes a lot of dramatic license with the events of the Sutton Hoo excavation, it also sheds a rare light on a significant discovery and the people who made it.

Next: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom True Story: The Real Chicago Blues Musician History

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3pybYBG
via IFTTT

Read More

New Gods Movie Co-Writer Says Film Will Honor Jack Kirby’s Creations

Tom King, a comics scribe who is co-writing DC's New Gods movie with director Ava DuVernay, says the film will honor the vision of the characters' legendary creator, Jack Kirby. The protagonists of Kirby's Fourth World series are the fourth generation of gods. The new film will chart the galactic war spanning the planets of New Genesis and Apokalips, and see heroes such as Mister Miracle and Big Barda taking on the villainous Darkseid, who seeks to eliminate free will across the known Universe.

DuVernay, who is the first Black female director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture for Selma as well as the director of the upcoming HBO Max dystopian miniseries DMZ based on the comics of the same name, asked DC for a chance to bring the New Gods to the big screen. King, a two-time Eisner Award-winner who has written for Batman and Mister Miracle, makes his screenwriting debut as DuVernay's cowriter. The film has been in the works for quite a long time and is no doubt being buffeted by the pandemic that has affected DC's whole lineup, but the excellent talent behind the scenes bodes well for New Gods when it eventually does come out.

Related: Why DC's New Gods Movie Is Taking So Long

Speaking on the ComicBook.com Phase Zero podcast, King said that he and DuVernay will be sure to honor Kirby's genius in the script. King described the process of working on the film and with DuVernay, calling it "a joy." King said that DuVernay is focused on the emotional core of the characters and the uniquely complex relationships that Kirby wrote for them. Check out his full quote below:

To give a movie like New Gods to a visionary director like Ava. To me, Jack Kirby and Ava are very similar creators. They come from similar places and they have sort of parallel histories and I feel like I'm just the person meeting these two people together so they can create something that's unique...Working with Ava is a joy, she's incredibly focused on the emotional core of these characters. It's been fun, I've never written a movie before now I've done some TV, none of it ever comes out, Hollywood's a weird place. But I've done some of that but this is my first sort of big, huge movie with space battles and all that stuff. It's a ball, as long as we focus on the core Jack Kirby relationships that he created, that make it good, it's going to be a good movie. That's where Ava and I both are."

Following in the footsteps of a master is always a smart decision, as Kirby's creations continue to entertain millions. Once a frequent collaborator with Stan Lee, Kirby originated Captain America and helped to bring the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Hulk, and Iron Man to life. Kirby originally envisioned the New Gods as characters in the Thor comics for Marvel, with Thor, Loki, and Odin among the old gods who destroyed one version of the world during Ragnarok. Kirby and Lee famously had a falling out over Kirby not receiving proper compensation for his many contributions to the Marvel universe. His knack for storytelling continued to shine through in his move to DC.

The New Gods still appear to this day in the DC universe. One of their ranks just recently saved the Suicide Squad, and Darkseid played a humorous supporting role in the Harley Quinn animated series on HBO Max. Across Marvel and DC properties, Kirby's characters are still iconic figures in pop culture. King and DuVernay are exceedingly talented individuals, and they are wisely following a golden rule in storytelling – if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

More: All 29 Upcoming & In-Development DC Films

Source: ComicBook.com

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/39Amu5T
via IFTTT

Read More

WandaVision: Everything On Jimmy Woo's Board | Screen Rant

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Episode 4 of Marvel's WandaVision

In Episode 4 of Marvel's WandaVision, the curtain has begun to lift on what's really happening in the town of Westview, as well as all of the information SWORD has gathered thus far. While the Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division was initially just as much in the dark as viewers, they soon brought in a vast array of experts to determine as to why there's a large field of energy trapping the entire town, as well as the events within.

Thanks to the efforts of the Thor franchise's Darcy Lewis, broadcasts of sitcom episodes were discovered embedded in the energy signatures coming from the town, which was comprised of, according to Darcy, "cosmic microwave background radiation," or CMBR. The episodes themselves star Wanda Maximoff along with the thought-to-be-dead Vision in Westview, co-starring its various (and very real) townspeople. As such, investigations and attempts to make contact were implemented, with much of it being lead by FBI agent Jimmy Woo (last seen in Marvel's Ant-Man & The Wasp).

Related: WandaVision's Voice On The Radio Explained

Agent Woo was one of the first officials to discover that something very strange had been going on in the New Jersey town. Likewise, as soon as SWORD arrived to offer its resources and support, Woo filled a whiteboard full of all the known information, questions, and working theories they had. Here's everything that was seen on Jimmy Woo's whiteboard in Episode 4, which he split up into 5 main sections.

According to Agent Woo, there are three things SWORD knows for certain, which he's written down on his whiteboard. Firstly, they've learned that everyone living within a five-mile radius of Westview has selective amnesia, no longer having any knowledge of the town's existence. This is evidenced when SWORD agent Monica Rambeau first met Agent Woo, and the pair interrogated local law enforcement who believed Westview doesn't exist, despite the fact it was right behind them, town sign and all. This seems to be a security measure on Wanda's part, in order to deter any kind of direct interference from those nearby.

Secondly, they've also determined the energy signatures and cosmic radiation they've detected have all been triangulated on Westview itself, thankfully giving them only one location to monitor. However, the final item listed is somewhat hard to make out, as part of it is on the fringes of what is seen on-screen. It could be "Origin Location Unknown", perhaps signifying that they have yet to find the source of the energy field surrounding the town? (though Monica confirms at the ending of episode 4 that "It's all Wanda").

As far as what SWORD doesn't know, Jimmy Woo has written on the whiteboard four big questions they're hoping to answer.

"Why hexagonal shape?"

This question is in reference to the fact the SWORD has found that the energy field around the town is in the shape of a perfect hexagon, presumably the parameters of Wanda's power and control over Westview.

"Why sitcoms?"

It's still not clear to SWORD why the town has been cast in a sitcom show starring two Avengers. What is the purpose of the narratives and episodic lives they're all living?

Related: The MCU Finally Gets Vision's Name Right

"Same time and space?"

Considering what little SWORD knows at his point, this is a very valid question. All they have to go on are the episodes themselves, which jumped from the 1950s to the 60s and now 70s. Considering the Avengers saved the world most recently using the MCU's version of time travel in Avengers: Endgame, it makes sense this would be on Woo's mind. Is Westview literally traveling through time, or is it existing in the same space as the real world, with the reality within changing to replicate the time periods? (The answer seems to be the latter thanks to Wanda's powers.)

"Is Vision alive?"

Lastly, one of the biggest questions Agent Woo and SWORD have is whether or not Wanda's husband in the sitcoms, Vision, is indeed alive. To their knowledge, Vision was reported to have been killed by Thanos in the Battle of Wakanda during Avengers: Infinity War. If that's the case, how is he alive now?

Woo has also written down all of SWORD's failed attempts at making contact with Wanda and anyone else in Westview. Thus far, they've tried multiple avenues to no avail. Apparently, calling the phone lines and trying to contact by digital means have both failed. Likewise, they've also sent SWORD drones into the town, which turned into toy helicopters upon passing through Westview's strange energy field.

Despite Monica inadvertently going in and becoming assimilated into Wanda's fantasy as Geraldine, SWORD later sent a second agent to try and enter the town from underground, wearing a hazmat suit for extra precaution. However, he was likewise transformed and turned into the beekeeper seen at the end of WandaVision's second episode. It's still unclear what happened to him after his brief interaction with Wanda and Vision.

One of the more interesting additions to the whiteboard is a section Woo's created that posits and wonders who might actually be behind Westview's strange predicament. While he does have one option listed as an "Unknown Threat" to indicate his concern that some new mysterious threat could be responsible, he also has "Extraterrestrials" on the board with "Skrulls" written in parentheses next to it.

Related: WandaVision Hints Scarlet Witch's World Is Pulling From Captain Marvel Events

Seeing as how Monica's mother Maria Rambeau was the best friend of Captain Marvel and founded SWORD, it does make sense that the shape-shifting Skrulls would be on their minds. However, it seems clear they're going to find out that Wanda is the one responsible once they debrief Monica after her being forcibly banished from Westview by Wanda.

Near the bottom of the whiteboard, Agent Woo has listed even more questions regarding the sitcom nature of Westview's new existence. Is there an audience viewing these episodes somewhere? What is the purpose of the commercials intercutting the show and the lives of the people in the town? Both questions are potentially integral to figuring out why Wanda's happy ending fantasy has taken on this particular form and medium.

Agent Woo also questions whether or not the people of Westview are awake. Are they aware of what's happening to them? Are they able to resist Wanda's control and the episode narratives? Unbeknownst to SWORD, two townspeople (Westview's Agnes and Herb) have indeed expressed some sort of awareness of what's happening, though it's unclear if they're always awake, or only during lapses in Wanda's power and control.

In any case, Agent Woo and SWORD seem determined to get to the bottom of what's happening in Westview. Now that Monica has infiltrated Westview and returned, hopefully, they'll be able to answer a number of these questions soon, allowing them to come up with a plan of action as Marvel's WandaVision continues on Disney+.

More: WandaVision: Why Vision's Return Has To End In Tragedy For Scarlet Witch

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/39vqhRR
via IFTTT

Read More