Monday, July 10, 2006

Lend me your ears...


Ave, dear reader! The Romans are here - and no, I'm not talking about last night's World Cup victory. I'm talking about those mini-series Romans, who are all British really and always ready to get their togas off and get down and dirty in a bid to boost ratings. Hoorah! If nothing else, the presence of the deeeeelish James Purefoy (in the pic) in "Rome" would be sufficient to make Rhino75 blow the dust off his "Kennedy's Shorter Latin Primer" and sit three inches away from the tv screen for two hours at a stretch so as not to miss a frame of this $100 million "totty 'n' togas" extravaganza. Antiquity looks such fun! It's enough to make you want to wrap yourself in a (clean) sheet and try eating your dinner lying on your side. I'm not sure where this fascination with the "Ancient World as Portrayed by Hollywood" comes from, but it goes back as far as I can remember. Why, Virgil was even my favourite Thunderbirds character. As a very small child, I would sit on the sofa between Ma and Pa Rhino, stripping the sponge from my Arctic Roll while devouring all those wonderful sword and sandal epics: "Spartacus", "Cleopatra", "The Robe", "Quo Vadis". Never wanted to be a gladiator though, always a centurion. I think it was the uniform and the thought of going into the "tortoise formation" with all those other lovely centurions. Hmmm. But I digress. So far I've only watched the first two episodes, but I've already copped more of James Purefoy's bottom than in the whole eight hours of "A Dance to the Music of Time" - now THAT'S (my caps) what I call acting. The wonderful Lindsay Duncan does her RSC-trained patrician matron turn, and everyone else is a-plottin' and a-sh*ggin' as you would expect. Highly addictive. And talking of highly addictive, I spent most of yesterday lying in a darkened room recovering from several margaritas too many at a Mexican fiesta. How often do you go round to someone's home and find they've got their own opium couch and enough burritos to feed an army? Many, many thanks to Houston and Gerry for an excellent evening.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I'll arm wrestle you for him,ha! It must be pandemic as my own lil' sis came home from a two-for-one Margarita spot completely trashed. I've yet to ever see he so boggled. It was a classic Kodak moment. But I too am an old warrior who just loves those epic movies, Ben Hur and the lot. No, I'm not shouting. Why, do you still have a hangover? Mwah!

rhino75 said...

Babs, I see you very much as a kind of Jean Simmons in "The Robe" but angrier... Margaritas, and indeed tequila in general, are the devil's work. But I love 'em.

Unknown said...

Rhino Darling, I am taking that as a wonderful compliment. Yes, tequila is an evil potion for me. I really have to watch it with them.Hope you are well my dear and kisses!!

Anonymous said...

OMG!! You have to see Purefoy in The Tenant of Wildefeld Hall. Love him in that... scrumptious.

Anyways... I'm back, and, ironically enough, I just had to write a post about Zidane and Achilles...

Btw, where are you watching this toga party? DVD? Cable? I want some.

rhino75 said...

Nardac, hurrah you're back!! Am looking forward to hearing all about it. re: James P., I don't think I've ever seen him in anything that didn't require dressing up. Always a good sign. Did you catch him in "Vanity Fair"? - scrumptious. I almost changed my name to "the infamous Mrs. Crawley". "Rome" is showing on Canal+, don't fret, I've recorded them all!!

Anonymous said...

Oh goodie! I could really get into that. AND... I want to see this big gay bathroom in person! More exclamation marks for everyone!!!!!

and no, I've never seen Vanity Fair but I imagine you have it tucked in some sort of stronghold.

rhino75 said...

We'll have to have a "Rome" night -bring your own sheet! I'll mail you.