tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post2035257404737155842..comments2024-03-28T15:25:55.785-07:00Comments on Raybeard: Film: 'Testament of Youth'Raybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-25913813864252934752015-02-03T23:25:24.214-08:002015-02-03T23:25:24.214-08:00I think its appeal will be quite insular, H.K. - t...I think its appeal will be quite insular, H.K. - though I might have said the same thing about 'The Imitation Game',and would have been so wrong.<br />And frankly, most British people would not know about Vera Brittan nor recognise her name. My own knowledge was scant enough.Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-82799983885161631272015-02-03T12:37:08.202-08:002015-02-03T12:37:08.202-08:00I was not aware of the film or the woman it's ...I was not aware of the film or the woman it's about. Harpers Keeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02063887885657898897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-64675382268584871492015-02-03T08:13:46.241-08:002015-02-03T08:13:46.241-08:00It's difficult to come up with anything origin...It's difficult to come up with anything original to say about WWI, Mitch. Not that one ought to belittle the very real feelings of fear and despair of those living through it, but we really have seen it all before, and this story didn't strike me as being sufficiently exceptional to merit the big screen treatment, intense though<br />the experience undoubtedly was for Miss Brittan.<br /><br />Baroness Williams has become one of those figures who, when she appears on TV (quite regularly, still, on political discussion shows) makes me just want to switch over, which I often do - as I used to do whenever Thatcher came on. Fine if she's happy being an R.C. - even if she has re-defined what is acceptable for herself - but don't start dictating to and restricting other peoples lives.Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-60733107498161964482015-02-03T03:41:45.353-08:002015-02-03T03:41:45.353-08:00That story does seem to be told and retold. I thin...That story does seem to be told and retold. I think it would be hard at this point to come up with something new and different in the telling. As for Shirley Williams, what a huge disappointment. But so happy for her that her traditional Catholic Church would forgive HER at least for not doing things by the book.Moving with Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954028272162285597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-18118651368906058302015-02-02T23:16:20.739-08:002015-02-02T23:16:20.739-08:00Paul, your more favourable pre-disposition towards...Paul, your more favourable pre-disposition towards this film will probably mean that you'll get more out of it than I did. As I say to J.G. above, I went into this totally 'blind' - apart from having a very superficial knowledge about who Vera Brittan was, and after having seen it I didn't come out thinking that I've really got to read her story in her own words.<br />We all know what a horror that war was (which war wasn't?) and there are some grisly scenes of injuries here, though I have seen much more graphic depictions in more than a few other films. Here it is basically only a backdrop to the emotional; turmoil felt by the central character.<br />I wouldn't warn anyone off from seeing this, but I would say that I doubt if it will be leaving any deep impression in my own memory..Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-64208132111163121212015-02-02T23:04:07.935-08:002015-02-02T23:04:07.935-08:00Sol (good to see you're still there!), to be h...Sol (good to see you're still there!), to be honest I'd been wondering whether I shouldn't have knocked my mark of '6' down a notch, to 5.5 or even 5 - mainly because I quite unaccountably also gave 'Foxcatcher' a 6, when this latter was a far more interesting film, not least for the stand-out performance of Steve Carrell. But my verdicts and scores are 'immediate reaction' events, and a number of them do change either way with time for reflection. But I can't see myself wishing to upgrade 'Testimony' - only, as I say, in the other direction.Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-35066751766342291722015-02-02T22:58:05.632-08:002015-02-02T22:58:05.632-08:00I think, J.G., that the young lady's experienc...I think, J.G., that the young lady's experiences were not very different from those of a number of similar-aged females around this time. I've no doubt that what Miss Brittan went through was shattering to her personally, but I failed to see anything about her own story made it stand out as being so different that it deserved its own narrative. <br />I didn't see any trailers or previews of this so I'd no idea what to expect. Maybe if I had then I too would have been put off, perhaps so much that I may not have bothered seeing it at all.Raybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424095016313843883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-32254316654849947712015-02-02T13:19:34.755-08:002015-02-02T13:19:34.755-08:00I saw this many years ago, probably on PBS or A&am...I saw this many years ago, probably on PBS or A&E and it was incredible. I am hoping that this new retelling is just as good..But with actors like Dominic West (so good in "The Affair") and Miranda Richardson in the cast, it just has to add more to the film.<br /><br />You mention the "vista scene" I saw it in the trailer and yes, it immediately brings to mind "GWTW" But what is wrong with that? It is brutally effective and shows the audience the horrific toll that war takes.<br /><br />Without question, I shall see this one.paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02085842904367441128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-1776627791995180362015-02-02T11:59:17.576-08:002015-02-02T11:59:17.576-08:00a 6. that is quite promising then. I cant see it...a 6. that is quite promising then. I cant see it listed at the cinema here again. may have to wait for the DVDSolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518631542782309728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926347286766677626.post-23401677261965341162015-02-02T09:17:04.012-08:002015-02-02T09:17:04.012-08:00I've been waiting for you to review this.....I...I've been waiting for you to review this.....I ve been put off by the Huge " list" of stereotypical scenes in the preview<br />The gone with the wind scene of injured soldiers with the nurse, the farewell on the station, the walking through fields...<br />It seems all a bit contrivedJohn Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.com