Bookended by Cats was named after Milo and Otis. They are the short, orange, and furry brothers who, upon entering our lives in 2003, often bookended us on our couch. And who are we? We're a geek couple living in PA. We love music, movies, TV, comics, books, and comic cons. And, from time to time, we'll share our thoughts on these nerdy things.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Dickinson - Apple TV

 Dangrdafne review:

With my upgraded phone, I received a full year of Apple TV for free. I quickly signed up because I had been wanting to watch Dickinson ever since I saw the commercials for it when it came out. 

Mind you, I actually know nothing about Emily Dickinson, except that she was a poet. I truly know nothing about her life and hardly any of her work but what I do know about her work, I love. So why would I want to watch this... well if you saw the commercials for this when it was coming out, it was luscious, beautiful, modern and very very clever.

Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson is perfect casting. I easily believe this is who Emily Dickinson could be if she were modern living in her era. Hailee breathes such life and death into Emily. I love Emily's family too, her brother is a dream in so many ways, her sister is hilarious and her parents are just the right kind of odd. All the extra characters are perfection also. 

I love that the whole setting is Emily Dickinson's era but the script is modern, as is the music. Speaking of the music, it is glorious. Every song is perfect for the music itself and for the lyrics. I feel like sometimes the song inspires the show as much as the show inspiring the music. 

I love how the poems are not only the support of each episode but how they show the poems to the audience during the episode. It helps me to hear them and read them as the poems can be quite deep and contextual if you just heard them or read them. Then add in how the episode supports the poem and this show is a dream.

4 paws

Friday, March 26, 2021

Friday 80s Flashback for March 26, 2021

 


[A Pleasing Debut] -- 35 years ago this week, the  electronic music duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, better known as Pet Shop Boys, released their debut album. Please hit the record buying public on 3/24/1986. This record featured four singles: "West End Girls," "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)," "Suburbia," and "Love Comes Quickly." "West End Girls" peaked at #1 in both the UK and the US. The other three charted pretty well, too. This was particularly true for "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" which had been released as a single in 1985 and then reissued in May 1986. In this second go-round, "Opportunities" was the third single off Please and it peaked at #11 on the UK Singles Chart and #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. 

My favorite song on the album is the opening track, "Two Divided by Zero," which was not released as a single (so here is video of a live performance). According to the Pet Shop Boys Wiki, the version on Please is fuller than the original arrangement which Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe had recorded in 1983. 

Once again, I'm embedding the full album playlist for this week's flashback rather than selecting a few tracks. This album really does deserve a complete listen, so enjoy!


Flashback: Please (1986)



That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Alita: Battle Angel

 Dangrdafne review:

What? That's where it ended? Where is #2??? I NEED #2 NOW! Please

I loved this film. I loved Alita. 

And it was a movie where NEVER was it mentioned that a woman couldn't do what a man could do. I mean it was just their life that men and women were equal. WHAT?? I almost can't believe it. This just added to my love of this movie.

I loved Ido. He was a fantastic father. And Chiren turned out to be a wonderful mother. 

I loved that it was a love story but certainly not completely traditional. It was questioned a little about a human and a cyborg but really it felt quite natural and normal. So refreshing.

I did have some giggles during the motor ball races as the machines were quite comical - it reminded both of robot wars and that doll with the erector set spider legs in Toy Story - but it was easy to let it go and realize this was just life in Iron City. 

I want to see Zalem!! I REALLY hope we get an Alita #2.

3 paws

Friday, March 19, 2021

Friday 80s Flashback for March 19, 2021

 


[Farther Miles] -- In March 1982, Mike Oldfield (of Tubular Bells fame) released his seventh studio album, Five Miles Out. Back in the day of LP and cassette sides, Side A of this record was entirely one 25 minute track called "Taurus II" (and, no, I did not select this week's album just because of my astrological sign). With one side dedicated to a single track, you probably guessed this record falls under the genre of progressive rock. "Taurus II" is kind of a followup to "Taurus I" from Oldfield's prior album, QE2 (1981), but it also has many other references and themes. I happen to like it as background music for driving or reading. Side B has four individual tracks, including the singles "Five Miles Out" and "Family Man" (a rock song which was later covered, and popularized, by Hall & Oates). Five Miles Out was a popular album, at least more so than Oldfield's prior few records, and it peaked at #7 in the UK. Both singles, however, failed to crack the top 40 (peaking at #43 and #45 respectively). This marked a revival of commercial success for Oldfield, though it would not rival the success of his first three records. I can find no actual music videos for any of the tracks, though there are some performances (like this one for "Five Miles Out," with a fine performance by Maggie Reilly), so I've simply embedded the entire YouTube playlist for you. (One of these days I'll return to a "read and hear more after the jump" style of post.)

Flashback: Five Miles Out (1982)



That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Ted Lasso - Apple TV

 Dangrdafne review:

This is the show that I love... even more than Titans.

I had absolutely no idea what this show was or really that it even existed. Then one day, I saw people talking about it online and there was not a bad word to be said about the show. In fact, everyone was saying how it was their favorite show now and a show that we need right now. 

So one night when I was doing my walk on my treadmill, I put on the first episode.

I am in love. I even came upstairs and said to my hubby, I may have a new favorite show of all time. ALL time. And only after one 30 minute episode. 

I kid you not. This show is incredible. Now after three episodes I am completely in love, lost in it and the biggest fan. “Because Nice Matters” is my motto and I could add because of Ted Lasso. What a happy, kind, allows me to take deep breaths show. It feels so good to watch this show. Simply put it makes my heart happy.

I am literally only 3 episodes in and I can not sing its praises enough and I know it will just keep getting better and better. Jason Sudekis is a joy, so is Brendan Hunt. Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple make me proud to be a woman. The show is an American football coach being hired to come to the UK to take over managing a soccer team. A true fish out of water story but really I can't decide who is really the fish.

Nick Mohammed as Nate, Nate the Great, makes me smile every time he is on the screen. He is integral to the show and I can't imagine the show without him. The soccer players all play their perfect parts and I just look forward to where the story goes for each of them. 

The show really reminds me of how I felt when I watched Schitt's Creek. Like we were being treated to the mastery of joyful stories and superb storytelling. I would love to know Ted Lasso in real life and just bask in his joy and kindness. He just sees the world better than 99% of us but he can help you see it his way, if you just listen and join in.

Now after 7 episodes: I have laughed, I mean deep full belly laughing, I’ve sobbed, I’ve been shocked and I have just sighed and smiled. This show is glorious. 

Please, please if you have a chance to see this show, treat yourself and your heart to the joy.

4 paws and a tail and a whole second cat with 4 paws and a tail!!

Friday, March 12, 2021

Friday 80s Flashback for March 12, 2021

 


[Disco Beat(les)] -- In March of 1981, radio stations had several classic Beatles tracks back in rotation. But it wasn't the Beatles' own recordings that were played. No, it was a Dutch novelty act, Stars on 45, who specialized in soundalikes, that were actually in rotation. Stars on 45's schtick was to re-record hit songs as faithfully as they could, but then merge them with a common tempo over a drum track. In this way, they merged disco and classic Beatles for a 15+ minute track that could only be called ... "Medley: Intro 'Venus' / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want to Know a Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going to Lose That Girl / Stars on 45." Yeah, it's kind of a mouthful, bu it was popular. I don't have chart stats for the US, but this record did peak at #1 on both the Kent Music Report (Australia) and the UK Albums Chart. Plus, it was a hit in dance clubs worldwide. Do you remember Stars on 45?

FlashbackStars on 45's Beatles Medley






That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Titans season 2 - HBO Max

 Dangrdafne review

I told you this was a show I couldn't stop binging. I JUST posted about season one and we have already finished season 2.

WOW, WOW, WOW

I really feel like everyone involved in this show has been waiting to make this show. They are Titans in the industry and they have all just been waiting for everything to align to make this dream show. Each actor is perfectly cast for their character, the cinematography is spectacular and the writing is superb. I just can not get over this show. I love it.

Season two did have a rougher start than season one especially since season one was the longest introduction to a show ever but worth every second. But it didn't take me long to fall right back into step with everyone. I love the storytelling on the show and the character study episodes are like individual movies of their own. The episode "Conner" had me forgetting what show we were watching and thinking it was a whole different show (and that is not a bad thing to me). Impressive!!

One big change for season 2 was the music. Season one episodes closed with the Titans theme, which I love. Season two closes each episode with a perfect story matching song. This was a strange change at first but each song was thoughtful and perfect and some of my favorites.

I don't know when season 3 will exist but I am ready and waiting for it. 

In the meantime, there is another show that I like just little more than this one... and you all know that is a huge statement since I have been raving about Titans for 2 weeks now. Stay tuned right here to see what my favorite show is, even more than this one - if that seems possible.

4 paws and a tail

Friday, March 5, 2021

Friday 80s Flashback for March 5, 2021


[Luciferian Jazz] -- I decided to switch things up a bit for the first Friday of March 2021. This week we are spinning Sun Ra's 1983 album, A Fireside Chat With Lucifer. I could do my own write-up here, but I think it's better if I simply quote from BeatCaffeine’s 15 Most Essential Sun Ra Records. (Besides, I'm running short on time due to grad school assignments). Here is what BeatCaffeine wrote:

Like many of Sun Ra’s album at this time, the music on this mid-eighties recording jumped all over the place putting an emphasis on adventurous experimentation and spontaneity. This album featured the massive politically and socially conscious jazz-funk masterpiece “Nuclear War,” while other highlights included the atmospheric ballad “Retrospect,” the soul-jazz groover “Makeup,” and the expansive 21-minute cosmic free jazz title track “A Fireside Chat With Lucifer.”

You might want to go back and check out the other 14 recommended Sun Ra discs, too. 

As long as we're deviating from the way I typically post here, let's embed the complete album via Bandcamp rather than YouTube this week. Enjoy!

FlashbackA Fireside Chat with Lucifer (1983)




That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Titans season one - HBO Max

 Dangrdafne review:

Wow, wow and wow. I truly had no idea what to expect for this show. In fact I didn't even know what it was about when I added to the watch list on HBO Max. I just knew it was comic book related and that hubby would want to watch.

And just like Doom Patrol, I couldn't imagine just how much I would love it! It is eye candy with a great story and amazing characters played with perfection by amazing actors. Hubby told me there would be characters from Teen Titans (the animated series we watch many years ago and I love), Doom Patrol and Batman.

I am completely sold and in love with Brenton Thwaites as Robin. As soon as he came on the screen in the first episode, I turned to hubby and said "that's Dick Grayson/Robin". He was EXACTLY what I think Dick Grayson would look like AND I don't even know the comic version of Dick Grayson. It was just spot on and he is incredible in the role.

Anna Diop is perfection as Kory Anders/Starfire and perfection as herself. She is gloriously beautiful and she is completely Starfire to me. I simply adore her and her acting. I love that she has no idea who she is but that doesn't even take away any confidence from her. I love that she just keeps moving forward and she doesn't wallow in her issues. 

Teagan Croft brings Rachel Roth/Raven to life. On the animated Teen Titans, I recall not really knowing Raven that well. She was definitely an emotional teen and a loner but I don't recall why, Titans have given me the why and I am in. I can't wait to see where this story goes...

Ryan Potter is playing my favorite from the animated Teen Titans, Gar Logan/Beast Boy. I LOVED Beast Boy on Teen Titans and I love him on Titans. He has the quirks and the kindness and the fun that Beast Boy had on the animated series. 

There are so many more characters and all are amazing. Minka Kelly would be another that stands out not only because I love her as an actress but she embodies Dawn/Dove so well. She seems all delicate and sweet but do NOT cross her as she will take you out. 

We did joke at our shock that these Titans do indeed kill! They are not our animated Teen Titans... and I like that just fine. Warning though, this show is extra violent. I mean I look away soooo much during some episodes. That's the joy of cable. 

Great score and music too and it is beautifully filmed. I love, love, love this show. This is one of the few shows that I have found it very hard to stop watching/binging. I just want to keep watching and see what happens next. Simply stunning, really it is.

4 paws and a tail